
Like two peas in a pod, Nashville and music go together. The city has deep, rich roots in music, as early settlers were said to celebrate their arrival at the Cumberland River by playing fiddle tunes. Years later, down the road, here are the city’s music scenes that define and cement Nashville’s position as the center of music publishing.
Music Goes Way Back
Nashville’s tunes were popularized in the 1700s by Davy Crockett, a Congressman, and the city’s first “celebrity.” His colorful stories and fiddle playing went far and wide. At the beginning of the 1800s, Nashville’s musical prowess gained more ground, earning it the moniker “Music City.” Meanwhile, Nashville’s musical dominance owes much to a band, Fisk Jubilee Singers of Nashville’s Fisk University. This band is known to be the very first musical act to go on a world tour, which was a huge success, catapulting the band and Nashville’s music scene into the world. It even got the attention of the Queen of England, who stated that the Fisk Jubilee Singers must come from a “City of Music.” The band’s efforts helped fund the University’s mission of educating people formerly enslaved by the Civil War.
Birth of Ryman Auditorium
This popular spot is one of the most famous music venues in Nashville, and it helped shape the city into the music epicenter of the world. Constructed in 1892 by riverboat captain Tom Ryman, the famous building was originally a church known as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Even as a church, the building hosted other popular names other than well-loved preachers. The Ryman Auditorium drew the attention of many music enthusiasts with its masterful musical acts. It featured and hosted famous individuals such as Harry Houdini, Marian Anderson, Mae West, Caruso, Sandra Bernhardt, John Philip Sousa, Louis Armstrong, and Nat King Cole. Upon Ryman’s death, the Ryman Auditorium was renamed to honor the riverboat captain.
Housing the Grand Ole Opry
The Ryman Auditorium hosted the Grand Ole Opry before it moved into its new home, the Opry House. Founded in 1925 as a weekly radio broadcast, the Opry has grown into a world-renowned institution, showcasing the best in country, bluegrass, Americana, and roots music for nearly a century. As an icon of country music, the Opry House helped launch countless careers and has hosted many legendary performers. Notable personalities like Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Garth Brooks. Today, the Opry House still connects fans and artists to all genres of music, solidifying its place as the “Mother Church of Country Music.”
Variety is the Spice of Life
Looking at the moments that shaped the music scene in Nashville, the city has evolved with time while retaining its name as the “City of Music.” The city’s welcoming spirit has attracted a wide range of genres, from R&B to Indie Rock, and has nurtured the careers of numerous stars across various genres. Nashville will always be where music’s next big stars are born, and music history lives on.