#779 > Jacktown USA – The Capital City of American Music~ (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Jacktown USA – The Capital City of American Music
Soundtrack to the Book
2025 – MiJA Records
Release Date : August 1, 2025
 
By Phillip Smith; November 8, 2025
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

This summer, a book called Jacktown USA, written by Kamel King with Joe Lee was released by Republic Books. For two years, King, a practicing entertainment attorney and head of Emerald Tiger Artist Management from Jackson, Mississippi and Lee a Mississippi-based author and journalist, took an in-depth look at the historical significance of Jackson, Mississippi and the music which has come out of the city. It is noted in the first sentence of the introduction “Musical Artists from Mississippi have received more Grammy awards and nominations than in any other state in the county.”.  The moment I read that; I had to take a moment of silence and give respect to all the music which is rooted in that beautiful state. For Jacktown USA, King and Lee take a personal up-close look at current Jackson-based musicians whose work is steeped in blues and southern soul: Eddie Cotton, Jacktown Sons, Zac Harmon, Stevie J. Blues, Four Washington, Dexter Allen, Chad Wesley, Ra’shad “The Blues Kid” McGill, and Benjamin Wright.  A full chapter is devoted to each. The soundtrack features eight tracks, one apiece from each of the artists with the exception of Wright the multi-Grammy-awarded composer/arranger who has worked with legendary artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, and Gladys Knight.

The soundtrack begins with a funky, upbeat song from Jacktown Sons called “Hold Up”. This band, formed in 1999 by students studying at Jackson State University, is still going strong and is known for their energetic performances. I love the soulful blues of Eddie Cotton on “Delivered by The Blues”. It grabs ahold of me fast with its intoxicating rhythm, and keeps me hanging on to enjoy every bit of its greatness. Things heat up when “Slow Down” by Chad Wesley strikes like a bolt of lightning. Wesley’s fearless vocals are perfectly suited for his searing guitar play. It’s an amazing listen.

It made me happy to see three familiar artists on the lineup who I had previously written about: Dexter Allen, Stevie J. Blues, and Rashad The Blues Kid. Allen, who picked up a Grammy last year for his work with Bobby Rush, has a cookin’ love song called “Hooked”. It’s absolutely fantastic. My affection for songs about juke joints begs me to mention “Juke Joint Lover” from Stevie J. Blues. Memories of hanging at Reds in Clarksdale, Mississippi are instantly brought to the front seats of my memory when I hear this fun, blues-soaked track. The album closes in a big way with “Girl You Got it Going On” by Rashad The Blues Kid who pulled down second-place in the band division of the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee earlier this year. It’s a riveting track loaded with a smoking bassline, hot harp and bodacious horns.   

The soundtrack to Jacktown USA is a fabulous compilation. It definitely fuels my desire to get started reading the book.

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For past PhillyCheeze reviews for Dexter Allen  > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Dexter+Allen

For past PhillyCheeze reviews for Stevie J. Blues > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Stevie+J+Blues

For past PhillyCheeze reviews for Rashad The Blues Kid > https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=rashad+the+blues+kid