Newton County Blues
Newton County has a dual claim to blues fame, first as the birthplace of several historical figures and later as the site of an important blues event, the Chunky Rhythm & Blues Festival. Newton County natives include record businessman H.C. Speir (1895-1972); blues singers Willie Nix (1918-1991), Andrew Brown (1937-1985) and Prez Kenneth (1933-1995); and bassist Lamar Williams (1949-1983) of the Allman Brothers Band. In the 1980s and ‘90s many top national blues acts appeared at the Chunky festival on the Richardson farm.
Newton County has had several native sons who contributed to blues history, but all moved away at an early age and became associated with other areas. For decades only one performer was identified in blues literature as having roots here: Chicago singer and bass player Kenneth Kidd, known professionally as Prez Kenneth. According to the state’s Vital Records files, he was born Kennis Kidd in Decatur on December 29, 1933; he cited Newton as his birthplace. He moved several times and ended up in Chicago in 1956. There he took up music, and even though he performed only on a part-time basis he still developed a following in collectors’ circles on the strength of his 1960s records, including “Devil Dealing.” He died on June 15, 1995.
Willie Nix (legally Nicks), an eccentric singing drummer, had his heyday in the early 1950s when he had a radio show in West Memphis and recorded for Sun, Chance and other labels in Memphis and Chicago. His career dissipated after he spent time in prison and then drifted around the country, finally settling in Leland, Mississippi, where he died on July 8, 1991. He told interviewers he was born in Memphis but official documents place his birth in Union on August 6, 1918.
Andrew Brown claimed Jackson as his hometown but he was born in Newton County on February 25, 1937. When he was nine his family moved to Chicago. Brown, a multi-instrumentalist, played blues, jazz, R&B and gospel in Chicago and its suburbs. His recordings included songs that were covered by other bluesmen, some valued collectors’ items, and albums released on European labels. On December 11, 1985, he died in Harvey, Illinois, where he had lived since 1962.
Lamar Williams, an acclaimed bassist with the Allman Brothers, Sea Level and other bands that mixed blues with rock and R&B, grew up in Handsboro (now part of Gulfport), but he was born in Decatur on January 14, 1949. He sang with his father Lemon Williams’ gospel group before he and his friend Johnnie Lee Johnson (Jaimoe) played in soul bands on the coast and later joined the Allman Brothers. Williams, a Vietnam veteran, succumbed to cancer on January 21, 1983.
Charles Evers, born in Decatur on September 11, 1922, had a multi-faceted career in politics, civil rights and business, including work promoting blues as a festival sponsor and manager of WMPR radio. In the 1920s and ’30s, many Mississippi blues artists were able to make records thanks to Henry C. Speir, who owned a record store in Jackson and acted as a “talent broker” for record companies. Speir was born in Prospect on October 6, 1895. He died on April 22, 1972.
Ted Richardson was the key figure behind the annual Chunky Rhythm & Blues Festival, which began in 1985. The festival brought in performers from around the nation over the years, and in 1989 the Newton County board of supervisors honored Richardson for his contribution to the local economy
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.
The state bird of Mississippi is the Northern Mockingbird, and the state flower is the Magnolia.
In 1836, Newton County was officially established, named after Thomas W. Newton, a Mississippi Congressman. The county grew rapidly in the following years as more settlers arrived in search of land and opportunities. Agriculture played a significant role in the county's development during this period, with cotton becoming the primary crop. Plantations were established, and a slave labor system was implemented, shaping the social and economic structure of the county.
The Civil War had a profound impact on Newton County, as it did on the rest of Mississippi and the South. Many local men joined the Confederate Army, and the county experienced significant socio-economic disruptions due to the war. After the war ended, the county struggled to recover, but by the late 19th century, it began to see some economic growth and reconstruction.
In the 20th century, Newton County continued to evolve and develop. The advent of the railroad brought increased connectivity and facilitated trade and commerce. The county experienced modest industrial development in the form of sawmills and timber harvesting. Over the years, the county has also seen advancements in education, healthcare, and public infrastructure. Today, Newton County remains a vital community in Mississippi, proud of its history and striving for progress and prosperity.
Newton County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Newton County, Mississippi.
- 1818: Newton County is formed from portions of Franklin and Wayne Counties.
- Early 1800s: The area is primarily inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Choctaw.
- Mid-1800s: The county experiences significant growth with the establishment of new communities and the arrival of settlers.
- 1860s: Newton County is heavily affected by the American Civil War, with many residents serving in the Confederate Army.
- Late 1800s: Agriculture becomes the main economic activity, with cotton production being particularly important.
- Early 1900s: The county sees advancements in transportation and infrastructure, including the arrival of the railroad.
- 1930s: The Great Depression brings economic hardship to Newton County.
- Late 1900s: The county undergoes urbanization and modernization, with the growth of industries and the improvement of utilities.
- 2000s: Newton County continues to evolve, supporting a diverse economy and preserving its historical heritage.