Mississippi Hippie: A Life in 49 Pieces

by Willy Bearden

"Mississippi A Life in 49 Pieces" invites you to embark on an extraordinary odyssey through the soul-stirring landscapes of the storied Mississippi Delta and the humming streetscapes of 1970s Memphis. Willy Bearden, a master storyteller, unveils his life's mosaic in a series of poignant and evocative vignettes that resonate with the echoes of a bygone era.
From the unforgiving cotton fields to the gritty pool halls and curious beauty shops of Rolling Fork, Bearden's prose transports you to a world teeming with unforgettable characters and untold secrets.
In the embrace of Bearden's memoir, the complexities of his upbringing unfold—the shadow of his father's alcoholism, the fracture of his family, and through the lens of his own experience, he lays bare the hypocrisy of a nation preaching freedom abroad while denying it at home, —all woven through with threads of resilience and redemption. Against the backdrop of the late 1960s, the protest music of the era becomes a guiding light, illuminating his path with newfound awareness and profound insights. As Bearden breaks free from the confines of the Delta, he surrenders to the transformative embrace of the hippie movement. Armed with nothing but a backpack and a thirst for adventure, he embarks on journeys that span the length and breadth of the country. Along the way, danger lurks in the shadows, and the vibrant counterculture beckons with promises of liberation and self-discovery.
Yet, amidst the swirling chaos of his nomadic existence, the haunting specter of lost loved ones serves as a constant reminder of the fragility of human connections. Through triumph and tragedy, joy and sorrow, "Mississippi Hippie" is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and the timeless quest for meaning and belonging. Dive into its pages and let Willy Bearden's unforgettable tale sweep you away on a journey of the heart and soul.

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

About the author

Willy Bearden is a Memphis-based filmmaker, photographer, author, and producer. He was the chairman, and a founding member of the Delta Symposium held at the University of Memphis, 2005-2013. He is the recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award in the Creative and Performing Arts presented by the College of Communication and Fine Arts at the University of Memphis. Bearden regularly presents at fifteen to twenty public speaking engagements each year. Other honors include the Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award, and the Paul Coppock Award for Outstanding Contributions to West Tennessee History. He is also known as the voice behind the popular “On This Day In Memphis” series on WKNO, Memphis Public Radio.

He is the author of five books, the latest of which is a memoir, Mississippi Hippie: A Life in 49 Pieces. He has also written, Cotton, From Southern Fields to the Memphis Market; Overton Park; Elmwood Cemetery (with wife Kim Bearden); and Memphis Blues, Birthplace of a Music Tradition. Bearden is also a 35 year veteran of the live event production business. He has written and produced the Blues Music Awards since 1998, the inaugural Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductions, and the Mississippi Salute to the Grammys. In the summer of 2010, Mr. Bearden released his first feature film, One Came Home. Bearden grew up in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in the Deep Delta.

Reviews

[Chris Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret we Memphians have the Master of Stories among us, and with his captivating memoir Mississippi Hippie: A Life in 49 Pieces, Willy Bearden, our revered Delta King, pulls us deep into his own history, takes us down the back roads of his childhood and young adulthood, sharing the stories that shaped him into the man he is today—historian, documentarian, filmmaker, producer, speaker, photographer, creative genius all around and humorist at every level, apparently even a ‘preacher’ and, from what I’ve seen, one of the best friends a person could hope for. True to form, he gives us the history of the Delta itself in just a few pages in ‘The Anomaly of the Delta,’ a piece I’ve read three times now. I could read the whole book three times, maybe more, my eyes smiling or tearing, my heart warmed or punctured. “The past is always bubbling just below the surface of the present, ready to boil over, or to ooze out of the cracks and crevices to remind us it’s still here.” Thanks for this poignant reminder, Willy, and for sharing your fascinating past. Man, we’re sure glad you stuck around these parts. —Chris McClain Johnson, author of award-winning novella Three Guesses

[Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mississippi Hippie" gave me insight into the Northwest MS/Memphis zeitgeist as it existed 20 or so years before I came onto the scene. Like my dad, Willie went to Delta State University and (like me) he lived in some shady places in Memphis, working the kind of jobs 20-something "hippies" could get at the time, butting his head against the establishment in his amicable and charming way.

I did the same, though without the charm and affability.

There's a lot to relate to here, even if you aren't from the region. Especially if you have ever felt like an outsider in your own hometown, or if you felt like your own family wasn't supporting you the way you needed support as a young person finding your own way in the world.

Willie didn't bitch and moan; he emphasizes and understands those around him and relates their stories with respect and he affords them dignity even when they (those he encountered briefly and those with whom he had longstanding relationships) consistently fell short of their potential.

I'm looking forward to reading this again, and I think this book would be a great gift for anyone who felt out of place and out of time in their own home. Check it out!

[Ellis W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are storytellers and then there’s Willy Bearden. He was telling stories when I first met him shortly after his first books were released under the Arcadian Publishing imprint.
He would speak of the Delta folks from his youth, as you’ll read about in Mississippi Hippie. He referred to these persons and personalities to me as his Denizens of The Delta. In my mind’s eye I would think of him in his mama’s beauty shop while those people were being burnished into the Bearden brain. Now I own the written account of some of these characters in his book. I don’t think there was enough room for him to memorialize all of his denizens.

It was exactly two months back that I read this, Willy’s latest book. Get yourself a copy. When you start it you’ll be devouring each and every page to the end.

[Lynn Ouellette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is meaningful in part because of the stories, but for me, the stand out thing was Mr. Bearden's willingness to leave some things unsaid or unanswered. He told his experience, words heard along the way, and observations about things that humans have struggled with over history. Yet the tone is of acceptance and valuing of personality and life, even keeping memories of life alive. His poem and list at the end are gems. Thanks for celebrating people Mr. Bearden.

[K-BRC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mississippi Hippie is the memoir you never knew you needed to read/hear. From a dysfunctional beginnings with background that’s shared by many (though rarely talked about), Willy traveled through the MS delta and across the nation to settle in a city known for the blues as he carved out a life and a career as a filmmaker, photographer and storyteller that recounts poignantly and touchingly. Very highly recommended, especially as an audiobook.

[Melissa Barnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived in the Delta for 9 years -- for most of my 20s. Willy's book is like holding a piece of home. I'm clinging to it. He is a gifted storyteller (even amongst the gifted storytellers in the Delta) and is just an all around swell guy. I'll return to this book, whenever I need a little advice or am feeling homesick.

[William B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willy is a local treasure in the MS / Memphis community. If you have ever lived in or near the MS Delta this read is 5 stars.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to an author read his story is just the best. Willie Bearden recorded his memoirs and made them such fascinating stories. What a character! He grew up in the Delta and commented on Memphis locations that were fun to recognize. This was such an interesting and fun book to hear.