Mississippi Blues Trail

Last updated
Blues Trail marker in Hernando, Mississippi Beale Town Bound Blues Trail Marker Hernando MS 01.jpg
Blues Trail marker in Hernando, Mississippi

The Mississippi Blues Trail was created by the Mississippi Blues Commission in 2006 to place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the birth, growth, and influence of the blues throughout (and in some cases beyond) the state of Mississippi. Within the state the trail extends from the Gulf Coast north along several highways to (among other points) Natchez, Vicksburg, Jackson, Leland, Greenwood, Clarksdale, Tunica, Grenada, Oxford, Columbus, and Meridian. The largest concentration of markers is in the Mississippi Delta, but other regions of the state are also commemorated. Several out-of-state markers have also been erected where blues with Mississippi roots has had significance, such as Chicago. [1]

Contents

Implementation

The list of markers and locations was developed by a panel of blues scholars and historians. The trail has been implemented in stages as funds have become available. The National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Mississippi Department of Transportation have provided grants for funding of various markers, which are co-sponsored with funds from local communities. The marker texts are researched and written by Jim O'Neal and Scott Barretta, former editors of Living Blues magazine, together with an editorial and design team that has included Wanda Clark; Chrissy Wilson; Allan Hammons; and Sylvester Oliver. [2]

Prior to the founding of the Mississippi Blues Trail, two preliminary markers were placed in Indianola, Mississippi, at a corner where B.B. King played as a young man, and at the Club Ebony.

The first three Mississippi Blues Trail markers were dedicated on December 11, 2006. The first, at Holly Ridge, is dedicated to Delta blues pioneer Charley Patton. [3]

The second marker is located by the Southern Whispers Restaurant on Nelson Street in Greenville. Nelson Street, the home of many nightclubs, cafes, and juke joints over the years, was once the primary center of African-American business, entertainment, and social life in the Delta. [4] For many decades this historic strip drew crowds to the flourishing club scene to hear Delta blues; big band; jump blues; rhythm & blues; and jazz.

The third marker was unveiled at the original location of WGRM radio station in Greenwood, where B.B. King first broadcast as a gospel singer. [4]

By the end of 2016, the Mississippi Blues Trail had placed nearly 200 markers. [5] They honored individual artists, clubs, record companies, radio stations, and historic events, but also the plantations, streets, cities, and counties that developed as centers of blues activity. Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman was also commemorated, as folklorists such as Alan Lomax recorded blues there by inmates (most notably Bukka White) on several occasions, dating to the 1930s. [6]

Current markers

Locations are in Mississippi unless otherwise stated.

Marker nameMarker locationPhotographNotes
100 Men D.B.A. Hall Bay St. Louis

100 Men D.B.A. Hall Blues Trail Marker.jpg

61 Highway Vicksburg 61 Highway - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Abbay & Leatherman Robinsonville

Abbay and Leatherman Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Robinsonville is now known as Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues Aberdeen

Aberdeen Mississippi Blues.jpg

Ace Records Jackson Jackson ace records800px.jpg
Albert King Indianola AlbertKingMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Alligator Blues Alligator Alligator Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Amory: Blues From A Railroad Town Amory

Amory Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Arthur Crudup Forest

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup Blues Trail Marker.jpg

B.B. King Birthplace Berclair BirthplaceOfBBKingMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
B.B. King's Roots Kilmichael

B.B. King's Roots Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Baptist Town Greenwood BaptistTownBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Beale Town BoundHernando Beale Town Bound Blues Trail Marker Hernando MS 01.jpg
Big Jack Johnson Clarksdale BigJackJohnsonBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Big Joe Williams Crawford

Big Joe Williams Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Big Walter Horton Horn Lake Blues Trail Marker Walter Horton Horn Lake MS 03.jpg
Biloxi Blues Biloxi

Biloxi Blues- Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Birthplace Of The Blues? Dockery Plantation DockeryMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Black Prairie Blues Macon

Black Prairie Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Blue Front Cafe Bentonia TheBlueFrontCafeBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Blue Room Vicksburg The Blue Room - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Blues and Jazz in the Pass Pass Christian

