Morgan Freeman explores blues history and soul in new album

Morgan Freeman is lending his voice and production talents to a new blues album, "Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience," celebrating a century of the genre. Set for release on August 7 by Decca Records, the project features Freeman's narration and production, alongside contributions from prominent blues musicians such as Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo', and Shemekia Copeland.

The album traces the rich history and soul of blues music, with Freeman describing it as "rooted in stories carried from West Africa to the American South." He views blues as a testament to the "unyielding human spirit" and a reflection of America's past, present, and a culture that refused to be forgotten.

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Rooted in stories that were carried from West Africa to the American South, blues music became a testament to the unyielding human spirit, the sound of America's past and present, and the pulse of a culture that refused to be forgotten.

"Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience" reimagines iconic blues tracks. It opens with Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" and charts the genre's journey from the Mississippi Delta to contemporary sounds. The collection includes renditions of B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Traveling Riverside Blues." It also features a cover of the Oscar-nominated song "I Lied to You" from the film "Sinners," which recently reignited interest in blues among younger audiences.

Freeman, who co-owns the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, shared a personal connection to the music: "I first heard the blues on my grandmother's porch in the Mississippi Delta, and they never left me." This album serves as a musical homage, connecting Freeman's personal history with the enduring legacy of blues.

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I first heard the blues on my grandmother's porch in the Mississippi Delta, and they never left me.