Mississippi origins of Grover's name?

[Gelfling Grrrl]

It has long been known that Kermit the Frog was named after Kermit Scott, a boyhood friend of Jim Henson's in Leland, MS. Kermit Scott graduated from Leland High in 1955.

Graduating from Leland High ten years later, in 1965, was a Grover McGhee. Is it possible that the furry blue Grover was named after that Grover? If Henson left Leland when he was in fifth grade (when he was about 11), Grover McGhee would have been an infant. This is assuming that the McGhee family were living in Leland at the time.

It looks like Grover McGhee had a sister Rhonda in the same class. Henson had characters named Rhonda Rat, and Rhonda was the singer in Monster Telethon.

Anyone have any insight into how plausible an idea this might be?

 

[radionate]

I'm actually heading to Leland in 2 days. If I see anything there that points to this, I'll make sure I post it here.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

What sends you to Leland?? Stop off in Greenville at the Jim Henson Museum!!


Oh, and Splurge posted some great Grover trivia at this link:

http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=9237

 

[radionate]

I'm going on my first vacation in over 2 years. I'll be swinging by the museum as well. You can count on that.

 

[Gelfling Grrrl]

Have a great time! Let us know if you find anything useful.

One another point that might lean toward a Leland origin for Grover's name is the "Grover Sings the Blues" album. The Leland area is known for the study of Delta Blues, I believe.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Bluesology is a passtime of mine! I LOVE blues music!!

The "Blues Highway" through Mississippi is down Highway 61 (part of Hwy 61 where Hwy 49 intersects at Clarksdale, MS, is rumored to have been where the famous Robert Johnson 'crossroads' were--but according to this guy it's where 2 people described as "Dockery Road crosses Old Hwy 8).

Hwy 61 slaps thru several intersections important to the blues: Tunica (across from W Helena, Ark, which has blues links), Clarksdale, Clarksville, down through Vicksburg...and a little east of 61 where other cities (Indianola, Grenwood, Yazoo City) have given us some of our bluesmen.

I have always blessed WC Handy for naming this music with the tune "The Memphis Blues," but I credited Robert Johnson for making it famous, and I credit Muddy Waters as the greatest blues performer (because all his songs move me and are such a party to listen to)!

Muddy Waters' birthplace and home are still standing, and I hope to go see it all one day!

Nate, take photos at the Henson Museum, and take note of what merchandise, if anything, they have--if there's brochures about it grab one up!