Newton County has a dual claim to blues history as the birthplace of several figures connected to the music and as the home of the Chunky Rhythm & Blues Festival, an important event that began in 1985 on the Richardson farm and brought performers from around the nation over the years. Among Newton County natives were record businessman H.C. Speir, blues singers Willie Nix, Andrew Brown, and Prez Kenneth, and bassist Lamar Williams of the Allman Brothers Band. Although these figures moved away young and became associated with other places, they contributed in notable ways to blues history. Prez Kenneth, born Kennis Kidd in Decatur on December 29, 1933, later settled in Chicago, took up music there in 1956, and developed a following among collectors for his 1960s records, including “Devil Dealing,” before his death on June 15, 1995. Willie Nix, born in Union on August 6, 1918, was an eccentric singing drummer whose peak came in the early 1950s with a radio show in West Memphis and recordings for labels in Memphis and Chicago before his career faded; he later settled in Leland, Mississippi, where he died on July 8, 1991. Andrew Brown, born in Newton County on February 25, 1937, moved to Chicago as a child, became a multi-instrumentalist performing blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel, made recordings that included songs covered by other bluesmen, and died in Harvey, Illinois, on December 11, 1985. Lamar Williams, born in Decatur on January 14, 1949, grew up in Handsboro, sang with his father Lemon Williams’ gospel group, later played in soul bands with Johnnie Lee Johnson, joined the Allman Brothers, Sea Level, and other bands that mixed blues with rock and R&B, and died of cancer on January 21, 1983. Charles Evers, born in Decatur on September 11, 1922, also contributed through work promoting blues as a festival sponsor and as manager of WMPR radio. In the 1920s and 1930s, many Mississippi blues artists were able to make records through Henry C. Speir, born in Prospect on October 6, 1895, who owned a record store in Jackson and acted as a talent broker for record companies until his death on April 22, 1972. Ted Richardson was the key figure behind the annual festival, and in 1989 the Newton County board of supervisors honored him for his contribution to the local economy.