Dorothy
Moore started her label Farish Street Records of Mississippi
in 2002.
The label is named to honor the legendary street and neighborhood
where Dorothy was raised. Not far from her childhood home,
Farish Street was the home to live and juke blues music that
filled Dorothy's head and heart even in her early years.
Some of the musicians that were found or first recorded on
Farish Street were Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson II,
and Elmore James. Some talent scouts and record labels, like
H.C. Speir, Trumpet Records, Ace Records, were on the street
early in Dorothy's life.
Anyone who was in the music world and African American played
up and down the street. Bessie Smith played with the Rabbit
Foot Minstrels. Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington,
Dinah Washington played in halls along the street.
The Alamo Theater, at 333 N Farish Street, was where Dorothy
started her career.
Other artists before her sung there too, such as Nat King
Cole, Elmore James, Otis Span. When Dorthy was twelve, her
great grandmother (who raised her), Minnie Mitchell, let Dorothy
enter the Wednesday night talent shows. She chose to sing
blues as it was an adult audience and she knew what they liked.
Dorothy won that night and every night she entered the Alamo
Theater talent show.
Today the street is in a historic district and many of the
sites are still standing. The Alamo Theater has been renovated
and you might find Dorothy at the ticket window to volunteer
at the community owned theater.
Some of the best juke music in town is at Peaches Cafe and
Big John's, DBA Big Apple Inn. These may the oldest resturants
in Jackson, MS. In 2002 historic preservation redevelopment
was begun on Farish Street.
Dorothy honored the nationally known street for it's rich
music heritage by naming her company Farish Street Records
of Mississippi.
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