Music for the Mother Road

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is now hosting an exhibit entitled “Music for the Mother Road: ‘Route 66’ And Other Road Songs.” The exhibit highlights the story behind Bobby Troup’s iconic “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” the history of radio and audio technologies used in automobiles, and feature songs about traveling the open road by various artists. It will be on exhibition through the end of the year.

For many decades, music has played a significant role in the experience of driving Route 66 and cruising America’s roads. Although automobiles were not initially produced with audio equipment over a century ago, a contemporary vehicle absent of music would be unthinkable. Numerous popular songs over the years have used the road as the subject matter ranging from those specifically about the Main Street of America to other tunes about being on the road in general. From the advent of the car radio to more personal forms of playing music while traveling such as eight-track tapes and today’s mp3s, listening to music adds something intangible to the experience of going for a drive.

This special exhibit can be viewed at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. For more information please contact Pat Smith, Director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, at 580-323-7866 or email rt66mus@okhistory.org.