The mecca for country music fans is the Country Music Hall of Fame. In fact even if you’re not a huge fan of “both types of music: country AND western” you may be surprised at who got their starts in this genre. But a highlight was the additional tour of Studio B, make sure you do both.
This place is huge and about to get 3 stories higher
The building itself is a masterpiece, spread over 3 floors including the Hall of Fame rotunda with brass plates of inductees. Display cases house collections and memorabilia from artists your dad probably knows – or even your granddad – right up until present day (I’m looking at you Keith Urban)
The hall of display cases, music blasting from overhead speakers and retro advertisements line the soaring walls
They only take donations from artists and have a policy not to purchase collections. Elvis drove his car here, all pimped out in gold with a TV in the back and coat hanger for an aerial sticking out of the top. (Well, it may not be a coat hanger, but it sure looks like it). He also has a cumbersome phone back there to speak to his driver.
Check out Elvis’s TV in the back seat
This is Webb Pierce’s car with guns mounted on the hood, as door handles and the dashboard studded in silver dollars
Keith Urban is a current legend in Nashville and while I confess to missing the Grand Ole Opry (a bit like when I missed the Cistene Chapel in Rome) you really shouldn’t. Huge live acts perform every night.
But add on a trip to Studio B to the recording studio where Elvis taped half of his entire playlist (about 250 songs) and it’s still in use today for artists who want that old school sound.
Roy Orbison is just one of the icons who recorded here at Studio B
Our guide made the 1 hour tour come alive playing pieces of several hits that were recorded here including Dolly Parton and the man she owes it all to, Porter Wagoner, plus clips from Charlie Pride, Chet Atkins, the Everly Brothers, Jim Reeves.
Dolly with Porter Wagoner who launched her career before she went out on her own and smashed it with “Jolene”
They still roll out rugs on the tiled floor to record today in Studio B
Yep that’s me sitting at the original Steinway which is tuned every Friday and could tell a story or two!
When Elvis recorded his love songs he liked to change the lighting. He recorded “Are you Lonesome Tonight” here in 2 takes under sexy red lights
If you want to see inside the Johnny Cash Museum, have a look at my photo essay here>>>
Or for my picks on where to stay, eat and listen to live music in Nashville, click here>>>