LA Girl finds love “Down In MS”

Special to The Canton News  Before 2010, the town of Canton, Mississippi was just a place on the map.  That was until LaRita “Jazzy Rita” Shelby ended her 40 year search for her father Calvin Thomas Shelby, who was then living in Canton.  Not only did she find Mr. Shelby, she found a huge family that she never knew that she had.  

Calvin Shelby passed in 2013, but LaRita aka “Jazzy Rita” is on a mission to keep his love alive in her heart.  

Her latest effort is the new single “Down In Mississippi.”

Released on June 1 2022, which would have been Calvin Shelby’s 88 birthday, the song and video are now available for the world to enjoy.

He is described as a jovial man who liked to pick berries and tell funny stories.  He lived for a short time in Nashville, which is where LaRita, was conceived before he moved back to Canton after a massive stroke.  Calvin never forgot his little girl, and LaRita never forgot her dad.  

It’s not known if LaRita’s mother Florence (Hawkins) ever knew what really happened.  She died in 1993.   

Jazzy Rita Shelby hopes “Down In Mississippi” inspires anyone who has found love in Mississippi or anywhere else in the world. The full story is also documented in the book On My Father’s Side by LaRita Shelby. For more information, visit www.OnMyFathersSide.com.