Sonny Boy Williamson in Helena
Helena was home to a flourishing blues scene that inspired Sonny Boy Williamson and other legendary musicians from Mississippi, including Robert Johnson, Pinetop Perkins, Houston Stackhouse, James “Peck” Curtis and Honeyboy Edwards, to take up residence here in the 1930s and ‘40s. They and many others performed at a famous juke joint at this site called the Hole in the Wall. Williamson’s rise to fame began in Helena as the star of KFFA radio’s “King Biscuit Time.”
Sonny Boy Williamson was born and laid to rest in Mississippi, and lived in Chicago, East St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit and numerous other locales, but Helena was the town he came to regard as home. He established himself as one of the premier blues performers in the Delta (on both the Arkansas and Mississippi sides) through his live appearances in cafes and clubs and his broadcasts on KFFA and other stations. His recordings, including the chart hits “Don’t Start Me Talkin’,” “Keep It to Yourself” and “Help Me,” brought him national recognition, and in the 1960s he played a key role in popularizing the blues in Europe and inspiring a host of British blues-rock musicians. In Europe Williamson confounded eager fans and reporters who besieged him with questions about his life. As he told fellow bluesman Willie Dixon, “It ain’t none of their business. They don’t even know me.” Genealogical research and family sources point to a likely birthdate of December 5, 1912, under the name Alex Miller, but he also called himself Rice Miller, Willie Miller, Little Boy Blue, Reverend Blue, and Willie Williams, among other monikers, and he gave birthdates as early as 1893. When he eventually took his stage name from another popular bluesman, John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, in the blues lexicon he became “Sonny Boy No. 2.”
Williamson had played in Helena even before he began performing on “King Biscuit Time” in 1941. He was joined by a succession of “King Biscuit Entertainers”–James “Peck” Curtis was a constant presence on the show, and others included Pinetop Perkins, Willie Love, Joe Willie Wilkins, Houston Stackhouse, Elmore James and W. C. Clay–all originally from Mississippi–as well as Robert Lockwood, Jr., from Arkansas and Robert “Dudlow” Taylor from Louisiana. The band performed in surrounding towns to advertise King Biscuit Flour and Sonny Boy Corn Meal, and they also played locally at theaters and nightspots. Venues in Helena included the Owl Cafe, Busy Bee, Kitty Cat Cafe, Mississippi Cafe, Dreamland Cafe and Silver Moon, but the best-remembered juke joint was the Hole in the Wall, operated by another native Mississippian, James Oscar Crawford. Williamson and various band members, along with Willie Johnson, Doctor Ross, Hacksaw Harney, and Honeyboy Edwards were among those recalled at the Hole in the Wall. Rumors even circulated that Robert Johnson–another associate of Sonny Boy’s–was murdered while playing here, but his death actually occurred in Greenwood, Mississippi, in 1938. During his extensive travels Williamson periodically revisited to Helena and returned for the final time in 1965, telling Stackhouse, “I done come home to die now.” On May 25 he failed to show for the KFFA broadcast and was found dead in the boardinghouse where he roomed at 427 1/2 Elm Street. His sisters buried him in Tutwiler, where fans often leave harmonicas and whiskey bottles on his grave
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.
During the 19th century, Phillips County played a significant role in the expansion of the United States. It became a major center for cotton cultivation and trade, with large plantations dominating the landscape. The growth of the cotton industry went hand in hand with the institution of slavery, as African Americans were forcibly brought to the area to work on these plantations.
The county witnessed several key events during the Civil War. In 1862, the Battle of Helena took place just across the river, where Union forces successfully defended the city against Confederate attacks. Following the war, the Reconstruction era brought significant changes to Phillips County, as African Americans gained political power and economic opportunities. However, racial tensions persisted, leading to violent incidents like the 1919 Elaine Massacre, during which numerous black residents were killed.
In the 20th century, the county faced economic challenges due to factors such as the decline of the cotton industry and the Great Depression. However, efforts were made to diversify the local economy, leading to growth in industries such as manufacturing and tourism. Today, Phillips County is a vibrant community, proud of its history while embracing a promising future.
Phillips County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Phillips County, Arkansas.
- 1815: Phillips County is established in the Arkansas Territory.
- 1820: Helena becomes the county seat of Phillips County.
- 1861-1865: Phillips County is heavily involved in the Civil War, with battles and skirmishes occurring throughout the area.
- Late 1800s: Helena experiences a period of prosperity due to the timber and cotton industries.
- 1919: Phillips County Race Riot takes place, resulting in the deaths of numerous African Americans.
- 1930-1940s: The Great Depression and decline in agriculture negatively impact Phillips County.
- 1968: The Phillips County Training School in Elaine becomes the center of racial tensions and violence during the Elaine Massacre.