Print ArticleJazz greats featured here include: Charles “Buddy” Bolden, “Papa” Jack Laine, John Robichaux, Freddie Keppard, the all white Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Clarence “Gatemouth” Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, the Adderly Brothers, the Marsalis brothers, etc.
COUNTRY. Country’s origins are principally from our British heritage, however, other European and African influences are present. Country began in the Deep South with fiddlers, banjoists, string bands, balladeers and gospel singers joining together in music and song at house parties, fish fries, corn shuckings, barn raisings, fiddle contests and vaudeville/medicine shows.
Like Blues, Country has been predominantly a working class music reflecting the real jobs of many performers: railroad men, coal miners, textile workers, carpenters, wagoners, sawmill workers, cowboys and even country lawyers, doctors and preachers. Before World War One, string bands with names like The Skillet Lickers, The Fruit Jar Drinkers, and the East Texas Serenaders were very popular playing ragtime, hoedown tunes, British dance tunes and even marching band numbers!
By the 1920s, Country caught the attention of radio and recording executives, booking agents and advertisers at stations like WSB, WSM, WBT and WBAP. Soon stars like Vernon Dalhart, Uncle Dave Macon, the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers were filling the airwaves and stages across the country. Charlotte, North Carolina became the home of a RCA recording studio from 1927 – 1945 with over 1500 recordings taking place. During the Depression, two stations became the dominant ones for Country: WLS’s National Barn Dance and WSM’s Grand Ole Opry were the shows that launched greats like Roy Acuff, Eddy Arnold, Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, Conway Twitty, Grandpa Jones, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Dolly Parton, etc.
The Southwest had its own form of Country. The first was a cowboy that would win the hearts of all Americans – Gene Autry, a radio hillbilly singer from Texas. Next came the “western swing” performed by Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies, The Light Crust Doughboys and Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys.
The 70s saw a revival in Country with the likes of Emmylou Harris, who was discovered by the Father of Country Rock – Gram Parsons. Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Barbara Mandrell, Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings joined her. The decade of the 80s launched Country greats like Ricky Scaggs, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakum, Randy Travis, Vince Gill and George Straitt. The 90s continued the Country hit parade with Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood and Shania Twain.
BLUEGRASS. Bluegrass had its origins with the legendary Bill Monroe of Kentucky. Monroe played mandolin and his brother Charlie played guitar. The Monroe Brothers performed became regulars on Charlotte’s WBT beginning in 1936. This led to a RCA recording contract, however, by 1938 Charlie had left to form his own band called the Kentucky Pardners along with newcomer Lester Flatt of Overton, Tennessee. Bill formed his legendary Blue Grass Boys and had landed a spot on the Grand Ole Opry by 1939, where he became a regular for the next 50 years.
Actually, the music we know as Bluegrass did not fully develop until 1945 when Bill signed with Columbia, recording his world famous “Kentucky Waltz.” By 1946 his band included Flatt on guitar, Earl Scruggs on banjo, Chubby Wise on fiddle and Howard Watts on bass.
In 1948 Flatt and Scruggs left to form their own band. Bill helped other bluegrass performers with their careers including Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Buddy Spicher and banjoist Sonny Osborne. Bill also went on to record “Rawhide” and “Roanoke” in the 50s featuring his signature mandolin playing and “New Mule Skinner Blues” with his signature yodeling.
In the 1960s Bill became a star on the college campus folk singing tours. In 1967 he began his famous bluegrass festival at Bean Blossom, Indiana. In 1989 he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Another famous bluegrass group was The Stanley Brothers of Virginia – Ralph and Carter. The Stanley Brothers have become famous for their raw, emotional duet and trio vocal harmonies. After Carter’s death in 1966, Ralph formed another band which later included well known performers Keith Whitley on guitar and Ricky Skaggs on the mandolin. In 1980 Ralph performed with Emmylou Harris on his “The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn.”
Ricky Skaggs has returned to his roots and become one of the leading bluegrass performers and also, a spokesman for the music. Skaggs of Cordell, Kentucky began playing the mandolin at age five and was featured on the Flatt & Scruggs TV show by age seven. By age fifteen he was already a member of the Ralph Stanley band. He then went to work with the Country Gentlemen and even J.D. Crowe’s New South.
In the late 70’s, Skaggs joined with Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band. Afterwards he recorded for Durham, North Carolina’s Sugar Hill label, his highly acclaimed album “Sweet Temptation.” His real success came after signing with Epic. His recording of Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Penn” became the first bluegrass number by a solo artist to reach #1 on Billboard’s country chart. In 1982, Skaggs became the youngest member at the time to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
ROCK. The era of Rock-N-Roll lasted from 1955 to 1965 ending with the British invasion. Rock was a mixture of white and black Folk and popular music. The term Rock-N-Roll was fist used by disc jockey Alan Freed referring to Bill Haley and The
Comets’ hit “Rock Around the Clock.” Soon a swivel-hipped teenager from Tupelo, Mississippi named Elvis Presley was causing teenager girls to swoon and parents to become alarmed. Others soon joined The King of Rock-N-Roll: Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino and Little Richard.
