A milestone in blues music history will be celebrated at a very special event in the Isle of Man in just a few weeks’ time.
 
March 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the ‘re-discovery’ of the great guitar player and singer Mississippi John Hurt.
 
In tribute to the musician, who died in 1966, a night of acoustic blues will be held at the Institute, Laxey, on Saturday, March 2.
 
The night will feature a 45 minute presentation by Dr Philip Ratcliffe, author of the award-winning biography Mississippi John Hurt, His Life, His Times, His Blues (University Press of Mississippi) as well as live music.
 
Dr Phil will perform some of Mississippi John Hurt’s songs and also on the bill, and performing acoustic blues, will be Pete Woodman and Blue John and Papa Cass.
 
Mississippi John first recorded in 1928 but then lived his life in relative obscurity until a fan, Tom Hoskins, tracked him down in rural Mississippi in March 1963.
 
From that point on John, who was then 71 years of age, became a hugely influential musician and was very popular in the folk and blues scene in America.
 
Countless generations of guitar players have been inspired by his impressive finger picking style and his songs.
 
Organiser of the event John Gregory, who plays guitar in the blues duo Blue John and Papa Cass, said: “As a huge fan of Mississippi John Hurt I really wanted to commemorate the anniversary of the moment when this highly talented musician had a second chance at recording and a full-time career in music.
 
“Who better to invite to the Island to celebrate this anniversary than Dr Phil, whose biography of Mississippi John Hurt is arguably the finest biography I have read.
 
“I really felt it gave me an insight into this remarkable man.
 
“I am so looking forward to this night and want to thank Dr Phil for agreeing to come to the Island.”
 
Tickets for the event are just ?5 and are available by ringing John on 07624 204320  or by emailing Bluejohnmedia@hotmail.co.uk.
 
Dr Phil, who studies the history and culture of the Deep South, has just won a prestigious award for his biography from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections in the US.
 
He had permission from Mississippi John Hurt’s granddaughter, Mary Frances Hurt Wright, to write the book.
 
Dr Phil met her in John Hurt’s hometown of Avalon, Mississippi, where he performed at the inaugural Mississippi John Hurt Festival in 2003.
 
He said: “At the concert planned for March 2nd I will be presenting Mississippi John Hurt’s story and how I came to write it. The presentation will include stories and anecdotes from the sad to the humorous, many visual images from the Deep South as well as sound clips of Mississippi John Hurt.
 
“I will be signing copies of my book and a CD which I co-produced which presents the original recordings made in John’s little shotgun house at the time Tom Hoskins rediscovered John. I hope to see you there.”