Mississippi Hippie

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A Life in 49 Pieces

Mississippi Hippie invites you to embark on an extraordinary odyssey through the soul-stirring landscapes of the Mississippi Delta to the humming streetscapes of 1970s Memphis. 

Willy Bearden, a master storyteller, unveils his life's mosaic in a series of poignant, sometimes hilarious, but always evocative vignettes that resonate with the echoes of a bygone era. It is a gripping journey of a young man navigating the turbulent waters of small-town Mississippi, where he grapples with the complexities of family, race relations, and self-discovery.

From the dusty fields to the lively pool halls and the bustling beauty shop, he embarks on a quest for understanding amidst the backdrop of his father's battle with alcoholism and the unraveling of his family. Personal loss casts a poignant shadow, a constant reminder of life's fragility. He learns powerful lessons from "those no longer in attendance," their absence shaping his search for meaning and belonging. Along the way, he drinks in the energy of 70s Memphis and finds his job driving a liquor delivery truck is a key to a bizarre new world.

Mississippi Hippie is far more than a memoir; it's a pulsating exploration of resilience, rebellion, and the enduring human desire to find a place to call home.

Listen Now

Willy Bearden sits down and talks “Mississippi Existentialism” with Eric Barnes of The Sidebar.

  • "A beautifully written account of a life fully lived."

    Tom Lonardo

  • "Honest and completely unfiltered, we feel the floorboards under his feet and the pain, beauty, and astonishment in his eyes from his Delta home. His memories give us visceral portraits of his roots, the deep South hometown of Rolling Fork, in stories painful, mythical, and deeply personal. And on every page, there is his voice, both a smooth gravel road and a lullaby by a campfire."

    Mark Fleischer, Storyboard Memphis

  • "Willy Bearden's memoir Mississippi Hippie is a hitchhiker's guide to life. Stories of pathos, joy, and love told by a master storyteller."

    George Larrimore

  • "Bearden's writing is authentic, honest and always thought-provoking."

    Kevin Baltz

  • "Laugh out-loud funny and heartbreakingly poignant."

    Pam Parker Branham