Maine Memory Network

Music in Maine - Bluegrass Music

"… the Blue Mountain Boys Bill Smith playing a Cox banjo, 1992 Regarded as one of the best banjo players of his time, Bill Smith performed in this…"

Music in Maine - Country Music

"… Freeman on fiddle, and David (Hank) Arey with the banjo. Dick Curless, the Baron of Country Music Dick Curless publicity photograph, ca."

Student Exhibit: Ice Harvesting

Ice Harvesting was a big industry on the Kennebec River. Several million tons of ice could be harvested in a few weeks. In 1886 the Kennebec River topped the million ton on ice production.

Music in Maine - Radio Cowboys and Country Music

"… fiddle and dance music, sacred music, and banjo and blues from formerly enslaved Africans. People heard country and bluegrass on records and radio…"

Music in Maine - Community Music

"… performing as the "Colored Kemp Family" with banjos, tambourines, and broom dancing. While the language of this poster is concerning to 21st…"

Of Note: Maine Sheet Music

Of Note: Maine Sheet Music features captivating covers of original sheet music along with stories about Maine connections to the songs. Before people had easy access to popular music from records, radios, and the internet, they played songs of the day on instruments at home, using sheet music purchased at music stores. Iconic Maine subjects like lobsters, pine trees, and winter were perfect for lyrics sung by luminaries like Rudy Vallée of Westbrook, and intricate artwork of Maine’s landscape graced the sheet music covers.