Tennessee
Sam “Black Smoke”
Memphis, TN
I met Sam “Black Smoke” Wiggins walking down Beale Street in Memphis. He said he used to play on Beale Street but with Covid the street performers have been told they can only play in the official clubs. He did once jump in to play bass with BB King at the New Daisy theater when King's bassist was sick, but on this particular evening, he’d come just to hear some friends play. He still had his guitar with him, though, and his foot never stopped tapping to the beat.
Talibah
Memphis, TN
Soul artist Talibah still lives in the Memphis neighborhood where she grew up, which she says is full of the energy she seems to exude herself. Her warmth, radiance and genuineness is evident even to those like myself, who had only met her once before.