About
Music’s History
In the alleys and the honky-tonks of Jackson, TN, a rich mixture of country music, blues, and moonshine created the setting for the first rock music ever heard. It was written and played in Jackson, long before we recorded it…in Memphis. Rock and Blues is somehow in the air here, how else could you explain Jackson as the source for The Hard Rock Cafe and The House of Blues?
Opened in downtown Jackson, Tennessee, the Legends of Tennessee Music Museum houses an extensive collection of memorabilia and relics that tell the story of those that came before. Located halfway between the renowned blues of Memphis and the iconic country music of Nashville, Jackson influenced the genres that make up the soundtrack of our diverse region. From Rockabilly’s Carl Perkins to the soulful sounds of Sonny Boy Williamson, you’ll leave with the stories that shaped music we hear today.
The Building
The museum began its history as Jackson’s first public library. It opened in 1903 after more than two years of planning by Dr. Mark Matthews, the minister of a local Presbyterian church. Robert Cartmell noted in his diary, prior to its opening, “noticed in the paper that Andrew Carnegie had sent his check. This puts a perpetual tax of $3,000 per year upon the town to keep up the concern. May be of use to a few persons, the few who are real students, but the mass who foot mostly the bill read trash. To the large majority it will amount to nothing. The day will come when Jackson will wish she had let Mr. Carnegie alone and fix up her library on a smaller scale– we will see.” The library was a success from the day it opened until a larger building was built to house it.
In 2004, the building was registered as a nonprofit set to become a museum commemorating the voices and musical talent of West Tennessee, sealing the Carnegie’s destiny as a part of music history throughout the world. In the following years, countless original relics were donated primarily by local entrepreneur Randy Williams, a Jackson native and friend of Carl Perkins. The Legends of Tennessee Music Museum began to take shape over the course of a decade as Randy worked with museum officials to install displays to create the building we know today. Ten years later, in 2014, the Legends of Tennessee Music Museum was officially opened to the public with over 500 relics of preserved music history from local legends, current performers, and even memorabilia from venues such as the House of Blues and the Hard Rock Cafe.
Today, the Legends of Tennessee Music Museum houses one of the most impressive collections of music history in the world. Thanks to the work and dedication of museum curators and local volunteers, the legacy of West Tennessee’s performing artists will be preserved and shared with future generations for decades to come.
