Boogie Alley & the Black Prairie Belt: Rockabilly’s Hidden Highway

Long before Rockabilly lit up national airwaves, the Black Prairie Music Belt was already humming with rhythm, rebellion, and raw emotion. This presentation uncovers the overlooked legacy of Boogie Alley—a stretch of juke joints, church choirs, and roadside studios that stitched together East Mississippi and West Alabama with a sound that defied category. From gospel shouts to hillbilly twang, this corridor birthed the hybrid energy that would later fuel Rockabilly’s rise.

As a Music Historian for the Black Prairie Belt and Regional Advisor for the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Dale Rushing will guide audiences through a layered journey of cultural fusion, racial crossover, and regional innovation. Using archival maps, oral histories, and rare recordings, we’ll trace how Boogie Alley became a proving ground for artists who blurred the lines between country, blues, and soul—laying the emotional and rhythmic groundwork for Rockabilly’s explosion.

This talk is both a tribute and a reclamation—restoring the Black Prairie Belt’s rightful place in America’s musical DNA. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how forgotten venues, unsung artists, and regional grit shaped a genre that still echoes across Southern highways and honky-tonks today.

Speakers Expertise:

Dale Rushing is a celebrated Southern music historian, award-winning singer-songwriter, and civic architect whose work bridges heritage, storytelling, and regional development. As a Development Advisor for the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Advisory Board Member for the Tammy Wynette Legacy Center, Dale plays a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Mississippi’s musical legacy.

With decades of experience as a performer, Dale’s original songs blend emotional depth with historical insight, earning accolades across the South and beyond. His career spans film and television appearances, a successful run as a radio talk show host, and ownership of multiple creative businesses rooted in community engagement. Dale’s presentations weave together personal narrative, cultural critique, and musical performance—offering audiences a powerful lens into the soul of Mississippi. Whether speaking on legacy-building, Southern resilience, or the untold stories of regional music scenes, Dale brings technical precision, emotional resonance, and a deep love for the land and its people.