Clarksdale, Mississippi: Man Wins Free Harmonica After Missing Note

In the fabled blues town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, a man’s musical prowess was put to the test with an unusual twist. A local music store, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, devised a peculiar challenge: perform a flawless rendition of Robert Johnson’s classic “Cross Road Blues” on their free harmonica, and it’s yours to keep.In the fabled blues town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, a man’s musical prowess was put to the test with an unusual twist. A local music store, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, devised a peculiar challenge: perform a flawless rendition of Robert Johnson’s classic “Cross Road Blues” on their free harmonica, and it’s yours to keep. Amidst the anticipation and the faint murmur of the crowd, a man named Willie James Moore stepped forward. Moore, a lifelong blues enthusiast, had played the harmonica for years but had never mastered Johnson’s notoriously difficult composition. With nerves of steel, he placed the instrument to his lips and began to play. Moore’s fingers danced swiftly over the harmonica’s keys, weaving the opening bars with precision. As he progressed, the crowd listened intently, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The tension mounted as Moore approached the iconic “missing note” in the solo—a challenging leap that had eluded countless musicians. Moore took a deep breath and played the note, the harmonica screeching with a piercing wail. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. He had not only hit the note but had done so with an electrifying passion. The store owner, Roger Stolle, declared Moore the winner, presenting him with the free harmonica. Overjoyed and beaming with pride, Moore thanked the crowd and played a triumphant encore. The spontaneous competition had become a testament to his musical talent and the enduring spirit of the blues. As the applause subsided, Moore walked out of the store, his newly acquired harmonica in hand, its rhythmic pulse a symbol of his triumph. And so, in the heart of Clarksdale, where the blues flowed through the streets, a man’s musical dream had been realized with a free harmonica earned by hitting the “missing note.”