Rockabilly was premiered in Memphis by its creator Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records. His dynamite performers included Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Billy Riley, Sonny Burgess, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Conway Twitty. Other labels joined the bandwagon with their stars: Dale Hawkins, Gene Vincent and the Everly Brothers.
Local rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd (above), Allman Brothers, 38 Special, and Molly Hatchet made Jacksonville the epicenter of the 1970s Southern Rock movement. http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/n/w/nws5017/
Not to be out done, New Orleans Rock-N-Roll was infused with the Blues and launched greats like Fats Domino, who became New Orleans’ King of Rock, Lloyd Price, Smiley Lewis, Huey Smith, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Frankie Ford, Bobby Charles and Jimmy Clanton.
In the 70’s, Rock made a new revival in the form of Southern Rock with performers like The Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Wet Willie, Sea Level and ZZ Top.
R&B. Several of the musicologists that we consulted suggested that R&B or rhythm and blues should be a separate form of music. This music was created by in the 1950s by such greats as The Clovers, Bo Diddley, Ruth Brown and Muddy Waters. One of the first supporters of the Hall and also on the Board of Advisors, Harry Turner, has written a very informative book telling about his life-long love for R&B entitled This Magic Moment. Over the years Harry has been become friends with hundreds of the artists that have made what he calls America’s Golden Music.
Here’s what Harry had to say about the beginning of R&B: “And with the advent of R&B music, music traditionalists were repulsed by this unsophisticated music form. To them, music should only have been performed and recorded by trained students of music. Imagine how offended they must have been by this upstart music, performed largely by less educated blacks and aimed at black audiences!”
Besides The Clovers and Ruth Brown, Harry states that Joe Turner, Chuck Willis, Ray Charles, Lavern Baker, the Drifters, Clyde McPhatter and Ivory Joe Hunter were also pioneers in R&B music.
While living in Jacksonville during the mid-1940s, a young Ray Charles played the piano for bands at the Ritz Theatre in LaVilla, earning $4 a night. Image courtesy of http://thebluegrassspecial.com/archive/2010/august10/ray-charles-genius-soul-jazz.php
As R&B became more popular, the music world began to see what has been been called by the music industry: cross over and “cover” records. Here’s what Harry Turner has to say: “Sales of records by black artists increased ‘crossover’ appeal to white kids. And seeing the popularity of the music among us teenagers, record companies (even major labels) realized there was a simple way to appeal to more kids. Using popular mainstream artists, they re-recorded songs that were already moving up the record charts. Radio stations that never would have aired the original black or country versions quickly played the homogenized versions.”
“This was the birth of the infamous “cover” record. The covers were tamer that the originals, and parents’ fears were eased sufficiently to allow their kids to buy more records.”
Here are some of the records that were “covered”:
Song Cover Version Original Version
Ain’t That A Shame Pat Boone Fats Domino
Tutti Fruitti Pat Boone Little Richard
Sincerely The McGuire Sisters The Monglows
Earth Angel The Crew Cuts The Penquins
Only You The Hilltoppers The Platters
Bo Weevil Teresa Brewer Fats Domino
Shake Rattle & Roll Bill Haley Joe Turner
“With all this going against it, how did R&B get even as far as it did? The jukebox certainly played a part. Millions of kids were greatly influenced by what they heard on the jukeboxes in establishments throughout the country. Places that featured jukeboxes often had areas for dancing, so it was natural that jukebox operators provide as much danceable music as possible. R&B was the first danceable music of all, and there was no juke box censorship.”
R&B producer Ralph Bass has stated that early rock n roll did as much to break down America’s racial barriers as the civil rights acts and marches.
Harry concludes his book saying that r&b has certainly not died. Just witness the movies that have capitalized on this form of music: American Graffiti, The Big Chill, American Hot Wax, Pretty Woman, Sister Act, etc. Also the sales of CDs by such greats as Fats Domino, James Brown and Elvis have skyrocketed.
Then there is Madison Avenue’s use of the great r&b songs for commercials like:
Chevrolet Personality
Chevrolet Kansas City
Oldsmobile The Wanderer
AT&T Dedicated To The One I Love
American Express Stand By Me
British Airways Up On The Roof
Budweiser I Love Beach Music
Events Planned Around The Southern Music Hall of Fame
Each year we will have our induction ceremonies into the Southern Music Hall of Fame Legacy and Achievement Awards. The Legacy Awards are for those performers thathave passed on. The potential inductees must have been born in the South. The categories will include performer, composer, songwriter, producer, etc.
