From big band to hip-hop: 'Musica Sin Fronteras' exhibit celebrates El Paso music scene

The latest exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History is a triumph of perseverance and a love song to the Borderland Sound, which stretches across generations, genres and geographic boundaries.

"Musica Sin Fronteras: Twentieth Century to Now," which opened at the History Museum Saturday, April 27, is a celebration of the diverse wealth of music that has sprang up out of El Paso since its inception in the late-1800s. But more than just the music and the musicians, the exhibit casts a spotlight on the venues and radio stations that played host to the music and the way technology has changed how we engage with it.

"As a history museum, we want to make sure that the museum's exhibitions reflect the community," said Museum of History Director Erica Marin. "One of those unifying factors for any community anywhere is music. So, after some deliberation and a few years on the slate, we decided we would open up an exhibition about El Paso's music history, spanning about a century and covering multiple genres."

The dive into El Paso's music scene, from the classical and big band sounds of the early-20th Century to the hip-hop and punk rock of the late-90s and early-2000s, has already resonated with locals, as more than 600 turned out for the opening night of the exhibit.

"It was quite a turnout," Marin said.

The exhibit will be on display at the Museum of History until April 2025.

How did the exhibit come together?

Unlike other exhibitions hosted by the Museum of History, the El Paso music exhibition came together thanks to help from the musicians and personalities featured in the exhibit.

"A point of pride for us is the fact that this is a community-based exhibition, which means that most of the objects you see here, I would say about 99% of what you see, is a loan from the community," Marin said. "It does not belong to the museum; it belongs to the people ... "

Musicians stepped up in a big way for the museum. Among the items on display are a drum kit from 60s rock'n'roll band the Bob Fuller Four, electric guitars from acts like At the Drive-In and Sparta, hand-written sheet music from the turn of the century and cajóns from local Latin-reggae group Radio La Chusma.

Hip-hop artist Krystall Poppin also contributed to the exhibit, adding a hand-sewn blouse with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe, which she wore in her "Livin'" video, and a blown-up cover of City Magazine when she was named "The Queen of El Paso Hip-Hop."

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"These items represent significant milestones in my artistic journey and symbolize the accomplishments I've achieved thus far in my career," she wrote in an email.

For Krystall Poppin, being included in the exhibit affirms the journey she's taken to get where she is in her music career, which has taken her all over the country and seen her opening for world-renowned rap stars like Ice Cube.

"What started as a personal journey of healing through music has now brought me to the halls of the El Paso Museum of History," she said. "It's a humbling experience and fills me with so much pride to have the opportunity to represent my beloved city in such a meaningful way."

But many more artists also lent a hand to the effort, Marin said.

“The way we were able to procure these loans were through community meetings … and several calls on social media and a lot of time spent with lenders, a lot of relationship building was involved in this," Marin said. "El Paso is a large city, but it is also small in the sense that everyone knows everyone."

"It was exciting to see the response," she added, "the overwhelming response, which was affirmative, and you could sense the excitement.”

What's in the exhibit?

Entering the "Musica Sin Fronteras" exhibit is itself like entering a music venue — ticket counters mark the entrance to the exhibit and an enormous timeline stretches across one wall documenting the slow march from early jazz sounds to contemporary pop.

On the front wall of the exhibit, a movie screen plays videos and live recordings from El Paso-based artists while along each wall are relics from the various stages of El Paso's growing and evolving music scene.

For Marin, one of the highlights of the exhibit is a bright pink wall set in the center of the exhibit covered in 45s recorded in El Paso at independent studios like Crosby & Co., Cactus Records, Suemi Records and others.

"One of our favorite things here are the LPs recorded here in El Paso," she said. "They're actually very rare and we're really excited to have these."

The exhibit also pays close attention to El Paso's thriving punk rock scene, which boasted bands like Fixed Idea and The Sicteens, with a corner straight out of a late-night venue - a corner bares an array of t-shirts, patches and handmade flyers that are the hallmark of punk bands across the country.

"It's funny because El Paso has had a very vibrant, very robust punk scene," Marin said. "And that's something people would not normally associate El Paso with."

"This is ephemeral gold," she added. "Some of the most beautiful things you can see are here related to the 90s and 2000s."

For Marin, it's difficult to pinpoint what has made El Paso such a hotbed for diverse and innovative music, but one thing is certain: it is.

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"It's a mystery, but I do know that we are very much a hidden gem," she said. "I don't think people realize how much talent comes out of here."

Krystall Poppin believes it may be El Paso's alienation from other major American cities and its proximity to Mexico that continues to see eccentric and iconic artists arising from its desert landscape.

"Throughout my career, traveling across many states and countless cities, El Paso has remained the beacon of inspiration and creativity for me. Its vibrant culture really fuels my passion for music," she said. "Despite our distance from major cities, we have Mexico in our backyard. This combines our art with a unique flavor that I embrace and incorporate into my work whenever possible."

"I've always believed in the incredible talent that thrives in our community, and I am always excited to witness its growth and recognition. As an artist from the borderland, I am so happy to be part of the history that defines El Paso's music scene."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 'Musica Sin Fronteras' exhibit on display at El Paso Museum of History