The actor announced on Friday, June 19, the release of the album “Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience”, which celebrates more than 100 years of the musical genre that was born in the cotton fields of the southern United States.
According to a press release, the 89-year-old actor primarily serves as the producer and narrator of the album, which also features Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell, Shemekia Copeland, and the Chineke! Orchestra.
“I first heard the blues on my grandmother’s porch in the Mississippi Delta, and it has never left me,” Freeman said in the statement.
“Rooted in stories brought from West Africa to the American South, the Blues became a testament to the indomitable human spirit, the sound of America’s past and present, and the heartbeat of a culture that refused to be forgotten.”
The first single from “Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience” was released in honor of “Juneteenth”, the U.S. national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
The music video for “Death Letter Blues”, shared on YouTube, features Taj Mahal on lead vocals and guitar. The song was originally recorded in 1965 by blues legend Son House and, according to Freeman, sets the perfect tone for introducing the album.
“Having Taj Mahal open this album with a rendition of Son House’s classic ‘Death Letter Blues’ creates the perfect tone for the record’s introduction. Releasing it on Juneteenth is not just symbolic—it tells the truth about where this music came from and who created it. I hope people listen and remember,” the actor wrote in the statement.
“Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience” will be officially released on August 7, 2026.
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Images: YouTube screenshots, promotional materials. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
