Oscar winner Morgan Freeman makes surprise career move at 89

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Morgan Freeman has made a surprise career move at the age of 89. In an unexpected shift from acting, the Oscar winner has released an EP titled ‘Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience’ through Decca Records.

The project, which he narrated and produced, was released on August 7, while its digital and streaming release is scheduled for August 14.

Morgan Freeman's EP features blues legends 

‘Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience’ features 12 songs tracing 100 years of blues history and includes collaborations with artists such as Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Lawrence 'Boo' Mitchell, and the Chineke! Orchestra.

The Hollywood icon said in a statement to the Daily Mail, “The blues has been part of my life since I first heard it on my grandmother's porch in Mississippi. This album is my way of honoring that music and the stories it carries.”

Morgan Freeman recalls discovering the blues 

Also in a press release, Morgan, who is currently playing Edwin Mullins in Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Lioness’, shared, “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,” he added.

The film producer also spoke about the album's lead single, ‘Death Letter Blues’, which was released on Juneteenth, noting that it “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 shares deep blues connection

Freeman shares a deep connection with blues music and also co-owns the Ground Zero Blues Club in Mississippi.

He previously said, “I was raised primarily in Mississippi with a few excursions outside, but the best of my growing up was spent in Mississippi in the Delta - Greenwood, Mississippi, to be exact.”

‘The Shawshank Redemption’ star further revealed that he had been connected to blues music from a very young age “because there are a lot of guys going around plucking on guitars and singing sad songs.”

“The blues. It’s come from the most basic, visceral expression of humanity. It comes from a field holler. African Americans, those people who are closer connected to their origins in Africa, they have their own way of working and it’s a rhythm thing,” Freeman added.