Ryman Auditorium – Nashville’s Mother Church of Country Music

If you visit Nashville and have even a passing interest in country music, your trip will be incomplete if you miss checking out country music’s Mother Church, The Ryman Auditorium.

The Ryman Auditorium was conceived in 1895 by a Nashville riverboat captain named Thomas Ryman, who had recently been converted to Christianity by a southern evangelist, and decided to build a church to serve Nashville’s revivals.  In 1892, the first part of the auditorium was opened, named the Union Gospel Tabernacle, which included the pews that remain there to this day.  Construction was completed in 1899, and the total cost – $100,000.

In 1943, the Grand Ole Opry moved to the Ryman Auditorium, where it remained full-time until 1974, when it moved to the Opry House, which was built adjacent to the Opryland Hotel for the purpose of being a dedicated auditorium for Grand Ole Opry performances.

The Grand Old Opry returned to the Ryman in 1999, for winter season performances, which continue to this day.

Of course, there’s much more than country music performed at the Ryman.  Virtually every type of music has been celebrated and performed here, and it’s been voted one of the best places to hear music in America.

Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC)

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (commonly referred to as “TPAC”) exists to provide a place to take a lead in the arts in Middle Tennessee, sustaining and nurturing the performing arts, along with education in the arts, local arts groups and other organizations devoted to the arts.

TPAC is in the heart of downtown Nashville at 505 Deaderick St., in the James K. Polk Cultural Center, taking up the entire block bordered by 5th and 6th Avenues and Deaderick and Union Streets. The cultural center is also the home to the Tennessee State Museum.

TPAC contains three performance halls, ranging from the 256 seat Andrew Johnson Theater, to the James K. Polk Theater, with 1,075 seats, all the way to the large room, Andrew Jackson Hall, with a capacity of 2,472.

The historic landmark War Memorial Auditorium is located adjacent to the main TPAC building, just across 6th Avenue, and has a capacity of 1,661.

TPAC hosts Broadway shows, many special engagements,  as well as with the Nashville Ballet, the Nashville Opera, and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre.

If you’re planning a visit to Nashville, you owe it to yourself to check the TPAC event schedule to see what’s scheduled to play during your visit.

Musicians Who Played On Greatest Recordings Honored – The Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum

The Musicians Hall Of Fame and Museum is the only museum we know of whose goal is to honor all of the musicians who actually played on some of the greatest recorded music, recorded here in Nashville as well as many other great music cities, of all time.  There are many museums set up to recognize the singers and leaders, but only The Musicians Hall Of Fame and Museum gives the musicians themselves their due.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is right near downtown Nashville, at 301 6th Ave. South, just a couple of blocks south of Broadway, and one block west of the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Some of the musicians featured, like Jimi Hendrix are famous, while others  are not.  How about drummer Hal Blaine?  This LA session drummer isn’t well known, but has played on many many hit records.  The Museum is dedicated to the actual players on hundreds of hits from Elvis, Frank and Nancy Sinatra,The Byrds, The Mamas and The Papas and The Beach Boys, to name a few.  Also on exhibit at The Museum you’ll find the actual  instruments that were used in the recording of many of these classic hits.

They are always adding new exhibits, from all music genres, for you to enjoy.  The layout of the museum is based on the cities with a great recorded music history. Like Detroit, Nashville , Muscle Shoals, Los Angeles , Memphis and New York. In all these cities, there were musicians who were able to play any style that was needed,  back when the recording industry was evolving.  They had nicknames – The Swampers, The A TEAM, The Memphis Boys, The FUNK BROTHERS, and The WRECKING CREW.  You’ve heard of “Booker T and The M.G’s” and” TOTO”?  Guess what?  They started out as one of these studio bands. Up until the mid 1980’s, studio bands like these played on the majority of all the recordings made in these cities.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is proud of Nashville’s musical heritage also. Nashville, aka Music City, is well known for country music, but many other styles of music have always been recorded in Nashville. “Dust In The Wind” (Kansas), “Heart Of Gold ” (Neil Young) and “Lay Lady Lay” (Bob Dylan) – to name a few.

Whether you’re partial to Hank Williams Sr., or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or anything in between, you’ll find something of interest at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum .

Dolly Parton’s Downtown Nashville Store “Dolly Parton’s Trinkets & Treasures”

Dolly Parton has opened a new souvenir store in downtown Nashville, on Second Avenue right beside the Wildhorse Saloon.

It’s the most colorful building in the 2nd Avenue Historic District (pink, purple, yellow, green, red & blue).  To be just a bit more noticeable, you’ll hear Dolly’s music coming from the store.

Fans of all ages will be able to find all sorts of Dolly Parton items and loads of Dolly’s music, too.

The store is open to visitors now, but there’s a Grand Opening event planned for Spring of 2010.

New Hotel in Downtown Nashville – Hotel 315

Downtown Nashville’s newest hotel is an impressive rehabilitation of the old American Trust Building.

Located at 315 Union, the hotel has 87 rooms and 18 extended stay suites, and is located in the downtown business district, Printer’s Alley and 2nd Ave., close to all the major downtown attractions and entertainment venues.  Pets are welcome.

For more information, check out Hotel 315.

HOTEL 315
315 Union Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37201
Phone: 615.891.6001
http://thehotel315.com