Historical Marker

Grammy Museum Mississippi

Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

The Los Angeles-based GRAMMY Museum’s decision to open a sister museum here in Cleveland in 2016 was a testament to Mississippi’s rich musical heritage in blues, country, gospel, rock and other genres. Among Mississippi’s many GRAMMY winners, B.B. King received sixteen awards and Muddy Waters received seven. Artists with roots in the Cleveland area whose work has been recognized with awards include Charley Patton, the Staple Singers, David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Henry Townsend.

GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi is the first GRAMMY Museum® built outside of Los Angeles, where the original Museum opened in 2008. Like its sister site (the Los Angeles Museum), it is dedicated to celebrating the history of the GRAMMY® Awards and provides visitors the opportunity to explore all genres of music, the creative and technological processes of recording, and the enduring qualities and cultural significance of music. The Mississipppi Museum also casts a focused spotlight on the region with exhibits and experiences including the Mississippi Music Table, which demonstrates the great influence Mississippi artists have had on multiple genres of music. In relation to its population, Mississippi artists boast an impressive number of GRAMMY® wins, particularly in the blues categories, and Lifetime Achievement Awards, which have recognized artists including Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Sam Cooke, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Pinetop Perkins, Hank Jones, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Honeyboy Edwards, and groups with Mississippi-born members: the Allman Brothers Band, Blind Boys of Alabama, Earth Wind & Fire, the Staple Singers, the Temptations and the Funk Brothers.

The Recording Academy® created the GRAMMY Awards in 1958, and the first of many Mississippians to receive a GRAMMY was classical vocalist Leontyne Price, who received the first of her 19 GRAMMYs in 1960. The state of Mississippi initiated a close relationship with The Recording Academy in 2008, when the first of a series of annual Mississippi GRAMMY Legacy Celebrations was held in Jackson to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GRAMMY Awards. In 2010 an annual Mississippi Night was introduced as part of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE’s celebrations preceding the awards ceremony, and in February 2011 a Mississippi Blues Trail marker was dedicated in Los Angeles near the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE. GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli and Jon Hornyak, Sr. Executive Director of the Memphis Chapter of The Recording Academy, were instrumental in the creation of the Mississippi Museum, together with the non-profit Cleveland Music Foundation. The placement of the 28,000 square foot Museum near the campus of Delta State University facilitated coordination with the university’s Delta Music Institute, International Delta Blues Project, and The Delta Center for Culture and Learning, an important partner in the creation and administration of the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The creation of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi took place at a time when Mississippi was actively paying tribute to its rich musical heritage with the Mississippi Blues Trail (launched in 2006), the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola (2008) and the Mississippi Country Music Trail (2010), amidst a proliferation of local music festivals and official state welcome signs proclaiming “The Birthplace of American Music.”

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 state has a diverse population that includes Native American tribes such as the Choctaw and Chickasaw, as well as African Americans, European Americans, and Hispanic Americans.
Mississippi random facts
Bolivar County, Mississippi, has a rich history that stretches back centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Choctaw and Chickasaw, who thrived along the fertile Mississippi River Delta. European settlers began to arrive in the late 18th century, primarily French and Spanish explorers and traders. The territory changed hands several times, becoming part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The county was officially established in 1836 and named after South American revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar. Its location along the river made it an ideal location for plantations, leading to the rapid growth of the cotton industry and the rise of the antebellum plantation economy. Bolivar County became a major slave-holding area, with African Americans comprising a significant portion of the population.

During the Civil War, Bolivar County was caught in the crossfire between Union and Confederate forces, with several major battles and skirmishes taking place in the area. The war took a heavy toll on the region, leading to economic decline and social unrest. Reconstruction brought about some changes, including the establishment of schools for African Americans.

In the 20th century, Bolivar County continued to develop agriculturally, with cotton remaining a dominant crop. The county also saw significant social and political changes, including the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the civil rights movement. Today, Bolivar County remains an important agricultural region, but also faces challenges such as poverty and racial disparities. The county's rich history is celebrated and remembered through various historical sites, museums, and community events.

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

  • 1836: Bolivar County is created and named after Simón Bolívar, the South American freedom fighter.
  • 1844: The county seat is established in the town of Bolivarville, which later changes its name to Cleveland.
  • 1858: The Mississippi Delta Agricultural Experiment Station is established in Lula, contributing to the region's agricultural development.
  • 1865: The Civil War ends, and Bolivar County begins the process of rebuilding and recovering.
  • 1875: The county's first railroad, the Mississippi Valley Railroad, is completed, connecting Bolivar County to other parts of Mississippi.
  • 1890s: The county experiences significant economic growth due to cotton production and the expansion of the railroad network.
  • 1920s: Bolivar County becomes a major center for the blues, with influential musicians like Charley Patton and W.C. Handy performing in the area.
  • 1955: Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy, is brutally murdered in Money, Bolivar County, becoming a significant catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
  • 1969: Parchman Farm, the infamous Mississippi State Penitentiary, closes in Bolivar County.
  • 1980s: Bolivar County experiences economic decline due to changes in the agricultural industry and population shifts.
  • 1994: The Grammy Museum Mississippi opens in Cleveland, celebrating the cultural heritage of the region.