Historical Marker

WGRM Radio Studio

Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

Before the 1950s, relatively few African American voices were heard on the radio in the South. A major exception was live broadcasts of performances by gospel groups. During the 1940s this building housed station WGRM, which featured gospel music on Sundays. One of the most popular groups was the Famous St. John’s Gospel Singers of Inverness, Mississippi, which included Riley King on guitar. King later became known as “B.B.” while working in Memphis.

Radio broadcasting took off in the United States in the 1920s, but for the next several decades the voices of African Americans were largely excluded. Notable exceptions were the character “Rochester,” played by Eddie Anderson on the Jack Benny Show, which ran from 1932 to 1955, and harmonica player DeFord Bailey, one of the first stars of the country music program Grand Ole Opry, which began a radio broadcast in 1927 over Nashville’s WSM.

Another exception was live broadcasts of gospel music, including a CBS network show that featured the influential Golden Gate Quartet that debuted in 1940. The group’s programs had a major influence on young Riley King, who much later adopted the nickname “B.B.” In the mid-1940s, King (b. 1925) was singing lead and playing guitar with an Inverness-based gospel quartet, the Famous St. John’s Gospel Singers.

The group broadened their popularity through live Sunday afternoon broadcasts over radio station WGRM, which emanated from this building. King eventually became frustrated with the other quartet members’ reluctance to pursue a professional career and decided instead to focus on blues. In 1948 he moved to Memphis, where he found work as a disc jockey on WDIA, the first station in the United States to feature all African-American on-air personalities and broadcast content.

WGRM first went on the air in Grenada in 1938 and moved here in 1939. At the time it was one of only nine radio stations in the state. Most programming on WGRM was provided by the Blue Network, owned initially by NBC and after 1943 by ABC, with several locally produced music programs, including the one featuring King’s gospel group running on the weekends.

By the mid-1950s WGRM had moved to North Greenwood, and this building was occupied by WABG radio. In rural areas radio stations often doubled as recording studios, and the Greenwood-based band of pianist Bobby Hines recorded in such a setting, according to his guitarist Brewer Phillips. Recorded at WGRM were Matt Cockrell and L. C. “Lonnie the Cat” Cation, accompanied by the Hines band with talent scout Ike Turner also on piano. Both saw release in April 1954 on Los Angeles-based RPM, B.B. King’s label at the time. Cation’s single “I Ain’t Drunk (I’m Just Drinking)” later became a blues standard via covers by Jimmy Liggins and Albert Collins

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 carries every drop of water that flows down two-thirds of the continent. From the Rockies to the Appalachians, the navigation and flood control systems must be kept in working order.
Charles D. Melancon in Water
Leflore County, Mississippi, has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the Native American presence and the establishment of European settlements. The area was initially inhabited by the Chickasaw tribe, who thrived on the fertile land and abundant natural resources. European explorers first arrived in the 16th century and Leflore County became part of the Spanish Empire in the early 18th century. However, after the American Revolution, it passed into the hands of the United States as part of the Mississippi Territory.

In the early 19th century, Leflore County experienced an influx of settlers, including many planters who brought enslaved Africans to work in the region's burgeoning cotton industry. With its favorable climate and rich soil, cotton became the dominant crop, shaping the county's economy and society for decades to come. As more settlers moved in, the county was officially established in 1871 and named after a Choctaw chief.

During the Civil War, Leflore County saw significant military action, as it was located alongside the Mississippi River and served as a strategic point for both Confederate and Union forces. The county suffered greatly during this time, with widespread destruction and loss of life. Once the war ended, the county gradually rebuilt its devastated economy, relying once again on cotton as the main crop.

In the 20th century, Leflore County faced the challenges of racial segregation and economic disparities that characterized much of the American South. The Civil Rights Movement brought significant change, with the county playing a role in the struggle for equal rights. Today, Leflore County is a diverse community that honors its heritage while also striving for progress and prosperity.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Leflore County, Mississippi.

  • 1825 - Leflore County is established as a county in the state of Mississippi.
  • 1830 - European settlers begin to migrate to the region.
  • 1836 - The Choctaw Indians cede their remaining lands in the area to the U.S. government.
  • 1841 - Leflore County becomes a major producer of cotton due to its fertile soil.
  • 1855 - The county's population increases significantly as more settlers move to the area.
  • 1861-1865 - Leflore County, like the rest of Mississippi, is greatly affected by the American Civil War.
  • Late 1800s - The county experiences a boom in timber and sawmill industries.
  • Early 1900s - Leflore County becomes a center for agriculture and is known for its cotton, soybeans, and catfish production.
  • 1940s-1960s - The Civil Rights Movement brings significant changes to Leflore County.
  • 1987 - The Mississippi Delta Community College is established in Leflore County.
  • Present - Leflore County continues to be an agricultural and educational hub in Mississippi.