JAMES CITY COUNTY — On Saturday, March 8, the Virginia Musical Museum and Virginia Music Hall of Fame hosted the grand opening of a new section of the museum and an expansion of the hall of fame.
This location hosts the only physical Music Hall of Fame in Virginia.
As a part of the expansion project, which has taken five years to complete, a much-needed elevator/lift was added to the facility.
Owner and curator, Buddy Parker welcomed special guests that included Bill Jenkins and the Virginia Mountain Boys, Gene Vincent guitarist Russel Williford, and Nashville recording artist and Blues Hall of Fame Ambassador Leroy “Blues Dog” Falconi.
Falconi loaned the museum a 20-year collection of signed harmonicas from famous blues players such as B.B. King, Johnny Winter and Aaron Neville.
The museum’s board selected three new Virginians to induct into the hall of fame, and their accompanying displays were showcased at the event.
To be selected, musicians must be born in Virginia.
Displays showcasing the three newest inductees can now be viewed. Those are Jason Mraz, the multi-Platinum recording artist from Mechanicsville; John Jackson from Rappahonock, whose first recordings were released in the early 1960s by Arhoolie Records; and Earnest “Pops” Stoneman, whose recording, “Sinking of the Titanic,” became one of the biggest hits of the 1920s.
Read more about the museum and music hall here: Setting the Tone at Virginia Musical Museum & Virginia Hall of Fame.
The Virginia Musical Museum and Virginia Music Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an admission fee and is located in the same building as Parker Piano Outlet at 6316 Richmond Road.
