The Mississippi Delta is known for producing the blues and musical legends such as Robert Johnson, B.B. King and Mississippi John Hurt.
Although at one time its unique sound could be heard frequently in Greenwood-area juke joints and get-togethers, the city, as of late, has been in a drought.
Dennis Wright, 59, is trying to remedy the lack of live blues performances with BluesGate.
“Dennis and I have been working together to get a live music scene going in Greenwood,” said Brantley Snipes, executive director of Main Street Greenwood. “It’s not every day that someone shows up wanting to fill a need that you have in your community, and Dennis is just that.”
BluesGate is the brainchild of Wright and works as a co-op of local musicians.
BluesGate provides a house band — a drummer, Wright on bass and a guitar or keyboard player — at the venues it is hosted by and plays what Wright calls “baby boomer friendly music,” which includes blues, old rock and old rhythm and blues songs.
“For the most part, the songs are attractive to all ages,” said Wright. “Generally if you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, you’ve heard the songs we play before.”
The house band changes at every venue, keeping the performances spontaneous and unrehearsed.
“Everything was impromptu with blues music. In a way, we are looking for a modern recreation of that,” said Wright. “What we do, I think it is a lot more fun. There is a lot of magic to it.”
The event is referred to as a jam since the performances are not rehearsed, which keeps the events fresh and new for the attending audience.
Those who would like to perform with the house band, either vocally or with instruments, can sign up the night of the event.
The house band starts all the performances. As the night goes on, various locals get a chance to showcase their talent.
“So it’s like seeing six or seven bands in a night,” said Wright. “Jams are great because musicians can get exposure and fans.”
So far, BluesGate performances have been held at Delta Bar and Grill and Joe’s Place.
Its next event is from 8:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday at Joe’s Place. The house band will feature Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on guitar and vocals; Ben Arnold, instructor of percussion and music education at Mississippi Valley State University; and Wright on bass.
Wright said Ingram, a 15-year-old from Clarkdale, is considered a child prodigy, having mastered the drums, bass and guitar at 14.
Other upcoming venues include Williams Landing, ’Que on the Yazoo and Tallahatchie Flats. Wright has plans to hold a performance at Joe’s Place at least once a month.
“It's great for our local businesses, tourism and community," said Snipes.
Wright said the events have drawn crowds of about 60, but he is optimistic BluesGate will be just as successful in Greenwood as it has been in West Virginia, which is where BluesGate started and continues.
Formerly of West Virginia, Wright and his wife recently moved to Greenwood.
His wife, who works with the Centers of Disease Control, was assigned to the Mississippi Delta’s ongoing project to reduce heart disease. The Wrights had a choice of whether to relocate to Jackson or Greenwood.
“We did our research and we chose Greenwood,” said Wright. “Before we moved, I thought there would be blues everywhere, and there was nothing in terms of live blues.”
After several trips to Clarksdale, which is known for its live blues performances, Wright decided to bring his BluesGate to the Delta and Greenwood.
“I thrive on this. Even though I’m business person, I love to create,” said Wright.
Snipes hopes that Wright’s local relocation is a step toward revitalizing a blues scene in Greenwood.
“It has been quite embarrassing when tour groups and visitors arrive at the home of Robert Johnson, and we have no live blues or music to offer them to enjoy,” said Snipes. “Many end up leaving and going elsewhere in the Delta. Main Street is very much looking forward to working with him to establish a live music scene in not only downtown, but Greenwood in general.”
Wright, who was a musician as a teenager, began playing his bass again in 2008 after a long hiatus due to his work in sales and having a large family.
With Wright’s background in business, BluesGate became successful and began picking up events in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, too.
At BluesGate’s peak, Wright was managing 250 jams and concerts a year.
“It started as a hobby and became a full business,” said Wright, who still manages jams and venue scheduling in his former home.
BluesGate and Wright have been given credit for reestablishing blues in the that area.
And with the results from a survey Wright and Snipes created, locals are ready for a consistant live blues music scene in Greenwood.
Forty-nine of the 50 responders said they would attend live music performances on a regular basis.
Thirty-six percent of the responders said they could sing or play an instrument, and 80 percent said they would like to hear live blues music.
“I am really glad we came to Greenwood,” said Wright. “It’s a small town, laid back, and everyone has been so nice. There is a lot of opportunity here.”
To take the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/2VHVH3P.
For more information about BluesGate, contact Wright at 452-0069 or at dwcharlestown@aol.com.
•Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
