Mississippi Songwriters Performing Arts Center

09/05/2025

Did you know? The City of Gautier has several businesses that are venue hosts to the annual Mississippian Songwriters MISSISSIPPI SONGWRITERS' FESTIVAL . Check out the poster just shared. You can find more details at their website msfestival.org

It’s finally Friday, and we have a big announcement to share! We are incredibly proud to unveil the 2025 Mississippi Songwriters Festival - coast region artwork! Ideas born from a collective of a few MSA volunteers to becoming this final product as a result of the talent of our graphic artist Lloa Willis. Lloa’s commitment, patience and vision does not go unnoticed. She has spent numerous hours on designing and fine tuning this piece of digital art that integrates all 5 regions of the state. Bring your wallet out to the festival September 18-21, and be ready to purchase a poster and tshirts that will commemorate the flagship 2025 Mississippi Songwriters Festival! (Check out these venues and sponsors! They help make this all possible)

09/04/2025

Good Thursday morning !!!! Here's the Thursday Throwback knowledge for you all.

☆ This Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was once the lead singer of The Soul Stirrers, a gospel music sensation with crossover appeal to a younger audience, largely thanks to its charismatic lead singer. Who was he?

☆ Sam Cooke, whose family left Clarksdale for Chicago when he was young. At a very early age, this son of a minister began singing gospel music professionally with his siblings and later with the Highway QCs. In 1950, at the age of 19, he became the lead singer of The Soul Stirrers, who were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and had a significant influence on soul, R&B, doo-wop, and Southern soul. Cooke left the group in 1957 to pursue a solo career in pop music.

* Post credit: Johnny Cole
* Photo credit: Specialty Records

09/02/2025

☆ This Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was named after Chester A. Arthur (the 21st U.S. President). Who was he?

☆ Chester Arthur Burnett, known to millions as Howlin' Wolf, was born in White Station, Mississippi (just north of West Point) on June 10, 1910. The great Howlin' Wolf would reach career heights as a premier Chicago bluesman, known for his huge stature, booming voice, and occasional rivalry with fellow bluesman Muddy Waters. Chester A. Burnett, named for Chester A. Arthur (the 21st U.S. President), received several nicknames as a young man (“Big Foot Chester” and “Bull Cow”) because of his large and sometimes intimidating physique.

Post credit: Johnny Cole
Photo credit: (used with permission): Howlin’ Wolf taken in Manchester, England (1964) by Brian Smith, an acclaimed portrait photographer and photojournalist. Stephen Anderson (Southland Music Line photographer) recently corresponded with Smith about this photo and his impressive body of work.

08/28/2025

☆ This Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee co-wrote Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw," one of the biggest country records of the 1990s. During this time, he also co-wrote the #1 country single "My Love" by Little Texas. Along with McGraw and Little Texas, this inductee has had songs recorded by such artists as Hank Williams, Jr., T.G. Sheppard, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Dukes of Hazzard's Tom Wopat, and many others. He was inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. Who is he?

☆ Tommy Barnes, a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, was raised in North Alabama and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Barnes has enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter and has been honored with multiple accolades, including inductions into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Post credit: Johnny Cole
Photo credit: Stephen "Andy" Anderson

08/28/2025

08/26/2025

Hellooooo everyone! Here’s today’s tidbits. Hope you all are enjoying these posts. Please remember to help us grow the audience for this page by interacting with clicking “Like” and even sharing a post. This helps the algorithm increase our page reach. Ok back to the important stuff.

☆ This Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee's song "You Decorated My Life," co-written with Debbie Hupp, was originally intended for country music great Dottie West, but she suggested it to Kenny Rogers. The song, released in the autumn of 1979, became a #1 hit on Billboard's Country chart and a big crossover hit. In 1980, it won the Grammy for Best Country Song. A few months later, this inductee, along with Wanda Mallette and Patti Ryan, saw their song "Lookin' for Love" become a major success as the theme song to the box-office hit Urban Cowboy, a film starring John Travolta. The song, performed by Johnny Lee, was another successful crossover hit co-written by this inductee. Who is he?

☆ Answer: Bob Morrison, born August 6, 1942, in Biloxi, Mississippi, has enjoyed an impressive career as a songwriter for many years. He has had more than 350 of his songs recorded by such music artists as Reba McEntire, the Oak Ridge Boys, Barbara Mandrell, the Carpenters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bobby Goldsboro. Morrison's most popular songs are the Grammy-winning "You Decorated My Life," recorded by Kenny Rogers, and "Lookin' for Love," from the soundtrack to the film Urban Cowboy, which was a huge hit for Johnny Lee.

Post credit: Johnny Cole
Photo credit: Songwriters Guild of America

08/23/2025

Check out this article from The Southland Music Line chronicling the groundbreaking ceremony August 15

https://thesouthlandmusicline.com/news/mississippi-songwriters-performing-arts-center-update-1/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMWvqZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhk3b40_EHMc33stWuPVMgmpM43WsQxrcabIVznSz057cISm5ixhcIeYYgw7_aem_OPf6_oDt61o7OxGv88I8yQ

We at The Southland Music Line will be regularly reporting updates on the construction of the Mississippi Songwriters Performing Arts Center with photos and comments.

08/21/2025

It’s Thirsty Thursday, or maybe throwback Thursday as some say - but here it’s today’s Thursday’s tidbits on a Hall of Fame member. Have a great weekend everyone!

☆ Hundreds of music artists have recorded this Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee's songs, including Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Lee Roy Parnell, Faith Hill, Diamond Rio, Kenny Chesney, Lonestar, Phil Vassar, LeAnn Rimes, Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line, Confederate Railroad, and many others. He has received many accolades, including Songwriter of the Year in 1997 from both Music Row and the Nashville Songwriters Association International; in 2003, 2005, and 2007, he was named ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year; the Nashville Songwriters Association named him Songwriter of the Decade in 2009; and ASCAP presented him with its Heritage Award in 2014 as the most-performed country songwriter of the past century. Who is he?

☆ Answer: Craig Wiseman is one of country music's most renowned, talented, and distinguished songwriters. Wiseman has come a long way from playing music as a child growing up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and, as of 2024, having written hundreds of songs, 150 of which have been released as singles by many top music artists, and 30 were #1 country hits. He was inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.

Post credit: Johnny Cole
Photo credit: Amy Allmand Photography, courtesy of Sweet Talk Publicity.

08/19/2025

Happy Tuesday afternoon to yall!!! Here’s our Tuesday tidbits on a Hall of Fame member.

☆ This talented Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee has been honored with multiple accolades, crossing over into several genres. His song “A Little More Country Than That,” recorded by Easton Corbin, went to #1 and was nominated for both a CMA and ACM Song of the Year. He has also had his songs successfully recorded by the industry's top artists. Among them are Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Daryll Worley, Sir Cliff Richard, The Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell, Jake Owen, and more. This inductee has also won several Dove Awards for his work in gospel and inspirational music. Who is he?

☆ Answer: Don Poythress from Meridian, Mississippi, has enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter since the 1980s, yet has always recognized his strong spiritual faith as an inspiration. He remains an active presence in songwriting and within the music industry. Poythress was inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.

Post credit: Johnny Cole
Photo credit: Stephen Anderson

08/17/2025

What a sad day this was.

Remembering Elvis, who died on this day in 1977.

08/16/2025

Gautier city leaders and members of the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance (MSA) tossed the dirt for Friday’s groundbreaking.