She was initially attracted to the blues by hearing Presley’s “Sun Sessions,” recorded at Sam Phillips’ famous Sun Studios on Union Avenue in Memphis. She saw Muddy Waters perform at the Delta Blues Festival, which also impressed her. Ms. Ritter says that she was attracted to the blues because of its “primal roots feeling” and the sounds simply resonated with her. Once the blues became more popular, she decided to try to promote it further.
Ritter has taken strides to popularize both the blues and the museum as well. She works hard at writing grant proposals and seeks funds for the museum from many different sources. She sees her future with the museum as providing more exhibits so that coming generations can get a feel for the blues as well as a deeper appreciation for how the music developed over the decades. “Blues comes from experiences,” she says. She wants visitors to the museum to come away with an understanding of what these experiences were and from whence they came.
There are also concerts at the museum, which has an outdoor stage where people can come and sit on the lawn to enjoy the music. Additionally, people visiting Clarksdale, can enjoy authentic Delta Blues music in the various clubs which present live music seven days-a-week. While visiting, several couples from places as far-flung as Germany, Italy and Spain were there as well.
Clarksdale is an amazing town. As a center of Delta Blues history, it has the feel of a rural, Mississippi town, but with a warmth and humanity among its people that is quite infectious.
William Lulow is a commercial portrait and corporate photographer in the Greater New York Area. He is also a certified teacher of photography having been an adjunct professor at New York's New School For Social Research. He publishes daily blog articles on photography. His goal is to raise people's awareness of photographic principles in order to better their photographic efforts.
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