Mississippi Blues Trail Series: Pensacola Blues – The Photo Collection

Mississippi Blues Trail Series: Pensacola Blues – The Photo Collection.
Photos by Stephen “Andy” Anderson. (designed & posted by J. Cole)

Click Here for the article: “Mississippi Blues Trail Series – Pensacola Blues” by Johnny Cole

©Stephen Anderson | ©The Southland Music Line (2019)

Recognizing the Pensacola Blues, The Mississippi Blues Trails marker #203 was dedicated on Jan. 18, 2019.

Pensacola Blues marker at 421 West Belmont Street in Pensacola FL

The marker is at the intersection of West Belmont Street and North De Villiers Street in Pensacola, FL

The historic Belmont Theatre in Pensacola, FL. Before blues was even recognized as a musical genre, vocalists Ma Rainey from Georgia (later hailed as “The Mother of the Blues”), Mississippi-born Virginia Liston and others were performing at the Belmont Theatre, a marquee venue on the vaudeville circuit.

A 1963 ad for WBOP “the only black radio station” in northwest Florida.

Jackson Music Awards winner, Peggy Scott-Adams, lived in Jackson for several years before moving to California, where she teamed with Mississippi-born songwriter-producer Jimmy Lewis on several recordings.

Peggy Scott-Adams’ first records, including “Lover’s Holiday” and other 1968 hits as a duo with Jo Jo Benson, were cut in Clinton and Jackson, MS.

Abe’s 506 Club was a popular Chitlin Circuit venue located in Pensacola, Florida.