Marshall, Texas holds a significant place in the history of music. Here, about 150 years ago, the roots of Rock and Roll began. At the Texas and Pacific Railway Museum within the Marshall train depot, one can delve deep into this musical heritage. The Boogie Woogie Museum stands as a testament to this legacy.

Discovering the Musical Roots

Boogie Woogie Corporation Founder Alan Loudermilk leads us through a tunnel beneath the railroad tracks, which connects to the Marshall Train Depot. This depot is home to the Texas and Pacific Railway Museum. Upstairs, another museum commemorates its one-year anniversary and is dedicated to Alan's beloved Boogie Woogie music."We firmly believe this is the first permanent display dedicated to Boogie Woogie music history, and it rightfully belongs in the birthplace," Loudermilk passionately states. The depot's significance lies in the close tie between the music and the railroad. The T and P Railroad set up their shops here, and it was these workers who gave birth to Boogie Woogie music as they built the rails. They even established a barrel room, serving as a makeshift nightclub, where they played music based on the rhythm of the railroad. This music was a means for the workers to unwind, kick their feet up, and dance, releasing their stress.Artifacts from the 1870s era, though scarce, are on display at the museum. Notable figures like Huddie Ledbetter, who migrated the Boogie Woogie style from the piano to the guitar, and Floyd Dixon, a Marshall-born Boogie Woogie piano virtuoso, are featured. Roy and Grady Gaines, born in Waskom and later performing with the likes of James Brown and Stevie Wonder, also have a place here."We simply aim to tell the story – where it started, what it influenced, and bring it to life with the tales of those from this area," Loudermilk explains. Without this beginning, perhaps there wouldn't have been the likes of Elvis and subsequent musical movements.If you wish to experience the Boogie Woogie Museum and the Texas and Pacific Railway Museum in person, they are open from Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.KLTV's Jamey Boyum had the opportunity to interview Boogie Woogie Corporation Founder Alan Loudermilk about this remarkable museum in the Marshall train depot.Copyright 2024 KLTV. All rights reserved.