By By Chris Allen Baker / staff writer
April 6, 2002
Meridian city leaders dedicated the grassy area east of Union Station as "Singing Brakeman Park" on Friday in honor of legendary country music singer Jimmie Rodgers.
The ceremony highlighted an early-morning news conference where the president of the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Foundation unveiled the line-up of entertainment for the Jimmie Rodgers Festival in May.
Todd Adkins, foundation president, also talked about a planned feasibility study to determine the best location for the Jimmie Rodgers Museum which is now at Highland Park.
The Jimmie Rodgers Festival is set for May 9 to 11.
The annual event honors Rodgers, the Meridian native known as the "Father of Country Music" and the "Singing Brakeman." The festival will feature concerts in various locations around town.
It will include The Inspirations and The McKameys in concert May 9 at Northcrest Baptist Church; Steve Forbert and the North Mississippi All Stars in concert May 10 at Singing Brakeman Park; and Confederate Railroad in concert May 11, also at the park.
Tickets for all concerts are $10. To purchase tickets, contact the Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau at 482-8001 or toll-free (888) 868-7720.