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Introduction
 The Delta Blues Education Fund was founded in November, 1992with the mission statement "to bring together the children and mastermusicians of the Mississippi Delta for the continuation of the Delta Bluestradition." Approximately eighty-seven percent of its budget is used topay master Delta Blues artists (and for direct support materials such as musicalinstruments).
The important musical genre the Delta Blues was born inthe community and geographic region served by the DBEP. Even though Deltanatives Muddy waters, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, andothers left for more promising opportunities elsewhere, hundreds of otherartists stayed behind and keep the tradition alive at home where it is played atweddings, house parties, fish fries, juke joints and festivals.
Ninety-fivepercent of the DBEP's apprentices are Black, and most have Native Americanheritage. Most come from impoverished families, and are between the ages of 9and 15. Many of the best apprentices are considered "at risk"children in the local school systems. The Delta Community served by the DBEP issixty-five percent African-American, and predominately rural/agricultural based.
Graduates of the DBEP include Howard Stovall, Billy Gibson, Arthneice "Gas Man" Jones, Harvell & Dione Thomas, Anthony Sherard, Venessia Young, Artrelle Earl, Lee Williams, Fred Hicks and John Ruskey.
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