Home to several blues artists, Oktibbeha County and Starkville are part of the Mississippi Blues Trail which highlights the contributions of artists who lived in the area.
Big Joe Williams
Born in 1903 near the Noxubee Swamp at the southern edge of Oktibbeha County, Big Joe Williams was known for his song “Baby Please Don’t Go” which was covered by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Muddy Waters, among others. Williams mentored Muddy Waters and Honeyboy Edwards.
Tony Hollins
Born in 1910 in the Starkville/Osborn area, Hollins was a guitarist that influenced John Lee Hooker. His songs include “Crosscut Saw Blues,” “Traveling Man Blues,” and “Crawlin’ King Snake.”
Lou Thomas Watts, aka Kid Thomas
Born in 1934 in Sturgis, Kid Thomas‘s work includes “Rockin’ This Joint To-Nite” and “Wolf Pack.” Thomas played the harmonica and was a regular player with Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and Elmore James.
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We look forward to welcoming visitors to Mississippi’s scenic outdoors and numerous tourism offerings throughout the state. Guests are advised to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines while both traveling to and visiting our beautiful state. Safe practices include washing hands regularly with soap and water, minimizing close contact with others, and maintaining a minimum of six feet of social distance from others. Visitors are also encouraged to stay informed of additional public health guidance in local destinations throughout the state to minimize risk to themselves and others.
