Theo's Rock 'n Roll & Blues Heritage Museum, now in Clarksdale, MS, consists of 6 rooms (approx. 3,000 sq. ft.) packed full of memorabilia from pre-war blues to the 50's and 60's and the music they call rock 'n roll.

The On the museum walls and in our colorful display cases you'll find beautiful artwork on LP record covers, autographs, photos, 45 and 78 rpm records and acetates, guitars autographed by Chuck Berry and B. B. King, magazines, news articles, movie and concert posters, concert tickets and lots, lots more. Also on display are antique gramophones and radios.

TheFifties Your first stop in the museum is a trip back to the roots of rock 'n roll, the Blues. The first blues record CRAZY BLUES (78 rpm) from Mamie Smith is just one of the many 78 rpm's of (early) pre-war blues singers displayed along with recordings by Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Blind Blake, Barbecue Bob, Blind Lemon Jefferson and post-war blues singers like Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy Williamson and B. B. King.

Our museum also includes many of the recording artists born and/or raised in the Clarksdale area, including John Lee Hooker, Lil Green, Ike Turner, Sam Cooke, Little Junior Parker and Muddy Waters.

It was at Clarksdale's Riverside Hotel where Ike Turner composed what is considered the first rock 'n roll record ROCKET 88. This 1951 CHESS 78 rpm hangs in our museum next to Bill Haley's cover version on Holiday Records.

As you leave our "blues alley" and pass the antique gramophone display, you'll rediscover the R&B vocal groups and stars of the 50's and early 60's--The Crewcuts, The Chords, The Midnighters and Bill Haley, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Paul Anka, Connie Francis, Fabian and many, many, more. TheFifties

Find out the truth about the "chirping" on the first LP, THE "CHIRPIN" CRICKETS, in the display devoted to Buddy Holly and learn about The Picks.

It goes with out saying that you'll see the 78 rpm recording of THAT'S ALL RIGHT by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup displayed along side the SUN version by Elvis Presley. The original 78 rpm of MYSTERY TRAIN by Clarksdale's own Little Junior Parker sits right next to Elvis' recording too. A recent addition to the museum is a display about the history of SUN Records and the Phillips International label. TheKing

Naturally The King has his own place in our Museum displaying original movie posters from around the world as well as international pressings of his many recordings. surfboards

Get that back stage feeling as you stand next to the surf board stage props used for Beach Boys concerts in the 60's and their first LP SURFIN SAFARI.





Beatles

Flash back to the 60's, psychedelic posters, black lights, Woodstock, the British Invasion--including the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, The Pretty Things, The Who and many others along with rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Cream, The Byrds, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, even the Monkees and more! RollingStones

Check out our "Clarksdale Performers' Wall" which includes recent photos of singers performing in and around Clarksdale. You can also sit, relax and enjoy a soft drink at the Graceland Bar. In our record library, you might find some singles for your jukebox or maybe some LP's you want to purchase for your collection. We also have blues and rock 'n roll 78s for sale in the museum store as well as photos, postcards and other memorabilia with more to come. bar

The museum opened for the general public on August 16, 1997 in The Netherlands. In August of 2005 we acquired our current location in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and officially opened in Clarksdale on August 5, 2006. The ROCK 'N ROLL & BLUES HERITAGE MUSEUM is operated by Rock 'n Roll Museum, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity, established in Clarksdale, Mississippi.