The visitors and the residents have for a very long time referred to Nashville, Tennessee as the ‘Music City’. From the very beginning, Nashville was built on the foundation of music. Music has played an important role in connecting the soul and the life of the city and its people. Thousands of visitors who have ventured to this beautiful place to experience music have found themselves getting enrolled into its fundamental cultural pattern.
What is so special about Nashville that for ages people have presented the moniker Music City? Not only that but it is also considered the capital of continental music culture.
Let’s head back to history.
The History of Music Culture in Nashville
The earliest settlers of Nashville celebrated music in the city during the late 1700s with buck dancing and some sort of complex tunes. Since its inception, Tennessee has remained true to its roots but it all started in 1824 when a hymnal called the Western Harmony was published in Nashville, which leads to its recognition.
Coming to the late 1800s, it was when the Ryman Auditorium started drawing in the crowd’s attention. It quickly became one of the country’s most popular auditoriums because of its then-central location and the phenomenal natural acoustic sounds.
In the year 1925, Nashville cemented its position at the national level when radio station WSM chose the famous Ryman Auditorium as its Grand Ole Opry radio show. In today’s time, the Grand Ole Opry is considered to be the oldest still-running live radio show. This only testifies the want for Country music and also its premium quality.
Coming to the year 1950, it was when Nashville was dubbed as the Music City USA by WSM’s announcer at that time, officially. The name was presented by David Cobb, and that’s how the city is called even today. Nashville has always been and shall always remain a diverse musical culture. From bluegrass to jazz, to R&B, and country, to rock, and gospel, this city has it all.
Some say that The Fisk Jubilee Singers from Nashville’s Fisk University and Queen Victoria are the ones who credited Nashville’s nickname. As a way to save the Fisk University from financial ruin, the Fisk Jubilee Singers which was formed in 1871 toured around the world and performed in front of famous audiences. Even Queen Victoria traveled to hear their music and it drew appreciation from Mark Twain as well.
Queen Victoria was heavily impressed with the Fisk Jubilee Singers and went on to say that they must be from a ‘city of music’. Well, apart from all the discrepancies revolving around who coined the name, the residents are still unsure as to why it is known as the Music City. However, in present times, the city’s music scene is flourishing steadily.
Some of the famous Music Spots in Nashville
No matter what the people believe, the city of Nashville has always celebrated music and the venues stand as proof. During the history of Nashville, several music venues have contributed to the glory of the Music City. Below listed are some of the most famous ones.
- RYMAN AUDITORIUM
Has to be at the top, the Ryman Auditorium is one of the most famous music venues in Nashville. It is where it all started. The Auditorium is also referred to as the Church of Country Music and has attracted some big performers like Hank Williams and Dolly Parton. All such events drew the attention of several Country music lovers towards Nashville.
The first-ever concert was organized in 1894. The music venue was used by a lot of Presidents, religious leaders, opera performers, and many other throughout its history. In the year 2003, the Auditorium was also chosen as the venue for Johny Cash’s funeral.
- THE GRAND OLE OPRY
This is the second-most popular music venue in Nashville. Even though the venue is a bit far from the city, this has always remained as the go-to-see place for many country performers during various stages of their careers. In today’s time, Gatlin Brothers, Mark Wills, Lee Greenwood, Trace Adkins, Carlene Carter, Travis Tritt, Carrie Underwood, and many others visit there. This space has a charming and vibrant performance schedule that makes it one of the best choices for music lovers throughout the city.
- CANNERY BALLROOM AT STATION INN
The Cannery Ballroom Inn is another very famous music venue in Nashville. The venue is located in the Gulch area of Nashville and here music is being played for seven nights a week showing some of the world’s best classic country, bluegrass, and roots music. Visitors can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the music with some great food! The place was opened by a group of six bluegrass singers and pickers in 1974.
Places where the hopeful musicians visit in Nashville
Apart from being called the ‘Music City’, Nashville is also considered as the ‘Songwriting Capital of the World’! Those musicians, who really want to make it big in the world, visit Nashville. As a result of which the city has gained popularity as the Songwriting Capital by many.
