Online Exhibits

Crosby, Stills, and Nash-Later Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were a supergroup formed during the rise of the 1960s counterculture movement. They fit right into the counterculture movement, as they embraced things like drug use, hippie culture, and particularly political protest. Their artistic catalogue, both as a band and as individuals, is full of songs about the injustices in the world. Some of the most popular protest songs from the Vietnam War era were written by members of the band, and certain members remained active in protest spaces up to 2021. So, how did this group come together and what were their contributions to protest music? This exhibit was created by Graduate Assistant Grace Holland.

This will provide a list of songs housed at the Center for Popular Music relating to a few of the social movements from U.S. history. This exhibit and research guide was created by Graduate Assistant Miranda Barnett.

Music of Hawai’i

Story Map – Launched February 2022

“Music of Hawai’i” is a digital exhibit showcasing some of the Center for Popular Music’s Hawaiian music collection, with a focus on Native Hawaiian musicians and music. This digial exhibit serves as a romote access to point to the phyiscal exhibit that was on desplay in the Center for Popular Music Reading Room in the Spring of 2022. Both digital and physical exhibits were created and installed by Graduate Assistant Miranda Barnett.

Soul of a Songwriter

Oral Histories by Odie Blackmon — Launched August 2020

These oral histories were conducted by hit songwriter, Odie Blackmon and donated to the Center starting in August 2020, the project is still ongoing and be sure to check back for more.

Castles Made of Sand

Story Map — Launched February 22, 2019

“Castles made of sand”: Musicians with complex racial identifications in mid-twentieth Century American Society, a Story Map by Graduate Student Sam Schaefer, examines musicians with complex racial identities in American popular music and how thus complexity was reflected in their careers. Learn about Lena Horne, Charles Mingus, Charles Lloyd, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Jarrett.

Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues

Story Map — Launched August 29, 2018 

This Story Map by Graduate Students Katie Rainge-Briggs and April Blevins explores the blues music of women who lived and performed in Tennessee including Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, Memphis Minnie, and Bessie Smith. It includes resources from the Center’s collection. Check it out here.

The History of Political Songs and Jingles in Tennessee

Online Exhibit — Launched October 11, 2012
“In a state with such a rich musical heritage, it seems natural that music has played an important role in Tennessee politics as much as other, more familiar, areas of the state’s culture. In this 2012 election year, we invite you to explore the many facets of political songs and jingles in Tennessee and American history.”

The Center for Popular Music and the Albert Gore Research Center have collaborated to create this online exhibit featuring examples of political jingles, images and videos.