Hickory Street Area

Part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, Hickory Street, known locally as "The Hollow", was a hub of social life, commerce, and entertainment for the African American community of Central Mississippi for several decades, up through the 1970's. Canton's most famous blues musician, Elmore James, performed often in the local cafes and clubs. James also learned the electronics trade by working at Roberts Radio Repair on Hickory Street. His experiments with sound technology led him to develop a powerful and original electric blues style.