Right now it's Allman's goal to get the word out about the fundraising effort underway to make the St. Louis-based institution a reality � and to raise the $1.7-million dollars need to ensure that the museum's doors can open as scheduled in March 2014. So far $12.3-million has been raised over the past three years, and a total of $14-million must be achieved by April 1 in order to take advantage of various incentives for the project.

So Allman and a board's other nine members � who are from the corporate and educational worlds � have launched "Buck Up For the Blues," an initiative to encourage all blues fans to make a donation now to help reach the fundraising goal and bring the museum to life.