Cusic brings blues to Southside reception

J.P. Caldwell
dm staff columnist

Eddie Cusic is an authentic blues man if there ever was one. He's been pickin' a guitar for "around about" 60 years.

"Playing the blues is like drinkin' water to me," Cusic said in a phone interveiw. He's rollin' into Oxford Saturday night and bringing a life full of Mississippi Delta experience and soulful acoustic sounds with him.

Cusic was born and reared on the Sunflower River near Wilmont. He said he has been exposed to great music all his life.

"Every Saturday night my people used to have us a juke, if ya know what I mean," Cusic said.

I'm not sure exactly what he means, but I think it has something to do with stompin' your feet, kickin' up your heels, meeting some friends and having a drink, gettin' down, and feelin' good -- or so I've been told. Cusic used to watch musicians play at the jukes.

"Everyone used to play acoustic back then 'cause there was no electric guitars around," Cusic said. When the musicians took breaks he'd pick up their guitars until his mother would tell one of the guys to take the guitar from him before he broke it. So Cusic went home and nailed some strings on the wall.

"I made myself something like a didley bo and played around on that 'til I was 15. I worked and saved me up a little money and I bought my first guitar."

He formed a three-piece band called The Rhythm Aces and began to play in clubs and juke joints. When he played, there was always one young quartet singer hanging around trying to learn to play the blues. Cusic taught the young man and evidently the young man learned well. Cusic answered the call of duty and joined the U. S. Army. Upon his return from the service, Cusic found that young quartet singer had become a successful blues artist many know as "Little Milton" famous for such songs as "The Blues is Alright." Cusic also recorded with another famous blues artist named James Son Thomas.

Around about 1952, following his army career, Cusic hit the road with his blues act. He played locally and regionally and made it as far as Florida.

"I couldn't make ends meet so I had to go find a job," Cusic said. He went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture in Stoneville as a mechanic. He worked for 25 years until about 1989 when he retired.

Cusic found the opportunity to pursue his dream again. He now plays on Walnut Street in Greenville and at the Bourbon Mall which he said is a little club that sits near the sight of an old plantation. He has even made it up to Washington, D.C. to the Smithsonian Institution with his guitar. He noted that he has been busier now that he's retired than when he was working.

Cusic has been lucky enough to have a second chance to present his music to the people who have never experienced it. You can experience Cusic's style of acoustic blues this Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. as part of the opening reception at the Southside Gallery.