Following the Mississippi Blues Trail Markers in JXN
The Mississippi Blues Trail winds through Jackson, planting silver-blue markers where legends once lived, recorded, and jammed after hours. And right in the heart of our city, on Farish Street, in basement lounges, and inside unassuming storefronts, you’ll find stories that helped shape American music.
Trumpet Records – 309 N. Farish Street
What do Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and a Jackson record store have in common? Trumpet Records, founded in 1951 by Lillian McMurry, was the first record label in Mississippi owned by a woman. She launched it out of her husband’s furniture store, recording gritty Delta blues and gospel that the major labels ignored.
Elmore James’ iconic “Dust My Broom” was recorded right here, with McMurry’s meticulous production shaping the sound. Today, a Blues Trail marker sits quietly outside this Farish Street building—but the echoes are loud.
Subway Lounge & Summers Hotel – 619 W. Pearl Street
Once Jackson’s first Black-owned hotel, the Summers Hotel opened in 1944 to offer safe lodging for Black travelers and musicians in the Jim Crow South. But downstairs, in the basement, the real magic happened.
That’s where the Subway Lounge pulsed from the late ’60s into the early 2000s. It was Jackson’s hidden gem, hosting late-night blues jams, jazz sets, and soul sessions. Artists like Bobby Rush and Big Daddy Hood lit up the room until sunrise. Though the hotel was demolished in 2004, a Trail marker preserves its spirit at the site.
More Markers, More Stories
Jackson’s music history runs deep. The H.C. Speir marker nearby honors the talent scout who discovered blues giants like Charley Patton and Robert Johnson in a Jackson storefront. Another marker celebrates Ace Records, a local label that helped spread Mississippi’s sound to jukeboxes nationwide.
And Farish Street itself? Once home to more than 200 Black-owned businesses, it was the epicenter of Jackson’s cultural explosion. Though the neighborhood has struggled in recent years, these markers offer a map back to what made it hum.
Ready to Walk the Trail?
Here’s your suggested route:
- Start at Trumpet Records (309 N. Farish)
- Head down to Subway Lounge (619 Pearl Street)
- Loop back through the Farish Street Historic District
- End your night with live music at Hal & Mal’s or a po’boy from Big Apple Inn
Bring headphones, cue up some Elmore James, and take in Jackson through the lens of our blues legends.
Both Trumpet Records and the Subway Lounge have long since ceased hosting live music… but plenty of places channel the late‑night blues and soul vibe of the old Subway Lounge! Look out for a modern blues crawl map, coming soon!
