Day 4 - Nashville, the Music City

 

 Country music deserves its own Hall of Fame and it has been  since 1964 in oh surprise … Nashville.
The accompanying museum has an incredibly rich collection of audio and visual material and objects. To give you an idea:
- About 500,000 photos
- Approximately 200,000 sound recordings
- Another 30,000 video recordings
- Thousands of garments worn by country stars
- Hundreds of musical instruments
- Different music scores
- Countless golden plates
- But also unique pieces such as the 'Gold plated Cadillac' owned once by Elvis, a poem that Johnny Cash wrote for Kris Kirstofferson, etc ...

These memorabilia are interesting for fans and music lovers, but for the artists themselves there is something even more important: the so-called induction in the 'Country Hall of Fame', the highest honor that a singer / producer / songwriters / musician can receive in recognition of their contribution to country music.

In the circular hall of the museum they are immortalized in bas relief on a bronze plate. Artists who are members are amongst others : Elvis, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rodgers, Reba McEntire, Willy Nelson, Loretta Lynn .... A select group that undoubtedly made country music into what it is today. They own hundreds of hits good for hours of listening pleasure.

Jimmy Buffet had a huge hit in 1977 with Margaritaville, inspired by the Margarita cocktail. The song is about a man who spends a season in a paradise beach resort. But even more than a hit single, it brought him a whole empire. The Margaritaville resorts boomed in Florida and California and across the Caribbean. And then there are the Jimmy Buffet 'Margaritaville restaurants’, one of which is located in Nashville on Broadway. The interior is somewhere between a beach resort, a beach bar and an American burger restaurant, but also honky tonk is not forgotten. And every time Jimmy is in town, you'll find him here. Ideal spot for a lunch break.

 

The iconic RCA Studio B is also called 'Home of a 1000 hits'. Americans may like to exaggerate but in this case it’s not said too much. Because my god, the club of artists that recorded his/her songs here is equally legendary. Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 songs in the studio. In addition, there are Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison, just to name a few, who recorded a large part of their musical heritage on the black vinyl.
Today, the studio is no longer a working studio, although an exception is made for special projects.

 
But fortunately, the Studio has remained in its original state and studio tours are given that revive the past every day. If these walls could speak ... And in a way they can. For much of what has ever been said or sung here has been recorded and thus preserved for posterity.

After a short introduction, we are led into the sanctuary: the actual recording studio. The walls are corrugated to ensure the best acoustics. It  is a special feeling to be in the same place where all those world stars sung their songs.

 

 

The original piano that can be heard on all those fantastic hits, including 'Heartbreak Hotel' by Elvis, is still there. Elvis did not like too much light. That is why he had all fluorescent lamps replaced by indirect colored light. It litsis the studio still today in a soft glow.

 

 

During the actual recordings, Elvis preferred to sing in the dark. We will hear some of those original recordings, including 'Are you lonesome tonight'. A cross on the floor indicates the spot with the best acoustics. The place where all those legends with their golden vocal chords gave the best of themselves. The light is extinguished, the recording band starts. The voice of Elvis fills the space. But not only the voice. It can not be otherwise or you still feel the presence of someone with such an immense personality. I close my eyes and listen with chills running down my back. During the last 'tonight' you hear an undetermined sound. It turns out to be Elvis, who bumps his head against the microphone in the dark. No cursing, no 'ai' comes over his lips. Only a professional silence. Not heard on the released record, but on the original recording. And there are undoubtedly more stories like this to be told.
We get to hear and see recordings of Elvis and, among others, Dottie West, a big country star in the United States. The voice, music and unbridled talent of many world stars were immortalized here. A must-do for every music lover. And it does not matter if rock, country or whatever kind of music you prefer. RCA studio B on Music Row (the district with several recording studios, radio stations, music license firms and record labels, the heart of Nashville) is simply an iconic place.

Nashville will forever be linked to the Grand Ole Opry, one of the longest-running radio shows in the United States, featuring stars from country, folk, bluegrass and gospel. Once started as a regular studio show, the program became immensely popular so that eventually a stage was used with endless queues as a result. Country became very successful and made Nashville the capital of country music. Due to its expansive popularity, the show moved in 1943 to the larger Ryman Auditorium. That Auditorium was built in the late 19th century as a gospel tabernacle but, thanks to the Grand Ole Opry, became the cathedral of country.

Meanwhile, an even bigger Grand Ole Opry House was built, where the regular shows take place. The Ryman is still used for Opry performances during the low season. But also for special events such as the commemorations for Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash on the occation of their passing.

 

The more than 2,300 seats theater is also used for other concerts. Tonight the Surfing USA boys perform here, who always provide Good Vibrations: the Beach Boys. There is no longer an original line-up, as there are just too few Wilson brothers left, but their feel-good music is still present. Tonight they get reinforcement from actor, musician and singer John Stamos, known to the general public from the American comedy series 'Full House'..

 

 

I do not see them on a surfboard anymore, but tonight's set list is a lovely beach cocktail of their entire oeuvre. A Beach Boys concert may not be that special in itself, but it is during a vacation in Nashville, in the legendary Ryman Auditorium. An evening full of fun, fun, fun.