The first Legacy Awards will honor the Founder of Country Rock, Gram Parsons. We have been told that this event will attract worldwide attention especially of the media and performers that have been influenced by Parsons possibly including legendary star Keith Richards. We are hoping to have Emmylou Harris, who was the performer that Parsons discovered and promoted before his tragic death in 1973.
Gram Parsons, the "father of country rock," graduated from Jacksonville's Bolles School in 1965. Image courtesy of http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/03/14/gram-parsons-rock
Another event will be the Southern Music Achievement Awards honoring living legends of Southern Music born in the South. Also the potential inductees must have been contributors to their communities in other areas besides music. Again this event should attract media attention and TV producers looking for a new product.
The biggest event will be the annual Southern Music Festival patterned after the highly successful New Orleans’ Jazz & blues Festival. We see this seven-day event drawing over 250,000 attendees by the fifth year. We feel that this is a very realistic figure based on the population to draw from within a six-hour drive to Jacksonville. This event is where we plan to showcase young Southern talent performing Southern Music as it was performed before the days of synthesizers and electronic instruments.
Guest article by Hugh Simpson
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sheclown
October 23, 2012, 06:58:48 AMperfect.
A virtual museum in search of a home. A building in search of a purpose.
The Jacksonville influence is quite significant to the development of all types of southern music. Let's be proud of this and figure out a way to celebrate and share this heritage.
And let's save the Armory (or another historic building) before vacancy and neglect cause its ruin.
jcjohnpaint
October 23, 2012, 07:39:30 AMTom Petty?
CityLife
October 23, 2012, 07:58:49 AMOtis Redding too please.
Ocklawaha
October 23, 2012, 09:53:19 AMScott "If your going to San Francisco" McKenzie too.
CityLife
October 23, 2012, 10:10:49 AMI'd also love to see a section about music that was inspired by southern music. There is no "Exile on Main St." and countless other classics without the influence of southern music.
hughsimpson
October 23, 2012, 10:16:49 AMThanks Metro J'ville for a SUPER story and YES let's get my 20 year dream a home in my hometown of J'ville!
Hugh Simpson
http://www.southernmusichall.com
mrland
October 23, 2012, 10:28:27 AMGood news Hugh...hope it works out because it is perfect for Jacksonville!
thelakelander
October 23, 2012, 11:03:14 AMFrom Hugh Simpson's blog:
Hugh, what are your design perameters or site selection criteria?
Cheshire Cat
October 23, 2012, 02:44:05 PMI think this is a spectacular idea. How wonderful this would be for our city.
Diane Melendez
sheclown
October 23, 2012, 05:34:46 PMI talked to Hugh this afternoon. We talked about sites. It needs to have parking for 1000 plus easy access off 95. He sees this as a snowbird stop and marketed throughout the south.
I think the Armory meets the parking criteria. Haven't counted the spaces, but there is parking on the side and in the back.
Now, I need to get in there and take some photos, look around and check out the space.
Hugh has quite a network established including possible funding sources.
This is a total win for Jacksonville.
Mayor...can we have the armory? You said "find a use."
hughsimpson
October 23, 2012, 05:59:35 PMThanks everyone for your. enthusiasm and support!
Yes the converstion with Gloria was very productive.
Pluses for this location:
1. Close to I95
2. Parking seems adequate and will know more when Gloria reports back.
3. Lots of space for expansion including use of auditorium, a Southern music themed restaurant, stores, etc. Also one of my board members who also grew up in J'VILLE suggested a Florida Music Hall of Fame which we explored with Stephen and Terri Lorrence years ago. This could be another section of the buiding.
4. A historic building qualifying for tax credits.
Minuses:
1. My partner Ron started his own investigation and found that mold is a major problem in that building.
2. Sits in flood plane which could cause problems.
If these can be overcome then we could begin to work on Phase One which would only need to be 10,000 sq ft tops and plan to open for 2013 tourist season.
Thanks!
Hugh
http://www.southernmusichall.com
SunKing
October 23, 2012, 07:21:19 PMLive music?
hughsimpson
October 23, 2012, 10:24:15 PMYes we are looking at producing a week long Southern Music festival patterned after New Orleans.
hughsimpson
October 23, 2012, 10:26:59 PMthelakelander
October 23, 2012, 10:30:31 PMI assume 1,000 parking spaces would be for full build out, not phase 1?
cayohueso
October 23, 2012, 10:39:38 PMAwesome idea! This would be a great fit for Jacksonville. A converted church and expansion would be a cool idea with a nod towards gospel/soul and its influence on southern rock and rock in general. This is great Jacksonville history and I hope it happens.
