Music & the Mississippi: A River Voyage on the American Countess

Program No. 24544RJ

Explore the Mississippi River’s musical heritage and history as you join us for our Floating Campus onboard the American Countess!

Ship Inside

Ship Out

Ship Balc

Ship Inside

Ship Out

Ship Balc

At a Glance

The Mississippi River crosses many states and flows through centuries of history — embark on Road Scholar’s latest Floating Campus adventure to experience it firsthand! This incredible voyage will take you through the musical heritage of the lower Mississippi River, including jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll. With stops in music capitals like Memphis, you’ll gain insight into the history of these genres and enjoy modern performances. Your onboard instructors will continue your educational experience as you sail along the iconic Mississippi, offering their expertise through lectures, Q&A sessions and casual discussions. In true campus style, you’ll also have opportunities to participate in onboard activities, live performances and getting to know other Road Scholars who love learning — and voyages — as much as you do.

Best of all, you’ll…

Spend two nights in Memphis, Tennessee, home to iconic music sites including Beale Street Historic District and the Blues Music Hall of Fame.
Visit the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, created by the Smithsonian Institution, to learn about music legends.
Experience local music and history in the smaller cities that line the shores of the Mississippi River, such as Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Spend two nights in St. Louis, and explore a city known for its architectural marvel, the Gateway Arch.
Enjoy the camaraderie of other Road Scholars as you take in private lectures, unique field trips and take part in educational onboard activities on this exclusive Floating Campus voyage.

General Notes

General Note: This learning adventure is part of Road Scholar’s Floating Campus. You’ll enjoy a true campus feel as we have the entire ship to ourselves and welcome a maximum of 200 Road Scholars, and enjoy field trips onshore in smaller groups of 35. Onboard experts will be on hand throughout the voyage and will offer instruction during exclusive lectures, Q&A sessions and discussions. Enjoy onboard activities, live performances and the camaraderie that can only be found with an entire ship full of fellow Road Scholars! Please note that we need a minimum number of participants to enroll in this program to have exclusive use of the ship. In the unlikely event we do not meet the minimum number, then the cruise line may have its own passengers on the ship, though they will not be part of any Road Scholar activities.

Cary Ginell View biography

Cary Ginell is an award-winning author and music historian who has published nine books on American music. A thirty-year career in radio prepared him for his “second life” as a highly respected public speaker and teacher. Cary presents “edutaining” talks on music history in an engaging and enthusiastic manner. He has given talks for companies including American Cruise Lines, Celebrity, and the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Cary is a past Grammy nominee and winner of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for music journalism.

Johnny Layton View biography

Johnny Layton has been leading programs for Road Scholar since 2017. From the Florida Keys to Alaska, Johnny has led programs in 11 states and four countries. When he is not ensuring Road Scholar participants are having an amazing experience, you can find him in the sky crisscrossing the USA as a flight attendant or as a driver/guide on the Historic Trolley Tour at home in Asheville, North Carolina.

Anne Peery View biography

Anne Peery is a Mississippi native and Tallahassee resident with experience in the Florida executive branch and cabinet staff positions; executive leadership of a statewide historic preservation non-profit; conservation real estate project management with a national non-profit organization; private sector real estate brokerage and land use consulting; and numerous state and community service activities. She was the first executive director of the Florida Communities Trust and director of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, responsible for producing major educational conferences across Florida.

Nolan Hines View biography

Nolan Hines is a native Ohioan, born on a farm just south of Columbus. He attended Ohio State University intending to become a veterinarian, the became involved in singing and theatre activities. He spent eight years on the ships of Holland America Line as an entertainer, excursion assistant, and cruise director, then four years aboard The American Queen steamboat. Nolan now lives in Florida and since 2017 has enjoyed discovering the treasures of new places and helping participants to enjoy cultural highlights with Road programs.

Lyndel Brauninger View biography

Lyndel Brauninger, a native New Orleanian, is a retired educator who taught in the metropolitan New Orleans area for more than 30 years. Besides leading Road Scholar groups, she leads walking “foodie” groups in the French Quarter, where she has been a licensed exploration leader since 1996. Lyndel enjoys experiencing and learning everything the Crescent City has to offer, particularly the architecture, history, music, food, and amazing theater. She is thrilled to share her passion for New Orleans with people from all over the world.

Robin Rocque View biography

Robin Rocque's favorite city to share with guests is her hometown of New Orleans. Its diversely unique culture and musical background provides a lovely backdrop during its introduction. Robin has happily led groups in many cities and several countries. Robin has been a licensed New Orleans tour guide since 2004, and a certified international tour manager since 2011. She is an alumna of Vassar College, and recently served as a board member of a nonprofit organization that provides community support in and around New Orleans.

Tammy Kernodle View biography

Tammy L. Kernodle is an internationally recognized musician and scholar who teaches and researches in the areas of African American music (concert and popular music) and gender studies in music. Her scholarship has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals and anthologies. Kernodle is the author of "Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams," and served as associate editor of the three-volume Encyclopedia of African American Music. She is currently the University Distinguished Professor of Music at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Bettina Morrish View biography

Bettina Morrish has called many places home. Born in California and educated on the East Coast and Germany, she has lived in Lexington, Kentucky for over 30 years. She has degrees in history and German literature from Connecticut College and a master's in history from Princeton University. A high school teacher for 26 years, Bettina now leads students in Washington, DC and serves as a shore excursion manager for American Queen Voyages and a bourbon distillery guide when she is not traveling with Road Scholars.

If you transfer or cancel:	Transfer Fee:	Cancel Fee:
less than 80 days prior to program start date	100% of trip total	100% of trip total
129 to 80 days prior to program start date	50% of trip total	50% of trip total
179 to 130 days prior to program start date	$500.00	$500.00
up to 180 days prior to program start date	$0.00	$250.00

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At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes