Page 52 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2017

Revel in the histoRy of the Blues

at the national Blues MuseuM

At the museum’s grand opening, (l to r) Jimbo Mathus, Vasti Jackson, Michael Battle, Gus Thornton and Alphonso Sanders unite for a memorable performance
Photo courtesy National Blues Museum

When you walk into the National Blues Museum on any St. Louis was always a destination along the path of the
given day, one of the first things you hear is the familiar Great Migration – the relocation of millions of African
voice of Morgan Freeman proclaiming, “The blues is living Americans from the rural South to the North, Midwest and
history. Few forms of American music can claim a history West – and a stop along what would become the blues
as long, as tradition-rich and as complex as the blues. highway. The music scene of the region was thriving, and
Since its origins in the Deep South long ago, the blues has when the Delta blues found St. Louis, it also found the
been a bedrock for virtually all American popular music uptown urban piano sound known as ragtime. The blues
of the last hundred-plus years.” incorporated this new piano sound when W. C. Handy
Taking that bedrock, and building a literal home for released “St. Louis Blues” in 1914. As millions of travelers
the blues upon it, St. Louis, MO, is proud to be the home poured into St. Louis, many decided to stay and call it
of the National Blues Museum. After years of fundraising, home, including early blues pioneers such as St. Louis
planning and preparation, the National Blues Museum Jimmy Oden, Peetie Wheatstraw, Walter Davis and Henry
opened its doors to the public on April 2, 2016, with the Townsend, who helped shape the beginnings of that St.
mission to preserve, honor and celebrate the history of the Louis blues sound.
blues as the foundation of all modern American music and In 2010, a festival simply titled “Bluesweek” was
its impact on world culture. Through artifacts, interactive launched to pay homage to this rich culture. Much like
technology, live performances and education programs, the name suggests, it was a week-long series of events of
the museum allows blues aficionados to explore and revel educational and instrument workshops, panel discussions,
in its history, and new audiences to engage in the genre. an awards ceremony and a blues pub crawl, all leading
Some may wonder why the National Blues Museum is up to the Bluesweek festival to cap off the weekend. At
based in St. Louis, but the roots of this project run deep that same time, unbeknownst to the festival organizers, a
– much like the blues itself. Home to one of the busiest downtown development, known as the MX District, was
train stations and two of the biggest rivers in America, looking for a cultural anchor. From civic leaders to local

50 Blues Festival Guide 2017