Nashville, TN is set to honor the musical and cultural contributions of Black artists by building the new National Museum of African American Music.
Not only will the blueprinted museum honor artists from around the world (i.e. Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and the like), but it will also commemorate the works from Black musicians who were local to Music City. It is reported that Frank Howard, Jimmy Church, Marion James are among the slew.
According to The Associated Press, construction – part of the redevelopment of the old Nashville Convention Center downtown – could begin as early as next year.
Apart from serving as a tourism attraction, the museum will pay tribute to Nashville’s history of black music. Albeit it is best known for country music, its “Music Row” on Jefferson Street became a staple for live music shows from artists such as Little Richard, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix ’til the ’70s.
The museum has begun community programming, an emerging artist concert series, and, on April 10, it will receive proceeds from an OutKast tribute concert.
Check out our gallery to see more of the artists to be honored at Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music.
[Via RollingStone]
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Photos: WENN/GETTY
