Sitting on top of the world

The Mississippi Blues Commission unveiled the second Pines-area marker on its Blues Trail yesterday in West Point, MS after the Jimmie Rodgers marker down in Meridian. The plaque is located next to the Howlin' Wolf statue by the Growth Alliance in downtown.



Here Blues Society Program Director Richard Ramsey talks with WCBI before the event.



Governor Barbour came and made a gracious speech about the importance of Mississippi Blues as history but also as a present day tourism and economic development driver. The one slightly false note was when he told West Point's Democratic Mayor Scott Ross that Wolf AKA Chester Arthur Burnette was named after a Republican President. True, but I wonder if Lincoln or Arthur would even recognize today's Grand Old Party?



Pines-area bluesman Willie King spoke about the influence of Wolf on his own playing. That's Jackson-area blues legend Jesse Robinson with the dramatic mustache just behind King.




Wolf's daughter Barbra Marks was in attendance as well.



Finally the plaque was unveiled.