"More Music, More Community" is organization's motto

It launched 20 years ago as a bold project, a museum and performance space that would inject life into downtown Davenport through the power of music, specifically music that had its roots along the vastness of the Mississippi River. 

Originally branded as River Music Experience, the organization was a linchpin of the $113 million placemaking project called River Renaissance which brought other major improvements to downtown, including the Figge Art Museum, renovation of the Redstone Building, expansion of the Adler Theater, NewVentures Center, parking garages, and the Skybridge. 

But the impact of RME, now called Common Chord, has reached into all corners of the Quad Cities, far beyond its headquarters at the Redstone building at 2nd and Main streets. No longer a “museum,” the organization has infused the love of music to countless thousands of people through events and educational programs. Last year alone, more than 35,000 people attended concerts and performances. More than 200 events were staged, and over 850 musicians were hired, according to Common Chord Executive Director Tyson Danner. Education programs reached more than 15,000 students over more than 390 events. “More Music, More Community” is the organization’s motto. 

“We do even more off campus than we do here,” said Danner, who has been at the helm of Common Chord since April 2019. “If you’re doing the exact thing today as you did 20 years ago, you’re doing something wrong. The world changes; the community changes.” 

Adds Kyle Carter, executive director, Downtown Davenport Partnership, “It’s been an evolution since the day it was born.” 

On June 11, 2004, the day before the doors opened, an estimated 1,000 people attended a gala preview, amazed by the 81-foot interactive River Wall that told the story of river-influenced music through multimedia clips of interviews and performances. Dan Huber, then-president and CEO of DavenportOne (the predecessor to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce), was quoted in the Quad-City Times as saying, “This is a brand-new attraction in Davenport, Iowa, that’s going to change the face of Iowa.” Huber is one of seven inaugural members of “The Amplify Society,” recognized on a new Wall of Honor dedicated just recently at Common Chord. Others honored are Bechtel Trusts/Dick Bittner, Betsy Brandsgard, LuAnn Haydon, Ellis Kell, Frank Klipsch and Kent Pilcher. All were instrumental in the RME’s early formation. 

“If not for their actions, we wouldn’t be here,” said Carter. “This brought new life to a part of downtown that had been left for dead.” 

A critical element of their effort was getting support throughout Scott County for a $5 million bond referendum to support the River Renaissance project. The 73 percent approval in a vote on October 23, 2001, assured the community of obtaining $20 million in funding from Vision Iowa. 

Recalling those days, Betsy Brandsgard, then executive vice present of DavenportOne, said it was an exciting time “because we assembled through DavenportOne a real coalition of musicians, fans, community leaders and business leaders to envision what a music venue would look like.” While a primary focus at the time was to keep that corner of downtown “lively and active,” Brandsgard said, “businesses also saw the potential of this as a workforce enhancement.” The evolution of RME to Common Chord has been almost constant, with the museum concept giving way early on to performance events and education.  

And at the heart of the music was Rock Island native and noted blues guitarist Ellis Kell, “The Godfather of RME.” The influence of Kell, who passed away in December 2016 at the age of 61, is seen in many of Common Chord’s signature programs, like the popular summer camp KidStock (which began as Rock Camp) and the Ellis Kell Winter Blues Music Camp. 

A larger-than-life tribute on the second floor of Common Chord notes that Kell, hired in 2004 as the membership, operations and special events manager, wore “many hats to help RME figure out its place in our community.” Kell always looked out for young people, says his widow, Kristi, especially those who had no access to music lessons or never touched an instrument. With the RME, she said, “he was in a position to change that.” He traveled to Texas to train with musicians who ran a rock camp there so he could start one here. 

“Those kids went on to play in the community,” she said. “There are so many of them right now. It’s amazing the change that music makes in people’s lives.” There were many special memories, she said. They ranged from the RME-sponsored concert by Kris Kristofferson at the Capitol Theatre to the thank you note written by the mother of a blind boy who had toured the RME and was moved by the music he experienced. Ellis Kell treasured the photo of him and the boy. 

Carter said Kell was the soul of the organization. “They figured out early on that a place like this needs a soul and needs somebody who really cares about its programming, and that was Ellis’ role,” Carter said. 

At a time in 2006 when community support appeared to be waning for RME, Kell wrote in a letter to the editor: “Have you ever been at RME to see a room full of wide-eyed, smiling fifth-graders learning as they play and sing along to the music that grew up along our river? Were any of you at RME when we honored music legend Louie Bellson on his birthday? Have you ever been to an Open Mic Night in Mojo’s @ RME to see a young musician perform for the first time before a live audience?” 

Common Chord has many success stories of inspiring young people to tap into their musical talents. Take Alexa Mueller, for example. An 18-year-old who just completed her freshman year at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the native of Hampton, Illinois said she has loved music from a young age. “I was singing around the house all the time and my parents thought, ‘What are we going to do with her?’” They sent her to Rock Camp around the age of 9, where she honed her vocal talents, learned to play guitar and drums, and work with her peers to form a band. “It’s hard to jump into that kind of music when you have no experience,” she said. She moved from being a camper to an assistant in 2021 and an instructor in 2022. You can find out where she is performing on her Facebook at Alexa Mueller Music. A competitive rower, she’ll be heading to Dartmouth College this summer for national team selection. And she says the communications skills she learned at Rock Camp have served her well. “Rowing is a very team-oriented sport, and the communications skills really transferred over,” she said. 

There have been many milestones in Common Chord’s development. One was the opening in 2006 of the Redstone Room, a performance space seating up to 250 people with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The space is one of several that features live music, educational programming, and community events, enhancing the Skybridge Courtyard and the first-floor restaurants that have operated over the years in the Redstone Building. The Redstone Room is also a popular venue that can be rented for private events such as wedding receptions. 

Another milestone was the introduction of the River Roots Live festival in 2005, drawing thousands to LeClaire Park annually for a celebration of music. That event evolved in 2017 to Alternating Currents, a multi-day festival founded by the Downtown Davenport Partnership which showcases comedy, film, music, art, and local businesses across dozens of venues in downtown Davenport, Rock Island, and Bettendorf.    

Danner notes that it takes constant support and innovation to create programming that is relevant to the community. “As we celebrate 20 years of success, we have to remember that it took a whole community of support to create this place… and it will take stronger support from private and public partners to keep downtown moving on the right trajectory. We have to keep our foot on the gas pedal.” 

 Summer Kickoff Block Party marks birthday 

Common Chord invites the community to celebrate 20 years of music at a Summer Kickoff Block Party on Friday, June 7, powered by Northwest Bank & Trust. 

The summer Live at 5 series will bring live music to the 2nd Street Courtyard from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring Einstein’s Sister, The Crew, and QC Rock Academy. The free event also will feature balloons, face painting, and information tables from 16 community partners, including registration for the Quad-City Times Bix 7. Silent Disco presented by QC Arts and Common Chord will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Skybridge Courtyard, featuring DJs Vamp, TRiPENDiCULAR, and Buddha. 

Bring your own lawn chairs. A full bar will be available, and food options will be offered by the Lemonade Stand and The Garrison. 

Check out a full schedule of Common Chord summer programming at commonchordqc.org.