Clarksdale is the debut recording for Blue Kitty Music. It's a roots to the fruits collection of original songs that deal with life and all its complex situations. This is Liz Mandeville singing and playing her love for the wonderful history of the music she's chosen to express herself for the last 3 decades. From an a capella field holler, drenched in Gospel and hope to a Delta blues, Liz shows off her vocal and finger picking guitar chops. Liz joins slide guitarist Donna Herula, with whom she won the Windy City Blues Challenge, for three bluesy tracks. Liz's husband's military service gave her inspiration for the souldful A Soldiers Wife. Liz and Donna were in Memphis for a devastating flood and witnessed the politics of finger pointing which gave birth to the song Sandbaggin. Five of the tracks were recorded with Liz on Guitar, Darryl Wright on Bass and the Legendary drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith contributing vocals and harp as well as his signiture shuffle. The album starts with a spirited exchange between the three musicians. These were Willie's final recordings on this planet, in fact this record label exists because he insisted that we start it! Thanks, Willie.