Po’ Monkey’s

Going through some older pics and can’t believe I didn’t put up our last visit to Po’ Monkey’s, in Merigold MS .

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

It was opened ~1963 and closed in 2016 when Po’ Monkey passed away.

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

My friend Lee Harper made a model  of it; her book, Tiny Oxford Vol 1. is available here at her site.

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS

The historic marker reads:
The rural juke joint played an integral role in the development of the blues, offering a distinctly secular space for people to socialize, dance, and forget their everyday troubles. While many such jukes once dotted the cotton fields of the Delta countryside, Po’ Monkey’s was one of the relatively few to survive into the 21st century. Initially frequented by locals, Po’ Monkey’s became a destination point for blues tourists from around the world during the 1990s.

Po Monkey's, Merigold MS