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Tommy Burton

Stories by Tommy

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Drake Elder

Jackson music impresario and Bebop Record Shop co-founder Drake Elder died the morning of Friday, Aug. 14, at his home in Brandon.

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The Hustlers

Musician Aven Whittington likes to call The Hustlers "howl-at-the-moon music." Another description may be "front-porch music."

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Jason Isbell: Choosing the Right Details

Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell has had a busy couple of years since he last played in Jackson in 2013.

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Zoubir Tabout

When you walk into Zoubir Tabout Antiques & Interieurs, you are not only greeted by an array of items from another era, such as paintings, hats and furniture; the shop bulldog, Dagobert, also greets you.

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Gratis Rockers

Osid Riley helps manage Comic Commander in Ridgeland and assists in various capacities at Martin's Lounge, which happens to be the site of his latest venture: Free the Local Music.

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Euphus Ruth

Photographer Euphus Ruth uses an early photographic process called collodion to produce art with a vintage aesthetic.

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Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven, the classical composer, is deeply engrained into our culture. His famous "Fifth Symphony" is so recognizable that it ranks up there with "Happy Birthday to You" in music almost everyone knows.

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Get Behind The Mule

Southern-rock jam band Gov't Mule has been a staple of the American live-music scene since forming in the early '90s, playing more than 100 shows a year.

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Jay Dean

Jay Dean, 62, understands the importance of his role as artistic director of the Mississippi Opera. He served in the position from 2010-2012 before taking a sabbatical, and he returned for the 2014-2015 season.

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Celling Out

Like it or not, cell phones are going to play a role in your music experience. The question is: When and how often should you use your personal device during a performance?

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Bobby Rush

Blues singer Bobby Rush may be one of Jackson's greatest living musical exports. He's been making worldwide audiences dance for more than 60 years.

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Saint Patrick

Today is Saint Patrick's Day, the day we wear green to avoid getting pinched. But just who was Saint Patrick, and what does he have to do with Jackson's biggest party day of the year?

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Cleaning Records With Wood Glue

I was skeptical of this method, but I gave it a try—and a few of my prized records went from unlistenable to playable. It involves using wood glue.

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Tray Hairston

Attorney Tray Hairston, 35, bubbles with enthusiasm and positivity about Jackson and its residents.

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Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most well-known civil rights activists from the 1950s to his death in 1968.

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2014: Music in Review

2014 was a great year for music lovers, with plenty of great new albums and reissues to breathe new life into old favorites. Here are some of my favorite musical moments of 2014.

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Christmas Music States the Obvious

I'm a Christmas music junkie. I love when this time of year rolls around because I get to dust off the collection of holiday music I've amassed through the years.

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‘Everything Will Be Alright’ for Weezer

The first time I heard Weezer, the band was a musical guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

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Janis Jordan

Creativity flows through Janis Jordan, the founder of Bk2natur, a company that makes natural handmade soaps.

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Hootenanny Blues

On Nov. 2, Duling Hall will host the Harvest Hootenanny, featuring performances by Cicero Buck and the Double Wide House Band. All proceeds of the event go to the Pediatric Palliative Care unit at Blair E. Batson Hospital.

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Justin Patterson's Own Brand of Country

Brandon songwriter Justin Patterson is busy recording his new EP, "Mississippi Dirt," at Jackson's Blue Sky Studios with producer Casey Combest.

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Joe Pennington and Robin Burton's New Beginnings

Robin Burton and Joe Pennington, whose previous spouses passed away, married later in life.

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Akami Graham

Akami Graham is no stranger to Jackson's R&B music scene. She has been performing to enthusiastic audiences since the early 2000s, but tonight will be her last local show, at least for now. Graham is heading to the blue waters of the Caribbean.

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Two Times the Honky-Tonk

Fondren's Duling Hall transforms into a honky-tonk club when country purists Dale Watson and Marty Stuart bring their authentic southern style to its stage.

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Dale Watson

Dale Watson has always stayed true to his sound and promises to bring a good time to Jackson audiences on Sept. 17.

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Jane Ustinova

Jane Ustinova followed a different path than most into the world of banking and helping others become financially sound. She is a loan officer with Members Exchange Credit Union and became a certified financial counselor in May.

