Page 50 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2022

TRUMPET RECORDS

Courtesy of the Delta Blues Museum St. Andrew’s Gospelaires on April 3, 1950, that Trumpet
From 1950 to 1955, the music of Trumpet Records of Records – so named for the Archangel Gabriel’s trumpet
– was officially born. While the Gospelaires were the first
Jackson, MS, sounded from coast to coast. From the first blues group she recorded, the first 78 record issued by Trumpet
recordings of Sonny Boy Williamson II, to “Dust My Broom” was by The Southern Sons Quartette, Number 118: Search
by Elmore James, to gospel by the Southern Sons and country Me Lord/New Born Again. With these recordings, Trumpet
songs by Lucky Joe Almond and others, Trumpet made a began a run of gospel 78s that continued throughout the life
joyful noise unto the land. Located on Farish Street, Trumpet of the company, many still considered classics. Other gospel
Records was founded by Lillian McMurry and her husband groups and artists recorded by Trumpet included the female
Willard, who, for five short years, operated a Mississippi-born group The Argo Gospel Singers, The Blue Jay Gospel Singers,
label presenting the infinite variety of Mississippi musicians. The Carolina Kings and Brother Hugh Dent. In all, Trumpet
Although the McMurrys ended Trumpet while they were still
ahead, Trumpet’s recordings are a testament to Mississippi’s released 17 gospel records during their years of operation,
with The Southern Sons Quartette being the most successful.
musical gift to the world – thanks in no small part to one
woman’s vision. In 1950, Lillian also sought out an unnamed blues
Farish Street intersects Capitol Street in downtown Jackson. harmonica player in the Delta whom she heard was an
From before the Civil War, up until the urban decay of the amazing talent. In Belzoni, she found the player’s wife, Mattie
1970s, Farish was the Black main street of Mississippi. In the Williamson, and thus began Trumpet’s collaboration with
glory years, Farish teemed with clientele patronizing shops Sonny Boy Williamson II (a.k.a Aleck Miller). On January 5,
and cafés, as well as folks seeking entertainment at the Alamo 1951, Sonny Boy recorded eight songs at Scott Radio Service
Theater and Crystal Palace. In 1949, Willard McMurry bought backed by Willie Love, Elmore James, Joe Willie Wilkins and
all the stock of a hardware store that was closing, and asked Joe Dyson on Trumpet 129: Eyesight to the Blind, Trumpet’s
his wife Lillian Shedd McMurry if she would like to oversee first hit. Recording 11 78s for Trumpet, including Trumpet 228
selling it off in their store at 309 Farish Street. Included in the featuring none other than B.B. King, Sonny Boy kept faith with
merchandise was a box of records, which were among the Miss Lillian until the label ended in 1955. This was unlike
first items to sell – Lillian took notice. She began buying more Elmore James who made Trumpet 146: Dust My Broom, which
and more records, even driving to New Orleans to load her charted from L.A. to Chicago, before being lured away by
Pontiac up with vinyl. As the hardware sold off, Lillian opened the Bihari Brothers. Catfish Blues, the flip side, was credited
Record Mart, with her carpenter father building the record to him but was recorded by Bobo Thomas. In August 1952,
shelves and her little brother acting as gofer. The store soon an undaunted Lillian had Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup record
became the biggest record shop south of Nashville. Trumpet 186 as Elmer James. Once paid, Big Boy told her,
In 1950, a female gospel quartet was harmonizing in “You can put anybody’s name on it you want to.”
the store’s listening booth and asked Lillian where they could Trumpet also issued a total of 21 blues 78s in addition to
make a record. She said she would figure it out herself. It those by Sonny Boy and Elmo/Elmer James. Willie Love, of
was when Lillian McMurry first recorded and christened the Duncan, MS, and a key player in the Greenville music scene

48 Blues Festival Guide 2022