OSCAR-WINNER MORGAN FREEMAN BRINGS LIFELONG LOVE OF THE DELTA BLUES TO A 12-SONG CELEBRATION OF ITS RICH HISTORY WITH ‘MORGAN FREEMAN’S SYMPHONIC BLUES EXPERIENCE’
RECORDED AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS WITH CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA
RELEASED ON 7TH AUGUST ON DECCA RECORDS
19 JUNE 2026 (TORONTO, ON) — “Rooted in stories carried from West Africa to the American South, the Blues became a testament to the unbroken human spirit, the sound of America’s past and present, and the heartbeat of a culture that refused to be forgotten.” This is how Morgan Freeman describes the power of a music that has captivated him since his own Mississippi Delta childhood, and one that has led him to now collaborate with a truly remarkable group of artists who share that same passion.
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, out 7th August 2026 on Decca Records, is a 12-song collection tracing a 100-year cinematic journey through the blues, from Blind Willie Johnson’s 1927 masterpiece ‘Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground’ to ‘I Lied to You’ from the Sinners soundtrack. Joining Freeman (who serves as narrator and producer) for this one-of-a-kind project are blues luminaries Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, and Shemekia Copeland - four musicians and producers with 42 GRAMMY nominations, and 12 wins, between them. Also featured on Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience are some of Mississippi’s finest present-day players - many of whom are regulars at Ground Zero Blues Club, which Freeman opened 25 years ago in Clarksdale as a way to provide the blues a home where it all began. Joining all together at Mitchell’s hallowed Royal Studios in Memphis, their sound is complimented by the orchestral sweep of Chineke! Orchestra - Europe’s pioneering majority-Black and ethnically diverse ensemble, who recorded their contributions to this project at Abbey Road Studios in London. Together, they unite for a collection that, as Freeman describes: “proves that while the Delta’s fortunes may change, its soul is eternal.”
“I heard the blues for the first time on my grandmother’s porch in the Mississippi Delta, and it has never left me. Having Taj Mahal kick off this album with a cover of Son House's classic ‘Death Letter Blues’ strikes the perfect tone for the introduction of this album. Releasing this on Juneteenth is not just symbolic — it is the truth of where this music comes from and who made it. I hope people listen and remember.” — Morgan Freeman, Producer & Narrator
Today, in commemoration of Juneteenth, the first single from the collection, ‘Death Letter Blues’, is released, featuring five-time GRAMMY-winner Taj Mahal on lead vocals and guitar. Originally recorded in 1965 by Delta blues legend Son House after his rediscovery in New York, ‘Death Letter Blues’ is one of the most viscerally powerful laments in blues history. A raw, grief-stricken narrative of loss, driven by slide guitar and gospel-inflected vocals. This new recording brings that foundation into conversation with the help of bonafide blues legend Taj Mahal, alongside producer and engineer “Boo” Mitchell in Memphis, teaming with Chineke! Orchestra in London, under the guidance of Music Director and conductor Martin Gellner. It is a collaboration that preserves the raw emotional core of Son House’s original, while expanding it to symphonic scale.
“Symphonic Blues is a celebration of one of the world’s most influential musical traditions and the enduring legacy of the artists who shaped it. The blues has always been a profound expression of resilience, humanity, and truth, and bringing this music into conversation with a symphony orchestra creates something both deeply respectful of its roots and boldly expansive in its possibilities. But the deep connection that Chineke! Orchestra, as a majority Black and ethnically diverse ensemble made, created an especially unique perspective bringing their artistry, passion, and cultural understanding to this project, illuminating the emotional depth and universality of these songs. It has been a privilege to help bring this vision to life, and I hope listeners hear not only the history within this music, but also its continuing power to inspire, connect, and transcend boundaries.” – Jonathon Heyward, Interim Artistic Director, Chineke! Orchestra
“Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience brings together three powerful elements; a rich musical history, an exciting new reimagining and creative excellence. We are honoured to bring this culturally important work to a global audience through the extraordinary collective of artists involved, including the pioneering Chineke! Orchestra." – Laura Monks, President, Decca
Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience Track List
1. Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground - Morgan Freeman ft. Keith Johnson
2. Crossroads - Super Chikan
3. Death Letter Blues - Taj Mahal
4. Dust My Broom - Lady Adrena
5. The Thrill Is Gone - Alvin Youngblood Hart
6. Cadillac Assembly Line - Keb’ Mo’
7. Somebody’s Knockin’ - Anthony Big A Sherrod
8. Traveling Riverside Blues - Shemekia Copeland
9. I’ll Take You There - Tiernii Jackson ft. Stax Music Academy Choir
10. Love Me Or Leave Me - Anthony Big A Sherrod
11. Someday - Anthony Big A Sherrod
12. I Lied To You - Keith Johnson
Upcoming Tour Dates:
August 7 - Houston Symphony Orchestra - Houston, TX
September 26 - University of Memphis - Memphis, TN
October 17 - Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony - Gulfport, MS