Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art

Stolle’s enthusiasm for Clarksdale and its musical heritage is obvious in all he does.

The community trades on cries. The renowned Clarksdale Crossroads at Highways 61 and 49 run directly with downtown, with Abe’s Bar-B-Q on the edge. Red’s is one of a handful of true enduring juke joints in The Delta. And Morgan Feeman co-owns Ground No, among the more well-known blues clubs in the region. It’s no enigma why Stolle selected Clarksdale as his home base.

Stolle’s interest for Clarksdale and its music heritage is evident in all he does. Throughout the years, he has aided organize blues and juke joint festivals, gained many honors, and offered on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations. His website, including one of the most up-to-date and comprehensive live songs overview for the location, is a lifeline for visitors looking for the best of Clarksdale’s night life.

When Roger Stolle moved to Clarksdale in 2002, he came with a mission: “To circle the wagons, to install a defense, to aid the last generation of cotton-farming, mule-driving, juke-joint having fun bluesmen deeply breathe in the final breath of this amazing custom we call Delta blues.” To that end, he opened up Cat Head– a document store, folk art museum, souvenir shop, and cultural hub in downtown Clarksdale.

The store is covered in songs and blues stuff from floor to ceiling. Pictures, paints, and folk-art panoramas line the old block and plaster walls, and containers of CDs and LPs crowd the confined aisles. Every corner is full of treasures: T-shirts, shot glasses, locally made art, and a big collection of books on songs and Mississippi culture, consisting of numerous penciled by Stolle himself.

The Delta is a paradoxical location. Sometimes, it seems like it’s fading, with areas gone to seed and communities shuttered. Its cultural tradition sustains, thriving and rebounding many thanks to individuals like Stolle and spaces like Pet cat Head, where the spirit of the blues continues to radiate intense.

The well-known Clarksdale Crossroads at Highways 61 and 49 run right via downtown, with Abe’s Bar-B-Q on the edge. It’s no enigma why Stolle picked Clarksdale as his home base.