On
September 18, 1964, a small airplane circled a rural airport in the sleepy town
of Walnut Ridge in northeastern Arkansas. As the plane landed, a few
teenagers raced to the airfield to see what was afoot. What they saw left a
lasting impression on them. Aboard the plane was the biggest rock n roll band
in the world, The Beatles.
The
Fab Four: John Lennon, Paul McCarthy, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, quickly exited the plane and boarded another plane en route for New
York City, where they were playing one of their last stops on an historic tour
of the United States. Realizing that the band would likely have to return to
Walnut Ridge to change planes again, crowds of eager teenagers flocked to the
airport for a chance to see the boys from Liverpool. The mass of restless
youngsters were not unsatisfied as the band returned to the small hamlet.
In
honor of the event, Walnut Ridge recently renamed one of its streets “Abbey
Road,” a reference to the historic studio in which the band recorded its
voluminous catalog of hits.
This is but one of the many stories that explores the musical history of Arkansas.
This is but one of the many stories that explores the musical history of Arkansas.
On
August 4, the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives and Arkansas State Archives
will present a day-long symposium to celebrate the different musical styles
that flourished in northeast Arkansas. The event will take place at the
State Delta Center for Economic Development on the campus of Arkansas State
University (ASU) in Jonesboro.
The program will feature three speakers who explore Arkansas's contributions to a genre of music. Dr. Marti Allen of the ASU Museum will discuss how rockabilly took root in the beer joints along Highway 67. Dr. Kenneth Carroll, assistant professor of saxophone and jazz studies at ASU, will examine how jazz developed as an art form in Arkansas. Dr. Alan Spurgeon, professor of music at the University of Mississippi, will delve into the legacy of folk music in the Ozarks.
The program will feature three speakers who explore Arkansas's contributions to a genre of music. Dr. Marti Allen of the ASU Museum will discuss how rockabilly took root in the beer joints along Highway 67. Dr. Kenneth Carroll, assistant professor of saxophone and jazz studies at ASU, will examine how jazz developed as an art form in Arkansas. Dr. Alan Spurgeon, professor of music at the University of Mississippi, will delve into the legacy of folk music in the Ozarks.
We
look forward to this exciting day of music!
