Historical Marker

Harold "Hardface" Clanton

Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

Long before casinos brought legalized gambling and big-name entertainment to Tunica, African American entrepreneur Harold “Hardface” Clanton (1916-1982) ran a flourishing operation here that offered games of chance, bootleg liquor, and the best in blues music. Nicknamed for the stone face he wore during poker games, Clanton owned several businesses, including a cafe near this site and “The Barn” on Old Mhoon Landing Road, where most of the action took place.

Harold “Hardface” Clanton was a legend not only in Tunica but across the country, in both blues and gambling circles. Though never elected to office, he was called “the black sheriff” of the county and was reputed to be Tunica’s “first black millionaire” as well. Recalled with fondness and admiration by blacks and whites alike, Clanton operated in an era when Tunica County steered its own course when it came to gambling and alcohol statutes. Gambling helped fuel the economy, drawing money from the many out-of-town participants and providing employment for locals. Hardface’s activities helped pave the way for Tunica County to legalize casino gambling in 1991. It was the first county on the Mississippi River to do so.

Clanton was born into a large farming family on May 29, 1916. He had only a grammar school education, according to his U.S. Army enlistment papers from 1943. However, his term in the military turned out to be both educational and profitable–he came home loaded with cash he had won from servicemen and with enough gaming experience to start a business of his own. He opened Harold’s Cafe at 856 Magnolia Street in Tunica and later built “The Barn” four miles west of this site. He also raised cotton and at times ran cafes in West Memphis and on Prichard Road in Tunica. B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner, Albert King, Sonny Boy Williamson No. 2, Robert Nighthawk, Frank Frost, Houston Stackhouse, and many other renowned blues artists provided music for Hardface and his clientele. Many of the local bands Hardface hired were led by drummers: Sam Carr of Lula, James “Peck” Curtis of Helena, and the peg-legged Roosevelt “Barber” Parker of Tunica. Parker and his Silver Kings Band once had a radio show in Memphis on WDIA.

Hardface’s reputation reached from Las Vegas to Cicero, Illinois, the Chicago suburb famed for its Mafia connections. According to a local anecdote, one Monday morning he was asked about the stacks of cash he had accrued. He replied, “Oh, some boys down from Cicero thought they knew how to throw the dice.” Dice games brought in the money for him in Tunica, but Clanton loved to play a three-card poker game called kotch or cotch. He traveled often to gamble himself, superstitiously choosing a different car for each road trip to Texas, Louisiana, or Vicksburg. Some say the nickname Hardface came from his famous poker face, while another story has it that during his younger days, he sometimes lived the gambling life 24 hours a day, sleeping with his face against the hard surface of the craps tables. Clanton died on June 4, 1982. So many people turned out to pay their respects that his funeral had to be held at the Rosa Fort High School gymnasium

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
In 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. His killer, Byron De La Beckwith, was not convicted until 1994.
Mississippi random facts
Tunica County, located in the state of Mississippi, has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The earliest known inhabitants of the area were Native American tribes, including the Tunica, who lived along the Mississippi River. European exploration of the area began in the 16th century, with Spanish and French explorers establishing contact and trade with the Native Americans.

In the 18th century, the French established a presence in the region, establishing fortified settlements along the Mississippi River, including Fort Prudhomme. However, in 1763, as a result of the Treaty of Paris, France ceded control of the region to Britain. In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, Spanish forces captured the area from the British.

Throughout the 19th century, Tunica County experienced significant economic growth due to its fertile soil and location along the Mississippi River, which allowed for easy transportation of goods. The county thrived agriculturally, with the cultivation of cotton becoming a dominant force, leading to the rise of large plantations and an increase in slave labor.

During the Civil War, Tunica County, like much of the South, suffered greatly. It was the site of several skirmishes and Union Army raids, leading to the destruction of property and the decline of the cotton economy. In the years following the war, the county slowly rebuilt, and by the early 20th century, the introduction of mechanized farming equipment resulted in increased productivity and economic recovery.

Today, Tunica County is known for its casinos and tourism industry. The county has undergone significant development and has become a major destination for gaming and entertainment. It continues to preserve its historical roots, with several historic sites and museums that showcase the area's rich cultural heritage.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Tunica County, Mississippi.

  • Tunica County was established in 1836.
  • The county was named after the Tunican Native American tribe who once lived in the area.
  • During the Civil War, Tunica County was mostly occupied by Union troops.
  • In the late 19th century, the county experienced rapid growth with the introduction of railroads.
  • Tunica became a major center for cotton production, with numerous cotton plantations dotting the landscape.
  • In the early 20th century, the boll weevil infestation and the Great Flood of 1927 devastated the agricultural economy of Tunica County.
  • In the mid-20th century, Tunica County struggled with poverty and lack of adequate infrastructure.
  • Tunica County became known for its casino industry in the 1990s, which helped boost the local economy.
  • Today, Tunica County continues to be a popular tourist destination and is home to several casinos and entertainment venues.