Get ready to celebrate National Library Week (April 24 – 29) at the Winston County Library. Each day next week, the library will feature a special guest. Two of those special guests include Felder Rushing, known for his public radio show The Gestalt Gardner, and Ms. Maie Smith from the Mississippi Blues Museum in Clarksdale.
Rushing is a horticulturist, receiving a degree from Mississippi State University. However, his love for gardening stems from spending time with his great-grandmother (also a horticulturist) and a grandmother who ran a gardening club. At the beginning of his career, Felder worked for MSU’s Extension Service as an urban horticulture specialist. He “retired early,” and embarked on a whole new career. Rushing has penned eighteen books, writes newspaper articles regularly, hosts his weekend radio show, and travels the United States lecturing and presenting workshops.
Felder Rushing was named by Southern Living magazine as “one of the twenty-five people most likely to change the South.”
If you love music, especially artists such as Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin, then you’ll be certain to attend Wednesday’s program at the Winston County Library. Ms. Maie Smith will present a program about the rich history of blues music in Mississippi. Smith is a Delta Blues Specialist at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS.
All types of music today find their roots in the Mississippi Delta blues music. Most rock n’ roll riffs are based on the same type of simple guitar riffs as was utilized by blues artists. Country music also evolved from the blues. Many British artists (including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton) directly cite a love of blues music as a heavy influence in their work.
Maie Smith is set to present a highly informative and entertaining program. Smith is a graduate of Ole Miss, earning a B.A. in Radio and TV Broadcasting as well as a second degree in Mass Communications. She immediately began working at the MS Delta Blues Museum. Smith has served in multiple capacities at the museum, including a gift shop manager. Today, Smith is the Facilities and Operations Manager. People recognize Smith as greatly knowledgeable about the history and impact of the MS Delta Blues. They say, “If you have questions about the Delta Blues, better call Maie.”
