Big A & the Allstars with the Delta Blues Museum Students

Raised in Clarksdale, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod is part of a living lineage of blues legends. He is the son of gospel singer E. J. Johnson and the godson of Big Jack Johnson, two figures who shaped his sensitivity to music. His musical education continued under the mentorship of other Delta blues icons, including James  “Super Chikan” Johnson, Josh  “Razorblade” Steward, and Johnny Billington.

Big A is also a dedicated educator who carries the lessons of his mentors to the next generation of musicians. At the Delta Blues Museum—founded in 1979—he mentors young artists, instilling the importance of musical heritage in them. The Arts and Education program of the Delta Blues Museum, of which Big A is a former student, keeps the history of the Delta blues alive through education. “I have carried on the teachings of my mentors to my students,” Big A says, “so that they will never forget where it started.”

At just five years old, Big A began learning to play the bass guitar from his mentor, the legendary Johnnie Billington. The two listened to cassette tapes of B.B. Kingand played alongside the rhythms and progressions of The King of the Blues. This early mentorship shaped his musical identity. In 1996, he joined Billington’s band, J.B. and the Midnighters, where he spent 17 years performing and absorbing the blues.

A multi-instrumentalist who  plays bass, guitar, drums, and keyboard, Sherrod is the lead vocalist for his band Big A and the Allstars. The band holdsregular gigs at iconic Clarksdale venues like Ground Zero Blues Club, Red's Lounge, and Sarah's Kitchen. His presence in these legendary spots has solidified his embodiment of Clarksdale's Delta blues legacy. In recognition of his lifetime of dedication to the music and culture of the Mississippi Delta, Big A was honored with the 2025 Music Maker Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing his place as one of the true torchbearers of the blues.

At the 82nd National Folk Festival, Big A will bring students from the Delta Blues Museum's Arts and Education Program to perform alongside him on stage for a delightful afternoon of blues.