When 87-year-old Frances Koury started writing a poem “many years ago,” she wanted it to be about Vicksburg, and she wanted it to capture the essence of the city that she’s loved and promoted for years.

Once finished, she thought it needed music, so she asked for help from Johnny Crocker, a former member of The Chill turned solo artist.

Then, she needed more, she said, so she turned to a narrative about the city written by Vicksburg author and historian Gordon Cotton and asked retired English teacher Bobby Odom to read it.

The end result, “Howdy Y’all,” was released Wednesday night at Walnut Hills restaurant: Koury’s words, Crocker’s music, Cotton’s words and Odom’s reading.

“You don’t say no to Mrs. Koury,” Crocker said Wednesday as the CD was made public at Walnut Hills restaurant in Vicskburg.

“We jumped at the chance because she’s done so much for this community,” Odom said. “It was my pleasure to help out.”

Koury and her late husband, Ellis, operated Koury’s Children’s Shop on Washington Street for more than 60 years, and she is the founder of Vicksburg’s Four Seasons of the Arts, an organization that promotes music through events and concerts throughout the year. Last summer she received the Special Service Award from the Mississippi Main Street Association for her work advocating Vicksburg and its downtown area.

Koury’s song highlights the National Military Park, Catfish Row, antebellum homes, casinos and other Vicksburg sites.

“We wanted to promote Vicksburg, and we had a lot of fun doing it,” Koury said. As the song and narrative played Wednesday night, pictures from across Vicksburg were shown to family and friends gathered.

“This was a labor of love by everyone who participated,” Koury said. She added that she’s wanted to see the song put together with pictures and the narrative for a while, and she’s pleased with the way everything turned out.

“I was overwhelmed that we pulled it out,” Koury said. “It’s evolved over time, and I’m glad we got it done in my lifetime. It’s something for people to hear and know this is Vicksburg.”

Odom said that despite the hard work, he enjoyed putting the project together with Koury and Crocker.

“It’s fun and easy to work with people when everyone has the same goal,” Odom said. “Our goal was to please Mrs. Koury, and I think we did. Once you see the finished product you’re excited, not just for her, but for Vicksburg.”

Koury’s daughter, Connie Hosemann, said this morning the CD will not be circulated commercially, but might be offered to visitor centers and tourists.