Leland MS Blues Trail – a Music History Journey

by Mauka · Published March 13, 2024 · Updated April 22, 2024

Leland MS Blues Trail: a Music History Journey.

Arriving late in the day to explore the Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Markers,
we found the town tranquil, almost too quiet, with no traffic and no one out and about.
Additionally, we found the markers quickly; along the way, we found painted murals honoring blues artists on the sides of the walls.
Furthermore, Johnny Winter’s family history here was fascinating to us.

Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Marker – CORNER of 10 and 61

This corner at the intersection of Highways 10 and 61 was a popular and profitable spot for blues musicians who played requests for tips on Saturdays when people from the country came to town. Moreover, it continued as a hot spot for blues artists until the 1960s.
Furthermore, Leland was a bustling center of commerce because a daily train stopped there. Additionally, passengers would stop to eat from street vendors who sold hot tamales and fried fish and listen to music performed by Delta blues artists.
Meanwhile, during this time, Hwy 10 passed through Greenville’s Blues Center and followed the Southern Railway line through Leland, Dunleith, Holly Ridge, Indianola, Moorhead, Berclair, and Itta Bena, making Hwy 10 just as popular as Hwy 61 for Blues artists.

“Sonny Boy Nelson” and guitarist Charlie Booker were two
of the artists featured on this corner.
Booker’s song “No Ridin’ Blues” referred to historic fires in Greenville and Leland when, a month later, Leland burned down.

The location map for Blues Marker - Corner of Highways 10 & 61

Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Marker – JOHNNY WINTER

Did you know that Johnny Winter III
comes from a family with a background in the cotton business?

His father, John Dawson Winter, Jr. and grandfather John Dawson Winter, Sr. owned J.D. Winter & Son in Leland, Mississippi. Johnny’s dad was not only a cotton classer, but also a talented musician who played saxophone, guitar, and sang. In fact, he was even elected mayor of Leland in 1936.
The Winter family had a passion for music and would often have front porch concerts at their home with their five-piece family band.
Although Johnny and his brother Edgar were born in Texas, they spent part of their childhood in Leland. When their dad was serving in the military, their mother went to her hometown of Beaumont, Texas to give birth.
Both brothers started performing and recording rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and R&B music in their teens.
Johnny was particularly fond of Mississippi blues artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson, whom he would listen to on the radio.

Johnny Winter was an amazing musician who had a special talent for playing blues rock.
He was famous for his high-energy albums, enthusiastic live performances,
and incredible slide guitar skills.
His music was a perfect fusion of rock and blues, and
it became an instant hit among the audiences in 1969.
People absolutely loved his music, and he quickly became a sensation on the national music scene. Mississippi Blues Trail: Johnny Winter in Leland

Johnny Winter, the famous musician, produced albums for Muddy Waters and played with the Muddy Waters band, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and other renowned artists.
After his time with Waters, Winter recorded several blues albums that were nominated for Grammy awards.
In 1969, Johnny Winter released a self-titled album that showcased his high-energy blues-rock style, featuring guest appearances by Willie Dixon and Big Walter Horton, both natives of Mississippi.
Following the release of this album, Winter recorded several more albums that made it to the national charts.
In 1988, Johnny Winter made history by becoming the first white musician to be elected to the Blues Hall of Fame.
He was also ranked 63rd on Rolling Stone magazine’s prestigious list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” in 2003.

This Leland Mississippi Blues Trail marker was unveiled on June 6, 2010.
Winter died at age 70 in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 16, 2014.

The location map for Blues Marker - Johnny Winter

Edgar Winter, a multi-instrumentalist, played on his brother
Johnny’s Second Winter LP and began recording with his own groups.
His 1970s hit singles were “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride.”

Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Marker – RUBY’S NITE SPOT

Ruby Edwards, a legendary figure in the Delta music scene during the 1940s and 1950s.

