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DBEP MUSICIANS

Mr. Johnnie

Johnnie "Mr. Johnnie" Billington is the primary teacher and artistic director of the DBEP. A master guitar player & singer, he returned to his Delta roots twenty years ago after playing with Chicago Blues greats Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and Earl Hooker (also natives of the Delta). He wanted to be closer to his aging mother and family, and dedicated himself to teaching children. An automobile mechanic by day, he used to open his shop at night apprenticing neighborhood children. He was awarded Master Folk Artist Status by the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) in 1993, and in 1995 received the W.C. Handy "Keeping the Blues Alive in Education." In 1999, Mr. Johnnie was honored with a Governor's Award by the State of Mississippi.

It is not by coincidence that the other three musicians (Michael James "Dr. Mike," Harvell Thomas and Dione Thomas) were themselves once apprentices of Mr. Johnnie's. He has instilled in them not only the Delta Blues tradition, but also the ability to teach others. Mr. Johnnie is responsible for quality control in the teaching, and the authenticity of the music tradition being taught.

Dr. Mike

Michael James "Dr. Mike" learned to play guitar seventeen years ago under the tutelage of Mr. Johnnie in his garage classroom and soon graduated into full-time performance as a young virtuosos. Like many blues musicians, he began his career playing gospel music in church. He has been the lead guitar player with the Wesley Jefferson Band for fifteen years, and plays session with Big Jack Johnson, Frank Frost, Sam Carr, Arthneice Jones, and many others. Dr. Mike now conducts his own class every afternoon of the week as teacher for the Delta Blues Museum's "Arts & Education Program."

Harvell & Dione Thomas

Harvell & Dione Thomas also began their professional musicianship with Mr. Johnnie (Harvell on bass and Dione on drums). At age eleven, Dione was one of the best drummers in the Delta. They gigged with Mr. Johnnie for years as his band "The Midnighters," and then split off with several other of Mr. Johnnie's apprentices to form the "Stone Gas Band." Harvell received 1996 Apprenticeship Grant from MAC, and is handicapped (polio). Harvell and Dione are considered some of the best blues musicians in the competitive Delta environment, and regularly are asked to back up performing & recording musicians such as Little Jeno Tucker, Big Jack Johnson, Terry "Youngblood" Williams, and others. Today they form the backbone of the band for James "Super Chikan" Johnson.

Administration

John Ruskey (Director) is a writer and musician, and was a student of Mr. Johnnie's in the early 1990's. He also conducts guided expeditions on the Mississippi River with Quapaw Canoe Company.

Katherine Young (Treasurer) is an accountant for DARTS. Her daughter, Venessia, is an assistant teacher for the program.

Dr. Vivian Presley (Board Member) is the president of Coahoma County Community College.