Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State University has received a $25,000 gift to establish the A-State Norris “Ray” Dacus Rockabilly Exhibit Endowment Fund, ensuring permanent support for the A-State Museum’s popular exhibit, “Rockabilly! The Northeast Arkansas Story.”

The gift was made from the estate of Norris “Ray” Dacus of Mountain Home and facilitated by his niece, Dana Kennedy of Jonesboro, to honor his life and love of music in perpetuity.

Dacus was a lifelong music enthusiast who played bass guitar with Sonny Burgess and other well-known musicians who recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, the birthplace of the rockabilly sound. While he worked full-time at General Electric in Jonesboro, playing music remained his true passion throughout his life. Dacus lived to be 90 years old.

“Rockabilly! The Northeast Arkansas Story,” explores Northeast Arkansas’ significant role in shaping and spreading rockabilly music, an early form of rock ’n’ roll most widely associated with Elvis Presley’s 1954 debut recording, “That’s All Right.” The exhibit highlights how regional musicians blended blues, country, gospel and other musical traditions to create a distinctive sound that helped define an era.

“This exhibit means a great deal to our family,” Kennedy said. “My uncle loved this music, and being able to honor his memory while sharing that history with my grandchildren and future visitors feels especially meaningful.”  

Through interactive listening stations, visitors can hear recordings from regional rockabilly musicians and learn what set the genre apart in the pre-rock ’n’ roll era. Hands-on features allow guests to isolate and mix musical elements that define rockabilly, while additional displays explore its roots and evolution through biographies, instruments and historically significant sound equipment used by area artists.

The exhibit also showcases music from influential performers such as the late Sonny Burgess and Larry Donn, alongside stories of lesser-known musicians who contributed to the movement from rural communities across Northeast Arkansas.

“Rockabilly music has deep roots in Northeast Arkansas, and this exhibit helps tell a story that connects our region to the early history of rock ’n’ roll,” said Elisabeth Engel, director of the Arkansas State University Museum. “This endowment ensures that visitors will continue to explore and experience the sounds, stories and cultural impact of rockabilly for generations to come.”

The newly established endowment will provide long-term financial support for the exhibit, helping preserve the musical heritage of the region and ensuring future generations can experience the story of Northeast Arkansas rockabilly. 

For more information about this and other opportunities to give at A-State, contact the Office of Development at 870-972-3940 or development@AState.edu.