Prince McCoy
Prince McCoy (1882-1968), a prominent early 20th century Greenville musician, played a pivotal yet long unacknowledged role in blues history.At a dance in Cleveland, Mississippi, an astonished W.C. Handy watched a crowd throw money at the feet of a trio led by McCoy. Handy described it as the moment of enlightenment that set him on a path to fame as the “Father of the Blues.” But McCoy’s legacy remained an anonymous one for many years because Handy omitted his name from the 1941 book Father of the Blues, referring to McCoy only as “a long-legged chocolate boy.”
Prince McCoy would have been a familiar name in blues history long ago had W.C. Handy followed his first instinct to cite McCoy by name in his book Father of the Blues. Handy did in fact name McCoy in at least three pre-publication manuscripts. But in the final 1941 published version, McCoy’s name had been dropped, perhaps at the suggestion of a collaborator, even though Handy did describe McCoy’s performance in Cleveland (c. 1903) where he realized “the beauty of primitive music . . . Folks would pay money for it.” In one of the previously unpublished texts, Handy described McCoy’s trio: “They were led by a long-legged chocolate boy called Prince McCoy, and their band consisted of just three pieces, a battered guitar, a mandolin and a bass. The musicians themselves were a sorry lot, too. Dressed in their Sunday best, they still managed to convey the impression that they had just slept in the cotton patch . . . . Prince McCoy had evidently submitted to an old-fashioned mammy hair cut. It left him with the appearance of a mule that had just been roached.”
In an earlier, also unpublished, manuscript, Handy wrote: “McCoy used to play a piece called: ‘I’m A Winding Ball And I Don’t Deny My Name.’” The song, also known as “Winin’ (or Windin’) Boy Blues” among other titles, is identified with New Orleans icon Jelly Roll Morton, although Morton did not record it until 1938. Another seminal number played by McCoy resulted in Handy’s first published musical work, “Memphis Blues,” according to Handy band member Stack Mangham of Clarksdale, who recalled, “It was the same thing we heard that night in Cleveland.” A clarinetist who later played in McCoy’s band, Douglas Williams, also had connections with Handy. In 1917 Handy published and recorded a Williams composition, “Hooking Cow Blues.” Williams recorded 24 sides of his own in Memphis for Victor in 1928-1930.
Prince Albert McCoy was born in St. Joseph. Louisiana, on March 19, 1882, and moved to Greenville as a youngster. Handy may have viewed McCoy as a ragged musician, but news accounts indicate McCoy developed his music and led seven- and eight-piece orchestras. In 1909 the Vicksburg Herald reported that his band was already “of Delta-wide fame.” He performed for many dances and civic affairs, including the 1910 Ole Miss-Alabama football game in Greenville, a 1916 street dance here on this block of Main Street, courthouse dances in Cleveland and Rosedale, and even the Mt. Heroden Literary Society in Vicksburg where he played violin solos and duets in 1921.
By 1927 McCoy had left Mississippi for Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he was employed in the traveling musical troupe of Maxey’s Medicine Shows. McCoy was with the Maxey outfit until at least 1937 and later worked in Winston-Salem as a laborer and janitor. He died there in obscurity on February 4, 1968, never having come to the attention of historians who might have restored his rightful place in the annals of blues
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.
Mississippi has a long history of political and social conservatism, and the state has consistently voted for Republican candidates in presidential elections since the 1980s. However, the state also has a strong Democratic Party tradition, particularly among African American voters.
In the 1820s, significant numbers of white settlers began to arrive in the region, establishing plantations and cultivating cotton as the primary cash crop. The county's fertile soil and proximity to the Mississippi River made it ideal for large-scale agriculture, leading to the rise of a plantation-based economy that relied heavily on enslaved African American labor.
During the Civil War, Washington County played a significant role as a strategic location along the Mississippi River. The city of Greenville, the county seat, served as a Confederate supply depot and became a target for Union forces. The Battle of Greenville in 1864 resulted in the Union's control over the city, leading to the end of slavery and the decline of the plantation system.
In the years following the Civil War, Washington County experienced economic and social changes. Reconstruction brought increased political participation for African Americans, and many former slaves became landowners and entrepreneurs. However, the county also faced challenges including racial tensions, economic instability, and the impact of natural disasters such as the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
Today, Washington County continues to be an important agricultural region, with cotton, soybeans, and rice being major crops. The county also has a diverse cultural heritage, with a rich African American history and contributions to the blues music scene. While the challenges of the past still have an impact, Washington County remains a vital part of Mississippi's history and economy.
Washington County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Washington County, Mississippi.
- 1800: Washington County, Mississippi, was established.
- 1827: Greenville, the county seat, was incorporated.
- 1837: The Mississippi River flood devastated the county, causing significant damage.
- 1844: The first county courthouse was built in Greenville.
- 1871: Major flooding occurred along the Mississippi River, causing a significant loss of property and life.
- 1892: The Mississippi Levee District was established to protect the county from flooding.
- 1927: Another devastating flood occurred along the Mississippi River, causing widespread damage.
- 1942: The United States Army Airfield, now known as the Mid-Delta Regional Airport, was constructed near Leland.
- 1940s-1950s: The county experienced a decline in agricultural production due to mechanization and a decrease in labor demand.
- 1960s: The Civil Rights Movement had a significant impact on Washington County, with several key events occurring in Greenville.
- 1998: The Washington County Convention Center was opened in Greenville.
- 2005: Hurricane Katrina caused some damage in Washington County, although it was not as severely affected as other coastal areas.