Hall exhibit opens at IBMM

Fancy boots belonging to Miss Dixie Hall at the International Bluegrass Music Museum's Tom T. & Dixie Hall exhibit - photo by Alan WarrenThe International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY has opened their special Tom T. and Dixie Hall exhibit, which will remain open at the museum through June of 2017.

It includes artifacts from the private collection of Tom T. and his late wife, Dixie Hall, as well as items donated by others for the sake of this exhibition. Visitors can learn a good bit about the life of this reclusive couple, long beloved by both the country and bluegrass communities for their kindness and generosity to musicians and songwriters.

A photographer from the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer stopped in for the official opening a few weeks back, and captured a number of images from the exhibit. The article they ran is only available to subscribers, and the museum has shared several of the photos for our readers to enjoy.

IBMM Executive Director Chris Joslin with Tom T. Halls black Ovation guitarl at the International Bluegrass Music Museum's Tom T. & Dixie Hall exhibit - photo by Alan WarrenThey include Miss Dixie’s fancy boots pictured above, and this image of Museum Executive Director Chris Joslin with Tom T.’s iconic black guitar, made for him by the Ovation Guitar Company. It was the first black guitar they had built, and they did so custom for Tom. He played that guitar for many years on stages all over the world, and has graciously loaned it to the Museum for the year.

They also have the hilarious, hand-painted banner that Miss Dixie displayed at World of Bluegrass and other festivals for a few years which featured her artistic likenesses of their many Blue Circle Records artists. Many a bluegrass singer was glad to see that one put away, now back on exhibit in Owensboro.

All of these, and much more, from the life of these two luminaries in the bluegrass world are available for browsing at the International Bluegrass Music Museum, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.