Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame celebrates the musical heritage of Louisiana by honoring influential performers, songwriters, producers, and industry figures from the state, and by preserving artifacts related to genres such as jazz, blues, country music, rock and roll, and zydeco. The institution connects the histories of cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles with careers of artists who shaped American popular music, including figures associated with labels such as Imperial Records, Chess Records, and Atlantic Records. The Hall recognizes contributions spanning from 19th-century composers to contemporary stars, linking names like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Hank Williams, Mahalia Jackson, and Dr. John across regional and national narratives.

History

The Hall was founded by Tom Aswell in the 2000s with support from civic leaders in Baton Rouge and music historians who documented recordings from studios in New Orleans and the Muscle Shoals era crossover. Early organizing involved collaborations with archivists from institutions such as the Historic New Orleans Collection, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and university collections at Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The initiative sought to preserve artifacts from venues like Tipitina's, Palais Royale (New Orleans), and the Saenger Theatre (New Orleans), and to recognize artists linked to radio programs such as the Louisiana Hayride and television shows including The Ed Sullivan Show. Partnerships extended to industry players like Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and legacy labels including Mercury Records and Columbia Records, reflecting careers of inductees whose work charted on Billboard and influenced recordings at Cosimo Matassa's studio and sessions with producers like Allen Toussaint.

Induction Process and Criteria

Nominees are proposed by committees composed of journalists from outlets like the Times-Picayune, OffBeat (magazine), and academic musicologists from Duke University and Cornell University who study ethnomusicology. Criteria emphasize birthplace or long-term residence in Louisiana, demonstrable influence on genres including jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, gospel music, and Cajun music, recorded output on labels such as Atlantic Records and Chess Records, and measurable achievements like Grammy Award recognition, placements on Billboard 200 or the Billboard Hot 100, and induction into other bodies such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Voting panels have included broadcasters from WWL (AM), record producers, and family representatives of artists like Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint. Special categories honor songwriters, session musicians, promoters from venues like The Joy Theater, and industry executives tied to companies like MCA Records.

Notable Inductees

Inductees span multiple eras: pioneers such as Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet; jazz and brass innovators like Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Wynton Marsalis; rhythm and blues icons including Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Earl King, and Irma Thomas; country and songwriter figures such as Hank Williams, Jimmy Buffett, and Clint Black (note: associated acts from Lafayette and Baton Rouge); rock and roll and soul stars like Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint; zydeco and Cajun leaders such as Clifton Chenier, Beausoleil (Band), and Michael Doucet; gospel and blues voices like Mahalia Jackson, Lead Belly, and Slim Harpo; and contemporary artists including Bruno Mars, Marc Broussard, Lucinda Williams, Harry Connick Jr., Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Big Freedia, and The Revivalists. The list also honors producers and industry figures like Cosimo Matassa, Dave Bartholomew, and promoters associated with Louisiana Hayride and KWKH radio. Session musicians and arrangers recognized include names connected to the Mardi Gras Indians tradition and the Second Line brass band culture.

Museum and Exhibits

Exhibits have showcased instruments, stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, and recording equipment tied to careers recorded at studios like Sea-Saint Studios and Studio in the Country. Displayed items link to tours and residencies at venues including Preservation Hall, The Fillmore (New Orleans venue), and Tipitina's, and to artifacts associated with television appearances on shows such as American Bandstand and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Rotating exhibits highlight thematic collections: New Orleans Jazz roots, Cajun music family traditions, the Shreveport country scene, and the influence of radio programs like Louisiana Hayride. Educational installations reference scholarly work from Smithsonian Institution collaborators and include listening stations with recordings from labels like Imperial Records and Excello Records.

Programs and Events

The Hall organizes induction ceremonies, benefit concerts, and scholarship programs in partnership with universities such as Louisiana State University and civic venues including the Baton Rouge River Center and the Ritz (Baton Rouge). Annual events feature tribute concerts with artists from New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, reunions of Swamp Pop performers, and panels with historians from Tulane University and broadcasters from WWNO. Outreach includes school programs aligned with curriculum partners like Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and collaborations with festivals such as Jazz Fest and Essence Festival. The Hall also coordinates archival projects with repositories including the Library of Congress and private collections tied to families of inductees, and it supports grants and fellowships for research into traditions like zydeco and Cajun music.

Category:Music halls of fame Category:Organizations established in 2007