Timkin
October 23, 2012, 11:18:19 PMThis would be an amazing destination for our City.
The Armory seems like a fit for this..
Annie Lytle is also a fit, though obviously a larger tab. The advantage is that A/L predates the use of asbestos, so at least that would be a plus. Finding parking shouldn't be too much of an issue , when most of Brooklyn is vacant.
thelakelander
October 23, 2012, 11:26:57 PMYou're probably not going to find 1,000 ground level parking spaces anywhere in downtown Jacksonville. For example, the Armory has somewhere between 160 and 170 spaces. To get 1,000, you'd have to build a pretty big garage. Just to compare, the seven story courthouse garage covers a full city block and contains 1,350 spaces. I can't imagine you would need that many spaces for a 10,000 square foot building.
sheclown
October 24, 2012, 03:51:00 AMGood point Lake.
johnnyman
October 24, 2012, 08:04:13 AMI like this idea.
hughsimpson
October 24, 2012, 12:23:12 PM1000 parking spaces do not have to be located at facility. Just need to be convenient to it. Are any of the proposed buildings on the monorail circuit?
Cheshire Cat
October 24, 2012, 12:36:58 PMHugh, I hope you will stick with us here in Jacksonville. Your idea would be a winner all the way around for our city and country music lovers. Regarding the mold you spoke about in the Armory, do you have any insight into how extensive it is and the clean up costs? This would seem to be something that could be negotiated with the city. Don't give up on us here. We would love to have this Music Hall!
Debbie Thompson
October 24, 2012, 12:57:40 PMHugh, the former Claude Nolan Cadillac Building/Warehouse, Orange and Main, on Confederate Park, and with a parking garage, is also on the market. Environmental clean up needed, but maybe we can find funding for that somehow. Just another possibility.
As for the Skyway, Claude Nolan is about a 5 minute or so walk from the Skyway station at the Rosa Parks bus station, and the Skyway runs to the Kings Avenue multi-story parking garage. The Armory is another two blocks. from Rosa Parks. Easy walking distance to both.
ben says
October 24, 2012, 12:57:53 PMAnne Little!
Debbie Thompson
October 24, 2012, 01:02:58 PMLooking at the other thread, Snyder Memorial Church (Hemming Plaza) are on the Skyway line, station at Hemming. And the Prime Osborn also on the Skyway line. (Although Ock will tell you the Prime Osborn needs to be the Jacksonville Terminal again, and I'd have to agree with him.)
Maybe we should merge these two threads about this?
hughsimpson
October 24, 2012, 01:12:19 PMBelieve I am NOT giving up on J'ville as I am third generation. I am glad the Skyway is so convenient to these locations! The Armory allows for continued growth and also I understand from one of my Board members has a large auditorium that could be used for events.
Thanks and let's keep Rockin and Rollin!
Hugh
ricker
October 24, 2012, 05:56:05 PMLove TIMKINs idea of adapting Annie Lytle to a House of Blues hybrid, live music venue/musem.
AND/OR
locate the MUSEUM on MAIN STREET in Springfield and tie the two together with streetcar/skyway
Aside, I hope to see the day when we see the realization of a vision of AL/ps#4 being used as either a tech school, private high school, with live music bookings on weekends when classrooms are locked and secured,
PARKING THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE with the Fidelity garage nearly empty on the weekends.
Tie the planned dogpark to the Riverside Arts Market and DT via the northbank riverwalk, and Hogans Creek Greenway to Shands, and FSCJ, Edward Waters, circle the inner ring neighborhoods with streetcar on SR111, and link them into the CBD like a spider web.
Hasn't RPDS recovered from over $10million in construction loans?
Doesn't Mr.Milne, the owner of Annie Lytle sit as a board member of BOTH Tarpon Holdings AND RPDS??
HMMMM
hughsimpson
October 24, 2012, 08:39:34 PMI wonder if that is same Milne family that were my Mom's best friends?
Stephen and I discussed the Synder location and personally it seems ideal. A Skyway station right there. 3 or 4 venues for performances within blocks. Close to library. Hemming Park right out the front door. 4 or so blocks from the River. 10,000 sq ft of space on first floor. Potential expandable space next door. Loads of restaurants.
Cheshire Cat
October 24, 2012, 10:56:49 PMThe Snyder location would be excellent. The building is beautiful and would certainly qualify for historic rehab credits. The acoustics in the old church are fantastic and people could spill out into Hemming park in the evenings. It would also bring much needed attention to the downtown. The city has held onto the church far too long and I honestly think there is a good deal to be had with the church. The city cannot afford to maintain it and have not done a very good job with it to date. Having the music hall there would be fantastic.
