Special event to feature stories and performances from GRAMMY®-winning and -nominated artists
CLEVELAND, MISS.— GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi and Recording Academy™ Memphis, Atlanta, Nashville, and Florida chapters commemorate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the music that powered the Civil Rights Movement with a special evening of stories and performances by GRAMMY®-winning and -nominated artists . . . “Music was so important in our struggle. I can’t imagine what it would have been like, if we hadn’t had the music,” said Coretta Scott King, American author, activist, civil rights leader, and the wife of Dr. King.
On Friday, March 16 in the Sanders Soundstage, the Museum will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the days leading up to the 50th anniversary since his tragic passing. Performances will range from folk to funk, from Southern gospel to deep soul, featuring GRAMMY winners William Bell, Bobby Rush, and Betty Wright, and GRAMMY nominee PJ Morton, backed by an all-star band of legendary studio musicians from the golden age of Stax Records. The multi-media event will feature never-before-screened interviews from the GRAMMY Living Histories archive featuring such icons of American music, culture, and politics as Al Bell, B.B. King, Coretta Scott King, and more.
“Martin Luther King, Jr. will forever be a part of Mississippi’s history,” said Executive Director Emily Havens.“ In 1966, King, along with other civil rights activists led the March Against Fear, the largest civil rights demonstration in the history of our state. We are proud to celebrate the legacy of a man who exemplified the timeless truths that love conquers all and that everyone should be treated equally.”
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is located at 800 W Sunflower Road, Cleveland, MS 38732. The event will start at 7 pm, and doors will open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy members today at GRAMMYMuseumMS.org. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, February 26 at 9 am CST.
About The Recording Academy
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music’s history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards—music’s only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world’s leading society of music professionals, they work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.
About GRAMMY Museum Mississippi
Built and operated by the Cleveland Music Foundation—a non-profit organization developed in 2011—the 28,000-square-foot GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is housed near the campus of Delta State University, home of the Delta Music Institute‘s Entertainment Industry Studies program, which features the most unique audio recording facilities in the South. Similar to its sister museum—the GRAMMY Museum® L.A. LIVE—GRAMMY Museum Mississippi is dedicated to exploring the past, present, and future of music, and the cultural context from which it emerges, while casting a focused spotlight on the deep musical roots of Mississippi. The museum features a dynamic combination of public events, educational programming, engaging multimedia presentations, and interactive permanent and traveling exhibits, including a Mississippi-centric area that introduces visitors to the impact of Mississippi’s songwriters, producers and musicians on the traditional and modern music landscape.
For more information, visit www.grammymuseumMS.org, “like” the GRAMMY Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseumMS on Twitter and Instagram.