Wondering who are some of the big artists made out of Nashville? Here is a list:
- Bon Jovi
- Black Eyed Peas
- Kid Rock
- Michael Buble
- Jack White
- Sheryl Crow
- Kings of Leon
- Michael McDonald
The city of music has always welcomed the musicians and the artists with open arms. The Bluebird Café is a much-celebrated and famous spot where the songwriters visit to hear their inner-calling. Moreover, they showcase their talent there along with festivals like the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival.
Aside from the various venues, festivals, and concerts, there are many such reasons, why the city of Nashville shall forever remain as the Music City. The culture of music runs deep throughout the history of Nashville. It is also the capital of the entire world for hosting live music festivals, performances, and songwriting. Without a doubt, Nashville has one of the best music scenes in the world!
For anyone who loves music and wants to entertain themselves in the city, check out the spots mentioned below.
- The Songwriters Clubs in Nashville
Nashville is a dreamscape for songwriters. The city is filled with plenty of clubs that provide an amazing space for songwriters to showcase their talents. Some of the top clubs for the songwriter’s in Nashville are:
- Douglas Corner
- Café Coco
- Back Alley Diner
- Bluebird Café
- Billy Block Show
- Commodore Grille
- Doc’s Songwriter’s Showcases
Songwriters who need a space to display their talent and music; all these places will provide them with the best ambiance.
- THE TALENT SHOWCASING CLUBS
Apart from providing the best environment to the artists to showcase their music, Nashville helps discover new talent as well! It is another charm that the city holds. Below listed are some of the top places for artists to showcase their talent.
- ASCAP Song Source (A great place for songwriters to receive feedbacks)
- American Music Auditions
- The Bluebird Café (this is the top Country Music spot in Nashville)
- Tin Pan Alley
- Embassy Music: Ultimate Talent Search- The talent search takes place only once a year and offers the musicians a chance to win over $50k in terms of prizes.
- The Station Inn
- Nashville Start Search
What influence did Nashville have upon the Music Culture and History?
Endorsing a wide variety of music genres, Nashville is the perfect spot for numerous music lovers. A lot of credit for the city’s strong and rich music history can be credited to the African-American influences in the background. There are several well-known musicians and artists who have come, lived, and had a great impact on Nashville with their cultural traditions that made Nashville one of the top musical spots in the country.
Another amazing point in Nashville’s history of music is the influence it had on the jazz music movement. Even today, Nashville has a strong influence on jazz music. The city still has a large jazz scene with places like the Jazz Bar, F. Scott’s Restaurant, and the Jazz Workshop still embracing it.
Now being the location of the Country Music Hall of Fame, it could only be expected that some of the biggest names in Country Music come from this major influential city of music. This is where Country Music saw its dawn. Some of the most famous names coming from Nashville are Hank Williams, the Allman Brothers, and Liz Kilgo. Additionally, there are plenty of Country singers who refer t Nashville as their home due to the amount of influence the city has on their music.
Therefore, all those who genuinely love the world of music must find a real estate property in Nashville. And, the musical influence of Nashville is sure to go forward for a very long time in the future.
THE MUSIC CITY IN 2020
Nashville remains as perhaps the global capital of all things melodious. Even though the city is most popular for its Country roots, the current music landscape in Nashville is quite diverse, modern, and flooding with young talent. And, interestingly, the city of Nashville has improvised a lot to attract modern musicians from various musical backgrounds in the world. This is the step towards making the city feasible for the young talents.
In recent times what makes Nashville stand out is its modern and contemporary flair with American music history. The visitors can go and watch an Indie Rock show, which is a few blocks away from the Country Music Hall of Fame, or simply watch a performance at the famous Grand Ole Opry before they could catch a jazz show in any of the top bars.
At last, there could be many other cities hosting such events, but with all its rich musical heritage and the magic the city has weaved for years, Nashville was, is, and will forever remain as the Music City of the world.