Jefferson Street Sound Museum’s Lorenzo Washington Has Died

Devoted caretaker of Nashville’s rich Black music legacy was 83

While country music has been Nashville’s dominant cultural export for almost a century, a truly incredible variety of music has thrived here. One person who put extraordinary effort into telling parts of our story that are overlooked too readily and too often is Lorenzo Washington, who opened the Jefferson Street Sound Museum in 2011. Through a wide variety of memorabilia and events, the space has preserved and shared the vibrant history of the entertainment district that flourished around Jefferson Street in the mid-20th century. The neighborhood's clubs drew both contemporary luminaries and future legends across the diverse spectrum of Black music.

The sad news came Wednesday that Washington has died at age 83, leaving behind family, friends and an array of people who have a fuller understanding of Nashville thanks to his dedication.

The history is fascinating and rich. Among the people represented at Jefferson Street Sound are those who blazed trails, like transgender soul pioneer Jackie Shane and multihyphenate musician and educator W.O. Smith. There are also those who played massive, widely known roles in shaping popular music, like Jimi Hendrix and Little Richard.

The Nashville Scene Podcast, Episode 18: The Jefferson Street Sound Museum

Talking to Lorenzo Washington and Karen Coffee about the cultural legacy of Jefferson Street in North Nashville

The stories are a reminder of the impact that racism and segregation had on the city, echoes of which we still feel today — not least from how the city’s choice to build I-40 through the middle of North Nashville in the 1960s devastated the cultural and economic ecosystem there. And the story of the museum itself, launched by a Nashville native and part of a broader ongoing effort to celebrate and cultivate Black art and culture in our town, is equally important and inspiring.

In 2023, Mayor Freddie O’Connell proclaimed April 3 Lorenzo Washington Day, and that date has since been marked with a fundraising gala to help the museum continue telling its stories. In 2024, the National Museum of African American Music hosted a monthlong exhibit honoring Washington titled Living Legends: Lorenzo Washington. Earlier this year, Jefferson Street Sound and the Museum of Christian and Gospel Music were both added to the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

Washington is survived by his wife and business partner Karen Coffee and children Dwayne, Patricia, Ryan and Tracey. Per a post from The Nashville Black Music Association, a funeral service for Washington will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, with more details to be announced.