East Coast’s 1st ‘Grammy Museum’ Opens In New Jersey (VIDEOS)

NEWARK, NJ — The city of Newark added another exciting chapter to its long, stories history of supporting the arts with the grand opening of the first east coast location of the Grammy Museum Experience on Thursday.

The new, 8,200-square-foot attraction opens to the public on Friday, Oct. 20. Visitors can expect to find exhibits such as:

• A “sing along” with Ray Charles and the Raelettes
• Drum and rap “interactives” with Max Weinberg and Wyclef Jean
• Roland LIVE, an area that provides visitors with a real-life simulation experience of performing onstage
• A New Jersey Legends exhibit that highlights Garden State artists

Thursday’s opening ceremony festivities included performances from Cissy Houston, New Hope Baptist Church Choir, Naughty by Nature, DMC and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer.

According to a news release:

“Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy and AEG, the Grammy Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who've made lasting marks on our cultural identity.”

• See related article: Newark’s Diverse Arts Scene Generates Big Bucks For City, Study Says

Take a peek inside the museum and revisit the Thursday opening ceremony below.

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Photo: Prudential Center / Grammy Museum