Mississippi Blues Trail

Summary

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]

Blues Trail marker in Hernando, Mississippi
Blues Trail marker in Hernando, Mississippi

Implementation edit

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 edit

Locations are in Mississippi unless otherwise stated.

Marker name Marker location Photograph Notes
100 Men D.B.A. Hall Bay St. Louis

 

61 Highway Vicksburg  
Abbay & Leatherman Robinsonville

 

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

 

Ace Records Jackson  
Albert King Indianola  
Alligator Blues Alligator  
Amory: Blues From A Railroad Town Amory

 

Arthur Crudup Forest

 

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

 

Baptist Town Greenwood  
Beale Town Bound Hernando  
Big Jack Johnson Clarksdale  
Big Joe Williams Crawford

 

Big Walter Horton Horn Lake  
Biloxi Blues Biloxi

 

Birthplace Of The Blues? Dockery Plantation  
Black Prairie Blues Macon

 

Blue Front Cafe Bentonia  
Blue Room Vicksburg  
Blues and Jazz in the Pass Pass Christian

 

Blues Deejays Greenwood

 

Blues Legends of Duncan Duncan

 

Bo Diddley McComb

 

Bobby Rush Jackson

 

Broadcasting the Blues Gulfport

 

Brookhaven Blues Brookhaven

 

Bud Scott Natchez  
Buddy Guy Lettsworth, Louisiana

 

Bukka White Houston

 

Cahors, France Cahors, France
Calhoun County Blues Bruce

 

Casey Jones Water Valley

 

Cassandra Wilson Jackson

 

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

 

Choctaw County Blues Weir  
Chrisman Street Cleveland  
Church Street Indianola  
Clinton's Blues Legacy Clinton  
Club Desire Canton  
Club Ebony Indianola  
Columbus - Catfish Alley Columbus

 

Corner of 10 and 61 Leland  
Cotton Pickin Blues Hopson  
Delta Blues Museum Clarksdale  
Denise LaSalle Belzoni  
Documenting The Blues Oxford  
Dorothy Moore Jackson  
Ealey Brothers Natchez  
Eddie Shaw Benoit  
Eddie Taylor Benoit  
Edwards Hotel Jackson  
Elks Hart Lodge No. 640 Greenwood  
Elmore James Ebenezer  
Elvis Presley and the Blues Tupelo  
Fred McDowell Como

 

Two other Blues Trail markers are in the same area with this marker that honors Othar Turner and Napolian Strickland.
Freedom Village Greenville  
Furry Lewis Greenwood  
Gatemouth Moore Yazoo City  
Gold Coast Flowood  
Gospel Music and the Blues Cleveland   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  
Greasy Street Ruleville  
Grenada Blues Grenada  
Guitar Slim Shellmound  
Gulfport Boogie Gulfport  
H. C. Speir Jackson  
Harlem Inn Winstonville  
Harold "Hardface" Clanton Tunica  
Henry Townsend Shelby  
Hi-Hat Club Hattiesburg  
Hickory Street (The Hollow) Canton  
Highway 61 Blues Robinsonville  
Hill Country Blues Holly Springs  
Holmes County Blues (Lexington) Lexington  
Holmes County Blues (Tchula) Tchula  
HoneyBoy Edwards Shaw  
Hot Tamales And The Blues Rosedale  
Houston Stackhouse Wesson  
Howlin' Wolf West Point  
Hubert Sumlin Greenwood  
Ike Turner Clarksdale  
Ishmon Bracey Jackson   Ishmon Bracey is buried at Willow Park Cemetery, which is located across the street from the Blues Trail marker.

 

J.B. Lenoir Monticello  
Jack Owens Bentonia  
James Cotton Clayton  
Jessie Mae Hemphill Senatobia   Jessie Mae Hemphill is buried at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery.

 

Jimmie Lunceford Fulton  
James "Son" Thomas Leland  
Jimmie Rodgers Meridian

 

Jimmy Reed Dunleith  
Jimmy Rogers Ruleville  
Joe Callicott Nesbit  
John Lee Hooker Vance  
Johnny Winter Leland  
Jones County Blues Laurel  
Junior Kimbrough Holly Springs
 
This is Blues Trail Marker #215, unveiled on February 21, 2024, along with Blues Trail Marker #214 honoring R. L. Burnside.
Lil Green Port Gibson  
Little Brother Montgomery Brookhaven  
Little Junior Parker Bobo  
Little Milton Inverness  
Liverpool Liverpool, England
Livin' at Lula Lula  
Magic Sam Grenada  
Magic Slim Grenada  
Malaco Records Jackson  
Marcus Bottom Vicksburg  
McCoy Brothers

Kansas Joe McCoy and Papa Charlie McCoy

Raymond  
Memphis Minnie Walls  
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  
Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues Festival Pascagoula

 

Mississippi John Hurt Avalon

 

Mississippi River Blues: The 1927 Flood Scott  
Mississippi to Alabama Muscle Shoals, Alabama

 

Mississippi To Chicago Chicago, Illinois

 

Blues Trail: Mississippi to Florida Tallahassee, Florida  ]
Mississippi to Helena Helena, Arkansas  ]
Mississippi to Louisiana Ferriday, Louisiana

 

Mississippi to Maine Rockland, Maine

 

Mississippi To Memphis Memphis, Tennessee

 

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

 

Otis Spann & Little Johnnie Jones Jackson  
Overton Park Shell Memphis, Tennessee

 

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

 

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

 

Riverside Hotel Clarksdale  
Riley B. King Indianola  
R. L. Burnside Holly Springs
 
This is Blues Trail Marker #214, unveiled on February 21, 2024, along with Blues Trail Marker #215 honoring Junior Kimbrough.
Robert Johnson birthplace Hazlehurst

 

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

 

Summit Street McComb  
Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival Clarksdale  
Sunnyland Slim: Quitman County Blues Lambert  
Tate County Blues Coldwater  
The Alamo Theatre/Dorothy Moore Jackson

 

The Blues Foundation Memphis, Tennessee

 

The Chatmon Family/Mississippi Sheiks Bolton  
The Dickinson Family Hernando  
The Enlightenment of W.C. Handy Cleveland  
The Hollywood Cafe Robinsonville  
The New World Clarksdale  
The Staple Singers Drew  
Tommy Johnson Crystal Springs  
Tommy McClennan Yazoo City  
Trumpet Records Jackson

 

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

 

Willie Mitchell Ashland  
Woodville Blues Woodville  
WROX Clarksdale  

Source: Mississippi Blues Trail official web site

See also edit

References edit

  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. ^ a b "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.

External links edit

  • Mississippi Blues Trail list and map
  • Delta Blues in the Lower Mississippi Valley, Indianola
  • Mississippi Blues Highway Registry