Courtesy of visitmississippi.org
Jerry Lee Lewis received a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker Thursday afternoon at his ranch in Nesbit, Miss.
“After pioneering the genres of rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly with hits that crossed over to the country music charts, Jerry Lee decided to locate to Nesbit to settle down, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have the music legend call Mississippi home,” said Gov. Phil Bryant. “It is an honor to dedicate a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker here at his ranch.”
In addition to Gov. Bryant, the marker unveiling ceremony included remarks from GRAMMY® Award-winning musician and Mississippi Country Music Trail Commissioner Marty Stuart, Visit Mississippi Director and Mississippi Country Music Trail Chairman Craig Ray, Lewis’s publicist Zach Farnum, DeSoto County Supervisor Michael Lee and Visit Mississippi Tourism Development Bureau Manager Kamel King.
A native of Ferriday, La., Lewis started his musical career in Natchez, Miss. Lewis’s 1956 rock ’n’ roll classics “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” and “Great Balls of Fire” both topped the country charts. Starting in 1968, the singer had a string of country music hits including “To Make Love Sweeter for You,” “There Must Be More to Love Than This” and “Would You Take Another Chance on Me?” In 1973, the musician established the Lewis Ranch in Nesbit, which is now open for group tours.
The marker is located at 1595 Malone Rd. in Nesbit. It is the trail’s 34th marker.
Founded in 2010, the Mississippi Country Music Trail recognizes the state’s contributions to country music. To learn more about the Mississippi Country Music Trail, visit mscountrymusictrail.org.
