Jackson Free Press

A new Mississippi Blues Trail marker was unveiled Wednesday to commemorate Jackson's contributions to American culture. The marker is in front of the King Edward Hotel, formerly known as the Edwards Hotel, where blues artists recorded and performed music in the 1930s.

The marker's dedication came after a summit on Mississippi's Creative Economy at the Jackson Convention Center, where artists and community leaders from around the state discussed ways arts can benefit the economy. Panelists from areas with thriving artistic communities suggested that creativity and the arts are untapped resources with great potential to draw tourists and new residents to Mississippi, as well as giving work to people from Mississippi so they do not have to leave the state to look for work.

Luther Brown, director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning, said that museums, heritage trails, businesses and restaurants based on Mississippi's blues heritage can bring visitors to other businesses in the state.

"It's important to remember that visitors buy things ... and they want to buy things made in the Delta," he said. Brown suggested a "made in the Mississippi Delta" initiative to promote tourism and encourage visitors to buy locally made souvenirs.

David Watkins, CEO of Watkins Development, helped to revive the King Edward Hotel. As a developer, he said he recognizes the value of artists in improving the quality of life and aesthetic value of a community.

"We want something you're going to be proud of, that is going to incorporate the history and culture of that community and its arts," he said.

The Edwards Hotel marker is one of 135 stops on the Blues Trail, 11 of which are in Jackson. During the 1930s, talent scout H.C. Speir set up recording sessions for local performers at the hotel with OKeh Records and the American Record Corporation. Blues artists like the Mississippi Sheiks, Robert Nighthawk and the "Mississippi Moaner" Isaiah Nettles recorded music at the hotel, as did country artists like Uncle Dave Macon and Jimmie Rogers.

The Mississippi Blues Trail now has an iPhone app that allows visitors to scan a code on the marker and hear recordings by blues legends. Learn more at msbluestrail.org.