They changed America’s culture. Now, five Mississippians who made a major impact on music, literature, and civil rights have taken well-deserved places in the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience Hall of Fame.
Musicians Sam Cooke and W.C. Handy of Clarksdale and Marty Stuart of Philadelphia, and writers Alice Walker of Jackson and Ida B. Wells of Holly Springs are the 2022 inductees. The museum, commonly known as The MAX, saluted them Thursday at a ceremony in the Mississippi State University Riley Center’s historic Victorian theater.
Short documentary films sketched out the life and legacy of each inductee. Singer Carla Cooke appeared on her late father’s behalf and performed several of his hits. Other performers included Dr. Alphonso Sanders of the B.B. King Recording Studio at Mississippi Valley State University and Stuart himself. Actress, professor, and Greenwood, Mississippi, native Tonea Stewart served as master of ceremonies.
Following the ceremony, more than 600 guests, honorees, and their families traveled the two blocks to The MAX for more live entertainment. They also watched the official unveiling of new exhibits featuring the inductees in the museum’s two-story rotunda.
Here is how this class of inductees made such a mark on the United States and the world:
Sam Cooke was one of the most influential recording artists of all time. He helped shape the burgeoning soul and pop scene in the late 1950s and early ’60s and worked behind the scenes to further the civil rights movement. He died in 1964.
W.C. Handy was a composer and musician who popularized blues music in the early 20th century. He died in 1958. His legacy lives on through the annual W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama.
Marty Stuart is a Grammy Award-winning country music artist. He performed as a mandolin and guitar virtuoso with Johnny Cash before launching his successful solo career. He has played a major role in preserving and enhancing country music’s heritage.
Alice Walker is a novelist, essayist, poet, and social activist. She was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, awarded for her novel The Color Purple. She continues to write and to speak out.
Ida B. Wells was a journalist, feminist and early leader in the civil rights movement. She crusaded for women’s suffrage and against lynching, and was one of the founders of the NAACP. She died in 1931.
“We host this event every other year to call attention to the many creative legends that Mississippi has generated,” said Mark Tullos, President/CEO of The MAX. “Recognizing their incredible talent and contribution to American arts and culture is not only a source of pride for all Mississippians but also a source of inspiration to future artists. Our hope is to ignite and foster creativity among future generations of Mississippians by highlighting what those before them have accomplished.”
The MAX began inducting Hall of Fame members in 2017, a year before the 58,000-square-foot-museum opened on Front Street in historic downtown Meridian. The five new members will join such stars as Eudora Welty, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, B.B. King, Sela Ward, and Jim Henson, as well as less publicized treasures like Margaret Walker, William Eggleston, Richard Wright, and George Ohr.
The MAX, created by an act of the Mississippi Legislature, honors a diverse mix of creative legends. Chances are that no matter where in Mississippi one resides, at least one of the Hall of Fame honorees has ties to the area. The interactive museum hosts a variety of workshops, classes, live performances, and other events throughout the year.
Visit The MAX to see the new exhibits honoring the latest Hall of Fame members. Keep checking msarts.org for video clips from the ceremony and the latest information about new exhibitions and other happenings.
About The MAX
The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience explores the state’s creative legacies in one immersive attraction. Come discover the Mississippi roots of some of the world’s arts and entertainment icons – Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, B.B. King, Faith Hill, Sela Ward, Margaret Walker, Eudora Welty, and Jim Henson, to name just a few.
The MAX is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The museum is located at the corner of Sela Ward Parkway (22nd Avenue) and Front Street, overlooking the railroad at the edge of Meridian’s historic downtown. Street parking is available, with shops and restaurants within walking distance. For more information visit msarts.org or call 601-581-1550.
Laura Hester, Director of Communications and Programs
Marty Stuart
Ida B. Wells
W.C. Handy
Alice Walker
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