YEAR'S END- Jesse Brooks & The Living Past will play a consecutive three-night in-state run next week before their final show of the year at Nick's Ice House in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 9 p.m. Photo by Emily LaPrime. Tangipahoa Parish-based rock and honky-tonk soul band Jesse Brooks & The Living Past... Continue Reading →
Kentwood’s connection to Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”
THE ROOT- Little Brother Montgomery, jazz and blues pianist from Kentwood, should likely be credited for creating the initial foundation for the song that became Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" By Jesse Brooks One of the most well-known songs to ever be labeled as rock-n-roll out outlaw country is "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash. So... Continue Reading →
Hwy. 51 Revisited: Memphis, Tennessee pt. 2
By Jesse Brooks Memphis is a resilient city that has seen many challenging times in American history. Whether it was the Great Depression, civil unrest or a recession, Memphis seemed to always come back better than ever. It may seem typical for anyone from Louisiana to compare New Orleans to Memphis, but there are some... Continue Reading →
Hwy. 51 Revisited: Memphis, Tennessee pt. 1
STARTING POINT- Owned by Sam Phillips in the 1950s, Sun Studio is considered to be where the first rock-n-roll record was made, Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. Eventually, a label formed, Sun Records, which launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. Photo by Jesse Brooks. By Jesse... Continue Reading →
Hwy. 51 Revisited: Oxford, Mississippi Pt. 1
Town Square in Oxford, MS. Photo by Jesse Brooks. By Jesse Brooks Our second side as we move north on Highway 51 will take us to the literary hub of Oxford, Mississippi. When the county seat of Lafayette County was founded in 1832, they chose to call it Oxford after the university city in England... Continue Reading →
Hwy. 51 Revisited: McComb, Mississippi
By Jesse Brooks McComb, Mississippi is the kind of town that seems to get by on day-to-day business. It doesn’t beat its chest to declare that it is better than somewhere else or decorate itself as something flashy. However, the best way to describe McComb is welcoming. You can walk into a public place or... Continue Reading →
Sources indicate Lafayette area episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown is in production
BOURDAIN IN CAJUN COUNTRY- Sources indicate television personality Anthony Bourdain was in the Lafayette area filming an episode of his CNN show 'Parts Unknown' during Mardi Gras. Photo: Screenshot of Bourdain in the Southwest Louisiana on the episode "Cajun Country" for his previous show 'No Reservations'. By Jesse Brooks Over last weekend and through Mardi... Continue Reading →