307 Cherry Street · Helena, Arkansas
Restoring a legacy. Reviving a community.
We're saving The Gist Music Company — a historic Helena landmark and cornerstone of Delta music — to transform it into a vibrant hub for live performances, music education, artist residencies, and job training.
Discovering the roots of music.
Gist Music was founded in 1953 as a jukebox rental company, and has been credited for the rise of many musicians, as their jukeboxes contained previously unknown local musicians such as BB King. Over the years the store added instruments and music lessons, with famous customers including Levon Helm, Elvis Presley, Sonny Boy Williamson, and CW Gatlin. Gist Music closed in 2015 after the death of the co-founder.
- BB King
- Levon Helm
- Elvis Presley
- Sonny Boy Williamson
- CW Gatlin
Restoring The Gist.
The Music Education Initiative is currently working to restore and preserve the historic Gist building in downtown Helena. Our goal is to make Gist Music a live music venue, recording studio, and speakeasy. The music store will be preserved and continue to sell instruments and records, as well as host music lessons.
A working music and record store.
The Gist is a real, open-for-business instrument and record store — guitars, amps, and accessories on one side, new and used vinyl on the other, with music lessons taught right on the floor. Every purchase helps fund the building's restoration.
