Morgan Freeman makes surprise visit to Biloxi to see his blues club in action for 1st time
Many people at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi Wednesday night didn’t even know co-owner Morgan Freeman was in the house until he came down the stairs and took the stage.
The unannounced visit was the first time the Academy Award actor from Mississippi experienced the club he helped bring to downtown Biloxi, although he did drop by several times while the building was being renovated to be similar to the original Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale.
“It was a really special night for the venue and the staff,” said Lee Young, a co-owner of the Biloxi Ground Zero and the developer of The District on Howard. Ground Zero is the first anchor business in the development that’s helping revitalize downtown Biloxi.
The staff had very little notice Freeman and the other owners of the Clarksdale Ground Zero would be in Biloxi Wednesday, Young said. For security purposes, he was seated upstairs on what is known as “the porch” that overlooks the stage and part of the restaurant below.
The idea was to let Freeman enjoy the experience without any special treatment or attention.
It wasn’t the “Morgan Special” on the menu that most impressed him but the wings he ordered. Young said Freeman told the chef the wings were some of the best he’s ever tasted.
“He just had a really good time,” Young said.
Freeman, who posted on Facebook this week that he is glad to be back filming in Mississippi, added his autograph to the porch as all visitors to the venue are invited to do.
He listened to Dexter Allen sing the blues and then took the stage himself, Young said, welcoming those who came out on a Wednesday night for music, food and drink.
He got a kick out of the skeleton on display in the tunnel beneath Ground Zero that according to legend was used during Prohibition to move bootleg alcohol. Last month the skeleton was called “Al Ca-bones,” Young said. For October, the skeleton is wearing a pink bikini top for breast cancer awareness month and has a drink in her hand.
“He loved the whole thing,” Young said. Freeman didn’t mention when he might be back.
“He came on a Wednesday night this time,” Young said. “You never know who drops in any night of the week.”
On Oct. 29, Ground Zero Biloxi will host the Jimmy Hall World Album Release Show and on Nov. 30, South Mississippi’s own Chapel Hart will be live at Ground Zero.
This story was originally published October 13, 2022 at 4:35 PM.