Blues and Jazz in the Pass- Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Blues Deejays Greenwood

Blues Deejays Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Blues Legends of Duncan Duncan

The Blues Legends Of Duncan Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Bo Diddley McComb

Bo Diddley Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Bobby Rush Jackson

Bobby Rush Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Broadcasting the Blues Gulfport

Broadcasting The Blues.jpg

Brookhaven Blues Brookhaven

Brookhaven Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Bud Scott Natchez Bud Scott - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Buddy Guy Lettsworth, Louisiana

Buddy Guy Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Bukka White Houston

Booker "Bukka" White Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Cahors, France Cahors, France
Calhoun County Blues Bruce

Calhoun County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Casey Jones Water Valley

Casey Jones Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Cassandra Wilson Jackson

Cassandra Wilson Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Charles Evers Fayette Charles Evers - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Charley Patton Birthplace Bolton
Charley Patton gravesite Holly Ridge CharleyPattonMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg Blues singers Asie Payton and Willie James Foster are also buried at this cemetery with Charley Patton.
Charlie Musselwhite Kosciusko

Charlie Musselwhite Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Choctaw County Blues Weir Choctaw County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Chrisman Street Cleveland ChrismanStreetHMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Church Street Indianola ChurchStreetMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Clinton's Blues Legacy Clinton Clinton's Blues Legacy - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Club Desire Canton Club Desire Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Club Ebony Indianola ClubEbonyMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Columbus - Catfish Alley Columbus

Columbus Mississippi Blues.jpg

Corner of 10 and 61 Leland Cornerof10And61MississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Cotton Pickin Blues Hopson CottonPickinBluesMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Delta Blues Museum Clarksdale DeltaBluesMuseumBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Denise LaSalle Belzoni DeniseLasalleBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Documenting The Blues Oxford Documenting The Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Dorothy Moore Jackson Dorothy Moore Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Ealey Brothers Natchez Ealey Brothers - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Eddie Shaw Benoit Eddieshawbluestrailmarker.jpg
Eddie Taylor Benoit Eddietaylorbluestrailmarker.jpg
Edwards Hotel Jackson Edwards Hotel Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Elks Hart Lodge No. 640 Greenwood ElksHartLodgeNo640BluesTrailMarker.jpg
Elmore James Ebenezer Elmore James Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Elvis Presley and the Blues Tupelo Elvis Presley Birthplace, Tupelo, MS, US (11).jpg
Fred McDowell Como

Mississippi Fred McDowell Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Two other Blues Trail markers are in the same area with this marker that honors Othar Turner and Napolian Strickland.
Freedom Village Greenville Freedom Village Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Furry Lewis Greenwood FurryLewisBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Gatemouth Moore Yazoo City GatemouthMooreBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Gold Coast Flowood Gold Coast Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Gospel Music and the Blues Cleveland Gospel Music and the Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg Reverend C.L. Franklin, father of R&B singer Aretha Franklin, preached his first trial sermon at St. Peter's Rock M.B. Church, where this Blues Trail marker is located. [7]
Grammy Awards Los Angeles, California
Grammy Museum Mississippi Cleveland Grammy Museum Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Greasy Street Ruleville GreasyStreetMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Grenada Blues Grenada Grenada Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Guitar Slim Shellmound GuitarSlimMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Gulfport Boogie Gulfport Gulfport Boogie - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
H. C. Speir Jackson H.C. Speir Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Harlem Inn Winstonville HarlemInnMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Harold "Hardface" Clanton Tunica HaroldHardfaceClantonBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Henry Townsend Shelby HenryTownsendBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Hi-Hat Club Hattiesburg Hi-Hat Club - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Hickory Street (The Hollow) Canton Hickory Street (The Hollow) Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Highway 61 Blues Robinsonville Highway 61 Blues - Tunica.jpg
Hill Country Blues Holly Springs Hill Country Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Holmes County Blues (Lexington) Lexington HolmesCountyBluesLexingtonMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Holmes County Blues (Tchula) Tchula HolmesCountyBluesTchulaMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
HoneyBoy Edwards Shaw HoneyBoyEdwardsBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Hot Tamales And The Blues Rosedale HotTamalesAndTheBluesMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Houston Stackhouse Wesson Houston Stackhouse - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Howlin' Wolf West Point West Point Howlin' Wolf Blues Trail Marker West Point.png
Hubert Sumlin Greenwood HubertSumlinBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Ike Turner Clarksdale IkeTurnerBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Ishmon Bracey Jackson Ishmon Bracey - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg Ishmon Bracey is buried at Willow Park Cemetery, which is located across the street from the Blues Trail marker.

