Wynton Marsalis headlines the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival in Thomson

THOMSON, Ga. (WJBF) – The 30th Annual Blind Willie McTell Music Festival was held on Saturday in Thomson.

McTell was a native of Thomson, Georgia and was blind in one eye from birth and lost his remaining vision during childhood. He is best known for his song “Statesboro Blues”, and being a pioneer of Piedmont Blues and ragtime music until his death in 1959.

This year’s festival was headed by world-renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer Wynton Marsalis and his septet.

Marsalis is the Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Director of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School, and President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.

This ensemble also included Thomson’s own Chris Crenshaw on trombone. Crenshaw has been with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 2006.

During his performance, Marsalis quoted his father, Jazz legend Ellis Marsalis, Jr. saying. “My daddy used to always say ‘Son, there’s only one key, and that’s the key that you’re in.”

Along with Crenshaw, Marsalis featured legendary local trombonist Wycliffe Gordon during the festival. As well as bluesman Jerron Paxton and Blair Crimmins during his Saturday afternoon set.

To find out more information about The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival visit their website www.blindwillie.com .

Photojournalist: Rickey Jones

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