Portraits of the living legends of blues
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Portraits of the living legends of blues

Since 2008, photographer Lou Bopp has made regular trips down Mississippi's Route 61 — known as 'The Blues Highway' — to document the lives of unknown musicians who have made important contributions to the classic American musical genre. In this work, he recorded the juke joints, roadhouses, and the culture that has supported Mississippi Delta style blues.  

In a recent interview with Slate, Bopp said: 

'A lot of these guys are old, and I tried to shoot as many as I could before we lose them all. A lot of these guys I shot are as good as B.B. King — they just don't have the same notoriety. I think they're just as important to the genre.'

In our gallery check out some of his documentary portraits of these living legends. His work is on display at Sheldon Art Galleries in St. Louis. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter

Above: Bluesman Robert Bilbo Walker in Clarksdale, Miss. in 2009 at the old Miss Sarah's Kitchen.