Diane M.
Timkin
October 24, 2012, 11:27:28 PMRicker... for Clarity.. Mr. Milne is Chairman of the board of directors of Foundation Holdings IV/ Ida Stevens Foundation. He has no affiliation with Tarpon who is a subsidiary of Gulf Group Holdings in Aventura Fl. I believe the owner of GGH is Jonathan Politano. To my knowledge, Mr. Milne has no affiliation with them whatsoever.
At this point, I am down with any reasonable solution for Annie Lytle . Cheshire makes a good suggestion as well.
The question remains... Where to get funding to make such a project viable?
Charles Hunter
October 25, 2012, 07:04:41 AMCould investors include some of the local Southern Rockers who got their start here? Susan Tedeschi-Derek Trucks live in the Jacksonville area, as do some of former members of other bands. Crowd-sourcing is popular, and this should have appeal beyond Jacksonville.
hughsimpson
October 25, 2012, 10:32:19 AMNow we are talking Chesire Cat! I love people with ENTHUSIASM and VISION! I actually ran an 1896 inn and restaurant in Franklin, NC for 2 years.:-)
Also in Atlanta one of the most successful restaurants for years was The Abbey, an old restored church.
The Snyder Memorial Church is one I remember vividly when my Mom and Dad would go shopping downtown on Saturday and then in Morrison's cafeteria.
Hugh
hughsimpson
October 25, 2012, 10:38:05 AMOne of my board members and I are friends with several of these old rockers. Yes I see them pitching in possibly with a Jacksonville Reunion concert which that board member could help happen.
hughsimpson
October 25, 2012, 10:42:16 AMAlso my co-founder Ron Rich and my board members have all agreed that we pursue Southern Music Hall of Fame EXCLUSIVELY for Jacksonville!
Jacksonville you are in the driver's seat now:-)
Thanks!
Hugh
Jdog
October 25, 2012, 11:22:59 AMNice similar attempt -- smaller scale and vision -- in St. Petersburg ...love the building...this tearing down nice buildings (as the bank prefers) seems to be quite the affliction.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/article1258227.ece
sheclown
October 25, 2012, 12:37:27 PMWe need a kick-off fundraising event.
Of course, a concert.
All we need is some "wild-eyed southern boys"
Timkin
October 25, 2012, 02:42:28 PM^ me likey!!
Cheshire Cat
October 25, 2012, 05:27:56 PMHugh, this is very exciting for Jacksonville and I would love to see it happen. The thing about this is that the idea is not only good but a viable one that is a great fix for this city. I have often felt that if this city would be able to tap into the country folk here it would not only create activity but open up interest in many other venues and in downtown. Face it, Jacksonville is a beautiful place to visit and live and it is time we as a community embrace that. I do believe that the Snyder and Annie Lytle would be a stimulus to this community in ways unexpected. Loving this.
Diane Melendez
Timkin
October 25, 2012, 06:21:57 PMDiane.. loving that you are back among us with great ideas
sheclown
October 25, 2012, 06:31:40 PMhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Jacksonville,_Florida#Musicians_and_composers
Cheshire Cat
October 25, 2012, 06:50:22 PMThank Tim!
hughsimpson
October 25, 2012, 06:53:51 PMThis is an AWESOME list Gloria! It just shows why Jacksonville is the IDEAL location. Also we can consider adding a Florida Music Hall of Fame which one of my board members would like to see as he grew up in Jacksonville too.:-)
Ocklawaha
October 25, 2012, 09:52:30 PMJim Dandy Mangrum, "Uncle Lijah" and the boys from BLACK OAK ARKANSAS are still rocking. I've also heard in our MJ editorial meetings that Molly Hachett wouldn't mind a little "Flirtin' With Disaster," and have expressed an interest in this exact idea. Blackfoot could come to town on the "TRAIN-TRAIN." Back in September the Ozark Mountain Daredevils band was out "Standing On A Rock" in Poplar Bluff, MO. .38 Special was certainly "Back Where You Belong." "Can't You See," the Marshall Tucker Band visiting with us? Charlie Daniels knows the "Devil Went Down To Georgia," so he'd probably like to come to Florida. Sadly Ruby Starr is now a "Grey Ghost." Canned Heat loves "Going Up The Country." Lobo says "I'd Love You To Want Me." Wet Willy is all for it, they want us to "Keep On Smiling." Grinderswitch desires us to "Let The South Wind Blow." We'll all be dancing the "Fandango," when ZZ Top hits town. I think we could get the Atlanta Rhythm Section out of "Doraville," to do a benefit concert. Just for fun I'd like to invite Louisiana's LeRoux to "Take a Ride On a Riverboat," and come on down. If we could get LeRoux, I'd hope CJ Chenier would bring their "Bow Legged Woman," along for the ride.
