Marty Stuart gala event in Jackson to spotlight Philadelphia

Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart says a fundraising event planned in downtown Jackson Monday night will be Philadelphia’s night to shine.

“An evening with Marty Stuart and the Congress of Country Music,” an event that has been chaired by former Gov. and Mrs. Haley Barbour, will be hosted at the Westin Hotel in downtown Jackson. 

The gala will spotlight the Congress of Country Music while calling attention to the economic development in the downtown Philadelphia area and showcasing it to the rest of the state.

“It’s not just a fundraiser,” said Stuart, a native of Philadelphia. “In the broader picture, it’s Philadelphia stepping up into the spotlight like the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, the MAXX in Meridian, or the Grammy Museum in Cleveland. It’s Philadelphia stepping up and weighing in now.

“And it’s not just Philadelphia. The culture of country music is also stepping up along with the collection and fundraising. This is kind of Philadelphia’s night to shine.”

Stuart will perform during the evening and there will be a raffle.

The renovation of the Ellis Theater is in Phase I of the project. Work is about 45 percent complete. It is expected to be finished in September.

Located on the southwest corner of Byrd Avenue and Main Street, when completed, the Congress of Country Music will feature a renovated Ellis Theater along with a museum to display Stuart’s 20,000-plus piece collection of country music memorabilia. 

There will also be classrooms, a community hall, event space and a rooftop performance venue. 

While working with local school districts, the Congress of Country Music will create an education curriculum and programming to teach and promote the roots of country music. 

There will be changing displays which will not only spotlight Stuart’s collection. It will also include showings of international traveled artifacts, memorabilia, photography, folk art and Native American programming.

“We have to build a world class facility to go around a world class collection,” Stuart said. “It has been a long time coming.”

The $30 million dollar project will create a 50,000 square foot campus. Stuart said once the Ellis Theater opens, he foresees two to three acts coming in each month. 

The Philadelphia-Neshoba County Arts Council will use it for its plays and programs. But getting it open will be the first priority.

“The opening the Ellis will be bigger than having a concert,” Stuart said. “It will be a series of events. There will be music. The Arts Council, which is absolutely a partner with us, should have the stage to do whatever they need to do.

“There should be a church service to kick it off. And one of our advisory board members, Rob Stone, who is the visual curator for the Library of Congress, I have invited him to curate a night of film so the Ellis will again be a film house.

“So, you get music, you get theater and you get the films. (This variety) is how the Ellis is going to survive. I have got to serve a lot of needs,” Stuart said.

The ‘Evening with Marty Stuart and the Congress of Country Music” is part of Stuart’s efforts to get the word out statewide. 

During the first week in May, part of the collection will be displayed at the state’s Two Mississippi Museums (The Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi History Museum).

“We are expecting a couple of hundred people Monday night,” said David Vowell, president of the Community  Development Partnership. “The state department of tourism is working with us, getting things lined up.

“Chief Cyrus Ben will open the program and the Mayor (James Young) will give the opening prayer.”

For information on how to purchase tickets, contact the Community Development Partnership (601) 656-1000.