NEWPORT — Although Henry Boyce doesn’t play a musical instrument, he does spin a lot of vinyl. And over the years, he said, he has developed a love of music that runs deep - so deep that he has put together a collection of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia and
opened the Rock ’n’ Roll Highway 67 Museum.
The museum is in a conference room on the second floor of the
Newport Business Resource Center at 201 Hazel St.
“There’s a fullness to the sound that you don’t get digitally,” he said
about listening to his old 45s. “All I listen to is vinyl now, unless I’m
traveling.” Boyce is also the driving force behind Depot Days, an annual festival
commemorating the musical history of Jackson County.
Along with a committee comprised of members from Jackson, Ran
dolph, Lawrence and Clay counties, Boyce was instrumental in getting a
strip of U.S. 67 from Bald Knob to the Missouri border renamed “TheRock ’n’ Roll Highway 67.” This particular strip of the highway is historically significant because of the performers who played in the clubs lining the highway.
Pointing to the photographs on the “performers” wall in the museum, Boyce describes, in detail, the goings on in each one. Some of the photos of performers - including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Louis Armstrong, Conway Twitty and Sonny Burgess - are rare, but they are all photos of performances that took place in Jackson County.
“This room represents our efforts to preserve Jackson County’s history,” Boyce said.
The museum is outgrowing the small conference room, and Boyce is hopeful the collection will keep growing.
“I started collecting stuff two or three years ago after the highway got renamed,” Boyce said. “I’m asking everyone to dig in their closets and pull out those old shoe boxes.”
In hopes that people will come forward with photographs and other memorabilia connected to Jackson County, Boyce wants to continue adding items to themuseum, including musical instruments and records.
Stepping around a lifesized cardboard cutout of Elvis, Boyce went on around the room. He pointed to some photos of Burgess with Robert Plant and Bruce Springsteen. He explained how Plant and Springsteen said music stemming from Jackson County was important to them and how they were honored to meet Burgess, who was one of their big influences.
Another wall holds photos of the clubs that made the county famous.
“The Silver Moon Club was a regional attraction,” Boyce saidas he pointed to a photo of Louis Armstrong at the club.
Boyce plans a grand-opening celebration of the museum next spring, which will coincide with the anniversary of Elvis’ first performance in Jackson County on March 2, 1955.
The museum is open to the public, and there is no charge to visit. Anyone who would like to donate photos or other memorabilia pertaining to Jackson County’s musical history can contact Boyce at (870) 664-0902 or henryhboyce@yahoo.com.
Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com.
Three Rivers, Pages 125 on 10/30/2011