Bottom line Jacksonville, "If You Want To Get To Heaven," we'll do this!
hughsimpson
October 25, 2012, 11:47:44 PMOcklawaha is bringing back the great memories of Southern Rock. Possibly if we tied in a salute to my Bolles classmate Gram Parsons, members from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Duane Allman then that concert who bring even possibly Keith Richards and others that owe their careers to those that have gone before! It would a HUGE crowd and probably even a TV special.
Hugh
Rynjny
October 26, 2012, 01:03:03 AMWould the Bostwick Building be in the consideration for the location?
sheclown
October 26, 2012, 07:21:52 AMMost definitely need to use a historic building to house this.
I still think the Armory would be ideal.
Main Street Cruise synergy, ample parking, auditorium, room for expansion.
However, it is the reuse of a historic building into something extremely cool which is important. It is the celebration of Jacksonville's contribution to music which needs to happen -- to inspire a whole new generation of musicians, and to applaud the lifetime work of geniuses. It is an identity which is under-appreciated by a city in desperate need of self-respect.
Rock on Jax.
Noone
October 26, 2012, 07:36:30 AMHugh, I wish you success with this. Going forward will be all these options of connectivity and regional outreach. Imagine the Pub Crawl bus outreach for any future concert. Fernandina, Orange Park, St. Augustine, the beaches, the talent and motivation with this forum and it's members will Make It Happen. A street car line will eventually happen.
The cycle lot if you ride your bike. The mold issue can and should be immediately addressed. As for the flood zone. Oh well. Other than that keep sharing your vision. It's exciting!
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 01:09:33 PMOne of the projects we had considered with Southern Music Hall of Fame was a traveling exhibit using a 42 foot diameter dome that I learned to build with my friend Rob. I studied with the right man to Bucky Fuller. Rob builds the dodecahedron dome which is the strongest dome structure. He just told me he can create a 42 footer that is totally portable and knocks down for $16,000. That would also include he and I delivering it to Jacksonville and teaching a team how to take it up and down. The canvas cover could be done in Jacksonville or we could get it supplied.
I spoke to Simon Malls in Atlanta and they were very interested in having us spend a weekend promoting SMHF when we first considered this. I learned that Jacksonville has 2 Simon malls.
Your local talented creatives could develop a video that could be projected on the wall of the dome along with 8-10 kiosks. Also have a gift shop area.
Our new Southern Music Association could give directionto these creatives.
Hugh
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 01:29:21 PMWhat is Bostwick Building?
Thanks!
Hugh
Ocklawaha
October 26, 2012, 02:18:08 PMThe Millennial Generation probably doesn't know much about the Southern Rock movement but it certainly was based in JACKSONVILLE.
Here is one of my Youtube Torrents to help you through your studies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8zTefUMhbI&list=PL1D108F9ABB2A3DF7&feature=mh_lolz
Rynjny
October 26, 2012, 02:24:59 PMhttp://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,14721.0.html
sheclown
October 26, 2012, 02:32:07 PMMolly Hatchet "Gator Country"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSa8IWWXX5k
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 02:34:38 PMSo sad nothing was done with this buikding before it deteriorated so badly.
Hugh
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 02:40:20 PMYou are so right, Gloria! Gotta love Gator Country even from a Nole:-)
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 02:42:49 PMJust getting my juices going:-)
You need to have a MetroJacksonville sponsored logo contest for Southern Music Hall of Fame.
Hugh
Rynjny
October 26, 2012, 02:43:32 PMhate to see that building to be demolished.
Adam W
October 26, 2012, 02:55:03 PMWell, Jacksonville was a principle city.
sheclown
October 26, 2012, 02:58:33 PMunfortunately it is the norm not the exception
duvaldude08
October 26, 2012, 03:18:50 PMIn this situation it was the owner that let it fall in despair though. Either way, sad situation.
Timkin
October 26, 2012, 07:11:41 PMIt is one of many allowed to fall into that degree of disrepair. Myself and volunteers are trying to turn the course on the Annie Lytle, one of the listed endangered buildings..an appx 45,000 square foot Schoolhouse. Over the last 4 months , an awesome group of volunteers have gone to great lengths to clean up the exterior of the School's yard and we are beginning to address the interior. So while I don't think this building would be a consideration for the Southern Music Hall of fame, we are doing these efforts with the hope that we can bring the building to a state where someone , like a group like yours, or some purpose , such as Diane has suggested, an Inn and restaurant, Ock's proposal of a TOD / mixed use development, a private School or College, or whatever we can come up with will have a building that is ready for the remedial work to put back in use. We are getting rid of the debris and decay.
