BLUES SITES
While Indianola is known as the hometown of the “King of the Blues” and the site of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, the town and Sunflower County are also filled with much more blues history. From several markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail —including one for Charley Patton, the first to be unveiled on the Trail—to others honoring artists and places, you’ll find yourself surrounded by history that has shaped this area and the world of music.
The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
400 Second Street • 662-887-9539
The museum that is filled with inspirational films, interactive exhibits and artifacts relating to King’s life is a jewel in the crown of Indianola. Since its opening in 2008, it has attracted visitors from all 50 state and more than 30 foreign countries to come to learn about the “King of the Blues” and his and this area’s influence on world music. The museum grounds include a Memorial Plaza where King is laid to rest.
B.B. King’s Corner
The corner of Church and Second Streets
This prototype Blues Trail marker describes the location where a young Riley King would play for tips. According to B.B., it was “like a good fishing hole” because it attracted an audience that would encourage and tip. B.B.’s handprints are also embedded in the concrete sidewalk here.
Albert King Blues Trail Marker
Front Avenue and Second Street
Albert King (1923-1992), who was billed as “King of the Blues Guitar,” was famed for his powerful string-bending style as well as for his soulful, smoky vocals. King often said he was born in Indianola and was a half-brother of B.B. King, although the scant surviving documentation suggests otherwise on both counts. He carved his own indelible niche in the blues hierarchy by creating a deep, dramatic sound that was widely imitated by both blues and rock guitarists.
Church Street Blues Trail Marker
217 Church Street
Indianola’s Church Street catered to every need of the African American community during the segregation era, when most area residents worked in the cotton fields during the week and came to town on weekends. Church Street offered everything from doctors’ offices to tailoring shops, from Saturday night blues to Sunday morning church services.
Club Ebony Blues Trail Marker
404 Hannah Street
Club Ebony is one of the most famous spots on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Since 1945, it has hosted legendary musicians such as Count Basie, Ray Charles, James Brown, Ike Turner, Little Milton, Willie Clayton, Bobby Bland, Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King. Now owned by the B.B. King Museum, the club has undergone renovation and has live music acts. Contact the museum to schedule a visit, and check the museum’s social media channels for events.
Charley Patton’s Gravesite and Blues Trail Marker
Longswitch Cemetery, Holly Ridge
In the shadow of a modern working cotton gin lies a country cemetery. Among the primitive headstones is the final resting place of pioneer bluesman Charley Patton, who is considered the “Father of Delta Blues” for his role in defining not only the musical genre, but also the image and lifestyle of the rambling Mississippi bluesman. His headstone was donated by singer John Fogerty in 1990, 56 years after Patton’s death in 1934.
Where the Southern Cross the Dog
Washington Street and Delta Avenue, Moorhead
The site immortalized in the lyrics of W.C. Handy’s 1915 blues song, “Yellow Dog Blues,” this point marks the intersection of two major railroad lines, northbound Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad (the “Yellow Dog”) and westbound Southern Railroad. Riding on the railroad was a common theme in blues songs—a metaphor for travel and escape.