Talk of an organized association to preserve Bluegrass music led to a meeting held at

the Rainbow Motel in Taylorsville, MS in the fall of 1975.  Letters had been sent out

to people interested in Bluegrass music listing details of the meeting date and time.

Officers and a Board of Directors were elected from amongst those attending.  These

people are the Founding and Charter Members of The Magnolia State Bluegrass

Association.  The Beasley Bunch, The Country Neighbors (presently known as The

Darden Family), Southern Bluegrass Boys, and John Stuart and the Bluegrass Five were

the first Association Member Bands.

The first outdoor festival the MSBA bands played was the Atwood Bluegrass Festival,

held in conjunction with the Pearl River Basin Development District.  The festival was

held at the Atwood Water Park near Monticello, MS.  The first indoor show was at

the South Mississippi Music Hall at Runnelstown, MS.

At a regular meeting of the entire membership of MSBA, it was determined that it

would be in the best interest of the association to incorporate as a non-profit

corporation under the laws of the State of Mississippi.  The motion was made,

seconded, and passed.  On June 13, 1978, Magnolia State Bluegrass Association was

incorporated as a non-profit organization.