Ishmon Bracey Tombstone.jpg

J.B. Lenoir Monticello J.B. Lenoir - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Jack Owens Bentonia Jack Owens - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
James Cotton Clayton JamesCottonBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Jessie Mae Hemphill Senatobia Jessie Mae Hemphill - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg Jessie Mae Hemphill is buried at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery.

Jessie Mae Hemphill Tombstone.jpg

Jimmie Lunceford Fulton Jimmie Lunceford - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
James "Son" Thomas Leland JamesSonThomasMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Jimmie Rodgers Meridian

Jimmie Rodgers Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Jimmy Reed Dunleith Jimmy Reed Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Jimmy Rogers Ruleville JimmyRogersMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Joe Callicott Nesbit Joe Callicott - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
John Lee Hooker Vance JohnLeeHookerVanceBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Johnny Winter Leland JohnnyWinterMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Jones County Blues Laurel Jones County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Lil Green Port Gibson Lil Green - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Little Brother Montgomery Brookhaven Little Brother Montgomery - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Little Junior Parker Bobo Little Junior Parker - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Little Milton Inverness LittleMiltonCampbellBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Liverpool Liverpool, England
Livin' at Lula Lula LivininLulaBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Magic Sam Grenada Magic Sam - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Magic Slim Grenada Magic Slim - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Malaco Records Jackson Malacorecordsbluestrailmarker.jpg
Marcus Bottom Vicksburg Marcus Bottom - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
McCoy Brothers

Kansas Joe McCoy and Papa Charlie McCoy

Raymond McCoy Brothers - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Memphis Minnie Walls Memphis Minnie Hist Marker Walls MS.jpg
Meridian Blues and Jazz [8] Corner of 5th Street & 25th Avenue
Meridian
More than 30 musicians are acknowledged at this marker including Alvin Fielder and Eddie Houston. It is located on the former site of the Fielder & Brooks Pharmacy, which Fielder's father (Alvin Fielder Sr., also a musician) started in 1934.
Meridian R&B and Soul Meridian Meridian R&B and Soul - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues Festival Pascagoula

Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues And Heritage Festival.jpg

Mississippi John Hurt Avalon

Mississippi John Hurt.jpg

Mississippi River Blues: The 1927 Flood Scott Mississippi River Blues Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Mississippi to Alabama Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Mississippi To Alabama.jpg

Mississippi To Chicago Chicago, Illinois

Mississippi To Chicago Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Blues Trail: Mississippi to Florida Tallahassee, Florida Bradfordville Blues Trail placard.jpg ]
Mississippi to Helena Helena, Arkansas TheBluesTrailMississippiToHelenaBluesTrailMarker.jpg ]
Mississippi to Louisiana Ferriday, Louisiana

Mississippi To Louisiana Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Mississippi to Maine Rockland, Maine

