NAVASOTA, Texas (KBTX) – It’s impossible to tell the story of Black History without Blues music, and the story of Blues music in Texas has to include the city of Navasota.
The Texas Legislature designated the Grimes County community as “The Blues Capital of Texas” in 2005.
A mural painted on the side of Classic Rock Coffee Co. & Kitchen in downtown Navasota gives people a connection to the music.
“We’re kind of like the central spot of where it all came from,” Bert Miller, the owner of the business and the building, said.
The outside of Classic Rock Coffee Co. & Bakery in downtown Navasota where a mural honoring notable Blues musicians is painted on the side.(KBTX)
The Navasota River bottom inspired many musicians. Like Texas Alexander. Whose music captured the feeling of being Black in the Brazos Valley in the early 1900s.
There are others featured on this wall, like Milt Larkin, LC “Lightnin Junior” Williams, and Blind Willie Johnson.
All notable musicians. But perhaps the best known is Mance Lipscomb.
Born in 1895, Mance started his music career later in life – developing a style all his own – making one guitar sound like an entire band.
“He played in 48 out of the 50 states, traveling, playing the guitar,” Jimmy Lipscomb, Mance’s grandson, said. “Far as I know, he taught himself how to do a lot of things with the guitar.”
The Blues singer is immortalized in the mural just steps away from his own park and statue, honoring his life and legacy.
Jimmy Lipscomb sits next to a statue of his grandpa, Blues musician Mance Lipscomb in Mance Lipscomb Park in Navasota(KBTX)
“This is how I remember him. The hat was a tradition. He always wore these type of hats and the acoustic guitar,” Jimmy said as he sat on the bench next to the statue.
Jimmy still calls Navasota home and visits the park every so often.
He can still recall his grandfather sitting on the porch playing his guitar.
“What always amazed me, and even later was, how many different sounds he could make that one guitar make. It was like it was a bass guitar and a lead guitar and another instrument all coming out of that one instrument that he was playing by himself.”
It didn’t matter if it was for a large audience or just a few people, Mance was always playing that guitar.
“My grandmother used to say, ‘Mance, you need to tell them folks to leave’ because he would sit up all night and start the next day if someone was sitting there listening to him and watch him play. That’s just how much he enjoyed it,” Jimmy said.
A flyer promoting Blues musician Mance Lipscomb in a makeshift museum inside Classic Rock Coffee Co. & Bakery in Downtown Navasota(KBTX)
For Jimmy, the artwork is a great way to remember his grandpa.
“Every time I drive by that mural, I always glance and look at it. Just to see him and our name on there, it makes me feel proud,” Jimmy said.
Miller wants to make sure the artwork and its humble shrine inside mean the music never stops.
A statue of Blues musician Mance Lipscomb in his eponymous park in Downtown Navasota.(KBTX)
“People can visit, and they can learn more about the Blues history and just music history in general,” Miller said.
You can find more information about the mural here
Navasota hosts an annual Blues Festival every fall. The next one is scheduled for October 24, 2026. During the Festival, Jimmy presents a scholarship to a high school student in his father’s name.
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