New Exhibit Celebrates Illinois Musical Greats Earth, Wind & Fire, Muddy Waters & More
A new North American museum exhibit in Springfield is featuring a range of work from Illinois artists including Earth, Wind & Fire, Muddy Waters and Chance the Rapper.
It’s called the “State of Sound” and runs through Jan. 23 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The exhibit features personal papers, rare artefacts and more than one dozen mini-documentaries.
The event’s official website says: “from Muddy Waters to REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick to earth wind and fire and chance the rapper, the land of Lincoln has produced some of the most highly celebrated music in rock history. Musicians, legendary radio stations, and musical gear have shaped the sonic history of Illinois and the world.
“This one-of-a-kind exhibit showcases the achievements and contributions of Illinois’ finest in music. Written by award-winning author, documentary-producer and former Chicago Sun-Times Columnist and Critic, Dave Hoekstra.”
Organisers said the exhibit was created to “explore the state’s impact on music history, from gospel to rock to jazz.” After the exhibit closes, the dozens of artefacts will be returned to owners around the country.
The museum “was honoured to be entrusted with these incredibly important and personal items from some legendary artists. Tens of thousands of people got to enjoy them and expand their appreciation of music history” Christina Shutt, the library and museum’s executive director, said in statement. “But an exhibit with this many treasures cannot go on forever.”
There’s also an aural companion series to the blockbuster exhibit, ‘The State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois.’ This bi-weekly podcast series dives deep into the stories behind the stories of the exhibit “The State of Sound” – with newly taped interviews from key players, artists, families, authors as well as historical perspectives. The music from Illinois has inspired the soundtrack of our lives, hear the stories about the music creators and the artifacts in the exhibit – check back here every other week for new episodes.