Two more Mississippi Blues Trail markers were unveiled in Holly Springs on Wednesday.
The markers, located in Blues Alley near 125 N Center Street, memorialize the life and work of R.L. Burnside and David “Junior” Kimbrough, two native musicians who helped popularize hill country blues.
“Mississippi is blessed to have so many remarkable artists who have helped make Mississippi The Birthplace of America’s Music,” Visit Mississippi Director Rochelle Hicks said. “Both R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough individually and as part of the larger Mississippi story, have made their marks as musicians and helped to incorporate the hill country blues sound into the lexicon of artists across musical genres. Adding their markers to the Mississippi Blues Trail is another step in recognizing the countless voices who have made Mississippi instrumental to the history of music.”
Burnside, born in 1926 in Lafayette County, spent much of his career as a part-time musician before he started recording with Fat Possum Records in Oxford in the early 1990s. Already part of Fat Possum Records, Kimbrough welcomed Burnside to the label as the two worked together to further the genre. Kimbrough was born in 1930 in Hudsonville and made his first recordings in 1966.
While Burnside is known for songs such as “Someday Baby,” “Let My Baby Ride,” and “It’s Bad You Know,” Kimbrough made a name for himself with cuts like “Keep Your Hands off Her” and “All Night Long.” The two, who often collaborated on projects, are both members of the Blues Hall of Fame.
The marker unveilings took place at 1 p.m. and featured local and state leaders, as well as Robert Kimbrough and DuWayne Burnside, the sons of the late musicians.
“The hill country blues style is such an important part of the cultural heritage of Holly Springs, and we’re excited to share that heritage along with the music of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough with visitors here in our town,” Holly Springs Tourism and Recreation Bureau Executive Director Tyrisha Battle said. “Just as the music reflects these men’s lives and experience, their legacy is a part of our community. These markers are a great wat to bring attention to the amazing contributions of these artists and to inspire fans to come and be a part of al that our town has to offer.”
