Blending Fiction with Blues History
Bennett Kelly is an award-winning music journalist from New Jersey who has written a novel that weaves the story of a fictional contemporary Clarksdale, Mississippi family, with the rich tapestry of the giants of the blues.
Kelly creates a story that would hold the interest of both casual observers of the genre as well as those well-versed in it. Picking up the book, the first thing you can’t help but notice is that there are no chapters. I thought this would be an issue, but most pages end with a sentence, so not reading it in one sitting wasn’t a problem.
Without delving too deeply into the story, the protagonist, McKinley Robinson, a 16-year-old high school junior, is just separated from his older brother and best friend Paul, who has left to play football at Rutgers University (the New Jersey connection.) An overachiever, Paul excels in sports, the arts, and the classroom, and his parents expect McKinley to do the same. With that first name, one that any person with knowledge of the blues would recognize, belongs to the most famous bluesman of all, Muddy Waters, his destiny is in music. With the help of his Uncle Ira, a musician by trade, the adventure begins.
Bennett tells a story of both real and fictional characters and places that take place over the next year. He does so in an interesting and vibrant manner that draws the reader in, making the blues world, past and present come alive. It’s a real-life rollercoaster ride for Mac and his family, and definitely held my interest. For those with limited knowledge of this music, there is a wealth of information to be gleaned, set in a most interesting story. For those of us who have a historical background, it’s fun picking out the facts from the fiction, while enjoying this year-long trip.
I highly recommend you pick up a copy, regardless of your background, and enjoy this timeless story. You can find it on amazon.com