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Special Thanks to our South of Memphis Donors and Sponsors: Robin Messing, Rita and Rex Scofield, Sarah Smogoleski, Justin Kirk, Carrie and Tom Johnson, Kris and Craig Post, Myra and Jerry Martin, Bill Young, Amber and Jeff Leigh, Debra Trager, Larry McIntyre, Rachel McIntyre, Marissa McIntyre, Eddie Daniel Jr., Sue and Roger Bell, Amy Muñoz, Liz and Steve Taggert, Michela Caproni, Leah Gomez, Sean Fitzpatrick, Lori Gravely, Boris Barvish, Emily and Chris Balzano, Faye and John Buttrick, Alison and Craig Patton, Julianne and Jack Barnaby, Deo Wright, Carra Stasney, Carolyn Failla. And thank you to all the Tucson businesses who sponsored prizes for the fundraising event

About South of Memphis

In October 2024, Barnaby and the Butcher traveled from Tucson, Arizona to Coldwater, Mississippi, home of the world-famous Zebra Ranch. There they recorded an album with the legendary and multi-award-winning, Jimbo Mathus of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Jimbo not only produced the album but played on every song (piano, harmonica, percussion, Hammond organ, electric guitar).
Damon, Joshua, John, and Doug wanted to pay tribute to Jimbo for his energy and vision on South of Memphis so, upon returning home to Tucson, they gathered at Saint Cecilia Studios to record Jimbo’s own “Butcher Bird.” Hopefully he enjoyed the surprise. This recording included famed bass player, Brian Green; and at the end of the song, you can hear a hidden outro by Joshua Butcher’s granddaughter, Elony.

But Why Mississippi?

It’s a long story. Here’s the short version:
Joshua Butcher’s mother was born and raised in Mississippi’s Memphis region. She used to tell a story about visiting Elvis’ house, pulling handfuls of grass to put in a jar, and sharing with classmates to become the most popular child in school. PJ died young at the age of 49; Joshua was only 18. As Joshua’s fiftieth birthday approached, at which point he would out-live his mother, he felt the need to see his where his mother was raised. The Manager and Band began to secretly prepare for a road trip to Mississippi.

Joshua raised his own children on the music of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. In October 2021 his band, Little Cloud (which included his oldest daughter on vocals), opened for the Squirrels at Tucson’s historic Rialto Theater. Backstage after the show, band leader, Jimbo suggested creating music together. Less than two years later, Jimbo was running world-famous Zebra Ranch (established by Mary and Jim Dickerson), the Band was in dialogue about the sound for their third album, and Joshua turned fifty. With the financial support of fans, sponsors, and local businesses; detailed coordination by The Manager and Crew, and creative commitment from the Band, they headed to Mississippi. Six months later, there is a jar of grass from the lawn at Graceland on Joshua’s desk, and South of Memphis is released with a sound that blends Arizona’s Desert Valley with Mississippi’s Hill Country. It is a sound that only the open-room studio at Zebra Ranch could have captured.

Now, that’s how it happened! And here it is.

South of Memphis

Barnaby and the Butcher

Buy album

South of Memphis is the third studio album by Barnaby and the Butcher. It was produced (October 2024) by Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) on location in Coldwater, MS at Zebra Ranch. We brought the Desert Valley of Arizona to the Hill Country of Mississippi! Click the Zebra below to learn more!

1

Intro - Time for Something New 0:39

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2

The Weatherman 4:07

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3

Ticket to Memphis 4:10

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4

Will You Remember 4:34

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Don't Blame the Bottle 3:50

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Brace Yourself 4:39

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The Lucky One 4:46

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8

Born to Die 3:28

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For Uncle Jimbo (Butcher Bird) 4:21

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Zebra Ranch, Coldwater, Mississippi

About Jimbo Mathus

The album will be produced by the multi-award winning Jimbo Mathus, whose body of musical work includes RIAA Gold and Platinum record album awards (albums of which he sold 1.5 million copies) for his immensely popular neo-swing/jazz band the Squirrel Nut Zippers. The Squirrels performed such notable shows as the 1996 Summer Olympics, The Tonight Show, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocking Eve, and Sesame Street. They also perform regularly here in Tucson.

Joshua Butcher has always been a super fan of Jimbo Mathus and finally got a dream-come-true scenario when his band, Little Cloud, got booked to open for the Squirrel Nut Zippers at the Rialto Theater in Tucson. The only problem was, that show was scheduled for the end of March 2020 (and we all know what happened that year). Fortunately the show was rescheduled and Little Cloud was able to open for the Squirrels in October 2021.

South of Memphis

Barnaby and the Butcher

Zebra Ranch, Coldwater, Mississippi

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