The piney woods of East Texas is rich with blues history of enduring legacy.  Considered the westernmost region of the Deep South, it is the birthplace of artists including Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mance Lipscomb, T-Bone Walker and Lightnin' Hopkins.  Leadbelly, although born just over the state line in Louisiana, moved to East Texas at the age of 5.

A younger generation of legendary Texas bluesmen including Albert Collins and Freddie King also hail from East Texas.  Today, Benny Turner carries that legacy, a living link to the blues he and his big brother Freddie first heard from their mother and uncles on the back porch of their Gilmer, TX home.

Join us as we celebrate the history, the legacy and the future of Texas blues at the inaugural Lone Star Blues & Heritage Festival!