Navasota's Blues Capital Name Begins with Mance Lipscomb

Navasota's Blues Capital title has a person behind it. Texas lawmakers adopted House Concurrent Resolution 24 in 2005. It begins with Mance Lipscomb, who was born near Navasota. The resolution lists the many kinds of music he played: blues, boogies, ballads, rags, dance tunes, and sacred songs.

Lipscomb was nearly 65 before he made a record. The lawmakers tied his name to the Navasota Blues Fest and the Mance Lipscomb Scholarship Fund. At that time, the fund gave one scholarship each year to a senior at Navasota High School.

The resolution named Navasota the official Blues Capital of Texas. This was not a vague slogan. The state tied the title to a local musician, a festival, and help for a student. The old rail town's music name has a hometown life behind it.