USA Highway 61 – A Whole Lot Of Blues

Just you, the Mustang and the burning sky ahead. The allure and adventure of freedom on the open road leaves an all inclusive resort holiday lying in the dust, and the great American road trip is an iconic passage that should be on everyone’s list of things to do in a lifetime. The promise of exploration lies in classic routes such as California Highway 1, Route 66, New England’s Route 100, the Alaskan Highway and Death Valley.



Now imagine that Mustang again, and envision a horizon overflowing with roots in blues, jazz and gospel music, and visualize taking that classic journey; Highway 61 – which is certainly drenched in an eclectic and colourful history. Legendarily known as the Blues Highway, the route stretches from north of Chicago down to New Orleans and runs through Duluth, birthplace of Bob Dylan, which was immortalised in his album Highway 61 Revisited (1965). This is an expedition for music lovers, a journey into the heart and soul of blues and rock n’ roll, steeped in a history of black slavery and sharecroppers, where Robert Johnson allegedly made a pact with the devil and all the greats headed to play the cities. What lies ahead is a unique trip into a part of the United States that is completely different to every other.



What to take on such a trip? Most certainly spontaneity. Driving offers freedom, and with freedom comes opportunity. If things go wrong, laugh, if things go right, rejoice! Embrace new sights and sounds, ensure plentiful supplies of food, travel with inspiring company and turn up the volume on a deep and soulful soundtrack.



Highway 61 takes in Memphis – a city of copious musical influence that John Lee Hooker, B.B King, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash called home. This is the land of the blues and rock ‘n roll. Visit Graceland, Beale Street Walk of Fame and Sun Studio, all exceedingly pivotal in the Memphis music scene. On Beale Street hear echoes of live blues guitar played against the backdrop of a smoky scene and perhaps most significant, Sun Studio, birthplace of rock ‘n roll, where through a series of fledgling mistakes, owner Sam Phillips discovered the rock ‘n roll sound of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.



After soaking up the Memphis scene, hit the road north to Clarksdale, Mississippi. The intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 49 is known as the ‘Bluesmans’ crossroads’ - the place where Robert Johnson allegedly made a pact with the devil, exchanging his soul to become a fêted blues guitarist. This is also where Bessie Smith died. A fundamental part of driving the Mississippi Delta is to remember that what you see here is authentic America, rich in Southern hospitality, heart warming food and legendary music. It is exceptionally distinctive from any other region. Remember the spontaneity? Take this with you when you explore the smaller areas of this region, checking out other blues landmarks in Marks, Oxford, Moorehead and Tutwiler before driving on to New Orleans.



For USA holidays 2011 should be about pushing the boundaries that a habitual holiday provides. A road trip has no limitations, so perhaps next year travel the old Blues Highway and even if you get lost along the way, you are guaranteed to find a whole new world.