Selmer in McNairy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2017 Inductees

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 7, 2021

1. McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2017 Inductees Marker

Inscription.
Carl Perkins
American Music Icon • King of Rockabilly Carl Perkins is a native of Lake County, Tennessee and a towering figure in American popular music. He achieved superstardom in 1956 with the rockabilly anthem "Blue Suede Shoes," but he has deep cultural roots in McNairy County. As a young guitarist based out of Jackson, Tennessee, Perkins often played at local events such as open jams at the Latta building and he drew inspiration from McNairy County musicians. He made his first known recordings at Eastview, Tennessee with Stanton Littlejohn. He met and heard Elvis Presley perform live for the first time in Bethel Springs, Tennessee.

Lloyd Watkins
Multi-instrumentalist, Music Teacher, Humanitarian Lloyd Watkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist and teacher. He began playing guitar at the age of seven in Leapwood, Tennessee. Though he has performed and recorded with several professional country and southern gospel groups, including several Grand Ole Opry members, Watkins has concentrated his time and talents on local charitable efforts. He has played at countless benefits and houses of worship over the years.

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He developed his own copyrighted teaching method, Learn to Play the Lloyd Way, allowing him to successfully pass the gift of music on to hundreds of area students.

Billy Wagoner
Musician, Preservationist, Music Historian and Journalist Billy Wagoner began his long affiliation with local music as a child in Stantonville, Tennessee, He later learned banjo and guitar performing with dozens of area bluegrass pickers, most notably Wayne Jerrolds. Through keen powers of observation and a personal love of history, Wagoner has been a natural at preserving oral tradition. He has written extensively about local music heritage in his own publication, The Community News, and also as a guest columnist in other regional newspapers. He has organized countless music events in McNairy County and been the primary promoter of local music heritage for more than fifty years.

Peck Boggs
Venerated Bluegrass Vocalist and Guitarist Peck Boggs has occupied a place of honor with regional music fans for over 70.years. As a teenager, he performed at dances and home musicals with the old-time group, Pickwick Fishermen. His rich tenor and deft hand with the

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 7, 2021

2. McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2017 Inductees Marker

guitar-caught Arnold English's attention leading Boggs to join the legendary band Dixie Hayriders, which anchored area dances and regional TV and radio programs. Boggs' role as guitarist and vocalist for the Hatchie Bottom Boys, a group which has recorded and performed across the Mid-South, secured his place in the area's rich music heritage.

Erected 2017 by McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Communications • Education.

Location. 35° 10.258′ N, 88° 35.593′ W. Marker is in Selmer, Tennessee, in McNairy County. It is on West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) west of North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 185 West Court Avenue, Selmer TN 38375, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it

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is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: McNairy County Confederate Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County's Trail of Music Legends (within shouting distance of this marker); Sherry Lea Inman (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2015 Inductees (within shouting distance of this marker); In affectionate memory of the early settlers of McNairy County and the Town of Purdy (within shouting distance of this marker); Meskers (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2019 Inductees (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Selmer.

Also see . . . McNairy County Music Hall of Fame: Class of 2017. More about the inductees. (Submitted on August 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.