MUSIC COMES TO TUTWILER!

About a year ago we met a man named Jon Gindick, who is from California, but comes to Clarksdale, MS to do a HARMONICA CAMP a couple of times a year. He heard about Doctor Anne Brooks and the Tutwiler Clinic and decided to come down to Tutwiler to see if he could help in some way. He also wanted to see the W.C. Handy Blues Marker and visit Sonny Boy Williamson¹s grave site which is located about a mile out of Tutwiler.

He visited the Tutwiler Clinic and then came over to the TCEC. He came
on a day the senior citizens were there, so he played his harmonica a short time and had a good time with the seniors. He bought a quilt and kept asking how he might help. He came back a few days later with some other people who were at his Harmonica Camp and they also bought many quilted items. One of the men in that group, Ed Masterson, from New Jersey, also wanted to do something to help us out.

After much discussion, e-mails, visits, phone calls, and discussions with Sr. Maureen, Center Director, it was agreed that Jon would organize
something called SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON LEGACY MUSIC EDUCATIONAND PERFORMANCE PROGRAM OF TUTWILER. His aim is to raise money to provide music lessons to the children of Tutwiler.

Jon, Ed and some of their friends donated money, bought 6 guitars and
amplifiers and a drum set, hired 2 blues musicians, Heather Crosse and Lee Williams, to come to the TCEC twice a week during the summer to teach the children guitar and drums. The children loved it! Some are starting to learn chords on the guitar and some are doing well on the drums.

We take a break during August, but in September Heather and Lee will
come again to continue teaching the children. Since the blues originated in
the Mississippi Delta, Jon and Ed thought it would be great to help the
children of Tutwiler discover their roots and provide opportunities for
them to learn musical instruments. And this is what they are doing!

We never know what wonderful, generous people will wander in to
Tutwiler and provide enriching opportunities for our folks. We are truly blessed!