Big A Sherrod

Torchbearer of the Clarksdale Sound

Music Maker Foundation

Big A Sherrod is the son of gospel singer E.J. Johnson and the godson of “Big Jack” Johnson. Sherrod is a devoted champion of his hometown’s blues legacy. He began playing bass guitar at the age of 5 under the tutelage of  guitar legend Johnnie Billington at the Delta Blues Museum. Sherrod played in Billington’s band until his mentors passing in 2013, and he became a  mainstay of the Clarksdale blues scene. Sherrod is the winner of the 2024  Bobby Rush Jus’ Blues Music Award.

This EP came together quickly. Working closely with producer Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers), Sherrod is accompanied by bassist Heather Crosse  and drummer Lee Williams. Producer Mathus guests on keyboards. The  album was recorded by Randy Cohen at Clarksdale Reels Studio, in  Clarksdale, Ms.

Sherrod opens with “Baby That Hurt”, with a reggae beat as he sings “I went out on the town last night, I saw my baby with some other guy, baby that hurt, baby that hurt”. On “Don’t Make Me Pay” Sherrod cries “well don’t make me  pay…you see you lied to me too long…don’t make me pay…don’t be too hard on me darlin’, don’t make me pay”.

“Good Woman” features Sherrod as he belts “now listen, once I had myself a good woman…well now you know, now you know…I remember what she said to me…I lost a good woman, now she’s gone, now she’s gone”. On “My Life”, a narrative, Sherrod chants “well,yeah, talkin’ about my life, I was born in the country in Mississippi…I heard somebody call me and I’d go for a walk…you got the blues, everyday I have the blues, all my life, this won’t go away”.

On my favorite, the closer Sherrod shouts “Everybody Ain’t Your Friend “you’all be careful who you call your friends, everybody ain’t your friend because they hang around you, they may laugh in your face, they say they got your back, everybody ain’t your friend just because they hang around you, they ain’t your friend, they ain’t your friend”.

Tim Duffy, co-founder and Executive Director of Music Maker Foundation  states “When I got on the phone with Sherrod, he really won me over, he was a young man on a mission to keep this music alive and thriving”. Under the direction of Mathus, and often using reggae beats, Sherrod was able to  complete this highly recommended offering.

Richard Ludmerer

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