NMAAM’s Sounds in Cinema Creates Cultural Magic
August 7, 2025
How a documentary screening became a masterclass in why preservation and creation go hand in hand
WHEN INDUSTRY LEGENDS COME HOME:
On August 6th, the National Museum of African American Music proved once again why it stands alone in the cultural landscape. What began as a screening of the Patchwerk Recording Studios documentary transformed into something extraordinary—a living demonstration of how NMAAM bridges the gap between preserving musical history and participating in its ongoing creation.
Dee Brown, the Grammy-nominated engineer behind albums from Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, YG and Rick Ross, and Terry Davis (the UnaVerSoul King), A&R executive and producer from Chattanooga, didn’t just visit NMAAM—they experienced a cultural homecoming.
“This is where we belong. This museum tells the complete story—not just what happened decades ago, but what’s still happening today.” — Dee Brown
TWO EXPERIENCES, ONE POWERFUL TRUTH:
The genius of this Sounds in Cinema event—part of our First Free Wednesdays programming driven forward by presenting sponsor Nissan—lay in NMAAM’s innovative dual-activation approach:
In the Roots Theater: A captive audience absorbed the Patchwerk documentary, learning about the legendary Atlanta studio’s 500+ hit records and 25+ years of musical excellence. Our volunteer Teresa Fennell managed the welcoming box office experience, ensuring every guest felt the warmth of Music City hospitality.
In the Galleries: Simultaneously, Dee and Terry became live historians, walking through NMAAM’s exhibits while the advancement team documented every moment through Instagram Live. The entire museum team, from setup to execution, created seamless transitions that allowed authentic storytelling to flow naturally.
But here’s what made it truly special: this wasn’t just a filmed tour—it became an interactive cultural exchange where the NMAAM team experienced these industry stories firsthand, their genuine reactions captured for digital audiences from Nashville to Atlanta to Los Angeles.
The Moment Everything Clicked:
Midway through their gallery walk, Terry Davis turned to Romello and asked about his background. Before Romello could answer, the response came naturally from advancement director, Dexter D. Evans:
“He works here. He’s a purveyor of preservation. He cares about music history—what it has been, what it is, and what it will become.”
Terry and Dee’s faces lit up with recognition. They weren’t just touring a museum—they were meeting kindred spirits who understood that preserving culture is an active, ongoing responsibility.
“This storyline is incomplete because it’s ever growing. It’s still being written each and every day.” — Terry Davis
WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT:
Most museums display finished history. NMAAM curates living culture.
As Brown and Davis connected their personal experiences to artifacts on the walls—pointing out artists they’ve recorded, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from legendary sessions—they demonstrated what sets NMAAM apart: we don’t just preserve the past, we actively participate in its continued creation.
Curtis Daniel III, co-founder and owner of Patchwerk Recording Studios, joined the Instagram Live remotely to give his perspective on how contemporary studios like Patchwerk carry forward the legacy that NMAAM preserves.
“I think it’s important to preserve music industry history because there aren’t as many physical pieces of music and artifacts as there used to be,” said Curtis Daniel III, co-founder and owner of Patchwerk. “When we got started back in 1995, our main objective was to be listed in the credits of OutKast’s second album—we knew millions of people would read those and it would give us credibility. That no longer exists as streaming platforms don’t give recording studios credits, so preserving and displaying the history in places like NMAAM is both vital and important.”
The Instagram Live audience witnessed authentic discovery happening in real-time as museum staff connected dots between exhibits and lived experiences. Three distinct audiences—theater viewers, gallery participants, and digital followers—experienced the same story through different lenses, creating a rich, multi-dimensional, open access cultural moment that could only happen at NMAAM.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT:
For the Artists: Brown and Davis left with deeper understanding of their place in music history and stronger connections to Nashville’s cultural ecosystem.
For the Staff & Volunteers: Team members experienced validation of their work as “purveyors of preservation” from industry legends who’ve literally shaped contemporary music. From our volunteer Teresa Fennell creating welcoming first impressions to our events team ensuring flawless execution, every team member contributed to an experience that industry professionals will remember.
For Nashville & Beyond: The city’s position as Music City was reinforced not just historically, but as the ongoing hub where past and present musical excellence converge. Digital audiences from coast to coast witnessed authentic Music City hospitality paired with unparalleled cultural authority.
For the Institution: NMAAM added valuable archival content while demonstrating its unique role as a convening space where past and present converge.
DRIVING FORWARD: THE NISSAN PARTNERSHIP IMPACT
This programming exemplifies why Nissan’s investment in NMAAM drives meaningful cultural progress. Through First Free Wednesdays and the Sounds in Cinema series, Nissan isn’t just sponsoring events—they’re providing access to authentic cultural experiences that connect communities from Nashville’s Broadway to Atlanta’s music studios to living rooms nationwide.
The partnership creates opportunities where:
- Living legends connect with preserved history
- Industry professionals explore new pathways to cultural understanding
- Digital audiences engage with authentic music stories
- Nashville maintains its position as the epicenter for serious music culture
- Free access removes barriers, allowing everyone to join this cultural journey
“Our partnership with Nissan allows us to move beyond just archiving the past to creating programming where history comes alive through the voices of today’s music makers.” — Dexter Evans, Sr. Advisor, Strategic Advancement
WHY THIS MATTERS: THE NMAAM DIFFERENCE
In a world of static exhibits and roped-off artifacts, NMAAM creates living cultural experiences. We understand that African American music isn’t a closed historical chapter—it’s a dynamic force that continues to shape global culture from Nashville recording studios to streaming platforms worldwide.
The Patchwerk documentary screening succeeded because it embodied NMAAM’s core mission: we don’t just preserve African American music history—we actively participate in its continued creation while making it accessible to everyone.
Whether you’re visiting from Tennessee, traveling from across the country, or joining digitally from anywhere in the world, NMAAM offers something no other institution can: the complete story of the music that moves the world, told by the people who created it and the passionate team that preserves it.
THE ROAD AHEAD: BUILDING ON SUCCESS
Every First Wednesday at 3:00 PM, the Sounds in Cinema series—part of our First Free Wednesdays programming sponsored by Nissan—creates new opportunities for these authentic cultural connections. Each screening becomes a potential bridge between the artifacts on our walls and the artists still making history today.
This is what sets NMAAM apart in both Nashville and the national cultural landscape: we understand that preservation and creation are not separate missions—they’re the same journey, and we’re all traveling it together.
As Dee Brown and Terry Davis reminded us, this story is incomplete because it’s ever growing. And that’s exactly why programs like Sounds in Cinema matter—because at NMAAM, the soundtrack of America continues to be written, one First Wednesday at a time.
Join us for the journey. Every First Wednesday, 3:00 PM. Where music starts here, and the story never ends.
The Sounds in Cinema series continues every First Wednesday at 3:00 PM in the Roots Theater, part of First Free Wednesdays made possible by our presenting sponsor Nissan. For upcoming screenings and programming, visit nmaam.org/calendar.
