While South Louisiana is known for jazz, Cajun, and zydeco music, North Louisiana’s influence on blues, rockabilly, and country music is well established by homegrown heroes like Jerry Lee Lewis, Huddie Ledbetter, and James Burton, and current stars like Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The northern part of the state has its own music trail, stretching from Carthage, Texas, west to Ferriday, Louisiana, with musical pit stops along the way.
It would be a shame to suggest a tour starting in Northwest Louisiana that didn’t include the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum located just about one-half hour from the Louisiana border. The museum includes memorabilia from numerous Hall of Fame inductees from Gene Autry to Dale Evans to Mac Davis.
Heading into Louisiana, the area surrounding Shreveport has a rich music history. Iconic folk and blues singer Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter was born and raised in Mooringsport, about 15 minutes north. You can visit his grave at the Shiloh Baptist Church, and there is a statue in his honor in downtown Shreveport that points to an area of town named for him.
There are numerous other historic sites and venues in Shreveport including its Municipal Auditorium, where you can still visit Elvis’s dressing room. Home to the Louisiana Hay Ride from 1948 to 1960, it’s been called “The Cradle of the Stars” for its role in helping launch the careers of greats like Hank Williams, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. Shreveport’s Hirsch Memorial Coliseum is where the phrase “Elvis has left the building” was first uttered.
Across the street from the Municipal Auditorium is the headquarters of the James Burton Foundation and Sound Studio, where the former lead guitarist and bandleader for Elvis Presley mentors young musicians. The foundation also donates guitars and instruction to children and veterans all over the country. James and his wife, Louise, will be happy to show you around if they are in town.
Thanks to Shreveport’s five casinos there’s never a shortage of live music and big name artists passing through. Other venues for live music include Lee’s Liquid Assets and Noble Savage, which also host weekly jam sessions.
The final resting place of rockabilly singer Johnny Horton, famous for historic ballads like “The Battle of New Orleans” is just outside Shreveport at Hillcrest Cemetery. He had an eerie premonition of his death at the hands of a drunk driver, and his 28-year-old widow placed a headstone that reads: “Here lies a perfect man, my husband.”
Continuing West to the center of the state is Ruston, hometown of Kix Brooks and Trace Adkins. Rabb’s Steakhouse in Ruston has live music every weekend and hosts some of the biggest names in country music on its large outdoor stages. Further west, closer to Monroe, Enoch’s Irish Pub & Café hosts frequent live concerts as well as bluegrass jams.
Moving Southwest to Jonesboro you can visit the small Jackson Parish Museum, including memorabilia from former singer/governor Jimmie Davis famous for his rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.” Nearby is the Jimmie Davis Homeplace, where you can peek into the tiny house where he and his 10 siblings grew up, and also see his tabernacle and burial site.
Ferriday, Louisiana, claims to have produced more famous people per square mile than any other US small town. This claim to fame includes cousins Mickey Gilley, Jimmy Swaggart, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The town’s Delta Music Museum salutes musicians that have roots in the Mississippi Delta. Through a guided tour you’ll hear their intimate stories. Next door, the historic Arcade Theater hosts a Country Music Showcase on the second Saturday of each month.
At the Jerry Lee Lewis Family Museum, former home of the Ferriday native, you can take a guided tour led by none other than Jerry’s sister, Frankie. It will probably be one of the most personal, interesting, and entertaining music tours you’ll ever take, as she shares colorful anecdotes of life with Jerry. The Frogmore Plantation, just outside Ferriday, offers music tours that include professional vocalists singing traditional slave songs.
Many of these places have irregular hours, so call to schedule tours.
Destination Visiting Information
Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum
www.carthagetexas.us/halloffame/
300 W. Panola St., Carthage, TX 75633
(903)694-9561
Open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults $5 Children $3
Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter Gravesite
Shiloh Baptist Church
10395 Blanchard-Latex Rd., Mooringsport, LA 71060
Lead Belly Statue
416 Texas Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
www.shreveportmusicipalauditorium.com
(318)518-5027
705 Elvis Presley Ave., Shreveport, LA, 71101
Tours are available on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Private tours for parties of eight or more can be arranged at least two weeks in advance.
Admission: $5
James Burton Foundation and Sound Studio
www.james-burton.net/
714 Elvis Presley Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 424-5000
There are no regular tours, but you may be able to call and request a personal tour depending on what is going on at the studio.
Lee’s Liquid Assets
639 E Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71105
(318)861-2151
Noble Savage Tavern
417 Texas St, Shreveport, LA 71150
(318) 221-1781
Johnny Horton Gravesite
Hill Crest Memorial Park
601 Highway 80 East, Haughton, LA 71037
Rabb’s Steakhouse
www.rabbssteakhouse.com
2647 South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 255-1008
Enoch’s Irish Pub & Café
enochsirishpub.com
507 Louisville Avenue
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: 318-388-3662
Jackson Parish Museum,
jacksonparishmuseum.com
515 South Cooper Avenue, Jonesboro, LA 71251
(318) 259-3119
Open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jimmie Davis Home Place
2987-3249 Beech Springs Rd., Quitman, LA 71268
Delta Music Museum
218 Louisiana Ave., Ferriday, LA 71334
(318)757-9999
Open Wednesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Jerry Lee Lewis Family Museum
www.home.no/thelewismuseum/
712 Louisiana Ave., Ferriday, LA 71334
(318) 757-2460
Open by appointment. Please call before your arrival.
The museum is free, but Frankie will accept your generous donations.
Frogmore Plantation
11054 Hwy 84
Frogmore, LA 71334
(318)757-2453 or (318)757-3333
Hours vary seasonally. Tour prices start at $5.
When to visit Locations in North Louisiana
Ark-La-Tex Jazz and Gumbo Music Festival, Shreveport, May
Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run, Natchitoches, Labor Day Weekend
Deltafest, Monroe, April
www.ladeltafest.com/
Highland Jazz and Blues Festival, Shreveport, LA, November
www.highlandjazzandblues.orgwww.highlandjazzandblues.org
Blue Goose Music Festival, Shreveport, Mid-May
