Music in Mississippi

Conway Twitty is known as one of country music’s bestselling balladeers, with fifty-five No. 1 singles, including five duets with his frequent music partner Loretta Lynn. […]

Hank Cochran, was born in Isola and spent his early childhood years in the community. He wrote “Make the World Go Away,” “A Little Bitty Tear,” “She’s Got You,” and “Don’t Touch Me,” and co-wrote “I Fall to Pieces.” […]

Johnny Russell, a popular country recording artist and star of the Grand Ole Opry, is best remembered as the author of “Act Naturally.” The song became a hit for both Buck Owens and the Beatles, selling more than twenty million […]

Fiddler William T. Narmour and guitarist Shellie W. Smith became an influential duo with forty-eight recordings for Okeh and Bluebird records from 1928 to 1934 that often emphasized their home base – including “Carroll County Blues” and “Avalon Quick Step.” […]

Steve Azar burst onto the national country scene in 2001 with his album “Waitin’ on Joe,” which featured the No. 2 hit “I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday).” […]

Appearing on the country charts over 50 times, Elvis Presley’s music pushed traditional country towards the more modern Nashville Sound. […]

Jerry Lewis’ 1956 rock ‘n’ roll classics “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” and “Great Balls of Fire” topped the country charts. The rockabilly singer and pianist produced a streak of country hits including the No. 1 records “To Make […]

Jim Weatherly is best known for writing the hit song “Midnight Train to Georgia,” a No. 1 hit for R&B group Gladys Knight and the Pips. The Pontotoc native also saw success performing his own songs throughout his fifty-year recording […]

Mac McAnally wrote and recorded hit songs with insightful lyrics that expanded the popularity of country music. He was also a producer and an award-winning guitar player in Nashville from the 1970s into the twenty-first century. […]

O. B. McClinton found his first musical success as a songwriter for 1960s Memphis soul labels. During the 1970s and ‘80s, McClinton would become one of the most successful African American artists in the field, with fifteen chart hits. […]

Pete Pyle played an important role in the development of modern country music. The vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter began his career playing at regional radio stations before making his first recordings for RCA Victor in 1940 and joining the Grand […]

Born and raised in the small town of Tremont, Mississippi, Tammy Wynette would become one of the most acclaimed performers in country history. Wynette’s twenty era-defining No. 1 records, including her hit “Stand By Your Man,” propelled her to stardom […]