Right Place, Right Time, and Right People to Honor American Cradle Music

Louisiana’s vibrant spirit embodies the state’s essence of freedom, unbridled expression, and creativity. Its unique energy opens the door to indulgences, from classic dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and beignets to a lively music scene, where jazz, blues, and funk tunes fill the French streets. Every quarter and inch of the bayou, honoring Louisiana’s rich. music history and various influences.

In this place, the past meets the present in a beautiful cultural symphony of rhythm, taste and color, which, together, promotes a real world, a paradise for artists, dreamers and designers. Often associated with jazz and local Cajun cooking, Louisiana’s contributions to American music history are undeniably numerous. The birthplace of jazz, zydeco, rock n’ roll, swamp pop, Cajun, and more, the local arts have inspired other genres of blues, country, hip-hop and gospel, defining the country’s sound without thinking.

To honor this state’s rich cultural and musical history, a group of renowned historians, artists, educators and producers, came together to develop The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience (LMHE), a museum of a comprehensive musical history designed to preserve and celebrate Louisiana’s incomparable heritage. . Through a mix of art, music, and technology-based exhibits, LMHE promises to amplify the story of Louisiana, retelling its value and power throughout the state and beyond.

In the right place, at the right time, and managed by the right team, LMHE’s potential is cultural and economic, with plans to become a self-sustaining center for research, development. Among the people driving the museum’s success is Bob Santelli, music historian, author of more than a dozen books on American music, and frequent lecturer at Rutgers, Monmouth, and Oregon Universities. State.

He was a freelance journalist for Rolling Stone and many other music magazines, he was one of five writers appointed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio . Although the decision to give up writing was not an easy one, Bob devoted himself fully to the care of the museum, soon after becoming the institution’s first Director of Education. That role developed the skills he now uses at LMHE – to ensure a project built with public funds.

The success of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame established Bob as a leader in the field, and his story unfolded naturally from there. In 2000, he became the CEO and Artistic Director of Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project in Seattle, the first interactive music museum to be designed, developed and opened. Informed by the integration of storytelling and technology, Bob helped create the greatest impact of immersive exhibits on the entire museum experience.

Before he was involved in the operation of the museum, a momentous moment occurred when Bob was invited to design the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles from scratch. With a new spark added, he embarked on an ambitious project to transform the blank papers into exhibitions related to music, art and music. Since then, he has established nine centers, all of which included deep experiences and technological solutions.

Having passed on the GRAMMYs to other composers willing to promote Bob’s creations with new ideas, this enthusiastic historian welcomed two new opportunities: the Bruce Springsteen Archives and the New American Music Institute. Jersey and Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience. For Bob, LMHE is the perfect culmination of his museum journey, embodying the values ​​and philosophies that have guided him throughout his career.

It’s also not his first attempt to improve the New Orleans area with a music museum. While working at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he was determined to help build the GRAMMY Museum in the Crescent City, taking on the project again after he developed the GRAMMY Museum in LA; both, for different reasons, these efforts were unsuccessful. When Bob met the Founder and Chairman of the Board of LMHE, the vision grew, and plans for a full-scale museum that did justice to what Bob calls ‘the sweetest city in America’ came to life. .

“I always felt like there was a chapter missing in the story of American music, and I always hoped to fill that gap one day,” shared Bob, reflecting on his mission. and part of the LMHE team.

The people behind LMHE have contributed to the inevitable success of the museum. Comprised of some of the best names in the music museum tradition, the LMHE team is a dynamic institution of artists passionate about telling the world Louisiana’s story. Among them are Terry Stewart, former President & CEO at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Irma Thomas, known as the Air Queen of New Orleans; David Kunian, Curator at the New Orleans Jazz Museum; four-time GRAMMY nominee Sean Ardoin; Chief Juan Pardo, Golden Comanche Leader and LMHE Cultural Director and many others.

Although many of the political structures of the federal government hindered the success of the two previous ventures that Bob was a part of, the $2 million grant that the institution received from the state government, combined with grants of $1 million received from the city of New Orleans, shows a promising turnaround, suggesting a bright future for LMHE. “People are beginning to realize the importance of a music museum in Louisiana. In fact, the state’s history enriched American culture with meaningful contributions unknown outside the American Southeast, and it’s time for us to change that,” emphasized Bob. “You know the time is right for you to appreciate what was previously considered a failure. If the GRAMMY Museum had been built all those years ago, we would have had a much narrower focus. Now, New Orleans will be enhanced with a venue that encompasses all of Louisiana’s intricacies and diversity of music and culture, honoring the artistic spirits that have transformed this area into a truly beautiful place. ”

To Right Place, Wrong TimeDr. John, a famous New Orleans singer, sang:

I was in the wrong place, but it must have been the right time

I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong track.

The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience is in the right place, at the right time, using its diverse, long-standing group knowledge and passion to enhance America’s musical history. Run by the right people, this immersive museum promises to add another chapter to the country’s cultural record. “American music is more than our song; it also reflects our national identity,” Bob concludes. “LMHE is the missing piece we’ve been waiting for, celebrating the story of American music with the right song.”