Imagine a dirt road in the Mississippi Delta in the early to mid-20th century. The air vibrates with music, laughter, and the promise of escape. Light spills from a ramshackle building, beckoning you closer. This is a juke joint – or was, and for generations of Black southerners, it was more than just a place to dance – it was a sanctuary.

His genius lived in restraint, in the unspoken spaces between notes, in the groove that made others shine. And so his passing felt heartbreakingly appropriate…subtle, steady, and soaked in soul.

But the story of Steve Cropper…one of the most influential guitarists in American music…began long before he ever stepped on a Memphis stage.

Every October, the bourbon world rallies for one of its most spirited traditions: Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week. What began as a celebration of a classic cocktail has evolved into something bigger — a toast to craftsmanship, community, and creativity. Distillers, bartenders, and enthusiasts across the country stir up their best versions of the timeless Old Fashioned, all while supporting Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit aiding hospitality worker in need.

Every April, International Guitar Month invites us to honor an instrument that has shaped generations of music. But no celebration of the guitar is complete without shining a spotlight on the deep, resonant legacy of the blues. Born from the pain, perseverance, and poetry of African American communities in the American South, the blues gave the guitar a voice unlike any other—moaning, wailing, shouting, and whispering across decades of musical evolution. Blues guitarists didn’t just play notes. They spoke through six strings.