The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi is hosting a special summer exhibit in partnership with The Malaco Music Group, in celebration of the group’s 50th anniversary year.
On July 19, the museum will open “The Last Soul Company: 50 Years of Excellence” honoring Malaco’s milestone. The Museum has worked with the historic label to create a gallery display, which will also be promoted at Malaco’s gospel concert in Jackson, Mississippi, on July 12.
“The collaboration with Malaco Music Group formalizes the symbiotic relationship between the record company and the Delta Blues Museum,” Museum Director Shelley Ritter says. “We are pleased to celebrate Malaco’s longstanding work as we pay homage daily to many of the legendary recording artists associated with the label such as Fred McDowell, Little Milton Campbell, Artie ‘Blues Boy’ White, Denise LaSalle, Dorothy Moore, Bobby Rush and others.”
The exhibit will feature vintage recording equipment, a video retrospective of Malaco and other important historical items that span the 50 years of the company’s growth.
Of the collaboration, Malaco co-founder Tommy Couch Sr. says, “We are excited to curate the exhibit in conjunction with Delta Blues Museum to showcase our contribution to the historic blues genre. And we are honored to share a few of the countless memories from so many recording sessions with our artists. Many of those artists are from the Mississippi Delta, including Little Milton from Inverness, Denise LaSalle, who grew up near Sidon, and Tyron Davis, who was born in Greenville.”
An opening reception, with music provided by Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, will be held at the Museum on Thursday, July 19th from 5 – 7 pm and is free and open to the public. This special exhibit is sponsored by Cathead Vodka, Barnes Petty Financial Advisors, Hunter Paper, True Value Hyde Brothers Lumber Company and the Mississippi Arts Commission.