Dr. Shawn Pitts, of Selmer, is a nonprofit leader, folklorist, and music historian, whose work in McNairy County has been held up as a statewide and national model for rural arts development. Pitts has a deep understanding of how living traditions provide a sense of place, enrich the lives of individuals, and strengthen communities, and he has worked tirelessly to that end. For decades, Pitts has preserved and presented the music, material culture, and foodways of West Tennessee with a special interest in the traditions of broom making, rockabilly, visionary art, and the slug burger.
In 2001, Pitts and his wife Joanna founded Arts in McNairy, the first nonprofit arts agency to serve the whole county. Under their leadership, the organization has supported McNairy County in becoming one of the most vibrant arts communities in the southeast. In his role as Traditional Arts Chair, Pitts made a profound impact on the county’s musical landscape and American music scholarship. Beginning in 2006, he began documenting the region’s rich musical history and uncovered rare West Tennessee sound recordings amassed by community scholar Stanton Littlejohn. For this research, Pitts earned the 2012 Henry Reed Fund Award from the Library of Congress to complete documentation and digital preservation, and develop several projects based on this significant folk music archive. In 2019, he coproduced the LP/CD set, Discovering Carl Perkins: Eastview, Tennessee 1952-53, for the international label, Bear Family Records—a project that helped enrich the broader understanding of the origins of rock and roll music.
Pitts is also a champion for living artists in his community. He has worked closely with some of Tennessee’s most respected tradition bearers, including Folklife Heritage award winners Jack Martin and Hattie Duncan. Not only has he increased these artists visibility in their local community, but he has also introduced them to the world through thoughtfully written articles. His pieces about Tennessee artists have been published in numerous respected journals such as Southern Cultures and The Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, the local newspaper, and popular online periodicals such as The Bitter Southerner and Salvation South.
In 2015, Pitts played a pivotal role in acquiring and preserving a collection of seven Tennessee music boxes, a rare and endangered folk instrument native to the counties of southwest and south middle Tennessee. The Ellis Truett Jr. collection, now owned by Arts in McNairy, is one of the largest and most significant assemblages of Tennessee music boxes in the world. Pitts, along with County Mayor Jai Templeton, was the driving force behind the acquisition and preservation of the Latta Visitors and Cultural Center in downtown Selmer. He spent five years coordinating local and state efforts to restore the property, while thoroughly documenting the history of the building as a cultural space. The Latta is now a hub for arts programming, cultural tourism, and economic development. In 2013, Pitts cofounded the McNairy County Music Hall of Fame and Trail of Music Legends and has produced induction ceremonies which have honored local musicians and amplified recognition of McNairy County’s important musical history.
Pitts has made a statewide impact through his service on the boards of the Tennessee Folklore Society, Humanities Tennessee, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, as well as numerous economic and community development agencies. All this while also working as a respected chiropractor in his community. Though his influence is statewide, Pitts has always advocated for rural West Tennessee through his work as a folklorist, cultural preservationist, and historian. A prolific writer, when Pitts puts pen to paper, his powerful words reflect a deep respect and dedication to his community and the people who call it home.
