Soul food, great entertainment, and a sense of freedom defined spaces owned by people of color that formed the backbone of the “Chitlin Circuit.” Kinston was a featured part of the circuit in the years before the end of Jim Crow.

The Chitlin’ Circuit was born when chiefly white clubs in the southern United States and some Midwestern cities invited musicians of color to perform, according to NC Heritage Award recipient Bill Myer. When the performance was over, these musicians had to leave the premises immediately.

The musicians would head to black-owned establishments on the Chitlin’ Circuit, also called “chicken shacks” or “the bottom of the hill.” Since the men and women who owned these clubs had little money, they promised to feed the musicians in exchange for musical performances.

On February 27, the 1901 Building in Kinston will recreate the atmosphere and experience of these nationally-known venues where entertainers and audiences shared music, food, and fellowship.

 “You could come to Kinston to get good food and entertainment, but also if you wanted to rest, you could stop here, and it likely doubled as ‘Chitlin’ Circuit’ where you would get the authentic food that is so famous here in this part of the state,” said Dr. Earl Ijames of the North Carolina Museum of History.

Featured performers this year will include Dick Knight, Bill Myers, and Maceo Parker. All three are recipients of the North Carolina Heritage Award.  Even more, all three are living legends who performed on the Chitlin’ Circuit.

The magic will begin at 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 inside the 1901 Building, located at 129 N. Queen St. in Kinston. The party won’t end until 10 p.m. In addition to hearing legendary musicians perform live, the $30 admission cost includes some of the finest Southern cuisine Kinston has to offer.

Myers is an award-winning musician and bandleader from eastern North Carolina. In 1957 Myers and Cleveland Flow formed the Monitors, a band specializing in R&B, funk and jazz. In 2012, Myers received the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society, and, in 2014, he received the North Carolina Heritage Award.

Dick Knight retired from teaching in the Lenoir County Schools in 2007. Since retirement, he has been a working musician. He often joins Myers in playing with the Monitors, but Knight also plays with his own group – Dick Knight Express. He also performs solo as The Captain on cruise ships and for waterfront businesses. He typically plays more than a hundred venues each year.

Kinston-native Maceo Parker is best known for his work with James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. In October 2011, Parker was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and in July 2012, he traveled to Paris, France, to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from Victoires du Jazz. In May of 2016, he received the North Carolina Heritage Award. He still performs, doing nearly 300 concerts each year.

The idea for the local Chitlin’ Circuit event developed as D. Choci Gray met and formed bonds with the musicians who created the music she has loved since her youth.

“We want to uplift, protect, and preserve the musical and artistic legacy of Nate Jones, Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker, and Dick Knight,” she said. “Few people know that James Brown’s music was born here in Kinston. Nate Jones was the maestro of this music. All of these musicians performed with James Brown. In fact, James Brown came to Kinston looking for musicians and discovered the music that made him famous.”

Uplift. Protect. Preserve. These are the watchwords of the fifth annual Chitlin’ Circuit evening.

The 1901 Building Group has been a leader in the development of cultural tourism and historic assets in the Kinston area for a number of years.  From nominations of Kinston natives for the North Carolina Heritage Award to public art displayed at prominent sites throughout Kinston to historic re-enactments at the 1901 Building, the organization has helped enhance the culture and economic activity in Historic Downtown Kinston.

Be a part of those who uplift, protect and preserve the musical and artistic legacy of this city by supporting the Chitlin’ Circuit.

Mike Parker is a columnist for Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.