I hope this proposal, wherever it is decided, becomes a reality. It would be such a great destination venue for Jacksonville.
hughsimpson
October 26, 2012, 09:21:52 PMI would think that the most important thing now is to settle on the BEST location that offers the least amount of renovation and has the least negatives. It would seem to two most viable ones would be the Snyder Memorial Church or the Armory. Would that be a correct assumption? Which one between these two is most viable?
Hugh
Rynjny
October 26, 2012, 09:58:17 PMI think the Snyder Church would be the better choice since it's located right in the middle of downtown.
thelakelander
October 26, 2012, 10:28:50 PMThe Snyder or space within the Florida Theatre building would probably be more move in ready. However, the armory offers more space and on-site free parking.
sheclown
October 27, 2012, 07:30:49 AMI think we need to get inside and take photos, check it out, begin dialogue with the city.
This is going to be a long process.
As an initial response, I think the armory is best suited for this. We can tie into the Main Street Cruise. But any historic structure downtown could work.
hughsimpson
October 27, 2012, 11:05:50 AMI agree with Gloria and yes it could take awhile; however if there was a traveling exhibit as I have suggested that could get great advance publicity for the Southern Music Hall of Fame.
Hugh
hughsimpson
October 27, 2012, 01:30:25 PMAs Stephen suggested I will let you all work on best site selection and I will just be avail for any questions you may have:-)
Hugh
hughsimpson
October 27, 2012, 01:32:44 PMBy the way my email is hughmsimpson@gmail.com and cell is 404-561-0865.
Thanks!
Hugh
thelakelander
October 27, 2012, 04:12:15 PMWhile at Chamblins this morning, I noticed a wedding party taking pictures in front of Snyder Memorial.
Snyder and Hemming Plaza during the Jazz Festival
I have some interior images of the Florida Theatre that I'll have to find but I've never been inside Old Stanton or the Armory.
hughsimpson
October 27, 2012, 05:24:23 PMThanks for these photos!
Hugh
sheclown
October 28, 2012, 12:20:08 PMInfo on the Armory:
Still waiting to get inside for some photos.
hughsimpson
October 28, 2012, 01:29:43 PMJust from own non expert point of view this amount seems pretty large at the current stage of SMHF. Think renovation of Synder would be considerably less?
thelakelander
October 28, 2012, 03:34:08 PMMost likely. Snyder is 12,000 square feet and is occasionally used for special events now. In the event of a music festival, Hemming Plaza, which also has an area for a stage, is directly across Monroe Street.
Charles Hunter
October 28, 2012, 03:58:04 PMIs there more to Snyder than the performance space and the adjacent room, that opens into it? Is that 12,000 square feet?
thelakelander
October 28, 2012, 04:19:38 PMAccording to the property appraiser, Snyder's gross floor area is 12,337 square feet. 12,047 square feet of that total is heated.
http://apps.coj.net/PAO_PropertySearch/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=0737500000
Ocklawaha
October 28, 2012, 04:56:34 PMI still like the Sax Restaurant as a location for almost any tourist dependent offering. While it's square footage might be smaller then Snyder, it would be an easy location to sell to tour groups. Within a couple of blocks of I-95, with entrance and exit ramps a stones throw away. The interior is unfurnished but complete, and the entire place is brand-new.
Pave the parking lot and do some landscape and signage and this would be an attractive building. The total square footage is between 6,030 and 7,764 depending on how it was finished out.
Charles Hunter
October 28, 2012, 05:00:17 PMThanks. I know there is a tiny kitchen, I think in the NW corner - having done some soup kitchen work when it was still a church. Still seems small for a museum.
As to Ock's Sax site - it does offer good expansion opportuinites.
sheclown
October 28, 2012, 05:38:57 PMI would love to save an old structure and reuse it.
Hugh, what fills the space?
We definitely need a "Jacksonville Heritage" portion --
thelakelander
October 28, 2012, 06:56:21 PMSnyder Memorial
I'm not a fan of Sax. That's one building and uncompleted parking lot, I'd like to see taken out and replaced by something more grand. I may be a biased urbanist but it's too isolated from everything else (other than an interstate exit) for my liking. Also, I can't imagine what amounts to a TGI Friday's stucco box becoming anything that attracts a large amount of people. Seems like it would be something you visit once and never go back to again.
Part of me looks for spin off economic activities and synergy with things like this. A Snyder has a Hemming Plaza/skyway station, surrounding businesses, etc. one can play and get innovative with. The Armory has the chain of parks lining Hogans Creek and even Annie Lytle ties directly with Riverside Park and Five Points. I also like Sheclown's position of utilizing an available or underutilized historic structure when possible. Lord knows we have enough of them playing musical chairs with the city's demolition trigger finger. The longer they sit, the better the chance that they'll go the way of the dinosaur.
