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THE REAL MUSICAL NASHVILLE

The Promise of Nashville
Where music is inspired, created, recorded and performed, the promise of Nashville is to provide the ultimate musical entertainment experience...celebrated throughout our diverse cultural and entertainment offerings...and presented in an authentic, unique, friendly and unpretentious atmosphere.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MUSICAL NASHVILLE???...

• Are vinyl records still being made in Nashville?
  United Record Pressing, a vinyl pressing plant in downtown Nashville, is one of only four remaining vinyl manufacturers in the nation. Operating since 1949, United has pressed millions of records for artists like Elvis Presley, Lionel Richie, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and N’Sync, as well as for numerous hip-hop and reggae musicians.
  
  
• What is known about recording studios in Nashville?
  Nashville's first recording studio was Castle, started in 1946 by three WSM engineers but the city first became a recording center when famed producer Owen Bradley and his brother Harold opened their studio in an old house on 16th Avenue South in 1955. The later expanded their studio with the addition of an old army Quonset hut behind the main building. The legendary Quonset Hut, slated for restoration along with Columbia Studio A, is where Patsy Cline recorded the bulk of her catalog. Loretta Lynn, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, Buddy Holly, George Jones, REO Speedwagon, Simon & Garfunkel and Johnny Cash all recorded here as well. One of the old studio's old janitors didn't do too badly for himself either...Kris Kristofferson is now widely recognized as one of our greatest living songwriters.
  
  Located on Music Row, recording studio 615 Music is internationally renowned for its musical talent in radio, television and advertising. Creating custom scores for television shows like “Today,” “Dateline,” “King of the Hill” and “Regis & Kelly” and for companies like Busch Beer, FedEx and Wendy’s, 615 Music has received 90 international and national awards for its original work.
  
  
• How did Jazz, Blues and R&B have impact on Music City?
  Jefferson Street saw a jazz, blues and R&B music heyday during the 1940s through the 1960s. Greats like Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, Etta James and more played in numerous local clubs, such as the The New Era Club, The Del Morocco and The Club Baron.
  
  
• Who is "Mr. Guitar"?
  Legendary Nashville musician Chet Atkins was nicknamed “Mr. Guitar.” A bronze sculpture of the recording pioneer stands at Fifth Avenue North and Union Street downtown.
  
  
• How did Grand Ole Opry get its name?
  In 1925, National Life & Accident Insurance Company founded the radio program known today as the Grand Ole Opry. The program’s original name was WSM Barn Dance, and the station’s call letters were an acronym for the company’s slogan, “We Shield Millions!” The famous name change took place two years later when announcer George Hay was preparing for a Saturday night program, which followed a broadcast of classical music from New York. In his opening remarks, Hay quipped, “For the last hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from grand opera and the classics. We now present our own Grand Ole Opry,” and the name stuck.
  
  
• Where is the music made in Nashville?
  Today, Nashville is home to over 80 record labels, 130 music publishers and, at last count, over 180 recording studios. On any given night, there are over 100 live music clubs in Nashville where you can see and hear artsits from every genre performing.
  
  
• Who is Manuel?
  Nashville is the headquarters for famed couturier Manuel, whose brilliant creations have been worn by Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Cheap Trick, R.E.M. and Johnny Cash.