Historical Marker

Malaco Records

Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

Malaco Records, one of America’s foremost labels in the fields of southern soul, blues, and gospel, was founded at this site in 1967. Malaco’s studio was the first state-of-the-art recording facility in Mississippi. The label attained national stature with the success of Dorothy Moore’s “Misty Blue” (1976), Z.Z. Hill’s “Down Home Blues” (1982), and other records by the Jackson Southernaires, Denise LaSalle, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Latimore, and Johnnie Taylor.

Malaco Records released its first record, a 45 rpm soul single by Cozy Corley from Hattiesburg, in 1968. By then the company had already been in business for several years as a booking agency, Malaco Attractions, founded by Tommy Couch and Mitch Malouf. Couch and fraternity brother Gerald “Wolf” Stephenson had booked bands as college students at Ole Miss in the early and mid-1960s, and after Stephenson joined the Malaco team, he became chief engineer at the studio which Malaco built at this site in 1967. Malouf left the business in 1975, but Couch continued with Stephenson and, later, Stewart Madison as partners.

During the 1960s and ‘70s, Malaco often worked with larger companies such as Capitol, ABC, Mercury, Atlantic, Stax, and T.K. to release and distribute the recordings produced here. Malacospecialized in rhythm & blues or soul music, although more traditional blues was occasionally recorded here, most notably the 1969 Mississippi Fred McDowell album I Do Not Play No Rock ‘n’ Roll. Among the ‘70s R&B hits produced at Malaco were “Groove Me” by King Floyd on Malaco’s subsidiary label, Chimneyville; “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight on Stax Records; and the first Top Ten hit on Malaco Records, “Misty Blue” by Jackson singer Dorothy Moore. But it was the album Down Home by Z. Z. Hill that established Malaco’s reputation in the blues. The LP stayed on the Billboard rhythm & blues charts for a phenomenal 93 weeks in 1982-83 while selling half a million copies -– an unprecedented mark for a blues LP. Its success proved that there was still a substantial audience for the blues, and its production style set a standard for much of the music that followed.

Utilizing top-notch songwriters (George Jackson in particular) and skilled arrangers and studio musicians, Malaco blended elements of blues and soul music on further albums by Hill and other singers who joined the Malaco stable, including Denise LaSalle, Latimore, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Shirley Brown, Tyrone Davis, Floyd Taylor, and Marvin Sease. Groups such as the Jackson Southernaires, the Williams Brothers, and the Mississippi Mass Choir earned Malaco renown as one of the country’s top gospel labels as well. Other blues and southern soul artists, including Mel Waiters, Bobby Rush, Artie “Blues Boy” White, and Poonanny, recorded for Waldoxy, a label launched by Tommy Couch, Jr., in 1992. Many Malaco hits, including “Down Home Blues,” “The Blues is Alright,” “Someone Else is Steppin’ In,” “Members Only,” and “Last Two Dollars,” have become staples in the repertoires of blues bands across the country

The Mississippi Blues Trail markers tell stories through words and images of bluesmen and women and how the places where they lived and the times in which they existed–and continue to exist–influenced their music. The sites run the gamut from city streets to cotton fields, train depots to cemeteries, and clubs to churches. We have a lot to share, and it’s just down the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The Mississippi Blues Trail is an ongoing project of the Mississippi Blues Commission. Funding for this project has been made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, AT&T, and the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University plus additional support from the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division.

For more information visit msbluestrail.org.

Blues Trail
The Mississippi River, which forms the western border of the state, is the longest river in North America.
Mississippi random facts
Hinds County, Mississippi, has a rich history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Choctaw and Chickasaw, who relied on the fertile land for hunting and farming. European explorers arrived in the region in the 16th century, with the Spanish establishing a presence in the area. However, it was not until the early 19th century that Hinds County began to take shape as a permanent settlement.

In 1821, Hinds County was created as one of the original counties in the newly formed state of Mississippi. The county was named after Thomas Hinds, a prominent Mississippi pioneer and early political figure. The county seat, Jackson, was established shortly thereafter and quickly became a center of government, commerce, and industry. The presence of the Pearl River provided opportunities for transportation, further contributing to the growth and development of Hinds County.

During the antebellum period, Hinds County played a significant role in the cotton industry of the Deep South. The county's vast plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor, with African Americans making up a substantial portion of the population. This history of slavery and the agricultural economy would leave a lasting impact on the culture and demographics of the county for generations to come.

Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, Hinds County experienced periods of social and political turbulence. The county became a center of Civil Rights activism during the 20th century, with notable figures like Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader, making significant contributions to the movement. Today, Hinds County continues to be a vibrant and diverse community, with a blend of historical landmarks and modern developments that reflect its varied past.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Hinds County, Mississippi.

  • 1821 - Hinds County is established as one of the original counties in Mississippi.
  • 1832 - The city of Jackson becomes the county seat of Hinds County.
  • 1863 - During the American Civil War, Hinds County is occupied by Union forces.
  • 1875 - The Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is established in Hinds County.
  • 1960s - Hinds County becomes a major center for the civil rights movement in Mississippi.
  • 2010 - Hinds County celebrates its bicentennial anniversary.