These locations aside, two others I'd suggest would be the Florida Theatre and Seminole Club. The Florida Theatre has like six or seven floors of space that can be gutted and better utilized. Also, if the Snyder is too small at 12,000 square feet, the Seminole Club on the other side of Hemming offers 22,000 square feet of space with a fairly new elevator.
Charles Hunter
October 28, 2012, 07:05:34 PMThe Florida Theater seems a good option, too. Lots of space above a beautiful theater. The Seminole Club is an interesting option, although, if the HOF wants to serve alcohol, proximity to FBC would be a hindrance.
I was thinking, but didn't type, "one good thing" about the Sax site. I agree, it would do nothing for downtown.
hughsimpson
October 28, 2012, 09:13:21 PMYes I saw the photos supplied and even right now you could easily install the double sided DVD kiosks in that space creating what I call the Yellow Brick Road intertwining the history of the eight genres of music that originated in the South.
That being said I want to make it abundantly clear that my co-creator, Ron Rich, and I have past on the future vision and direction of the SMHF to Jacksonville. We created a concept and now it is time for the creatives of my hometown to bring it to completion!
I will certainly be there to share ideas that I have developed but the CREATION MUST OUTLIVE THE CREATORS!
hughsimpson
October 28, 2012, 10:45:56 PMJust to clarify I was referring to interior shots of church and had not seen those of Sax, Florida Theater and Seminole Club. I understand that Florida Theater would not have ground level space. Do you think that would be mandatory in any scenario?
thelakelander
October 28, 2012, 11:17:05 PMIt could. The Florida Theater has a ground level lobby with two elevators and a "grand stairwell", that is separate from the theater's main entrance. There are also a couple of underutilized ground level storefronts adjacent to it. You can see the entrance (behind the tree) in the image below:
You can't see much in this shot, but this was taken inside of it last year.
hughsimpson
October 29, 2012, 01:09:33 AMThanks, Lakelander for these photos of the grand old Florida Theater! Brings back wonderful memories:-)
Hugh
SunKing
October 29, 2012, 07:04:57 AMWhat's the overall project budget?
thelakelander
October 29, 2012, 07:37:49 AMGreat question.
sheclown
October 29, 2012, 08:19:08 AMWhat do we want in this project?
Debbie Thompson
October 29, 2012, 09:15:57 AMLooking at the info She Clown posted about the Armory, the lead/mold abatement number isn't as large as I thought it would be. The City is working on a plan for Hogan's Creek now. I wonder if, to gain an attraction such as this could be, they would throw sufficient incentives in to do the flood control, or do it themselves as they plan to do anyway. With those two issues taken care of, the Armory would be ideal. Such a grand building, on the Emerald Necklace, and a short walk to the Skyway.
hughsimpson
October 29, 2012, 10:02:25 AMThe actual budget for renovation will have to be determined by you all in Jacksonville depending on the location. To actually build and equip the kioks and other cool displays could run $100,000 and up.
sheclown
October 30, 2012, 11:41:48 AMWhat about 9th and Main as a starting point? City owns it and is doing a rather poor job of maintaining it. We could help in that regard.
Wacca Pilatka
October 30, 2012, 12:08:41 PMSeminole Club is a pretty intriguing idea too. And the interior seems to be in good shape.
stephendare
October 30, 2012, 12:22:46 PMactually that would be wonderful.... although it does have the downside that its not already owned by the City.
hughsimpson
November 04, 2012, 09:40:17 PMJust checking in to see how things are shaping up.
I know this could be a long process but I am with you as long as you want to pursue it!
We are busy launching http://www.southernmusicassociation.com which will act as a clearing house for information on Southern Music. We already have several top experts joining with us!
Remember I am here for you if you have any questions.
Thanks
Hugh
Ocklawaha
November 04, 2012, 10:00:44 PMDepending on what the city council and DIA does with the Bostwick Building it might be the best of all choices, located as it is a simple block from the Landing, future streetcar and the Riverwalk, and but a very short walk from the Skyway. If the Skyway is ever expanded east as it should be, it would be right outside.
As it is the building is but a shell, if the city buys it out it could be a great first project for a DIA renovation project. That ought to allow a virtual custom floor plan in a very historic shell.
Timkin
November 05, 2012, 03:41:46 PMI like the idea of the Bostwick Building . A great adaptive reuse for it. What to do with the Armory though? ( not to alter the thread)
Wacca Pilatka
November 05, 2012, 03:55:37 PMWho owns the Seminole Club building?
fsujax
November 05, 2012, 04:06:22 PMthe City.
sheclown
November 23, 2012, 12:09:18 PMck this out!
http://nfmhof.com/
North Florida Music Hall of Fame