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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEECountry Music Capitalby Toni DabbsThe convention and visitors bureau prefers the more general nickname of "Music City." Nashville does, after all, have a symphony orchestra and plenty of places to hear rock, jazz and blues. But to millions of people around the world, the Tennessee state capital is the mecca of country music. Visitors who aren't fans might at first be puzzled by the pervasive veneration of all things related to this musical genre. But the zeal of its followers is contagious, and in the end, few find it hard to resist making the rounds of Nashville's most noteworthy country music landmarks.
The Ryman has undergone a $8.5 million restoration and is open for tours when it isn't engaged as a concert venue. Displays depict its days as location for the Opry and detail careers of performers closely connected to the longest running radio show in the world (broadcasts began in 1925).
Another place of pilgrimage is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum's slick exhibits feature costumes, personal treasures, musical instruments and original song manuscripts from some of country music's legends and popular new stars. Included with admission is "Walking the Row: The Official Music Row Walking Tour and Studio B Guide." Located in the same neighborhood as the museum, Music Row is an area of several square blocks filled with converted houses and glitzy new office buildings occupied by entertainment agents, music publishing companies and recording studios. For decades, unknown musicians and songwriters have come here in hopes of getting someone to listen to their demo tapes. A highlight of the tour is a stop at historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 songs. The studio has been restored to the way it appeared in the 1950s, when resident producer Chet Atkins used its acoustics to create the distinctive "Nashville Sound." Beyond this point, the city's country music attractions start to separate the curious visitors from the true enthusiasts. For example, only a serious fan is likely to visit both the Country Music Wax Museum and the Music Valley Wax Museum. Each contains more than 50 effigies of country music celebrities dressed in the entertainers' original costumes. Music Valley Wax Museum might have a slight advantage with visitors choosing between the two. It includes a Sidewalk of the Stars, where more than 250 famous people have left their footprints, handprints and signatures in concrete. A block away is the Music Valley Car Museum, which counts a number of stars' cars among its collection of antique and special interest vehicles. Some galleries offer retrospective looks at the lives of individual performers. The Hank Williams Jr. Museum actually tells the stories of both Hank Williams Sr. and Jr. through videos and displays of memorabilia, while the Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum presents tributes to Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley and J.D. Sumner, as well as exhibiting Nelson's gold and platinum albums and guitars. Diehard devotees won't want to leave town before soaking up the atmosphere at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, situated just around the corner from the Ryman Auditorium. Once the regular watering hole of Grand Ole Opry performers, it continues to serve cold beer and country music. Nowadays, a favorite hangout for the music business crowd is the Bluebird Cafe. Songwriters sometimes try out new material at this unassuming little club where Garth Brooks was discovered. For visitors who feel like kicking up their heels, the Wildhorse Saloon has a 3,300-foot dance floor where dance lessons are offered daily and entertainment is presented nightly. The $7.5 million facility also has seating for 1,600 and a menu of barbecue specialties available for lunch or dinner.{place picture 3 about here} Collectors looking for vintage or obscure recordings might find them at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. The store stocks both new and classic country CDs, cassettes, 45s and videos, along with song books and a variety of souvenirs. For the faithful, the best time to visit Nashville is probably June, when the annual International Country Music Fan Fair is held. The six-day celebration involves scores of country music stars in almost 40 hours of performances plus photo and autograph sessions. ContactNashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Photos by Toni Dabbs and courtesy of Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau Copyright 1999 by Toni Dabbs. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from the author is prohibited. |
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First and foremost on this list is the Ryman Auditorium, built by riverboat captain Tom Ryman in 1892 for the preacher who converted him. The former gospel meeting hall has become a country music shrine, having served as home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974.
When the Opry moved to custom built quarters at 2802 Opryland Drive, close to the Opryland Hotel, an eight-foot circle of hardwood was taken from the Ryman and placed center stage at the new Grand Ole Opry House, keeping the program (which now is broadcast on television as well) in touch with its
past.