The thrill lives on

No Mississippi pin collection is complete without a salute to our musical legacy. Mississippi Delta blues musicians paved the way for rock, rap, hip-hop, and jazz, American music styles that are popular around the world.

I love that the Delta has embraced our blues heritage. People from the world over visit the state to travel the Blues Trail, making stops at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola and the Grammy Museum in Cleveland. Clarksdale is home of Ground Zero Blues Club known for good food and live music.

My hometown Greenwood hosts an annual blues festival (so does Greenville), and if you're at Greenwood's Alluvian Hotel, you might be able to catch a live performance by Mississippi Marshall on the terrace.

A badge of honor for all of Mississippi

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to create a pin about Mississippi's musical legacy. The design popped into my head, so I didn't brainstorm much for this one. It was just a matter of executing it.

I drew the acoustic guitar graphic for the center. Along the edges of the pin are the straightforward words "The Mississippi Delta" and "Birthplace of America's Music." No other place can claim that.

The pin is made from an iron base and uses four enamel colors and black nickel plating. It has two pin backs and butterfly clutches to keep it from rotating.

A pin for Mississippi and everywhere

Of all my Mississippi pins, this one is a fan favorite, which testifies to the deep impact our blues legacy has on music lovers. The Delta shaped not just American culture but global culture as well. ❤︎