‘Business of Music’ experience awaits at MSU’s Templeton Music Museum

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—He may not have played it himself, but Starkville businessman Charles H. Templeton Sr. knew how to “think” music.

“Dad was not a performer, but he knew the business side of music; he had people to promote and artists he wanted to record,” said son Charles H. “Chip” Templeton Jr. “He had a record company called Tempwood V Records, and when I was just a boy in the early 60s, he would take me on his music adventures to Nashville for recordings.”

Templeton, a self-taught jazz pianist who has released four CDs himself, said his late father developed a love for music at an early age. Templeton Sr. played oboe in the Starkville High School band before attending Mississippi State University (then Mississippi State College), where he played the piccolo and oboe as a member of the Famous Maroon Band. Graduating from MSU in 1949, he went on to become the owner of Templeton Oldsmobile in Starkville.

After being persuaded by his wife Mary Ann to purchase an outside horn record player she had found, Templeton Sr. developed what would become a four-decade-long passion for collecting musical instruments, recordings and sheet music.

“Everything Dad did, he did in a big way,” Templeton said, adding with a smile, “If eBay existed, he would have been one of its best customers. He bought and sold instruments until he built a massive, one-of-a-kind collection that he called ‘The Business of Music.’”

Since being donated to Mississippi State by Templeton Sr. nearly 30 years ago, the collection housed in the fourth-floor music museum at Mitchell Memorial Library has impressed students, faculty, staff and visitors as they take a step back in time to explore a fascinating era in American culture.

Featuring more than 22,000 pieces of sheet music representing all stages in the development of music reproduction, 200 self-playing musical instruments, 15,000 recordings and unique musical memorabilia from the 1880s-1930s, the collection highlights the industry when ragtime dominated popular American music.

Popularized in the late 1800s by African American composer, pianist and now widely-considered “King of Ragtime” Scott Joplin, ragtime music is characterized by a lively melody with strong syncopation, or rhythm.

“Music means something to everybody, and we go forward by learning from our past,” Templeton said. “Ragtime is like the trunk of the tree of all other kinds of music. Even without hearing a note, you can enjoy ragtime because the covers of the sheet music in this collection tell the story of our country’s history.”

 Templeton emphasized that “The Business of Music” aspect of his father’s extensive collection makes it a must-see for all.

“Anyone can have a music collection, but a business of music collection is totally different,” he said. “When you study it from that standpoint, I think you have a lot more to learn. I’m learning new things about the collection all of the time.”

Frances Coleman, MSU dean of libraries, said the Templeton Music Museum—as the well as MSU Libraries’ annual Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival—plays an important role in preserving and promoting the “important history of music.”

“Once you go into the museum, you see a very beautiful collection with instruments that all play and showcase a special time in the history of our country,” she said. “We’re fortunate to have this collection here at Mississippi State, and we’re most appreciative of the contributions and continuing support of the Templeton family.”

Coleman also attributed the ongoing success of the museum and festival to the efforts of MSU Libraries’ Systems Administrator Stephen Cunetto and the staff at the library’s Instructional Media Center.

“It’s especially important that we fulfill our responsibility of providing our students with experiences outside of their studies,” Coleman said. “The Templeton festival is a way for us to share Charles Templeton Sr.’s collection with others, and I feel like that’s what he would want us to do.”

Taking place March 31-April 2, The Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival presented by MSU Libraries at the university’s Mitchell Memorial Library will feature a “Gatsby Gala” 1920s-inspired fashion show, Templeton Music Museum tours, seminars and silent movies, as well as performances by some of the world’s most talented pianists in a setting that has come to be known for its warmth, hospitality and uniqueness.

Additionally, patrons will have the opportunity to purchase notecards, candy and other items inspired by ragtime music and the 1920s era.

The Templeton Festival is made possible with support from MaxxSouth Broadband, the Starkville Convention and Visitors Council and Starkville Area Arts Council, as well the Mississippi Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

For more event information, visit http://library.msstate.edu/festival or email ragtimefestival@library.msstate.edu. Information about MSU Libraries also may be found on facebook.com/msulibrary and twitter.com/msu_libraries.

Viewing hours for the Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Patrons are welcome to drop by the museum or telephone 662-325-6634 to schedule a tour.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.