Changes

​The '''Delta Music Museum''' is a museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish, [[Louisiana]], which offers exhibits on sixteen [[rock and roll]] and blues musicians from the [[Mississippi River]] delta country. The museum opened with a grant from the State of Louisiana and is operated by local volunteers. There is no admission charge; the facility relies on the sales of souvenirs. Visitors from all over the United States have signed the guestbook since the museum opened in the spring of 2002. A scaled-down version of the museum, called simply the Ferriday Museum, had begun operations at another location in 1995.​

The '''Delta Music Museum''' is a museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish, [[Louisiana]], which offers exhibits on sixteen [[rock and roll]] and blues musicians from the [[Mississippi River]] delta country. The museum opened with a grant from the State of Louisiana and is operated by local volunteers. There is no admission charge; the facility relies on the sales of souvenirs. Visitors from all over the United States have signed the guestbook since the museum opened in the spring of 2002. A scaled-down version of the museum, called simply the Ferriday Museum, had begun operations at another location in 1995.​

There are also exhibits on two well-known former Ferriday personalities not affiliated with the music industry: former [[CBS]] and [[ABC]] commentator Howard K. Smith (1914–2002) and Ann Boyar Warner (1908–1990), second wife of [[Warner Brothers]] studio mogul Jack L. Warner (1892-1978). There is a mural drawn in 1991 presented by Monterey High School in Concordia Parish.<ref>Exhibits, Delta Music Museum, Ferriday, Louisiana</ref>​

There are also exhibits on two well-known former Ferriday personalities not affiliated with the music industry: former [[CBS]] and [[ABC]] commentator Howard K. Smith (1914–2002) and Ann Boyar Warner (1908–1990), second wife of [[Warner Brothers]] studio mogul Jack L. Warner (1892-1978). There is a mural drawn in 1991 presented by Monterey High School in Concordia Parish.<ref>Exhibits, Delta Music Museum, Ferriday, Louisiana</ref>​

The first exhibit one encounters in the museum is a sculpture of the three Ferriday cousins at the piano: singers [[Mickey Gilley]] of [[Branson]], [[Missouri]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] and [[Jimmy Swaggart]], the last an evangelist based in [[Baton Rouge]]. Other honorees are blues trombonist [[Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker]], a native of Newellton in northern Tensas Parish.<ref name=dmm>"Delta Music Museum Celebrities" brochure, Delta Music Museum, 6 pages.</ref>​

The first exhibit one encounters in the museum is a sculpture of the three Ferriday cousins at the piano: singers [[Mickey Gilley]] of [[Branson]], [[Missouri]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] and [[Jimmy Swaggart]], the last an evangelist based in [[Baton Rouge]]. Other honorees are blues trombonist [[Leon "Pee Wee" Whittaker]], a native of Newellton in northern Tensas Parish.<ref name=dmm>"Delta Music Museum Celebrities" brochure, Delta Music Museum, 6 pages.</ref>​

​

​

*Former Louisiana Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], Jackson Parish native, produced "You Are My Sunshine," formerly among the most recognized songs in the world.​

*Former Louisiana Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], Jackson Parish native, produced '’You Are My Sunshine,'' formerly among the most recognized songs in the world.​

*[[Conway Twitty]], a native of Friars Point, [[Mississippi]], had fifty-five No. 1 hits in the nation, a record unsurpassed by [[The Beatles]], [[Elvis Presley]], and [[Frank Sinatra]].​

*[[Conway Twitty]], a native of Friars Point, [[Mississippi]], had fifty-five No. 1 hits in the nation, a record unsurpassed by [[The Beatles]], [[Elvis Presley]], and [[Frank Sinatra]].​

*Aaron Neville (born 1941) is a popular [[Christian]] and [[jazz]] performer from [[New Orleans]].​

*Aaron Neville (born 1941) is a popular [[Christian]] and [[jazz]] performer from [[New Orleans]].​

Bobby Jones (born ca. 1927) of Ferriday recalled having swept the Arcade for $1 a day. A graduate and[[football]] player at nearby Ferriday High School, Jones also recalls five-cent popcorn and nine-cent movie admission. "Those were the days. Nothing was real expensive. I always had money in my pocket," Jones reminisced for the ''Concordia Sentinel.''<ref>"Memories: Bobby Jones, Ferriday”, ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​

Bobby Jones (born ca. 1927) of Ferriday recalled having swept the Arcade for $1 a day. A graduate and[[football]] player at nearby Ferriday High School, Jones also recalls five-cent popcorn and nine-cent movie admission. "Those were the days. Nothing was real expensive. I always had money in my pocket," Jones reminisced for the ''Concordia Sentinel.''<ref>"Memories: Bobby Jones, Ferriday”, ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​

Gaye Clark of Vidalia, the Concordia Parish seat of government, said that she worked at the Arcade as a cashier in 1954. "I have so many memories of the Arcade . . . Working there and being given the responsibility of being cashier gave me a work ethic that has stayed with me my entire life . . . ," Clark added.<ref>"Memories: Gaye Clark, Vidalia,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​ Dan Ratcliff of Natchez recalls that each year the Arcade had three free movie days prior to [[Christma]]s. "Each showing was packed, and I remember they mostly showedElvis Presley or  [[Jerry Lewis]] or  [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez", ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>​

Gaye Clark of Vidalia, the Concordia Parish seat of government, said that she worked at the Arcade as a cashier in 1954. "I have so many memories of the Arcade . . . Working there and being given the responsibility of being cashier gave me a work ethic that has stayed with me my entire life . . . ," Clark added.<ref>"Memories: Gaye Clark, Vidalia,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​ Dan Ratcliff of Natchez recalls that each year the Arcade had three free movie days prior to [[Christmas]]. "Each showing was packed, and I remember they mostly showedElvis Presley or  [[Jerry Lewis]] or  [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez", ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>​

​

​

==Museum faced with potential closure==​

==Museum faced with potential closure==​