Before unveiling Itta Bena’s new Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Ralph Lembo, Bo Prestidge recalled the first time he realized his grandfather’s story was worth sharing with the rest of the world.
Only about 9 or 10 years old, Prestidge was attending a B.B. King concert with his sister, who told a security guard to alert the blues legend that relatives of Ralph Lembo were at his sold-out show.
“About five guards came out and got us, took us backstage and we spent an hour back there with him,” Prestidge said at Thursday’s ceremony. “I got his autograph, met him and he told me stories about my granddad I never even knew. That was when my interest started of like, ‘What’s the deal here? What’s going on with this guy?’”
A Sicilian immigrant who promoted local artists through his connections as a music dealer and talent scout, Lembo had his contributions to the Delta recognized at the Mississippi Blues Trail’s 209th marker, joining what Visit Mississippi’s Kamel King calls “the largest outdoor museum in the entire world.”
“It’s something that can be enjoyed no matter what type of pandemic is going on,” King said. “We honor our musicians, and we honor the places so much, but without the people like Ralph Lembo — the aggregators, the deal makers, the connectors to the industry — the music doesn’t move. So I am so glad we are honoring an entrepeneur of Mississippi blues.”
Priscilla Prestidge Deford, left, and Bo Prestidge, grandchildren of Ralph Lembo, unveil the Mississippi Blues Trail marker commemorating the Sicilian music dealer, promoter and talent scout on Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Riley Overend)
Lembo first developed connections with national record labels such as Columbia and Paramount and then provided recording opportunities to blues and gospel artists in the Delta. According to the Commonwealth, “This is the first time that any one from the Mississippi Delta has engaged in the making of phonograph records.”
“A lot of people thought that the blues was a Black thing so they kind of separated themselves and stayed away from it,” said state Rep. Willie Bailey, D-Greenville. “Well, that’s not true. There’s a little bit of blues in everybody — Black, white or whatever.”
Lembo booked performances for blues icons such as Jim Jackson, Mississippi John Hurt and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Later in life, he sold a chunk of plantation land that became Mississippi Valley State University.
“I’m glad this marker is here so that when we’re all gone, they’ll know the history,” Prestidge said. “They’ll know the guy who stood up right here and brought something to the Mississippi Delta that nobody else did during his time.”
- Contact Riley Overend at 581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
