The Crossroads of Music Archive

The region of West Texas is a catalyst for creativity—especially in music. Given the historically scant population of the region, West Texas has produced music and musicians far exceeding what one might expect. The area has produced notable musicians such as Terry Allen, Jimmy Dean, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Natalie Maines, and Roy Orbison—to name a few.

Because of the rich musical heritage, the Southwest Collection/ Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University established the Crossroads of Texas Music Archive. The archive is taking the initiative to collect, process, and preserve the West Texas music legacy.

An advisory board has been established to assist with the Crossroads of Texas Music Archive.

Initial plans call for collecting everything pertaining to West Texas music including, but not limited to: recorded music, oral histories, photographs, posters, and promotional materials.  The archive is collecting all styles of West Texas music, such as Country, Rock, Tejano, and Gospel.

Click here to access collection descriptions and finding aids.