Birthday and retirement party at Michel’s Music

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Friends and family of Timmie Fedell celebrated her retirement and birthday today at the iconic Michel’s Music shop on Washington Street in Downtown Vicksburg, Mississippi.

A host of elected officials, friends, neighbors, and musicians celebrated with the birthday girl at her shop, Michel’s Music. Fedell is retiring after 63 years in business.

State representative Oscar Denton gave her a 3-page certificate from the state, noting that the person who wrote it said they didn’t have enough paper to list everything she had done. Denton then quipped that he didn’t have enough money for a frame that size either. You can watch our live report here.

Mayor Willis Thompson said, “I used to come here every Saturday for a while. My youngest son used to take guitar lessons over here, so I got an opportunity to get to know Miss Fedell and what was going on here.” He presented her with a plaque from the city, noting her retirement and well wishes for a long, happy retirement.

Well-known local musician Ralph Miller was on hand, telling how he bought his first guitar in that shop. “I had no idea that 40 years later it would become my life. Miller enjoys the minstrel lifestyle playing in music venues all over the south and was recently added to a mural in Grenada.

Jimmie Russell bought his first record at the store in the mid-50s when it was across the street. Russell went on to enjoy a music career and moved back to Vicksburg from California a few years ago. His group, The Turnarounds, had a monster hit in 1965, “The Birds and the Bees” with frontman Jewel Akins. The song ranked as the number 2 song in the country for three weeks, never making number 1, thanks to the Beatles’ “8 Days A Week” and Herman’s Hermits “Mrs. Brown’s Daughter.” Russell had a photo displayed in the shop for decades that shows him and his group dancing in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the 1960s.

Fedell showed off several of the items in her store, including gifts from their lifelong family friend, Willie Dixon. “My husband and him grew up together. Dixon’s parents spanked my husband and his parents spanked Willie,” said Fedell with a giggle. Fedell’s husband’s jacket has hung in the store since he passed away some 20 years ago. It, like Timmie and the store, survived a hurricane, a fire, and an attack by an armed intruder in 2022.

“I just think its time to retire,” said Fedell. There are currently no plans for the location. “I’ll try to sell the inventory or find someone to take it over,” said son, Mickey Fedell. “So far, we just don’t know, but if you know someone who may be interested, it’s a great time.”