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​[[File:Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, LA.jpg|450px|right|thumb|Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, Louisiana]]

[[File:Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, LA.jpg|450px|right|thumb|Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, Louisiana]]

   

   

The '''Delta Music Museum''' is a museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]], which offers exhibits on  [[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 staffed 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 operational at another location from 1995 to 2002.​

The '''Delta Music Museum''' is a museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern [[Louisiana]], which offers exhibits on  [[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 staffed 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 operational at another location from 1995 to 2002.​

*Irma Thomas (born 1941), the "Queen of Soul" from Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish, has been dubbed the truest female representation of New Orleans music​

*Irma Thomas (born 1941), the "Queen of Soul" from Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish, has been dubbed the truest female representation of New Orleans music​

*Clarence "Frogman" Henry (born 1937), was said to be able to sing like "a frog," hence his nickman; he traveled for a time with The Beatles.​

*Clarence "Frogman" Henry (born 1937), was said to be able to sing like "a frog," hence his nickman; he traveled for a time with The Beatles.​

*[[Fats Domino]]spoke French before he did English and is remembered particularly for ''Ain't That A Shame,'' ''Blueberry Hill," and "Walking to New Orleans]." He was a celebrity victim of [[Hurricane Katrina]].​

*[[Fats Domino]]spoke French before he did English and is remembered particularly for ''Ain't That A Shame,'' ''Blueberry Hill," and "Walking to New Orleans." He was a celebrity victim of [[Hurricane Katrina]].​

*John Fred Gourrier (1941–2005) formed John Fred and the Playboys and later produced records for other singers, including Irma Thomas.​

*John Fred Gourrier (1941–2005) formed John Fred and the Playboys and later produced records for other singers, including Irma Thomas.​

*[[The Hemphills]]: eight-time winning GMA Dove Award winners. Led by husband and wife team of Joel Hemphill, Sr. (born 1939), and LaBreeza Rogers Hemphill (1940-2015). Inducted to the hall of fame in 2011.​

*[[The Hemphills]]: eight-time winning GMA Dove Award winners. Led by husband and wife team of Joel Hemphill Sr. (born 1939), and LaBreeza Rogers Hemphill (1940-2015). Inducted to the hall of fame in 2011.​

*Dale Houston (1940–2007) and his singing partner Grace Broussard (born 1939), hit the charts with ''I'm Leaving It All Up to You.'' He was a native of Seminary, Mississippi, who grew up in Baton Rouge and lived briefly in Ferriday in 1963.​

*Dale Houston (1940–2007) and his singing partner Grace Broussard (born 1939), hit the charts with ''I'm Leaving It All Up to You.'' He was a native of Seminary, Mississippi, who grew up in Baton Rouge and lived briefly in Ferriday in 1963.​

*Pete Fountain (1930-2016), a [[clarinet]]ist, became one of the principal names in New Orleans jazz and was a regular on ABC's ''The Lawrence Welk Show.''<ref name=dmm/>​

*Pete Fountain (1930-2016), a [[clarinet]]ist, became one of the principal names in New Orleans jazz and was a regular on ABC's ''The Lawrence Welk Show.''<ref name=dmm/>​

 

==Arcade Theatre==

==Arcade Theatre==

The original Arcade was built in the latter 1920s, burned in the 1950s and was permanently closed in the 1970s. On March 12, 2008, Dardenne presided at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Arcade, along with Mickey Gilley and one of Dardenne's predecessors, former Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], a Ferriday native. That night Dardenne and Gilley joined the group Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers in the maiden performance in the new Arcade. The rebuilt Arcade, which cost $1 million, was funded by Dardenne's office. Prior to the restoration, the building had been a pawn shop. The sign at the Arcade is a replica of the original.<ref>"Arcade Theatre returns to downtown," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 5.</ref>​

The original Arcade was built in the latter 1920s, burned in the 1950s and was permanently closed in the 1970s. On March 12, 2008, Dardenne presided at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Arcade, along with Mickey Gilley and one of Dardenne's predecessors, former Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], a Ferriday native. That night Dardenne and Gilley joined the group Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers in the maiden performance in the new Arcade. The rebuilt Arcade, which cost $1 million, was funded by Dardenne's office. Prior to the restoration, the building had been a pawn shop. The sign at the Arcade is a replica of the original.<ref>"Arcade Theatre returns to downtown," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 5.</ref>​

Robert Earl "Bobby" Jones, Sr. (1927-2021) 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>​

Robert Earl "Bobby" Jones Sr. (1927-2021) 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 (1938-2009) 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>​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://youngsfuneral.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/348741/Clark-Gaye/obituary.php|title=Gaye Clark obituary|publisher=Young's Funeral Home, Vidalia, Louisiana|date=October 13, 2009|accessdate=June 22, 2023}}</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 showed [[Elvis Presley]] or [[Jerry Lewis]] or [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>

Gaye Clark (1938-2009) 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>​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://youngsfuneral.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/348741/Clark-Gaye/obituary.php|title=Gaye Clark obituary|publisher=Young's Funeral Home, Vidalia, Louisiana|date=October 13, 2009|accessdate=June 22, 2023}}</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 showed [[Elvis Presley]] or [[Jerry Lewis]] or [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>