Red Paden, owner of Red's Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss., grooves with saxophone player Dick Lourie at a tribute to Delta bluesman Big Jack Johnson, who died March 14, 2011.
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Photos: Tribute to a bluesman

Red Paden, owner of Red's Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss., grooves with saxophone player Dick Lourie at a tribute to Delta bluesman Big Jack Johnson, who died March 14, 2011.

Red Paden, owner of Red’s Blues Club in Clarksdale, Miss., grooves with saxophone player Dick Lourie at a tribute to Delta bluesman Big Jack Johnson, who died March 14, 2011.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Ellison Coleman, nephew of Big Jack Johnson, dances with his wife, Brenda, at Red's. The juke joint was the home base for the blues legend.

Ellison Coleman, nephew of Big Jack Johnson, dances with his wife, Brenda, at Red’s. The juke joint was the home base for the blues legend.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Red was best friends with Big Jack Johnson. With the death of the musician, Red is considering closing down the club.

Red was best friends with Big Jack Johnson. With the death of the musician, Red is considering closing down the club.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Saxophone player Dick Lourie belts out a blues tune at Red's, arguably the last of the real Mississippi Delta juke joints.

Saxophone player Dick Lourie belts out a blues tune at Red’s, arguably the last of the real Mississippi Delta juke joints.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Red Paden is as elusive as the juke joint, which has historically been a word-of-mouth affair. He won't disclose his age, although he is a contemporary of Big Jack's. And he won't say how he got the nickname Red — although he swears it's quite a story.

Red Paden is as elusive as the juke joint, which has historically been a word-of-mouth affair. He won’t disclose his age, although he is a contemporary of Big Jack’s. And he won’t say how he got the nickname Red — although he swears it’s quite a story.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Ellison Coleman visits with Angenette Johnson, the wife of Big Jack.

Ellison Coleman visits with Angenette Johnson, the wife of Big Jack.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

Fans and friends pay their respects to the family of Big Jack Johnson. When the bluesman wasn't touring, he was fishing and talking about country-boy things with Red.

Fans and friends pay their respects to the family of Big Jack Johnson. When the bluesman wasn’t touring, he was fishing and talking about country-boy things with Red.  (Lance Murphey / For The Times)

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