MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS

The Mississippi John Hurt Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and its Board Members work diligently to help advance the Foundation’s mission of preserving the musical legacy of Mississippi John Hurt.

Mary Frances Hurt, Founder, CEO and President - Mary Frances Hurt, an educator and career teacher, is the granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt, and she has dedicated her energy and resources to preserving the musical legacy of her grandfather. In addition to creating the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation, Mary relocated John Hurt's home to Foundation property in Avalon, Mississippi, and converted it into a museum. She also relocated the St. James Church to Foundation property. The church has been a mecca for African American families in Carroll County since the 1800s and Mary plans to use it as a schoolhouse for early blues music and history. Teaching her grandfather's musical legacy is one of Mary's primary goals. Additionally, Mary curates and hosts the Homecoming Festival, an annual event in Avalon, for fans of her grandfather's music, and looks forward to greeting old and new friends each year.

Andy Cohen, Vice President - Andy Cohen is an Anthropologist and virtuoso finger-style guitarist. Many consider him a musicologist because of his lifelong passion for playing music. In addition to performing and teaching, Andy is a festival organizer and the CEO of Riverlark Music, a CD and book publishing company based in Tennessee. Andy has been a good friend to the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation since its inception, and his music background, experience, and unique skill set add great value to the Foundation. Learn more about Andy here.

Paul West, Board Member - Paul West, a graduate of Auburn University, has been working in Environmental Consulting as a Geologist for over 20 years and is licensed in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Indiana. As an Eagle Scout, Paul continues to volunteer with Scouting America. He has served as a Rotary Club President and an Assistant Governor for Rotary International. Paul volunteers at a community radio station as the host of the WDVX Grateful Shuffle radio show, which often features the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Paul co-produced the documentary film, A Man Called Hurt: The Life and Music of Mississippi John Hurt and coordinates its distribution.

Charlie Brown, Board Member - Charles “Downtown Charlie Brown” Brown is a Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and nationally touring musician known for his dynamic blend of folk, Delta, and Chicago blues. A Lehigh University graduate and Athletic Hall of Fame inductee for basketball, Brown is also a retired schoolteacher with a master’s degree in secondary education and deep experience in both education and business. He has served on the Executive Board of the NAACP in Morristown, N.J., and on Lehigh’s Board of Trustees. Learn more about Charlie here.


Robb Roaten, Board Member - Robb Roaten is a Creative Director and technologist who specializes in nonprofit communications. A graduate of the University of Memphis, he brings decades of experience in marketing and creative strategy. Robb is active in the Memphis and North Mississippi music community, playing bass, guitar, and other instruments in multiple ensembles.