Here is how Mississippi is keeping its musical heritage alive

Two of Mississippi’s historically Black universities and a promotional group have led recent efforts to keep the state’s musical heritage atop the charts nationally.

This latest splurge of notoriety for our prodigious Mississippi music industry emanated from musically blessed California, where Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom Band and the state’s float in the Rose Bowl Parade wowed the throng of parade-goers at one of the premier events of its type, seen by millions of people worldwide.

Then, the Mississippi Valley State University band drew raves as a participant in the inaugural parade for then-incoming President Trump.

There must be something artistic in the water, friends. Is it sacred water from the Mississippi River, occupying aquifers across the state, filling not just our thirst needs but creative ones, too? 

“More than 100 years ago, the blues was born in Mississippi. The sounds of our state gave country its twang, R&B its soul, jazz its blue note, and rock and roll its king. Come experience the rich musical heritage and ongoing influence of Mississippi, the Birthplace of America’s Music,” said VisitMississippi.org, an event assistance partner promoting the state’s many virtues in the wake of all this grand news.

“Birthplace” is the epithet being used brilliantly, I think, by tourism leaders at all of the state’s major entrances. It’d be of interest knowing how many folks cross into Mississippi daily and see that wonderful slogan celebrating our musical artists. (Alas, few of the welcome centers are open.)

Question: Why isn’t Mississippi staging an annual all-out glorification of this artistic excellence like we do each fall to tout books and their authors? Why has such a seed never been conceptualized for our preeminent music industry? We’d have a stage at various downtown Jackson venues, on the Capitol grounds and at nearby Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church. An agglomeration of Mississippi chefs would feed the masses sure to attend.

I’d make arts icon Malcolm White honorary chairman and put Jim Dees, Paul Tate and the Yalobushwhackers of Thacker Mountain in charge of the first annual “Birthplace of America’s Music Festival.”

Headliners would include recent Grammy nominees Cedric Burnside of Holly Springs and Steve Azar of Greenville; country stars Marty Stuart, Charley Pride, Faith Hill and Chapel Hart; “Mississippi Blues Child” Mr. Sipp (aka Castro Coleman) and young Delta Blues phenom Christone “Kingfish” Ingram; gospel’s Williams Brothers; and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Ole Brook Wind Symphony for classical and pop. I’d plug in versatile Richie Burnett and the Fabulous Doo-Vays of Oxford for good measure. 

I gather that some others are thinking along these lines. Native son country and rock singer Colin Stough will headline the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest on Saturday, May 10, a free music, food, and arts festival sponsored by Nissan at Jackson’s Two Mississippi Museums. More acts and an array of food vendors will participate. This could be the genesis of a larger, all-weekend, all-Mississippi music celebration to also showcase the museums.

Congratulations are in order for the Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State, and VisitMississippi.org, for their recent stellar showings on these national stages. Word has also arrived that Alcorn State University’s “Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band” will represent Mississippi at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“Man, the Sonic Boom is amazing,” ABC-TV’s Hannah Storm said as the band marched through the Rose Bowl Parade, reported SuperTalk Radio’s J.T. Mitchell Jr. No stranger to the big stage, the JSU marching band received the largest round of applause of the morning and the state’s parade float wowed the huge crowd.

No one should be surprised our folk stole that big show. The timing seems right for Mississippi to do all it can and then some to enhance its artistic birthright.

— Mac Gordon, a native of McComb, is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.