Jimmy Mayes

about

“Ooh, baby don’t you want to go … to my sweet home Chicago” These lyrics begin the chorus of the most popular blues anthem for the City of Chicago. But further down the Mississippi River, the lyrics have a special meaning for Jackson native Jimmi Mayes, who blazed a successful musical career in “Sweet Home Chicago” as well influenced the career of one of the most celebrated guitar players in Rock ‘N’ Roll history, Jimi Hendrix. Jackson, back in the day • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Until late 1969, the majority of Mississippi high schools remained segregated by race. Although the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act officially desegregated schools in the South, high schools in Mississippi remained behind the national curve, and Jim Hill High School in west Jackson was no exception. Budgets were small and administrators, teachers and students fought for amenities often taken for granted at other schools within the district. However, if not for the budget issues that plagued the band programs at these two schools, Mayes may never have picked up a pair of drumsticks and eventually played alongside legendary Chicago blues musicians, and he probably would never have enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the 1960’s Chicago music scene. Kermit Holly was the longtime music director at both Jim Hill and Lanier, the only other black high school in the area. Mayes remembers beginning his band lessons during the summer when he went to Holly’

top songs

albums

All My Best

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All My Best Chicago Southside Soul & Blues

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ChBS Vol 79 - All My Best

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All My Best - Chicago Southside Soul & Blues

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All My Best: Chicago Southside Soul & Blues

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Chicago Blues Session Vol 79 All My Best

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All My Best - Chicago Blues Session Vol. 79

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All My Best Chicago Southside

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CHICAGO BLUES SESSION VOLUME 80 - JIMMY MAYES - ALL MY BEST

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Vol. 79 - All My Best Chicago Southside Soul & Blues

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Chicago Blues Session, Vol. 79: All My Best Chicago Southside Soul & Blues

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BLUES Radio - radio.pervii.com

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