Mississippians have many reasons to be proud of the Magnolia State … but music has to be supreme among them.

Thirty-nine people from our state have won a Grammy — something no other state can boast.

This past week at a gala in Jackson, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, along with Peavey Electronics, hosted “Mississippi — The Birthplace of America’s Music Celebrates Its Grammy Legacy” at the Marriott Downtown.

Meridian’s own Jimmie Rodgers was applauded throughout the gala. In East Mississippi, we have a lot of talent to be proud of in the music industry. We’re home to some talented folks. Newton’s Paul Overstreet, a country music song writing icon, was a featured guest at the Thursday gala. He is known for, among other things, penning such hits as Randy Travis’ “Digging up bones” and “Forever and ever amen.”

But of all those things, one thing kept going through my mind as I watched the performances Thursday: Hartley Peavey.

He is a homegrown Mississippi boy who epitomizes entrepreneurial leadership. His name can be seen on amps, guitars and other musical equipment throughout the world. And he’s from right here in Meridian, Mississippi. Every time I’m somewhere out of town and I see that Peavey name, I always feel the need to say, “Hey, he’s from my hometown —Meridian.” There’s a sense of pride.

I remember as a cub reporter here at the Star hearing folks criticize Hartley for being “anti-Meridian.” I have to laugh at that now.

You can argue all day about things that Hartley does or doesn’t do, but “anti-Meridian” can never be one of them. I always find it disturbing when people are labeled as negative if they question things. I think people miss the point. I believe Hartley Peavey shows how much he cares by questioning things. He expects the best out of Meridian. What’s wrong with that?

Few have done more for East Mississippi … especially in terms of putting us on the map in the music industry.

It was great to see Eddie Cotton break in a new Peavey guitar Thursday night — and I mean he truly broke it in with some incredible blues tunes. At the end of his performance, he talked about how the first guitar he ever owned was a Peavey guitar … and how honored he was to be playing one of Peavey’s newest guitars in front of the man who created it.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think of the footprint this man has made on my hometown.

All of us should fill with pride when we see that Peavey logo.



Fredie Carmichael is editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at

editor@themeridianstar.com.