WILLIAMSBURG — Hitting the right note is easy at the Virginia Musical Museum & Virginia Music Hall of Fame, which has been located right here in Williamsburg for the last ten years.
Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich musical heritage of Virginia, the mission of the Virginia Musical Museum & Virginia Music Hall of Fame is to entertain, educate and demonstrate the profound impact that Virginians have made on the music industry.
Buddy and Peggy Parker, who began selling pianos out of their garage before opening Parker Piano Outlet, have been collecting Virginia music memorabilia and musical instruments for more than 45 years.
Starting with a music box that Buddy fell in love with while purchasing a used piano, the collection began to grow.
“We wanted to share our collection with the world, hoping they would enjoy it as much as we have,” said Buddy.
The museum has several rare items and a variety of displays from renowned Virginia artists, including dresses worn by Patsy Cline and Ella Fitzgerald, Wayne Newton’s car, a guitar from the Statler Brothers as well as gold records from Bruce Hornsby.
“We are told on a regular basis that we have one of the best musical collections in the country.” Buddy continued, “I can’t describe how honored and humbling it is to hear that from so many people that have visited some of the largest and best-known music museums in the country.”
And, while showcasing unique items, Buddy says the museum may be the only one located in the back and upstairs of a piano store.
“Working at the Virginia Musical Museum & Virginia Music Hall of Fame is one of my favorite things to do. We meet people from all over the world that enjoy and learn about our Virginia music history,” Buddy explained.
The not-for-profit, curated through a labor of love, is run completely by volunteers six days a week. A small fee is required for entry.
Currently, the space is undergoing an expansion that will also include an elevator to allow more guests to access the second floor.
Follow the Virginia Musical Museum & Virginia Music Hall of Fame Facebook page for updates on exhibits and expansion.
