Pine Bluff Stories: Runaway Slaves & the Fight for Freedom
The Delta swamps served as safe havens for enslaved runaways. Not only did they find refuge, but the Arkansas bayous, marshes and woods...
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Oct 93 min read
Les Spann
From 1957 to 1967, Pine Bluff native and jazz musician Les Spann appeared on over 78 top jazz sessions, recorded with jazz greats like...
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Oct 92 min read
Gathright's Saturday Night Jamboree: One of the South’s Greatest Radio Shows
In the early 1940s to 1950s, Gathright's Saturday Night Jamboree was billed as “One of the South’s Greatest Radio Shows.” Much like...
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Sep 112 min read
Louis Natheaux
Louis Natheaux was a Hollywood actor who appeared in over 150 films. Throughout his career, he appeared in films alongside many of...
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Sep 54 min read
Vernon Garrett
Vernon Garrett is a blues singer who has released 3 compilations, 12 albums, and over 30 singles so far. He was also featured on the...
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Aug 283 min read
Mary Mouser
In 2001, Pine Bluff native, actress Mary Mouser began acting as a hobby, serving as Abigail Breslin’s photo double in Signs, a sci-fi...
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Jul 316 min read
Sarah E. Howard and Dollarway High School
On January 21 1963, Sarah E. Howard became the first African American student to integrate Dollarway High School. She later went on to...
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Jul 244 min read
Janette Davis
Janette Davis, also known as Jan The Pride of Pine Bluff, was a pop singer known for being a regular on Arthur Godfrey’s numerous...
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Jul 172 min read
Larry Totsy Davis
Larry Totsy Davis was an electric blues musician best known for releasing and co-writing the song Texas Flood, which later launched the...
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Jul 104 min read
Big Bill Broonzy
Blues musician Big Bill Broonzy served as an ambassador sharing the blues with international audiences across Europe and influencing...
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Jul 35 min read
Anshe Emeth
On March 13, 1867, Anshe Emeth became the first Jewish congregation to receive a charter from the Arkansas state legislature. Anshe Emeth...
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Jun 262 min read
Joshua Altheimer
Hailing from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Joshua Altheimer was among the most talented pre-World War II blues pianists. He played alongside “Big...
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Jun 194 min read
Elmore James
His signature slide electric guitar opening laid the foundation for his eleven-year recording career, with nearly 80 titles released on...
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Jun 53 min read
The Incomparable Smokie Norful
Pine Bluff native Smokie Norful is a world-renowned recording artist, musician, composer, pastor, and entrepreneur who has launched the...
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May 224 min read
Leroy Alfred Johnston
Pine Bluff native and World War I veteran, Leroy Alfred Johnston, was a member of the Harlem Hell Fighters military band that introduced...
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May 85 min read
Bobby Rush
With over six decades in the music industry, racking up awards and playing alongside greats like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Etta James,...
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May 13 min read
Carl McVoy, Jerry Lee Lewis, & Boogie-Woogie Music
Pine Bluff resident Carl McVoy, a rockabilly musician, was instrumental in introducing his younger cousin Jerry Lee Lewis to the...
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Apr 243 min read
Bootlegging in Pine Bluff
During Prohibition, bootlegging was popular along Pine Bluff’s bayou. Many poor African Americans were arrested on bootlegging charges...
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Apr 174 min read
William Froug
Arkansas native, William Froug, spent his life cultivating his two passions, producing popular television series like The Twilight Zone,...
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Apr 103 min read
James “Taildragger” Jones
After decades spent performing the Blues, James “Tail Dragger” Jones is best remembered for his magnetic performances and his decorated...
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