‘Rhythm, soul, and community spirit’: Jefferson Street Sound Museum opens special exhibit honoring Black History Month
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – During its peak, Jefferson Street had it all: business, education, and above all, entertainment. The street quickly became a haven for African Americans living in Nashville.
“I started the Jefferson Street Sound Museum back in 2011, and I started the museum because some of the artists and musicians were concerned about their legacy,” said Lorenzo Washington, the founder of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum.
Historic African American school successfully moved to Franklin
After the Civil War, Jefferson Street quickly became the epicenter of African American culture. As more Blacks moved into the area, three Historically Black Colleges and Universities brought hundreds of students into the area, creating a space for education, support, and entertainment.
“Here in Nashville, Jefferson Street was a more popular spot than Music Row in the beginning. Jefferson Street had clubs. A lot of people speak of Music Row being the spot in Nashville, but Music Row only had recording studios. They didn’t have live music, but Jefferson Street had live music, so that is what made Jefferson Street such a popular area,” remembered Washington.
Between the sounds of jazz, blues, and soul, Jefferson Street was lined with nightclubs and venues. The creation of the street birthed a history of Black music in America.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Jefferson Street Sound Museum is presenting “Black History In Music: Work, Worship, and Celebration.” The exhibit’s goal is to revive the memory of those thriving times while also honoring the businesses and entrepreneurs that made historic Jefferson Street a “musical haven.”
Remembering The Bottoms community of Murfreesboro
“All through our home we had music, listened to different groups, and my sister would clean and we’d all clean and act like we were the Jackson 5 and do all that sort of thing, so it was just natural; it was all through the neighborhood,” remembered Benneth Wilson, one of the artists featured in the exhibit.
His work celebrates music from a few of the greats who have passed away. From Prince to James Brown, to Tina Turner, Wilson wanted to use a material to bring his work to life.
“They need to move, so I had to figure out how can I make these things move. I looked down and there was a can, so I picked the can up and cut it open, and it was natural. The materials were like paper and you could make them move,” Wilson described. “They just developed from there.”
The museum explained how “each piece is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit and musical genius that defined Historic Jefferson Street, offering a window into a past filled with rhythm, soul, and community spirit.”
“If you come over here on Jefferson Street, put your footprints on Jefferson Street and in this museum, you’re going to take away a lot of heartfelt memories,” Washington said.
Honoring the legacy of Clarksville native Wilma Rudolph
The exhibit will be open every Saturday in February from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Featured artists include Benneth Wilson, Elisheba Israel-Mrozik, James Threalkill, Karen Coffee, Michael Mucker, Morgan Hines, and Michael McBride.
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