Spartanburg in Spartanburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
James Reese
⎯⎯⎯
Fayssoux McLean
| | Spartanburg Music Trail | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 2025
1. James Reese Marker
James Reese
1942-
James Reese came to Spartanburg County in 1966 to be a school music teacher and band director. He was soon recruited to play trombone with some of the biggest names in music, including the Temptations, Diana Ross, the Supremes, Stevie Wander, the Jackson Five, Hamilton Bohannon, and James Brown. As a musician, educator, bandleader, author, pastor, composer, arranger and producer, he has touched countless lives in the U.S. and abroad.
Fayssoux McLean
1940-
Fayssoux Dunbar Starling McLean, Spartanburg native, is known for her harmony vocals on Emmylou Harris albums, a collaboration continuing today, Returning to Spartanburg in 1993, she began singing with guitarist Brandon Turner and musician/ journalist Peter Cooper. Upon his move to Nashville, Cooper produced her Americana albums Early and I Can't Wait. Musician Rodney Crowell likens her voice to "charm elegance, whippoorwills and Magnolia dewdrops."
Erected by Spartanburg Philharmonic.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 34° 56.9′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, 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: Carlos Moseley/Peter Cooper (within shouting distance of this marker); Arthur Prysock/Ira Tucker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Downtown Spartanburg Pocket Park (about 400
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 2025
2. Fayssoux McLean Marker
Also see . . .
1. James Reese. Biography on the Spartanburg Music Trail site
As a member of the Bohannon Motown Sound, he toured with the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Spinners, Smokey Robinson, and others. Some of the bands and orchestras he played in brought him the chance to perform with entertainers such as the Jackson Five, Teddy Pendergrass, James Brown, Al Green, and others.(Submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
2. Fayssoux McLean. Biography from the Spartanburg Music Trail site
After college Fayssoux moved to Washington, DC, and got to know a young Emmylou Harris. Harris asked Fayssoux to sing harmony with her on several albums such as Pieces of the Sky and Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town. Those recordings helped millions of(Submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)fans love country music.Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 20253. Full view of James Reese / Fayssoux McLean MarkerLooking east on West Main Street next to Cribb's Kitchen
3. James Reese and the Progressions "It's Got Soul". YouTube Recording from the eponymous album (Submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
4. Fayssoux "Starling" McLean "I Made a Friend of a Flower Today". YouTube Recording of a live concert at Music City Roots in Nashville, Tenn. (Submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 23, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
