Non-profit works to preserve state’s rock & roll heritage, contributions
The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 is a nonprofit organization that exists to preserve the history of musicians and bands with Illinois ties while educating visitors about the state’s rich music history.
Illinois’ rich musical heritage has influenced rock and roll artists across the globe. Musicians from Rockford to Chicago, Champaign to downstate Illinois played an integral part of the music scene for decades creating music that transcends many genres. To pay tribute to their contribution and influence, the organization is bringing the museum to Joliet, which will tell these musicians’ and bands’ stories through displays of their memorabilia and artifacts.
Visitors to the proposed museum will take a musical journey from the early jazz and blues influences to the birth and rise of rock and roll, and the emergence of Illinois artists whose influences have had significant impact. Artists like Nat King Cole, Sam Cook, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Styx, The Buckinghams, REO Speedwagon, The Cryan’ Shames, Disturbed, the Plain White T’s are among a long list of many others. This unique one-of-a-kind exhibit will honor and preserve their contributions, while providing visitors with a dynamic and interactive educational experience.
“Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66” has strong potential to provide the host city of Joliet, and the region as a whole, the opportunity to benefit from strong revenue generation, providing positive economic impact resulting from increased tourism dollars spent in the region, as well as through funding from corporate sponsorships, donor contributions, and advertising opportunities and new tourism partnerships.
At present, there are no competing exhibits to this project in Illinois, making it unique. At the same time, the national Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland only displays a small sampling of artifacts of Illinois artists due to space restrictions. This would allow the opportunity for a more robust Illinois musician’s exhibition in our region. In addition to the permanent exhibit, the opportunity also exists for the creation of seasonal special exhibits that highlight specific artists, events or milestones in Illinois music. With the long list of artists and bands it would be possible to update the museum exhibits on occasion.
The Museum is currently engaged in a membership campaign and the proceeds will go to help the museum come to fruition. Funding for the museum is coming from private and corporate donors as well as various grants. A nominal fee will be charged for admittance and the museum will also have a gift shop that will offer merchandise from the museum other items.
For more information on the museum or to become a “Charter Member” please visit www.RoadtoRock.org, call 815-927-1540 or mail to: Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, P.O. Box 1251, Joliet, IL 60423.