For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville

This is a documentary film rooted in authenticity. A story filled with passion and truth. A film made simply for the love of music.

About the Film

For over 130 years, Nashville has evolved into the world’s premier Music City. From the 1800s when the Fisk Jubilee Singers travelled across continents spreading their music, to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and so many others building the foundation of America’s most vibrant music scene. Today, the evolution continues as artists like The Black Keys, Eric Church and Kings of Leon break new ground in the city they all call home. We’ve created a one-hour documentary that tells this story in its entirety through the eyes of the musicians, songwriters, producers and artists who live and breathe the inspiration of this great city.

"You can go out on any given night and see some great musicians... because it's just about the music here."

Tommy Sims

"He's erased better lines than I'll ever write."

Jon Randall, on Kris Kristofferson
Credits
Cast

Ben Folds
Bill Anderson
Billy Cox
The Black Keys
Brett James
Charlie Daniels
The Civil Wars
Damien Horne
Duane Eddy
Emmylou Harris
Eric Church
Fisk Jubilee Singers
Jessi Alexander & Jon Randall
John McBride
Kellie Pickler
Kings Of Leon
Kris Kristofferson
Manuel
Martina McBride
Marty Stuart
Michael W. Smith
Peter Frampton
Rivers Rutherford
Steve Cropper
Ten Out of Tenn
Tim Nichols
Tommy Sims
Vince Gill

Crew

Directed By
Zach Merck

Executive Producers
Butch Spyridon
Dana Locatell
Hugh Broder

Produced By
Tim Mack

Created By
Butch Spyridon
Chuck Creasy
Deana Ivey
John Godsey

Director of Photography
Blake McClure

Edited By
Brian Budak
Jeremy Kotin

Story Producer
Jay Heyman

Creative Direction
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
VML, Inc.

Music Supervisor
Anastasia Brown

Music Consultant
Shar’n Clark

Camera Assistant
JT Sumner

Gaffer
Jeffrey Gordon

Best Boy Electrician
William Jackson

Electrician
Shawn Jenkins

Sound Recordists
Jeremy Mazza
Grant Johnson
Thomas Figlio
Thomas Morrison
David Rogers

Finishing
Contact Color and Post

Colorist
Blase Theodore

Assistant Confrom Artist
John Mattiuzzi

Audio Post Production
Colin Thibadeau
Demian Sims

Production Assistants
Deborah Gordon
Jennifer Bostic
Shawn Daughtery
Nancie Yoo Kang
Zuzu Snyder

Still Photography
Bill Miller
BMI Archives
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
David Pearcy
Fisk University Archives
Grand Ole Opry
Jim McGuire Photography
Johnny Cash Museum
The Owen Bradley Family
The Wade Brothers

Video & film archival footage
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Grand Ole Opry
Jeff the Brotherhood
Johnny Cash Show
Kings of Leon
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
The Black Keys

Special Thanks

3rd & Lindsley
Blackbird Studios
Bluebird Cafe
BMI
Charlie Daniels Studio
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar
Fisk University
Fontanel Mansion
Grand Ole Opry
Hatch Show Print
Historic RCA Studio B
Musicians Hall of Fame
Printers Alley
Q Prime South
Rocketown
Ryman Auditorium
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Sirus/XM
Vector Management
Alison Auerbach, Public Relations
Corissa Benchley
Clay Bradley
Erin Burr
LeeAnn Carlen
Joe and Linda Chambers
Brenda Colladay
Kristen Dabbs
Tim Davis
Maria Elena
Phil Graham
Kathy Hicks
Britti Himelfarb
Betty Hoffer
Joel Huffman
Lisa Jenkins
Dr. Paul Kwami
Ken Levitan
Sandy Liles
Drew Loschke
John Marks
Jacquelyn Marushka
Ebie McFarland
Andy Mendelsohn
Marc Oswald
John Peets
Dan Rogers
Tamara Saviano
Michael Sayles
Randi Seplow
Jim Sheridan
Paula Szeigis
Jennifer Templeton
Travis Yetton

It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter
It All Begins with a Song
The Story of the Nashville Songwriter

This award-winning documentary is about one of the most important and unknown forces in music: The Nashville Songwriter.