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Amanda Shires: Half-Fictitious Fiddler

Amanda Shires is aware of the rich musical tradition she comes from, but she is also moving forward, forging her own style and voice.

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Jack White: A History and a Future

Jack White was many things to many people before "Lazaretto." He is perhaps best remembered as half of the garage-rock duo The White Stripes.

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Welcome to the Club

"The (Dead Mothers) Club," which stated that one in nine Americans will lose a parent before age 20, focuses on three young women: a high-school senior named Jordyn, a Brazilian living in New York City named Leticia and Jackson artist Ginger Williams-Cook, whose work is the art for the film's poster.

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To Record or To Play Live?

One of the things I usually ask touring musicians is if they have a preference for playing concerts or recording in the quiet confines of a studio. The answer varies depending on the musician.

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The Future Is Unknown

Unknown Hinson is the king of country-and-western troubadours.

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Pam Kinsey’s Light

Pam Kinsey's art studio is on a small lake in Cleary, Miss., nestled between Byram and Florence. The building is quiet and serene, not unlike her vividly real and serene pastel works.

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The Festival Game

Warm weather has finally arrived, and that means it's that time of year: music festivals.

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Band of the Day: Lillian Axe

The 1980s were a golden time for hard-rock bands. If you turned on your radio or watched MTV, you probably saw bands such as Motley Crue, White Lion or Bon Jovi.

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The Filthy Six Bring Soulful Grooves to Martin's

Coming directly from the dusty grooves of an old Blue Note jazz record, The Filthy Six brings its soulful grooves to Martin's Lounge tomorrow night.

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Yolanda Singleton

Yolanda Singleton, the promoter for Xperience Jxn Entertainment, has a singular vision for audiences in the metro area.

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Jimbo Mathus: Musical Ambassador

Jimbo Mathus is a living document of our state's rich musical history.

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Broken Bell

Let me allow you a peek inside the mind of a record collector for a moment. Finding an elusive record sitting on a record store shelf is like discovering a small gem that seems to be waiting just for me to uncover.

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East Meets West, Bound by Brass

Trumpet and brass bands are a huge deal in Serbia. Each year, the town of Guca hosts a trumpet festival where the world's finest players and bands perform for hundreds of thousands of people. Imagine Woodstock with the sound of traditional Serbian brass music instead of rock 'n' roll.

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Harrowing Sounds

Alan Lomax's role in the preservation of American folk and blues music can never be understated. Lomax traveled around the country collecting interviews and songs for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

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Folk Tale

Folk songs have existed about as long as music has been around. Some are about everyday issues; some tell a story. One type of folk song, which deals with crime, is called a moritat, such as "Zela Trovke" from Slovakia.

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The Art of Tribute

If the Neilsen ratings are to be believed, 13.95 million people watched "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute To The Beatles."

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Keller Williams

If there's one word to describe musician Keller Williams, it might be "energy." The self-taught 44-year-old performer can play multiple instruments and has been dubbed a one-man jam band by audiences all over the world.

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Swamp Babies’ Debut Keeps the Wheel Steady

The Jackson-based band Swamp Babies has been lurking in the local music scene for the past couple of years.

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The Musician’s Musician

Most people know the music of Syracuse, N.Y., native Martin Sexton even if they don't recognize his name.

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The Perfect Mix

A mix tape is a great Valentine's Day gift to your sweetheart because it's personal. The fact that it's something you made for them shows how much thought into it.

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Justin Watson and Stella

No doubt, many of you have been out and about in Jackson some Saturday afternoon and witnessed one of the strangest pieces of mobile art on four wheels: a Toyota Camry covered with a variety of stickers.

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2013: Music in Review

My favorite release of 2013 is Jason Isbell's "Southeastern." The first time I played the album, its lyrical beauty floored me. The songs feel like short stories chock-full of characters and experiences to which listeners can relate. Emotional connection is the key for enjoying this album.

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Dan Aykroyd

To say that actor Dan Aykroyd, 61, is a modern-day Renaissance man might be an understatement.

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Jackson, Shhh ...

As Thalia Mara Hall undergoes its facelift this winter and with the reopening of the Iron Horse Grill—along with the many great clubs and restaurants—the sky is the limit for live music in Jackson.

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