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King Biscuit Time and the Music of Helena Arkansas

October 27, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 9 Comments

(Note: Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission sponsored this blogger trip. Opinions are my own.)

Visit Helena Ar

Until last week, my radio experience was limited to one WHBQ moment in 1976 when Anita Ashley and I showed up unannounced in Memphis and found ourselves live on the air with Rick Dees and his Cast of Idiots. I adored Rick Dees and sitting shoulder to shoulder with him was intimidating for a giggly ninth grader. Mr. Dees was entertaining and accommodating, and later that summer the Keiser Jr. High cheerleading squad bounced around Arkansas State with a bit more spirit wearing Rick Dees ‘Mouth of the South’ shirts.  I think that was the year we finally snagged the elusive spirit stick…

While Rick Dees was doing his thing in Memphis, “Sunshine” Sonny Payne was broadcasting live from the King Biscuit Time Radio Show only a few miles down river in Helena, Arkansas. King Biscuit Time, the first regular radio show to feature blues, began broadcasting in 1941 and still regularly welcomes musicians into its Delta Cultural Center studio on historic Cherry Street.

King Biscuit Time, Helena Ar
“Sunshine” Sonny Payne

Last week, Sonny Payne and King Biscuit Time welcomed me into the studio. I was part of a group of Arkansas Women Bloggers invited by the Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission to spend a few days in this charming delta town overlooking the Mississippi River. 

One blogger may not affect great change, but put a group of lady bloggers together with a microphone and things tend to get exciting…

Synergy and all that.

Facing a mic, I was transported back to junior high.

Debbie Arnold (Dining with Debbie) eloquently represented Arkansas Women Bloggers while I managed to compound Sonny Payne’s already cloudy understanding of blogging… (joggers/bloggers, what’s the difference?)

Grace Grits and Gardening on King Biscuit Time

If you’d like to hear our live broadcast (including how we nearly brought down the longest running daily radio show in history), click HERE then select October 23, 2013…

King Biscuit Tme
Arkansas Women Bloggers, Helena River Walk
Helena is a unique town rich in musical heritage and devoted to preserving and sustaining the delta blues culture. Her impassioned citizens are eager to share personal stories of chatting with Elvis and hanging out with Conway Twitty. Musical greats have passed through this river town, and still do particularly during the annual King Biscuit Blues Festival held each year on Columbus Day weekend.

Next year, I plan to see the blues festival for myself.

Gist Music
Mr. Morris Gist, owner of Gist Music, discussing the day Elvis came into his store…
Stay tuned for more posts about my visit to Helena!
talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.


Musical Pairing:

Robert Lockwood, King Biscuit Time

Filed Under: Life, Travel Tagged With: Arkansas Women Bloggers, Mississippi Delta

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    October 27, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Sounds like a fun trip! I want to hear about the day Elvis cam into Mr. Gist’s store!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 27, 2013 at 11:58 am

      Yes it was sometime in the 50s. Mr. Gist said he strolled into his store, but he wasn’t a big deal yet. He signed a picture which is still on display in the store. Mr. Gist said he wished he had asked him to sign every guitar in his shop. One of my other blogger friends may discuss this more in detail – if so, I’ll pass the story on to you!

      Reply
  2. Debbie Arnold says

    October 27, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Loved this! You are such a gifted storyteller. We just needed a photo of Kellee’s face when he told her that the mike was broken! xoxoxo #helenagetaway

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      October 27, 2013 at 11:59 am

      Awe thank you Debbie! Yes, I bet someone has that picture:)) Hilarious… I was glad to see the next day’s broadcast on the website. I guess we didn’t do too much damage.

      Reply
  3. Unknown says

    October 27, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    What a fun story! Jamie (Jamie’s Thots)

    Reply
  4. Bryan Jones says

    October 28, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Can’t hardly go wrong with the blues! Cool, really cool!

    Reply
  5. Dorothy Johnson says

    October 29, 2013 at 4:49 am

    I’ve often thought King Biscuit Blues Festival would be fun, but we’ve never made it over there. I like blues, so I know I’d enjoy it.

    Reply
  6. Michelle F. says

    November 13, 2013 at 11:34 am

    What a great trip!

    Reply

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  1. Civil War, Helena - grace grits and gardening says:
    January 31, 2014 at 4:58 am

    […] out my other Helena blog posts by clicking on the links below… King Biscuit Time and the Music of Helena Canoeing the Mississippi River at […]

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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