MS SC589

Extends legislative recognition to Mississippi native Dr. William R. (Bill) Ferris for winning two Grammy Awards on February 9, 2019, for Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes.

The award recognized Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians documented by William R. Ferris, a box set containing blues and gospel recordings from the 1960s-1970s, recorded stories, and documentary films.

Ferris has documented Mississippi's music and folklore for over 50 years, beginning as a teenager recording local blues and gospel music and later serving as Associate Director of the Center for the Study of the American South at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Founded the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi where he taught for 18 years, received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for co-editing the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, and was awarded the Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Directs the legislature's congratulations to Dr. Ferris and requires the resolution be presented to him and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.