VIP Pensacola at Belmont and DeVilliers Historical District

T

he Mississippi Blues Commission honored the legacy 
of the Blues in Pensacola with the unveiling of a 
Mississippi Blues Marker, which is a vital part of the 
Mississippi Blues Trail. The dedication and unveiling 

of the marker took place in the Belmont and DeVilliers historical 
district, at the intersection of Belmont and DeVilliers streets on 
January 18.

The Belmont DeVilliers Neighborhood applied to the 

Commission for a marker based on the rich musical history 
of the neighborhood spanning a number of decades. Once 
the Commission determined the signifi cance of the site, the 
application was then turned over to scholars for further research 
and documentation. After the year-long process, the Commission 
voted unanimously for a Blues Marker at the intersection of 
Belmont and DeVilliers. This recognizes Pensacola as an important 

early center of blues, ragtime, vaudeville and jazz activity, which 
developed into a regional cornerstone of the “chitlin’ circuit” in 
later years. Touring blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues acts, along 
with local bands found a welcome base in the Belmont DeVilliers 
African-American business and entertainment district for several 
decades. Mississippi-born performers such as B.B. King, Junior 
Parker, and Sam Cooke contributed to the vibrant nightlife in 
the neighborhood’s theaters and clubs. The Belmont DeVilliers 
neighborhood served as a stopping point for touring musicians 
and a place where local musicians could develop. The ceremony 
featured a dedication from the Director of the Mississippi Blues 
Commission, Kamel King, Senator Terry Burton (MS), Mayor 
Grover Robinson, County Commissioner Lumon May, Steve 
Hayes of Visit Pensacola, and Eddie Todd of Belmont DeVilliers 
Neighborhood Association. 

photos & story by

 

Kristina Wright

Vernon Stewart & Helen Gibson

Cheryl Howard & Cecily Chundrlek

Sonya Gray & Melissa Bailey

Dr. P.C. Wu, Dr. Marion Williams & Joseph Denmon

Eddie Todd & Mayor Grover Robinson

BELMONT DeVILLIERS

Mississippi Blues Trail Honors

February 2019   |   47

47-48 - Event Mississippi Blues Train Honors Belmont DeVilliers.indd   1

1/26/19   3:35 PM