BLIND MISSISSIPPI MORRIS AND BRAD WEBB 

Blind Mississippi Morris, born Morris Cummings, April 6, 1955, is an American blues artist born in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  Cummings lost his sight at the age of four, but that didn't stop him from learning the blues.  Morris has become a popular blues act on Beale Street.  Morris and his band, the Pocket Rockets, are known as the "real deal from Beale".  Morris has a talented lineage.  His cousins, Robert and Mary Diggs, led the Memphis Sheiks, and his Aunt Mary Tanner played with the Harps of Melody.  Morris is also a cousin of the late Willie Dixon.  Morris is the very embodiment of the Delta bluesman.  He has been called a new disciple of the Delta blues, he was rated one of the 10 best harmonica players in the world by Bluzharp Magazine.  He has performed with legendary artists B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Muddy Waters, David Porter and many other Memphis artists.  Morris said that he just picked up the harmonica, played around on it and just let his soul pour through it.

 THE JUKE JOINT ALL-STARS

The Juke Joint All-Stars are a very versatile, energetic and exciting group.  Their style of music encompasses everything from Blues to Rock.  Formed in the summer of 2004, the group consists of Manuel Williams, Robert Hagen, Billy Lavender, Linear Smith and Lawrence Long.  As Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro in his review of the 2005 Handy Awards show said, "The Juke Joint All-Stars, the guys were hot.  They did it all and did it all well.  They played any style of music, soul, jazz, pop or blues.  You name it - they played it."

The Juke Joint All-Stars Band has been performing in world-class venues over the last decade throughout Memphis and other major markets such as Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Detroit and many more.  Additionally, The Juke Joint All-Stars Band worked with performers such as the Bar-Kays, Marvin Cease, Shirley Brown, Three 6 Mafia, Eightball, and many others. 

FRED SANDERS

Fred Sanders, 2007 W.C. Handy Award Winner.  Fred Sanders was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1939 to a musical family.  Fred was hired as staff guitarist for the world famous Club Paradise.  During his seven year tenure at the club, he played with B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Albert King, and many others.  In the mid 70's, when the blues was mainly underground and records were hard to find, Fred Sanders jammed at the Blues Alley on #1 Beale Street.  Despite the lean years, Fred didn't turn his back to the blues.  Instead, he continued to work hard to help keep the blues alive;  Fred was also a member of The Memphis Blues Caravan and toured worldwide.  He has played with Duke Ellington's Orchestra, Count Basie's Band, Buddy Rich, and Johnny Taylor, to name a few.  Over the years, Fred has been a staple of the Beale Street scene, and on nice days, you can still catch him live in W.C. Handy Park. 

Fred's guitar and vocals have a timeless quality.  His style is both slick and playful, while remaining unduplicated.  As a self taught musician, he sees the blues neither as a matter of practice, nor image:  "It's within you.  It's what you think.  It's your experiences.  It's what's on your mind."  Though Fred says this and communicates it through his songs, he modestly admits, "A true blues player is a gift from God."  You can hear good blues music every Saturday night on Blues After Hours on KASU 91.9 at 8:00 PM.

PATTY AND WAYNE SIPES

Wayne and Patty Sipes are high school sweethearts.  He told her he loved her on her 13th birthday and they have been married for 43 years.  In the 50's, it was very common for couples to dress in the same colors to show they went together.  They have continued this throughout their lives.  Most times have on the exact outfit.

In their teen years, Patty danced but Wayne didnt.  The first 20 years of their marriage they were busy raising a family and working the family business in groceries.  They just sold the grocery store last August.  Around their 25th anniversary, Wayne said he had loved the Buddy Dean show in Baltimore, and was sorry he had never learned to dance.  Patty told him it was never too late to do anything you want to do in life.

They enrolled in ballroom dance classes and their first teacher told Wayne he had no rhythm and two left feet.  Wayne proved her wrong.

A couple of years ago, they came up with the idea that when they retired they would dance in all 50 states and document it in an album for their own pleasure.  Their son said they couldn't do it and of course, had to prove him wrong.  As of this date they have danced in 10 states so far.

A friend of the Sipes saw Sonny Burgess and the Pacers in Washington, DC in 2007.  The friend and her husband went to see Sonny, later in the year, in Kansas City, Missouri.  When Mrs. Sipes told her friend about dancing in all 50 states, the friend told her about Sonny and the Pacers and that they should dance to their music.  The friend thought them the best. 

They started their dancing tour, August 8, 2007.  This trip to Newport will include a 21 state tour, which includes a 15 day cruise to Hawaii.  They are looking forward to dancing to the music of Sonny Burgess and the Pacers and meeting the people of Newport and dancing, what Sonny Burgess calls "Flip Dancing", exhibition show for about 1 hour.  After their exhibition, everyone can dance to the music of Sonny Burgess and the Pacers.  Come on out and enjoy Patty and Wayne Sipes dance across America.  They should be quite entertaining.

Dining will begin at 5:00 pm.  There will be a $10.00 cover charge.