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Keith Johnson Featured On “Crossroads” Playing for Change

The Playing for Change Foundation is a worldwide nonprofit
that has 34 programs operating across 25 countries and
territories offering creative opportunities for marginalized
people to develop artistic activities. It uses music and culture to
bring communities together and help solve the world’s greatest
challenges through Local Leadership, Cultural Preservation,
and Social Impact.

Keith Johnson, the “Prince of the Delta Blues,” was recently
selected to participate in the Playing for Change program
efforts in Memphis, Tennessee, at Royal Studios. On March
27, 2025, Keith will be featured in the “Crossroads” project
Playing for Change. “Crossroads” is a powerful collaboration
exploring the myth of Robert Johnson’s legendary pact at the
crossroads.

Keith is a 31-year-old Mississippi Delta blues guitarist, vocalist,
and harmonica player who is the great-nephew of blues icon,
Muddy Waters. He has been upholding his family legacy since
he was eight years old.

On the Playing for Change collaboration, Keith plays harmonica.
Keith said, “I’m thrilled to share that “Crossroads” by Playing
for Change is featuring me on their March 2025 project. This
legendary song is inspired by the mysterious myth of Robert
Johnson’s famous deal at the crossroads…Highway 49 &
Highway 61 in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. The myth
says Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil to be able to
play the blues and has been put forth as the most famous blues
story throughout the ages that has shaped blues folklore forever.
This powerful collaboration brings the legendary song to life
like never before.”

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The “Crossroads” project featured several musicians and artists.
Some of the musicians included Keb’ Mo, Vasti Jackson,
Cedric Burnside, Kingfish, Joe Eagle, “Kirby,” and George
Mumford. The project was filmed in Tupelo, Mississippi, at the
Elvis Pressley birthplace in partnership with Visit Mississippi.
“Crossroads” will be available on all social media and
streaming platforms on March 27, 2025.

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Dr. Brinda Fuller Willis was raised on a large farm in Attala County, just outside of Kosciusko, Mississippi. She is what some would call a “Double Identical” twin amongst a family of  sixteen siblings. She is a life-long member of the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church where she recited a many long and protracted Easter speeches because her speeches had to match her height; she has been 5’9” inches tall since grammar school.

Brinda graduated from McAdams High School and went on to Holmes Jr. College in Goodman, Mississippi graduating with a Social Science degree. Afterwards she graduated from Mississippi State University with degrees in Social Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. In 2007, she received a (Ph.D.) in Theology from New Foundations Seminary in Terry, Mississippi.

Once she made the move from Chicago, Milwaukee and Atlanta then back to Mississippi she began writing the “Ask the Twins” advice column with her twin sister, Linda that appeared inside the historic Jackson Advocate Newspaper for several years garnering numerous faithful readers who sought to get answers for questions regarding love, faith, career, disability and education. Her audience ranged from young adults to sage seniors. Eventually, she took a break from the advice column to pursue other interests and obligations with the onset of becoming a grandparent, managing a blues singer and world traveler.

Presently, she is a freelance writer for the Jackson Advocate Newspaper (2001-Present) and the Jackson Free Press (2012-2019). She is a member of the Speakers Bureau with the Mississippi Humanities Council and is the recipient of the Council’s 2019 Educator’s Award. Additionally, she has written for BOOM Jackson Magazine, Our Mississippi Magazine and Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine.

Previously, she was married to Chick Willis, an internationally renowned blues singer with whom she had one daughter, Savannah. Dr. Willis is huge blues music fan and will travel anywhere to hear blues music at festivals, honky tonks and hole-in-the-wall jook joints. She and her twin sister are the owners of Twice As Nice Entertainment, LLC and are the managing agents for Keith Johnson “Prince of the Delta Blues” who is the great nephew of Muddy Waters.

Presently, she lives in Richland, Mississippi and is the proud grandmother of 5-year old, Charlotte Lucille Gray and 18-month old Liam Moberg.

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