February 7, 2025
Mississippi native and celebrated songwriter Steve Azar brought soulful stories and lively rhythms to Pearl River Community College, captivating the audience with music that reflects Greenville’s rich cultural heritage. Throughout the evening, Azar’s profound love for Mississippi shone through, alongside his passionate commitment to nurturing the next generation by championing arts and education.
Azar’s appearance was part of the Honors Institute Lyceum Lecture Series, which invites thought leaders to inspire and challenge students and community members. The series is made possible through the generous support of the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation.
From left to right: Dr. Jennifer Seal, Dr. Becky Askew, Mr. Clyde Dease, Steve Azar, Mr. Ray Scott, and Ms. Barbara Alexander.
“Steve Azar provided a joyous full-circle evening, reminding the future leaders of Mississippi that our home is a diverse incubator of talent and grit,” said Executive Vice President for Planning and Accreditation and Dean of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute, Poplarville Campus Dr. Jennifer Seal. “His ‘Delta Soul’ music highlighted his journey from Mississippi to success back to success in Mississippi.”
Honors Institute Q&A
Ahead of his main presentation, Azar met with Honors students from the Forrest County and Poplarville Campuses for an intimate Q&A session at Crosby Hall.
Azar opened the session by reflecting on his 20 years in Nashville and his current role as Artist in Residence at Delta State University. He encouraged a lively exchange of questions, even turning the tables to ask students about their own aspirations.
Azar discussed his journey from writing songs as a teenager to achieving his first hit at 37. He then shared about the life-changing impact returning to Mississippi had on his family.
“They were 10, 13, and 15 and would have to leave their friends when they moved to Mississippi,” said Azar. “They all said yes, and I can tell you that it changed their lives for the better. In Nashville, they were sort of coexisting, but in Greenville, they were locked and loaded.”
He tied their experience to the opportunity available to students at PRCC.
“The world is out there for you, and I believe that a lot of dreams happen because you’re in an environment that is not crowded yet,” said Azar. “It gives you an opportunity to find out what you really want to do.”
Nickolas Rogers of Petal is a criminal justice major on the Poplarville Campus.
“I admired his creativity and passion for the arts,” said Rogers. “A big takeaway for me is to always strive to continue to pursue your goals.”
Azar layered in words of advice and wisdom for the students, reflecting his passion for mentoring the next generation. He encouraged students to embrace their dreams and passions while also writing down goals.
“A lot of times, you’ll get a spot in your life where you can stop or keep working hard,” said Azar. “The people who stop never get to know what opportunities open up if you keep pushing.
“I’m a true believer in the dream, but also know dreams take work. Everybody talks about plan A and plan B. I think that plan A is it. When preparation meets that moment of opportunity, that’s when it happens.”
Bella Rainey of Oak Grove is a sophomore studying psychology at the Forrest County Campus. She plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi with the goal of helping others after earning her degree.
“It was inspirational to hear the experiences of someone so local to us,” said Rainey. “We’re all from Mississippi; from places that are more of a small town than big city. Seeing someone become such a huge person from such a small place is impactful because I know I could become that big someday.”
Main Presentation
Community members and students of all ages gathered for Azar’s presentation at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. With his iconic Gibson J45 guitar, Azar alternated between stories and songs, offering a glimpse into his life and musical journey.
His passion for songwriting began after hearing Eugene Powell, aka “Sonny Boy Nelson,” playing songs behind his father’s liquor store in Greenville. He soon started to share songs he had written with Powell who became a mentor. An appearance in Country Weekly included a photo with Powell.
The song “Down at the Liquor Store” from the album of the same name with The Kings Men pays homage the influence the people at his dad’s store had on him. This includes Johnny Lee, the woman who mostly raised him, her husband Shorty who worked there, and Sonny Boy who sang the blues out back.
Some songs were inspired by the consequences experienced by his bad choices. The song “Goin’ To Beat The Devil” is reminiscent of the time he snuck out of the house to visit a red-headed girl in Louisiana. He stopped in Arkansas, and it only took 45 minutes for someone to strip down his ‘77 black Camero. It left him without a vehicle for a while, but it gave him a song.
Other selections woven into his presentation included “Highway 61,” “Sunshine,” “I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday),” and “Waitin’ On Joe.”
Commissioned by then-Governor Phil Bryant to write a song for the state’s bicentennial, Azar wrote ‘One Mississippi’—now the official state song—during a single drive from Jackson to Greenville. He closed the evening reflecting upon its importance to him and performing it in its entirety.
“There are songs that take 17 years to write and there are some that just write themselves,” said Azar. “It literally just fell out by the time I got home from Jackson to Greenville.
“Having written the official Mississippi State Song is probably the greatest accomplishment I will ever have in my life.”
Samantha Nobles is a sophomore from Lumberton studying art. She attended the presentation with several friends who are part of the Honors Institute and some who are not.
“This is the second Lyceum Lecture that I’ve been invited to attend, and I’ve really enjoyed both of them,” said Nobles. “I loved hearing his music and stories—it’s exciting to see someone from Mississippi achieve so much.
“I’m glad that we can listen to successful people talk here like this as I never had the opportunity before.”
About Steve Azar
Mississippi Delta native Steve Azar is a celebrated songwriter, recording artist, music producer, and author. With nine Billboard Hot Country singles and seven critically acclaimed studio albums, Azar is best known for his hit “I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday),” a 4X BMI Million-Air award winner and one of the top five most-played country songs since 2000. His career highlights include being chosen by Bob Seger for the Face the Promise Tour, a #1 feature in O Magazine with his single “Sunshine,” and the release of My Mississippi Reunion, which won the 2021 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award and features “One Mississippi,” the official state song. Azar also made history recording an album at the iconic Club Ebony alongside musicians from B.B. King’s band, captured in the documentary Something in the Water.
Beyond music, Azar is Mississippi’s official Music & Culture Ambassador, an in-demand keynote speaker, and host of In a Mississippi Minute on SuperTalk Mississippi radio. He and his wife Gwen founded the Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation, raising millions for charitable causes. Azar’s accolades include a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker, the 2023 Mississippi Music Awards Lifetime Achievement award, and a featured spot in the Grammy Museum Mississippi’s “Celebrating Mississippi’s Influence” exhibit. Known for his signature Bloody Mary mix and his Viking Cruise show, “Steve Azar’s Mississippi,” Azar continues to inspire through his music, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial ventures.
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Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by River Roderick.
