The GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland is set to explore the history of Southern rock music in its newest exhibit called “The Sounds of Southern Rock.”
Curated by Bob Santelli and the Mississippi Museum, the exhibit will showcase bands and artists who contributed to the development of the genre, including the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Charlie Daniels Band, Little Feat, the Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, and more.
Artifacts on display at the museum will include:
- Duane Allman’s and Dickey Betts’ Gibson guitars
- Ed King’s Fender Stratocaster with custom-made shell picks
- Charlie Daniels’ acoustic/electric Barcus Berry fiddle
- Original sheet music for “Green Grass and High Tides” by Hughie Thomasson
- Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer, Michael Cartellone’s Pearl drum set
- Vintage concert posters, stage outfits, and much more
Many of the artifacts on display in the exhibit have been provided by Hard Rock International, as well as the private estates of Charlie Daniels, the Allman Brothers, and Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“The Southern rock genre exploded in the 1970s as an extension of an already long and vibrant Southern
music heritage that encompassed blues, country, gospel, R&B, and even big band jazz,” said Santelli. “This exhibit will explore how Southern rock rose to become of the most popular genres of the decade and will spotlight the bands who made it famous, including the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. While Southern rock’s heyday ended with the plane crash that took the lives of members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the genre lives on in the hearts and minds of music fans everywhere.”
Sponsors of the exhibit include Hard Rock International, Visit Cleveland, Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, Quality Steel Corporation, and Visit Mississippi.
“Of the many contributions that the South made to American music, the Southern rock genre is one of them,”
said Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “This exhibit will provide a unique
and in-depth look at the genre and the bands who made it famous. We can’t wait to share these important
stories of Southern rock bands with our Museum visitors, and we thank Hard Rock International for their
partnership to help bring this exhibit to life.”
The history of Southern rock music exhibit is expected to open on September 30, 2022, and will be on display through the fall of 2023.