Mississippi To Maine.jpg

Mississippi To Memphis Memphis, Tennessee

Mississippi To Memphis Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Mose Allison Tippo MoseAllisonBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Mosley & Johnson New Albany Mosley & Johnson - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Moss Point Blues Moss Point Moss Point Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Mound Bayou Blues Mound Bayou MoundBayouBluesMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Muddy Waters Rolling Fork Muddy Waters Blues Trail Marker Rolling Fork.jpg
Muddy Waters' cabin site Clarksdale Muddy Waters Cabin.jpg
Napolian Strickland Como Napolian Strickland - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg Two other Blues Trail markers are in the same area with this marker that honors Othar Turner and Fred McDowell.
Natchez Burning (Natchez Rhythm Club) Natchez Natchez Burning Blues Trail Marker.jpeg
Nelson Street Greenville NelsonStreetBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Newton County Blues Newton Newton County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg This Blues Trail Marker is located near the historic Alabama & Vicksburg Railroad Depot.
Norway Notodden, Telemark, Norway
Ocean Springs Blues Ocean Springs Ocean Springs Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Oktibbeha County Blues Starkville Oktibbeha County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Otha Turner Como Otha Turner - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg Two other Blues Trail markers are in the same area with this marker that honors Napolian Strickland and Fred McDowell.
Otis Clay Waxhaw Otis Clay - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Otis Rush Philadelphia

Otis Rush Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Otis Spann & Little Johnnie Jones Jackson Otis Spann & Little Johnnie Jones - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Overton Park Shell Memphis, Tennessee

Overton Park Shell Blues Trail Marker.jpg

This is the 213th Mississippi Blues Trail marker, dedicated on September 23, 2023
Oxford & Lafayette County Blues Oxford Oxford & Lafayette County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Papa Lightfoot Natchez Papa Lightfoot - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Paramount Records Grafton, Wisconsin

Paramount Records Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Paramount Records & F.W. Boerner Company Port Washington, Wisconsin Paramount Records & F.W. Boerner Co. - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Parchman Blues Parchman ParchmanBluesMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Peavey Electronics Meridian Peavey Electronics sign.jpg
Peavine Boyle ThePeavineBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Pensacola Blues Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Pinetop Perkins Belzoni PinetopPerkinsBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Piney Woods School Piney Woods Piney Woods School - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Po' Monkey's Merigold Po Monkeys Juke Joint.jpg
Pontotoc County Blues Pontotoc Pontotoc County Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Pops Staples Winona Pops Staples - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Prince McCoy Greenville Prince McCoy Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Queen City Hotel & 7th Avenue Columbus Queen City Hotel & 7th Avenue - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Queen of Hearts Jackson Queen of Hearts - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Rabbit Foot Minstrels Port Gibson Rabbit Foot Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Ralph Lembo Itta Bena Ralph Lembo Blues trail marker.jpg
Rediscovery of Son House Rochester, New York Son House Mississippi Blues Trail sign.jpg
Red Tops Vicksburg

The Red Tops Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Riverside Hotel Clarksdale RiversideHotelBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Riley B. King Indianola RileyBKingMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Robert Johnson birthplace Hazlehurst

Robert Johnson Birthplace Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Robert Johnson gravesite Greenwood RobertJohnsonMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Robert Nighthawk Friars Point Robert Nighthawk Blues Trail Marker.jpeg
Rocket "88" Lyon Rocket88BluesTrailMarker.jpg
Roma Wilson & Leon Pinson New Albany Roma Wilson & Leon Pinson - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Roots of Rock And Roll Hattiesburg Roots of Rock And Roll - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Rosedale Rosedale Rosedale Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Rubin Lacy Pelahatchie Rubin Lacy - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Ruby's Nite Spot Leland Ruby's Nite Spot - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Rufus Thomas Cayce Rufus Thomas - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Sam Chatmon Hollandale Sam Chatmon Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Sam Cooke Clarksdale SamCookeBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Scott Radio Service Company Jackson Scott Radio Service Company - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Shake Rag Tupelo Shake Rag - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Sid Hemphill Senatobia Sid Hemphill - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Skip James Bentonia NehemiahSkipJamesBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Son House Clack SonHouseBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Sonny Boy Williamson Glendora Sonny Boy Williamson Blues Trail Marker.jpeg
Sonny Boy Williamson In Helena Helena SonnyBoyWilliamsonInHelenaBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Subway LoungeJackson

Summers Hotel and Subway Lounge Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Summit Street McComb Summit Street - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival Clarksdale SunflowerRiverBluesAndGospelFestivalBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Sunnyland Slim: Quitman County Blues Lambert SunnylandSlimQuitmanCountyBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Tate County Blues Coldwater Tate County Blues- Coldwater - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
The Alamo Theatre/Dorothy Moore Jackson

