Rockabilly Hall of Fame Keeps West Tennessee Tradition Alive
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JACKSON, Tenn. – Memphis may be the home of the Blues and country music may have begun in Nashville, but Jackson is where Rockabilly all started. Jackson is home of the world’s only International Rockabilly Hall of Fame because they said Jackson is where it all originated. The Rockabilly Hall of Fame said the mix of rock and country music not only changed the course of Jackson’s music history, but the world’s. Speakers Friday night said West Tennessee influenced the likes of the Beatles and even The Jackson Five, one of those speakers was music legend Reggie Churchwell. “Carl Perkins fired the shot heard around the world to The Beatles and other people like that,” he said. The Hall of Fame hosted its first event of the year, Friday with live music from the Britt Brothers, dancing and with speakers such as Churchwell. He is responsible for managing the careers as such artists as Carl Perkins, Lucile Ball and Tony Bennett. The hall of fame said it holds one of these events every couple months to keep the tradition and memory of rockabilly music alive. Founder and President of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Henry Harrison said people from around the world come to learn about West Tennessee’s music history. “You want to see the Statue of Liberty, you go to New York. You want to learn about rockabilly music, you come to Jackson Tennessee,” he said. Starting March 5, the Hall of Fame is having nine, 18 square foot stained glass windows dedicated to Rockabilly legends such as Elvis and Charlie Daniels. Harrison said he thinks this will bring Tourism to West Tennessee. “We think it will become one of the major tourist attractions of Southwest Tennessee.” The construction of the windows will be finished in about three months according to the Hall of Fame.
