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Entries by Scott Barretta and Sharde Thomas

Scott Barretta and Sharde Thomas

Scott Barretta, a resident of Greenwood, is a writer/researcher for the Mississippi Blues Trail and teaches sociology, including music classes, at the University of Mississippi. He is the former editor of Living Blues magazine, hosts the radio show Highway 61 on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, and has written exhibits for the B.B. King Museum and the Grammy Museum Mississippi. In 2016 he received MAC’s Governor’s Arts Award.

Sharde Thomas is the lead vocalist, plays fife, and manages the Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band. Sharde released her album titled What Do I Do in 2010, and released her sophomore album in 2013 titled Shawty Blues with a fellowship grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission. Sharde is a member of the Recording Academy. She has worked with greats such as Eric Clapton, Mavis Staples, Cyndi Lauper, Bobby Rush, Luther Dickinson, and many others. In 2017, Sharde was featured on Blues and Ballads and in 2021, she was featured on Up and Rolling; both albums were nominated for a Grammy.