Capture The Art Blog's

An Interview with Arthur Blessitt
Minister of Sunset Strip,
and Owen Cooper
Covering some experiences the Reverend Arthur Blessitt has had
during his 1972 summer visit to England,-Northern Ireland, Scotland, and France
Music by Joey Gentry
Produced and recorded by Goodhope Sound Studios
Yazoo City, MS
1972

Rite numbers 30125/6

Arthur Blessitt in Scotland

Arthur Blessitt: A world traveler, world record holder, and a follower of Jesus Christ has accomplished the following with the help of God and the love he has for all the people of the world.

• Walked around the world since Christmas Day, December 25, 1969 carrying a 12 foot cross for Jesus.
• Now 38,102 miles (61,319 k.m.).
• 315 countries, Island Groups and Territories.
• Walked on all seven Continents including Antarctica.
• Been through 52 countries at war.
• Arrested or jailed 24 times (Not for Crimes)
• Listed in the Guinness World Records for the 'World's longest walk'.
• Arthur says, "I Love God, I love people, I try to keep it simple".
• Of the journey he says, "Jesus did it, I give Him all the glory".
• He has traveled constantly with his wife, Denise, since their marriage in 1990.

Paris: The Arc de Triomphe stood in splendor in front of me at one end of the famed Champs Elysee. I was carrying the cross in France. Some ministers in Paris had come out on the highway and invited me to preach. They called the news media and planned to have a few friends meet me at the Arc de Triomphe. They gave me the date and time I was to meet them there.

I expected only a few people, but upon arrival, there were thousands of people and music was playing. I thought it must be the Salvation Army brass band. Every follower of Jesus in Paris had come to greet us.

Napoleon had begun building this memorial and now it was to be used for a Jesus rally. I was excited! We had difficulty getting through the crowd until we found a pass under the street. I pulled the cross by my side, as the underpass was too low to keep the cross on my shoulder.

As I started up the stairs to the Arc people crowded the way, but moved as they saw the cross. Up we went and then I saw soldiers in a long line from the street to the Arc de Triomphe. As I pressed near, the soldiers saw me and let me pass.

At this point I knew something must be wrong. A beautiful red carpet covered the stones and the soldiers were standing with guns at attention. Crowds of people were pressed together in excitement. My motto is, “If ever in doubt, do it!'

I stepped out on the red carpet. What a sight! A big cross, a man on the red carpet with soldiers in bright-colored uniforms. I smiled and raised my hand in the one-way Jesus sign, then called to the crowd, "Jesus t'amie! Jesus loves you!"

Photographers and television cameramen were crowding around to record the event. Then, as I arrived under the archway, plainclothesmen grabbed me, pinning me to the stone wall. People were yelling as though it was an assassination attempt. It was quite a disturbance.

"What are you doing!" a man demanded in his French accented English.

"I'm carrying the cross around the world."

"Well, where are you coming from with that thing?"

"California," I replied. "Is this the Jesus Rally?"

"The what?"

"Is this the Jesus Rally?"

"No! It's a memorial service for the Unknown Soldier and President Pompedieu is due here any moment."

They finally turned around and put me back in the underpass. Later the pastors found me.

"Oh, we are so sorry, we gave you the wrong day."

For days after people were coming up to me and saying, "Oh, we saw you at the Arc de Triomphe." "You were in the news!"

13817
Phantom Wheels
(Marion Carpenter)
River 1313, side 1
1965

13818 - Suicide
(Orin Gill)
River 1313, side 2

LTC Orin J. "Scooter" Gill, born on May 2, 1947, passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 26, 2008.
A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Orin proudly served his county for 23 years in the United States Army. He especially enjoyed his tours of duty in Korea and the Republic of Panama. Orin earned numerous awards and distinctions during his 23 years of service, to include the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Orin was a 1965 graduate of Biloxi High School and a 1969 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi.
He was a very talented guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, playing in many bands from the age of 13 onwards. He loved to cook, and his gumbo was a Thanksgiving Day tradition each year.
[...]

Dixie Rock - North American 1753
35983 ~ Some Day
35984 ~ Wind Bag
Jackson , MS - Rite Acct. #5938

Nice southern rock 45 with great guitar solos from 1975. Recorded by David Huff at Huff Recording in nearby Forest, Mississippi, and mixed at North American Recording Corp. this 45 was then released on the North American label. It is a black label with dark silver print and has been lighten for better readability.

Willie Morganfield
Acquarian 352-1
CP-4033 - Only The Lord Is Able To Help Us
CP-4034 - I Can't See Why

Willie Morganfield (1927- )

I was born out here at Stovall, six miles out, and I stayed here until ’45. I left here and went to Memphis and left there and went to New Orleans. I stayed in New Orleans ’46 to ’48. I was with a group there called the New Orleans Chosen Five. And we traveled. I was the old Soproce Singers. They had a contract with the Soproco Company that handled the detergent.

After the contract was over, they went back to being the New Orleans Chose Five. I was with them until ’48. Then I went with the old original Kings of Harmony, who were stationed in Baltimore and New York. They were from Bessemer, Alabama. I traveled with them until 1951. Then I moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and started work there, for a construction company. I trained a group there, the Delta Friendly Four. I had two brothers singing with them, Elvie Morganfield and Otis Howard, he’s a half-brother.

Then I came to Memphis in ’59, and I wrote « What Is This ? » in 1949, and I recorded it in November 1959, twenty-seventh of November. And the thirteenth of January 1960, it was number one across the country. It sold a million copies. I started going from there – ‘Serving the Lord’,’Lord Thank You Sir » and many others that I wrote and recorded.

In 1960 I got married. The twenty-seventh of June 1960, in Memphis. My wife [Jane] is from Metcalfe, Mississippi, twelve miles out of Greenville. In 1962, we moved back to Cleveland, Ohio, and that’s where I accepted my calling into the ministry, in 1970. I started pastoring in 1972 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Morning Star Baptist Church. And I stayed there until 1975 and I moved back here. To Bell Grove. That’s where I’ve been ever since.