Here are locations where you can visit Blues musicians who are no longer performing.
Often times folks ask me which blues artists I like to see perform live. Certainly I love to watch blues live, however I have found that many of those musicians I like the most have passed on from this world.
In 2006, I started visiting the gravesites of my favorite Blues musicians, to pay respects and to try to make their lives real to me beyond simply listening to their music.
Here’s a map! Click here for the map on its own. Green markers are for those graves I’ve visited (see photos below) while blue are yet to be visited. Last updated 9/28/2022.
View Gravesites of Blues Musicians in a larger map
| Artist | Location | Cemetery | GPS | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furry Lewis Walter Lewis b. 8 Mar 1893 d. 14 Sep 1981 | TN, Memphis | Hollywood Cemetery Right side, about 2/3rds back, upright and flat markers next to road | 35.090237, -90.022413 |    |
| Memphis Minnie Lizzie 'Kid' Douglas Lawlers b. 3 Jun 1897 d. 6 Aug 1973 | MS, Walls | New Hope M.B. Church Far right side, tall monument at end of yard | 34.970866, -90.185467 |    |
| Albert King Albert Nelson King b. 25 Apr 1923 d. 21 Dec 1992 | AR, Edmondson | Paradise Gardens Cemetery Front right side, near the MLK monument | 35.103499, -90.293999 |   |
| Mississippi Fred McDowell b. 12 Jan 1904 d. 3 Jul 1972 | MS, Como | Hammond Hill Church | 34.554250, -90.004433 |    |
| Mississippi Joe Callicott b. 1899 d. 1969 | MS, Hernando | Mt. Olive CME Church | 34.889050, -89.937317 |   |
| Gus Cannon b. 1874 or Sep 1875 d. 15 Oct 1979 | MS, Nesbit | Greenview Cemetery | 34.897650, -89.997933 |    |
| Booker T. Laury Lawrence Laury, Jr. b. 2 Sep 1914 d. 23 Sep 1995 | TN, Memphis | New Park Cemetery Devotion Division I Section | 35.026250, -90.066217 |   |
| Bukka White Booker W. White b. 1909 d. 1977 | TN, Memphis | New Park Cemetery Devotion Division II Section | 35.026183, -90.065783 |   |
| Rufus Thomas Jr. b. 26 Mar 1917 d. 15 Dec 2001 | TN, Memphis | New Park Cemetery Park Section. Entering the Main entrance to the cemetery and immediately turn left and stop about three car lengths. The garden to your right is Park Section. The grave is approx. Eight rows into the garden. | 35.024833, -90.067833 |   |
| Forrest City Joe Joe Benny Pugh b. 16 Jul 1926 d. 3 Apr 1960 | TN, Memphis | Memphis National Cemetery | 35.172000, -89.934467 |   |
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