The Beat Goes On

Sponsored by the Milwaukee-based headquarters of Hal Leonard—the world's largest sheet music publisher—this groundbreaking exhibition is the first of its kind in the city. 

Curated by art and cultural historians Annemarie Sawkins, PhD, and Martha Chaiklin, PhD., this novel exhibition brings together over 50 original examples of illustrated sheet music, vintage instruments, and original audio recordings spanning six transformative decades in American history.

From Dixieland jazz to vaudeville hits, dance crazes, and postwar pop sung by legends like Les Paul and Frank Sinatra, the exhibition reveals how sheet music not only reflected, but shaped, America’s evolving identity. Visitors will discover the powerful visual language of cover art inspired by everything from wartime patriotism to the marvels of modern transportation.

Complemented by extensive music and dance programming, The Beat Goes On invites audiences of all ages to explore the rhythms, stories, and spirit of a bygone era.

Don’t miss this uniquely American journey through sound and style.