Jackson Free Press

One day a young boy decided to dissemble a radio to find out how it worked. Later, he spent time in the basement of his parent's home developing his first amplifier and learning to play the guitar. Now, that boy has become a Mississippian known as Hartley Peavey.

Peavey is a down-to-earth man whose sound amplifiers have provided thousands of jobs and helped entertain billions of people. His innovative mind and curiosity made it possible for thousands of studio owners and families to afford musical items like high-performance amps and guitars. Peavey's amps cost about $400 less than those of other manufacturers.

Peavey's company, Peavey Electronics, is headquartered in Meridian, which is also Peavey's birthplace. The factory has been there since the beginning of Peavey's journey in the music-equipment production industry and has branched off to about 136 countries. Peavey Electronics produces more than 2,000 products ranging from professional sound equipment to musical instruments. Over 48 years, Peavey secured 180 patents for his products. Among them is AmpKit LiNKs, a device that plugs into a guitar, iPhone or iPod and it turns the phone into an amplifier.

On Jan. 17, the Mississippi Blues Commission awarded Hartley Peavey with an historic Mississippi Blues Trail marker for his contribution to Mississippi's music scene. The Mississippi Blues Commission has created a trail of markers commemorating important people and places in the state's blues culture going from the Louisiana border, through the Mississippi Delta, into Memphis, Tenn. and back down to Mississippi. Peavey's marker is the only one for a manufacturer. The induction ceremony took place at Peavey Headquarters in Meridian.

For more information about the Mississippi Blues Trail, visit http://www.msbluestrail.org/.