Overview

""Mississippi Hippie"" is a gripping memoir that delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the human spirit's unwavering strength. Willy Bearden's captivating storytelling sheds light on life's complexities, the impact of race, and a young man's quest to break free from societal norms. From the heart of the mysterious Mississippi Delta, Willy Bearden embarks on an unforgettable journey chronicled in ""Mississippi Hippie: A Life in 49 Pieces."" Through poignant vignettes, Bearden, a noted Memphis author and filmmaker, paints a vivid picture of a bygone era, from the harsh cotton fields to the colorful characters of Rolling Fork's pool halls and beauty parlors. Settling in Memphis and working as a liquor delivery driver opens doors to experiences beyond imagination. Despite a tumultuous upbringing marked by his father's struggles with alcoholism and family discord, Bearden finds solace in the protest music of the late 1960s, sparking his awakening and shaping his worldview. As Bearden embraces the ethos of the hippie movement, he sets off on a transformative journey. With nothing but a backpack and a hunger for adventure, he hitchhikes across the country, immersing himself in the vibrant counterculture while grappling with the loss of loved ones, a poignant reminder of life's fragility. ""Mississippi Hippie"" is far more than a memoir; it's a pulsating exploration of resilience, rebellion, and the enduring human desire to find a place to call home.

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9798990402324

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Reviews

Willy Bearden's memoir Mississippi Hippie is a hitchhiker's guide to life. Starting from a troubled childhood in a Delta town (that rings of Mark Twain's Hannibal) Bearden tells of his lifelong search for characters, adventures, and tales. These are stories of pathos, joy, and love told by a master storyteller. -George Larrimore A beautifully written account of a life fully lived. -Tom Lonardo I loved every stop on this journey, meeting all the people I would otherwise never have known. -Corey Parker Laugh out-loud funny and heartbreakingly poignant. -Pam Parker Branham If you live in the Mid-South, Willy Bearden's distinct Delta voice is part of the soundtrack of our lives, as soothing as the hum and rhythm of the waters of the great Mississippi. His memoir Mississippi Hippie channels the same cadences. Honest and completely unfiltered, we feel the floorboards under his feet, and the pain, beauty, and astonishment in his eyes from his Delta home. His memories give us visceral portraits of his roots, the deep South hometown of Rolling Fork, in stories painful, mythical, and deeply personal. And on every page, there is his voice, both a smooth gravel road and a lullaby by a campfire. We say that there can be no light without darkness, no joy without pain, and if ever there is pleasure in the pains of memories, this is it. -Mark Fleischer, Publisher, Storyboard Memphis

Author Information

Willy Bearden is a filmmaker, photographer, author and producer. His documentary films include: Visualizing the Blues, The Story of Cotton, A History of Memphis Garage Bands, Overton Park, Elmwood Cemetery, Horn Island Journal, Project 366, The Perea Project, 100 Years of Juvenile Court, and The View From Adams Avenue. His museum projects include The Blues Hall of Fame, The Tunica RiverPark, The Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum, Gateway to the Blues Museum, The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange, and the Memphis Wonders Series. He is the chairman and a founding member of the annual Delta Symposium held at the University of Memphis. He is the recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award in the Creative and Performing Arts presented by the College of Communication and Fine Arts at the University of Memphis. Bearden regularly participates on film and writing panels, and presents at fifteen to twenty public speaking engagements each year. Other honors include the Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive Award, and the Paul Coppock Award for Outstanding Contributions to West Tennessee History. He is the author of four books: Cotton, From Southern Fields to the Memphis Market; Overton Park; Elmwood Cemetery, and Memphis Blues, Birthplace of a Music Tradition. Bearden is also a 30 year veteran of the live event production business. He has produced the Blues Music Awards since 1998, the inaugural Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Salute to the Grammys since 2007. In the summer of 2010, Mr. Bearden released his first feature film, One Came Home. Bearden grew up in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in the Deep Delta.

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