Past Midnight

As he sat in the shadows of the darkened police station enjoying a stogie, Harvey Johnson, Jr. (sixth Chief of Police of Thompsonville, Mississippi) watched the long black car slowly cruise up Main Street. It was the wee hours of the morning and he couldn’t sleep. With that one exception, nothing was stirring on the town’s quiet streets. He didn’t see the vehicle often. It seemed he only saw it late at night when he was alone. Harvey knew it would be a futile effort to pursue it. He had succumbed to impulse and given chase once. He had followed the car as it went up Main and made a quick turn onto Washington Avenue. After Harvey made the turn it was nowhere to be seen. He searched every alley and back street for two hours to no avail. He had later related this strange encounter to Miss Mae. Miss Mae, who had run her diner since before his father was Police Chief, acknowledged familiarity with the mystery vehicle but was not forthcoming with additional information. "Let that one be Harvey," she said. "Some things seen past midnight around here are best left alone". After those comments, Mae never spoke another word about it.

This story, however, is really about Bobby Ray Jenkins, a man who took a ride in that long black car. Bobby Ray was a talented man. He had so much talent people often said he must have sold his soul to get it. He was the richest man in Thompsonville during his time and probably the richest Black man in Mississippi.

The nineteen eighties were coming to an end and things had changed for Black folks in America. Bobby Ray was a tall, slim good-looking fellow. He had gained his wealth as an entertainer. He was a good musician but he was an extraordinary singer and dancer. He became rich and famous as lead singer for "The Sparrows", the renowned rhythm and blues singing group of the late sixties and seventies. During his time Bobby Ray was the man most Black women in America dreamed of when they slept at night. The Sparrows toured Europe and the world featuring Bobby Ray Jenkins as lead singer. The group was known for its mellow five part harmonies and tight dance routines. Bobby Ray’s sweet tenor voice established the trend for most of the male vocal groups of the time. In truth, he was the biggest celebrity Thompsonville had ever had.

It was nineteen eighty-nine and Bobby Ray hadn’t toured or recorded a song in over a year. He now lived off investments he made with the large amount of money he made during his career. Bobby Ray always demanded cash before each performance. Checks were okay for other members of the entourage but not Bobby Ray. For as much talent as he had, he was a selfish and untrusting man. Most people in Thompsonville didn’t care much for him as a person. "I knew him when he was in high school," said Eddie Thompson. Eddie was an old timer who had been a regular at Mae’s Diner for years. "Damnedest thing you ever seen. His whole face was one big pimple and he couldn’t dance a lick. His knees knocked so bad you could almost hear em and he had a bit of a stutter. The next thing I hear he’s cut a record with a big time New Orleans record company. They tell me The Sparrows was just a local singing group trying to be like the Temptations or somebody but just barely getting gigs in New Orleans.