Helena-West Helena, AR
Music connected to Helena-West Helena
About Helena-West Helena
- • Blues musician Robert Lockwood Jr., a stepson of Robert Johnson, was born there.
- • The Cherry Red Records label, influential in independent music, originated there.
- • Its strategic location on the Mississippi River spurred its growth as a port city.
- • Legend claims Confederate gold is still hidden somewhere in or near the city.
- • The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 devastated the area, impacting its economy.
- • Helena, named for the founder's daughter, merged with West Helena in 2006.
- • With under 10,000 residents, the population is lower than many neighboring towns.
- • At 203 feet, it's slightly higher than the Mississippi River's average level there.
- • Agriculture, particularly cotton and soybeans, remains a key sector for employment.
- • Melancholic and resilient, the air feels thick with history and quiet determination.
- • The Memphis Grizzlies, 1.5 hours away, had Ja Morant's electrifying 2019 debut.
- • Helena High School won the Arkansas state football championship in 1963.