The Southern Music Hall is the creation of its two co-founders Hugh Simpson and Ron Rich, who began with this concept in 1990.

When they first came up with the concept for the Hall, they visualized the facility as being eight floors of glass exhibits with artifacts from the nine forms of music: Jazz, Blues, Rock, Gospel, Country, R&B, Bluegrass, Carolina Beach Music and Folk.

Today museums like the one envisioned above are becoming dinosaurs. Kids and their young parents that have grown up with MTV are not interested in static glass exhibits. They want to be able to interact with the exhibits which through the new sophisticated virtual reality headsets they can do without leaving their home!

So we plan to develop this new approach to Halls of Fame especially during the COVID pandemic.

You will see it gradually unfold!

In the mean time we plan to interact with you through the social media platforms.

Visit each of the subheadings to learn more about each of the nine forms of music that originated in the USA South.

Hugh Simpson

Ron Rich

Co-founders/Executive Directors