FAME

Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Those words continue to ring true today through the efforts of countless volunteers who have worked to help make the Foundation for Arts Music & Entertainment (FAME) a reality. What started put as a vision is now moving forward as a passionate movement to rebuild an inner city neighborhood around an active music and entertainment industry. The story is a tribute to the human spirit.

When I moved back to Shreveport from Nashville in 1981 I was heartbroken to see how the Municipal Auditorium was fading into ruins. This was the stage where the "Louisiana Hayride" originated and where some of the greatest musical artists in the world including Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Elvis Presley, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, and Jim Reeves had started their careers. My career had also started in Shreveport on the Hayride stage.

But lack of funding and disinterest in the area had led to serious talks of tearing down this magnificent music hall that had once been the cultural center of Shreveport. Encouraged by Tillman Franks, my husband Alton and I agreed to take on the challenge of attempting to save the building and the music history of the area. We invited the local state legislative delegation to attend a luncheon where the dire need for restoration of the building was discussed. They responded with great enthusiasm and several million dollars was allocated to begin the restoration of the building. With the building saved we now turned our attention to the surrounding district. Historic buildings along Texas Avenue were boarded up and deserted. The residential area that was once a mix of mansions, cottages, and modest dwellings had been torn down. Only the great churches remained. The model of American neighborhood life where residents knew and trusted each other had disappeared. We knew to insure the long-tern success of the area we had to rebuild the neighborhood. And we knew we needed help.

Thus began the formation of FAME. Two longtime friends, Washington political attorney, Theodore (TED) Jones and legendary music industry attorney, Joel A. Katz, advised forming a non-profit citizens group. With only faith and the knowledge of the great history of the district we enlisted a local group of enthusiastic people in the quest. FAME created and produced the first fundraiser honoring former Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis's 98th Birthday. Davis' favorite singer was Merle Haggard and the show featured the two great artists on stage together for the first time. This project provided the seed funding to begin promotion, publicity and preliminary planning. Subsequently two other fundraisers featuring Shreveport native Kenny Wayne Shepard were held helping raise both funds and awareness.

In 1999 the Shreveport City Council unanimously agreed to support FAME in the creation of a redevelopment plan for the area. The FAME focus of restoring our music and cultural history under the "Save American's Treasures." preservation program was well received. In 2001, at the request of Ted Jones, Sen. Ted Stevens (AK) and Rep. Jim McCrery (LA) helped FAME receive its first planning grant, a federal grant of $250,000 through the Institute of Museum & Library Services. The local Louisiana delegation represented by Roy "Hoppy" Hopkins provided a state match through Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the Louisiana Office of Tourism. The Shreveport- Bossier Community Foundation also presented $25,000 matching grants for planning. After years of hard work, our vision was being turned into a formal plan.

This book marks the first milestone in our planning process. Focal points of our planning include historic research, an innovative dissemination strategy, formation of the Southern Music Museum and Digital Media Center, and historic cultural neighborhood restoration. Our purpose is focused on serving regional, state and national visitors with an authentic cultural, education and music history experience in an original environment.

In May 2002 FAME held a conference to concentrate a gathering of participants who possess special, first hand knowledge for historic research, to present the master plan to a focused audience for support, and to expose the on-site reality of the need for restoration. The "Southern American Music Conference" was produced in collaboration with L.S.U. in Shreveport and was structured to become and annual event for the purpose of continuing research and study of the cultural importance of Southern music. The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum partnered with FAME and participated in research, facilitation and professional guidance. In September 2000, Deputy Secretary of H.U.D., Alphonso Jackson personally toured the project and has given support to proceed in identifying components of the plan for funding. Recently renowned tourism consultant, Ed Stone from Nashville, has proclaimed the FAME plan, " Shreveport's Historic Music Village', "THE HOME RUN" development project for tourism in his Strategic & Marketing Plan for the Shreveport-Bossier Tourist Bureau.

The enclosed concept plan begins to show you some of the vision of FAME. It cannot show you the passion we have to achieve it. Without the help of so many committed people we would never have made it this far. It is because of them we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. FAME's vision is becoming a reality. Piece by piece we will rebuild the once great neighborhoods around the Municipal Auditorium. By continuing to work together we will, in some small part, change the world.

Maggie Warwick
Chairman
FAME