For the first time in the 64 years of the Jimmie Rodgers Festival, this year’s annual symposium honored living legends for their contributions to the music scene in Mississippi.
Several were awarded Jimmies, the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation’s new Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winners were:
- Paul Ott
- Hartley Peavey
- George Soulé’
- George Cummings
- Steve Forbert
- Jim Pasquale
- David Goff of David and the Giants
The artists performed, but one of the winners, Paul Ott, was unable to attend due to his ongoing battle with cancer. His music was played in his honor at the event.
News Mississippi Correspondent Wanda Harrison said the event brought Hollywood flair to the symposium.
“It just a fabulous evening among living legends,” said Harrison.
Meridian’s own Britt Gully, who performs as a Jimmie Rodgers impersonator, regaled the crowd with a reminder of why Rodgers is honored with an annual festival:
