Mississippi Chris Sharp

Just glad to be here!

 ©2005-2009 John Christopher Sharp/All Rights Reserved

A great big howdy and mighty fine to all y'all out there in the land of 1's and 0's. A little BLOG from the keyboard of Mississippi Chris.

I had a great time with the boys from JANG-A-LANG and my friend Butch Robins over Memorial Day weekend. We made a hot recording of all original tunes which is getting some attention in some high places. I am very pleased with that.

Lots and lots of playing this spring and summer, even after I had declared that I was sort of taking the summer off. Not a chance!! The photo to the left was taken of me by Jill Smith, director of the Union County Historical Society, at the DOWN FROM THE HILLS FESTIVAL, in May 2005, in New Albany, Mississippi. This is a great small festival. Ed Dye and I have been fortunate to be on the bill every year when this festival comes up. Thanks to Jill Smith for putting up with us. We have a great time here.

The photo to the right shows Ed and me, with Bryan Hayes and Jetson Neal in the background, during a performance in May at Taylor Grocery. As many of you know, it's my favorite place to play. We had a big time there last Saturday night, June 18. We started playing at 5:30 and did not stop until 2:30 in the morning. The weather was cool, the band was Hot, and no one wanted to go home. Thanks to Johnathan and his friends for coming over from AUBURN to OLE MISS territory to hear us play. The next day, I could hardly speak, and just managed to CROAK out a few words. I was exhausted but happy.

To the left is kind hearted and sweet Cindy Rowsy, who serves the diners at Taylor Grocery. Kay, Colleen, Big D, Sasha, and all the rest of the girls who wait on the hungry customers. They make all of us feel so welcome, and seem to enjoy the music so much. Thanks, Cindy! Cindy is also a sixth grade teacher and has a lovely family. With her experience as a mother, school teacher, and waitress managing the appetites of large crowds of diners in a very busy restaurant, Cindy is able to make all the boys in the band mind their manners!!!

The remarkable Cousin Ed Dye lettin' it all hang out with me, Clint Jordan, Jetson Neal and Bryan Hayes at Taylor. We were all having great fun.

The band FLYING JENNY, from Birmingham, at the Sucarnochee Folk Life Festival, sponsored by the University of West Alabama, in Livingston, Alabama, May, 2005. Flying Jenny is a great Old-Time string band. They are all musicologists and historians who not only know about the music they play, but can really play it! Hat's off to them. I hope to be able to work with them again, soon!

Jerry Ragland (fiddle) , Bryan Hayes (guitar), Clint Jordan (resonator guitar), Jetson Neal (mandolin) and myself playing OUTSIDE at Taylor Grocery during May, entertaining the people waiting to get inside the restaurant. The wait was as long as TWO HOURS that night. The CATFISH at Taylor is certainly worth the wait . . . and the music???? Of course it is, but the crowd never has to wait that long to hear the music, cause we'll go outside and play for them!

A photo of Jacky Jack White and Burton Fuller from the stage of the May performance of the SUCARNOCHEE REVUE. Jacky Jack is the host, director, and visionaire of the show. All the weight of it rests on his shoulders, but they are broad shoulders, and well suited for the burdens he has chosen. Burton is a regular on the show, and an excellent entertainer with many years of performing experience as a veteran of the classic DANNY AND THE DUDES country band, starring the great Danny Holloway.

Here's Butch Robins, Jetson Neal, Ed Dye, myself, Clint Jordan, and out of sight is Augie Joachim . . . JANG-A-LANG!!! This is also from the May SUCARNOCHEE REVUE!

The talented and beautiful LAURIE SKY. I took this photo at the May SUCARNOCHEE REVUE. Laurie and her dad Bill, along with Bill's wife Vivkie Young are some of my favorite performers. I have had the pleasure of working with them two times, now, and hope to do again in the near future. They are about as professional as they come!

Ed, ME Clint and Augie, New Albany, Mississippi!

The daughter of Vulcan!!! This interesting young lady was working on a crew of folks with a portable cast iron foundry, teaching the children at the Sucarnochee Folk Life Festival about the joys and dangers of pouring cast iron! She knew her business!