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Rockabilly Highway

June 28, 2008 | Book
US Highway 45 in the state of Tennessee was renamed the "Rockabilly Highway" in honor of Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins. On friday, June 27, Tennessee State Representative Jimmy Elridge presented Henry Harrison from the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame the new highway sign in Jackson,Tn.

The entire length of the highway runs from north of Mobile, Alabama to Ontonagon, Michigan. The stretch of highway now renamed Rockabilly Highway runs from Jackson,Tn to Tupelo,Miss. The portion of the renamed highway is 55 miles. Signs naming the highway were unveiled at each end of the section at 11:30 a.m. on Friday by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

A small group of 50 people came for the ceremony at Rockabilly Park in Jackson. Music legends Carl Mann, W.S. Holland and Rayburn Anthony were on hand to play music for the state officals and general public attending he event. "This is the highway we traveled to get to (U.S.) 70," said Holland before the dedication, "we felt it appropriate to name it." Highway 45 was at one time lined with honk tonks.

"We did this to draw attention to our great music heritage," said state Rep. Jimmy Eldridge
Source:Elvis Unlimited