Selmer in McNairy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
McNairy County Music Hall of Fame
Inducted 2022
| — | McNairy County Trail of Music Legends | — |
Photographed by David Austin
1. McNairy County Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends - 2022 Inductees Marker
Ryan & Gina Foret • Musicians & Music Educators
Ryan and Gina Foret are career music educators. Gina Locke, a McNairy County native, with musical roots in two Hall of Fame families, was a standout woodwind student before attending Louisiana State University. At LSU Gina met her future husband, Ryan Foret, a talented brass player and Louisiana native. Gina appeared in prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in college wind ensembles, and Ryan was a four-year veteran of Drum Corps International, performing with the award-winning Cavaliers. Together, the Forets built the most decorated band program in MCHS history, but their proudest accomplishment is passing the love of music to their three daughters.
George E. Knight • Old-Time Musician and Entertainer
George E. Knight was a talented multi-instrumentalist best known for his old-time banjo mastery. Knight revered and emulated the banjo style and stage persona of Grand Ole Opry star Uncle Dave Macon. Like Uncle Dave, Knight was quick with song and story, entertaining audiences with down-home comedic and inspirational tales. Knight was one of the most influential
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Geneva Seaton • Church & Community Pianist
Music Educator
Geneva Seaton provided high quality music instruction to two generations of local piano students. Seaton studied with the legendary Laura Jane Fullwood Thompson and began sharing her love and knowledge of music with her own students soon thereafter, providing innumerable lessons in her home, community and public schools. She was the pianist—and later organist—at Adamsville First Baptist Church for an incredible sixty-two years, where she played countless services, revivals, weddings, funerals and other church functions. Seaton is beloved by her community for her steadfast promotion of musical arts in all their rich and diverse forms, both sacred and secular.
Keith Emmons • Bluegrass, Country & Old-Time Guitarist
Keith Emmons was raised in a musical household. Deeply influenced by his father, who sang on WCMA radio shows, his mother, who was a talented guitarist and harmonica player, and his uncle, a famed fiddler and banjoist, George E. Knight, Emmons would go on to forge his own musical journey. Regarded as one of the most gifted rhythm guitarists of his generation, Emmons worked with numerous local legends. Absorbing and blending these diverse influences with local traditions and Keith Taylor, among others, Emmons created a unique musical style that was all his own.
Trailhead at 203 W. Court Ave. • Download the app for Apple or Android.
Erected 2022 by McNairy County Music Hall of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 2022.
Location. 35° 10.185′ N, 88° 35.523′ W. Marker is in Selmer, Tennessee, in McNairy County. It is at the intersection of West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) and S 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east on West Court Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 W Court Ave, 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 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: Meskers (a few steps from this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named McNairy County Music Hall of Fame (within shouting distance of this marker); McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends — 2014 Inductees (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named McNairy County Music Hall of Fame & Trail of Music Legends (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Meskers (within shouting distance of this marker); Selmer, Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); Rockabilly Highway Murals (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Selmer.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2026, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on August 21, 2026, by David Austin of Scotts Hill, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the marker and the surrounding area in context. • Can you help?
