Mississippi Prison Band offers a glimpse of freedom in a lifetime of punishment

Mississippi prison band offers a glimpse of freedom in a lifetime of punishment

Members of the Parchman Band, including, from left, Steven Chambers, Lee Andrew Smith (back), Charles Glassco, Michael Snell and Leonard “LJ” Stevenson Jr. performed at a concert at the GRAMMY Museum in Cleveland, Miss., in May 2026.

Mississippi Prison Band offers a glimpse of freedom in a lifetime of punishment

Editor's note: This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project - Jackson, a nonprofit news team covering Mississippi’s criminal justice systems. Sign up for their Jackson newsletter, and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.