Edwards was the proud owner of a prominent blues club, where she booked an impressive lineup of nationally known artists like T-Bone Walker, Little Walter, Little Richard, and many more.
But that’s not all – Edwards’ club, Ruby’s Nite Spot, was like no other. With its “wide open” policy, patrons could enjoy dining, drinking, dancing, and gambling until the early hours of the morning, long after other nearby clubs had closed.
And to keep the drinks flowing, Edwards sent “runners” across state lines to bring back illegal liquor during Mississippi’s prohibition era. But that’s not all.
In the mid-1950s, Edwards bought out the Club Ebony in Indianola, where her daughter Sue met her future husband, the one and only B.B. King.
After retiring in the 1970s, Edwards ran a grocery store until her passing on New Year’s Day in 2001.
Her legacy lives on as a trailblazer in the blues scene, with a reputation for offering top-notch entertainment and a unique, “wide open” experience that was truly one-of-a-kind.

Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Marker – SON THOMAS

James Henry “Son” Thomas, a legendary blues musician and folk-art sculptor, born in 1926 in the community of Eden, Yazoo County, he moved to Leland in search of a better-paying job.
After years of performing at local juke joints and house parties, he recorded his first songs for Bill Ferris in 1968, becoming one of the most recognized blues artists in Mississippi in the ’70s and ’80s.
With his unique way of presenting songs and stories filled with a droll sense of humor, he became a fan favorite, earning the nickname “Cairo” for his rendition of the Lil’ Son Jackson tune “Cairo Blues.”
He also gained fame as a folk-art sculptor, exhibiting his artwork in galleries across the US and Europe.
But the legacy of “Son” Thomas didn’t end there. His son, Raymond “Pat” Thomas, followed in his footsteps, becoming an authentic bluesman and folk artisan known for his drawings of cats’ heads.
From the railroad tracks in Leland, where “Son” Thomas is buried, to galleries in New York and Washington, DC, the impact of this legendary blues musician and artist lives on.

Thomas chose to continue living in a rundown shotgun house because he knew that blues fans,
art buyers and photographers would be drawn to his unconventional lifestyle.
He believed that living in such a place added to his image, and eventually,
it turned out to be a smart decision,
as fans flocked to him, willing to pay to hear him play or purchase his artwork.
Some of his creations had deathly themes,
like skulls and coffins, which led to rumors of him being a “hoodoo man”
circulating in the neighborhood.

Leland Mississippi Blues Marker - SON THOMAS Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Marker – TYRONE DAVIS

Tyrone Davis, a legendary American soul singer, was born on a plantation near Leland on May 4, 1938. After some time, he moved to Leland where he sang gospel with his family at home and practiced his craft alone at Ruby’s Nite Spot.
Although known as one of the most beloved soul singers in America, Davis had a unique sound that set him apart from traditional blues artists. His music had a touch of romance that resonated with audiences. This made him a significant figure in the blues world, especially among African Americans.
In the late 1950s, Davis ventured to Chicago and began his career under the name “Tyrone the Wonder Boy”. By the end of 1968, he had released his million-selling single “Can I Change My Mind.”
From 1969 to 1988, Davis dominated the national rhythm & blues charts with forty-three singles. This included three number one hits – “Can I Change My Mind,” “Turn Back the Hands of Time,” and “Turning Point.”
His success continued throughout the years as he placed twenty-eight albums on the Billboard R&B or blues charts from 1969 to 2004.
Sadly, on February 9, 2005, we said goodbye to Tyrone D.”

Leland, MS is an interesting small town nestled in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
Its history dates back to 1834 when it was first settled.
The town sits on the picturesque banks of Deer Creek and
has a population of 4,481 as of the 2010 census.
In its early days, Leland was known as a bustling railway town and
played a significant role in cotton production.

One of Leland’s most famous residents is Jim Henson, creator of
beloved characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
Henson was born in nearby Greenville and later raised in Leland.
Visitors can pay homage to his legacy at the Jim Henson Exhibit,
a museum dedicated to showcasing his remarkable achievements.

Around the town of Leland on the Mississippi Blues Trail The Leland Mississippi Blues Trail Markers