The Alamo Theatre Blues Trail Marker.jpg

The Blues Foundation Memphis, Tennessee

Blues Foundation Blues Trail Marker.jpg

The Chatmon Family/Mississippi Sheiks Bolton The Chatmon Family - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
The Dickinson Family Hernando The Dickinson Family - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
The Enlightenment of W.C. Handy Cleveland WCHandyBluesTrailMarker.jpg
The Hollywood Cafe Robinsonville HollywoodCafeBluesTrailMarker.jpg
The New World Clarksdale The New World Blues Trail Marker.jpg
The Staple Singers Drew TheStapleSingersMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Tommy Johnson Crystal Springs Tommy Johnson Blues Trail Marker Front.jpg
Tommy McClennan Yazoo City Tommy McClennan Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Trumpet Records Jackson

Trumpet Records Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Turner's Drug Store Belzoni TurnersDrugStoreBluesTrailMarker.jpg
Two Steps From The Blues Ackerman Two Steps From The Blues- Blues Trail Marker.jpg Texas Johnny Brown, [9] a native of Ackerman, Mississippi, wrote the blues song "Two Steps from the Blues".
Tyrone Davis Leland TyroneDavisMississippiBluesTrailMarker.jpg
W.C. Handy Birthplace Florence, Alabama W.C. Handy Birthplace - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Wade Walton Clarksdale WadeWaltonBluesTrailMarker.jpg
W.C. Handy Encounters The Blues Tutwiler WCHandyTutwilerBluesTrailMarker.jpg
WGRM Radio Studio Greenwood WGRMRadioStudioBluesTrailMarker.jpg
"Where The Southern Cross The Dog" Moorhead YellowDogMSBluesTrailMarker.jpg
William R. Ferris Vicksburg William R. Ferris - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Willie Dixon Vicksburg

Willie Dixon Blues Trail Marker.jpg

Willie Mitchell Ashland Willie Mitchell - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
Woodville Blues Woodville Woodville Blues - Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.jpg
WROX Clarksdale WROXBluesTrailMarker.jpg

Source: Mississippi Blues Trail official web site

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunflower County, Mississippi</span> County in Mississippi, United States

Sunflower County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,971. Its largest city and county seat is Indianola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwood, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta region, approximately 96 miles north of the state capital, Jackson, and 130 miles south of the riverport of Memphis, Tennessee. It was a center of cotton planter culture in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianola, Mississippi</span> City in Sunflower County, Mississippi

Indianola is a city in and the county seat of Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States, in the Mississippi Delta. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. B. King</span> American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter (1925–2015)

Riley B. King, known professionally as B. B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later blues electric guitar players. AllMusic recognized King as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".

Mississippi is best known as the home of the blues which developed among the freed African Americans in the latter half of the 19th century and beginning 20th century. The Delta blues is the style most closely associated with the state, and includes performers like Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, Ishmon Bracey, Bo Carter, Sam Chatmon, Mississippi John Hurt, Furry Lewis, Son House, Skip James, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Pinetop Perkins, and B.B. King. The hip hop scene of Mississippi is rare but includes performers such as David Banner, Dear Silas, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charley Patton</span> American Delta blues musician (1891–1934)

Charlie Patton, more often spelled Charley Patton, was an American Delta blues musician and songwriter. Considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", he created an enduring body of American music and inspired most Delta blues musicians. The musicologist Robert Palmer considered him one of the most important American musicians of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukka White</span> American singer-songwriter

Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert King</span> American blues musician (1923–1992)

Albert Nelson, known by his stage name Albert King, was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps best known for his popular and influential album Born Under a Bad Sign (1967) and its title track. He, B.B. King, and Freddie King, all unrelated, were known as the "Kings of the Blues". The left-handed Albert King was known for his "deep, dramatic sound that was widely imitated by both blues and rock guitarists."

