Talk of an organized association to preserve Bluegrass music led to a meeting held at the Rainbow Motel in Taylorsville, MS in
the fall of 1975. Letters had been sent out to people interested in Bluegrass music listing details of the meeting time and date.
Officers and a Board of Directors were elected from amongst those attending. These people are the Founding and Charter
members of the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association. The Beasley Bunch, The Country Neighbors (presently known as the
Darden Family), Southern Bluegrass Boys, and John Stuart and the Bluegrass Five were the first Association member bands.
The first outdoor festival the MSBA bands played was the Atwood Bluegrass Festival held in conjunction with the Pearl River
Basin Development District. The festival was held at the Atwood Water Park in Monticello, MS. The first indoor show was at
the South Mississippi Music Hall in Runnelstown, MS.
At a regular meeting of the membership, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the association to incorporate
as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Mississippi. The motion was made, seconded and passed. On June
13, 1978 Magnolia State Bluegrass Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization.
The purpose of the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association, Inc as stated in the article of incorporation reads:
To establish an association among the citizens of the state of Mississippi who are interested in the enjoyment and promotion of
Bluegrass and it’s related music forms and other native art forms, and in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the people
of Mississippi, and in the education and furtherance of knowledge about the history, practice and development of bluegrass
and it’s related folk and gospel music forms, all to the end that the membership and the people of Mississippi generally will
preserve this musical heritage; and in general do and perform all such other acts and things necessary, suitable and proper
for the accomplishment of the foregoing processes.
That, my friends, is a brief history of MSBA. We are a very active group of bluegrass pickers, singers, and fans with activities
year-round who cooperate with other Bluegrass Associations in the surrounding states for maximum effectiveness.
the fall of 1975. Letters had been sent out to people interested in Bluegrass music listing details of the meeting time and date.
Officers and a Board of Directors were elected from amongst those attending. These people are the Founding and Charter
members of the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association. The Beasley Bunch, The Country Neighbors (presently known as the
Darden Family), Southern Bluegrass Boys, and John Stuart and the Bluegrass Five were the first Association member bands.
The first outdoor festival the MSBA bands played was the Atwood Bluegrass Festival held in conjunction with the Pearl River
Basin Development District. The festival was held at the Atwood Water Park in Monticello, MS. The first indoor show was at
the South Mississippi Music Hall in Runnelstown, MS.
At a regular meeting of the membership, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the association to incorporate
as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Mississippi. The motion was made, seconded and passed. On June
13, 1978 Magnolia State Bluegrass Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization.
The purpose of the Magnolia State Bluegrass Association, Inc as stated in the article of incorporation reads:
To establish an association among the citizens of the state of Mississippi who are interested in the enjoyment and promotion of
Bluegrass and it’s related music forms and other native art forms, and in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the people
of Mississippi, and in the education and furtherance of knowledge about the history, practice and development of bluegrass
and it’s related folk and gospel music forms, all to the end that the membership and the people of Mississippi generally will
preserve this musical heritage; and in general do and perform all such other acts and things necessary, suitable and proper
for the accomplishment of the foregoing processes.
That, my friends, is a brief history of MSBA. We are a very active group of bluegrass pickers, singers, and fans with activities
year-round who cooperate with other Bluegrass Associations in the surrounding states for maximum effectiveness.
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