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Best crowd yet at ‘Blues Alley’ By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photos by Sue Watson
Crowd pleaser
Harold “Stix” Washington performs Thursday night. |
Holly
Springs Main Street Association’s bikers rally had the biggest turnout
of the summer Thursday with 46 bikers participating and an attendance
estimated at about 400, according to Charles Terry with the promotions
committee. The bikers rally gathers on North
Center Street at 6:30 p.m., as well as music lovers, and the show
starts at 7:30 p.m. The Hidden Treasures event, designed to promote
Holly Springs and the Hill Country Blues Trail, will continue each
Thursday to the end of September. Soul Finger
Blues Band was added to the lineup Thursday, joining regulars Robert
Kimbrough Sr. and The Blues Connection, Ralph Waller and The Tough
Street Band, and Duwayne Burnside band. Vocalists with Soul Finger were
Harold Washington, aka “Stix,” and Booker Brown. Playing electric
guitar were Steve Cunningham and Harold Washington and on electric bass
guitar were Wayne “Big Bell” Bell and Harold Johnson. “Stix”
performed three songs – including “Turning Back the Hands of Time” and
“Mississippi Boy.” Brown sang three songs: “Bootie Roll,” “Mr. Jody”
and “Ladies Night.” Soul Finger is based in Memphis. Some
new bikers joining the street party last week were Chuck Churchill (The
Rental Barn), Pappy Phillips, John David Strickland, “Bartender” and
Everette James from Batesville, Tracy Reynolds, “G” and “Suge” of
Memphis, Woodrow Faulkner of Holly Springs and Cal Harris from Byhalia. Some
faces in the crowd included Bobby Harris, Judge Ernest Cunningham,
Monet Autry, Annie Moffitt, Fannie Lampley, Andy McMillon, Charles
Terry, Sy Oliver, Joyce Phillips, Shirley Eason, Ronnie Nichols, Judy
Smith, Teresa Dobbs, Lisa Farmer, Jeff Farese, Patty Baker, Jackie
Thomas, Wayne Fiddis, Mildred Williams and Janice Dorich. Speaking
of the new energy in Holly Springs generated by the event, Willie
Wilkinson, who is serving as emcee and as a liaison between the
promotions committee and the musical artists, said, “We are about
transformation here in Blues Alley.”  | Dancing in the street
Hidden Treasures event goers dance to “Ladies Night,” performed by Booker Brown. |
Main Street
Association Executive Director Judy Smith is proud of the attendance
and the goodness and fellowship the event is fostering. “Thanks to the proud people of the city,” Smith said. “People are so good.” Fannie Lampley, who serves on the Main Street promotions committee echoed Smith’s remarks. “You
can’t find a more respectful crowd,” she said. “The Holly Springs
community is missing a lot (those who do not come out). We invite them
to come down and take a stroll down Blues Alley.” Main
Street Association’s next sponsored event following the bikers rally
will be a Halloween event in October on the square. The theme is
Community Harvest Festival, Smith said. Special thanks to employees with the Holly Springs police and fire departments for providing safe streets and traffic control. |