The Chitlin' Circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper Midwest areas of the United States that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for African American musicians, comedians, and other entertainers during the era of racial segregation in the United States through the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Ridge, Mississippi</span> Unincorporated community in Mississippi, United States

Holly Ridge is an unincorporated community in Sunflower County, Mississippi. It is located in the Mississippi Delta, approximately five miles west of Indianola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dockery Plantation</span> Historic house in Mississippi, United States

Dockery Plantation was a 25,600-acre (104 km2) cotton plantation and sawmill in Dockery, Mississippi, on the Sunflower River between Ruleville and Cleveland, Mississippi. It is widely regarded as the place where Delta blues music was born. Blues musicians resident at Dockery included Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaco Records</span> American record label founded 1962

Malaco Records is an American independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, that has been the home of various major blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, Mel Waiters, Z. Z. Hill, Denise LaSalle, Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Tyrone Davis, Marvin Sease, and the Mississippi Mass Choir. It has received an historic marker issued by the Mississippi Blues Commission to commemorate its important place on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trumpet Records</span>

Trumpet Records was an American record company founded by Lillian McMurry in Jackson, Mississippi in 1951. Although it existed for only four years, it was influential.

<i>Indianola Mississippi Seeds</i> 1970 studio album by B. B. King

Indianola Mississippi Seeds is B. B. King's eighteenth studio album. It was released in October 1970 on ABC Records on LP and May 1989 on MCA Records on CD. On this album B. B. King mixed elements of blues and rock music. Producer Bill Szymczyk decided to follow up on the success of the hit "The Thrill Is Gone" by matching King with a musical all-star cast. The result was one of King's most critically acclaimed albums and one of the most highly regarded blues crossover albums of all time.

The Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, headquartered in Clinton, Mississippi, honors Mississippi's famous musicians. It is a "Who's Who" of the blues, rock and roll, and jazz from their beginnings to present day. The organization's museum is located in the Jackson–Evers International Airport in Jackson, Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Front Cafe</span>

The Blue Front Café is a historic old juke joint made of cinder block in Bentonia, Mississippi on Highway 49, approximately 30 miles northwest of Jackson, which played an important role in the development of the blues in Mississippi. The café has been given a marker and officially placed on the Mississippi Blues Trail. It is owned by blues musician Jimmy "Duck" Holmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Dockery</span>

William Alfred Dockery was an American landowner who built from scratch the Dockery Plantation, the famous home of such original Delta blues musicians as Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Pops Staples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.B. King Museum</span> Museum celebrating the cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center is a museum in Indianola, Mississippi dedicated to the Delta blues and music legend B.B. King.

The Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival is an annual music festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It is held the second weekend in August, lasting three days. Created as the Sunflower Riverbank Blues Festival in 1988, the festival features veteran and homegrown performers, attracting blues enthusiast from all over the world. Headliners have included Otis Rush, Ike Turner, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, Denise LaSalle, Super Chikan, and Robert Plant.

References

  1. Widen, Larry. "JS Online: Blues trail". Jsonline.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-15. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  2. "Mississippi Blues Commission - Blues trail". Msbluestrail.org. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  3. "Haley Barbour Unveils First Marker of Mississippi Blues Trail". Jazz News. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  4. 1 2 "Blues Matters! - Delta sites to be included on new blues trail". Bluesmatters.com. Retrieved 2008-05-28.[ dead link ]
  5. "Mississippi Blues Commission - List of Blues Trail Markers". Msbluestrail.org. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  6. "BLUES TRAIL MARKS PARCHMAN AS MAJOR INFLUENCE Archived 2012-03-08 at the Wayback Machine ." State of Mississippi. September 23, 2010. Retrieved on October 3, 2010.
  7. "Gospel and the Blues - The Mississippi Blues Trail". msbluestrail.org. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. Neary, Michael (3 November 2017). "Marker celebrates Meridian's contribution to blues, jazz music" . Meridian Star. Meridian, Mississippi. Retrieved 29 April 2020. More than 30 musicians, King noted, are recognized on the marker -- the 198th to be unveiled along the Mississippi Blues Trail.
  9. "Mississippi honors Houston's Texas Johnny Brown - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2013-07-06.