Nashville is best known as the birthplace of country music, but its R&B scene has had an equally significant influence on modern culture.
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum, opened in 2010, chronicles this history through the lens of disc jockey Gene Nobles’ pioneering R&B programming at WLAC radio station. Additionally, their online exhibition Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm and Blues 1945-1970 commemorates the influential role Nashville’s R&B scene had on shaping popular culture.
Jefferson Street
Jefferson Street in North Nashville was once the center for African American musicians. Here, young people could learn their instruments, attend HBCUs and even launch careers. Additionally, it served as a venue where legendary performers would come to perform and share their talent.
At that time, Jefferson Street was a mecca for R&B music. Its radio stations, mail-order record stores, independent labels and syndicated TV shows helped spread the genre across America. Furthermore, many musicians and club owners on Jefferson Street donated their services to send neighborhood kids off to school.
These accomplishments had a lasting effect on Nashville and beyond, serving as an incubator for some of music’s most renowned artists. Jefferson Street truly was a landmark in American musical history.
Jimi Hendrix was one of these artists. He spent time at Del Morocco club and credits it as a major influence on his career. He played there with various bands and musicians throughout its run.
Charley Pride was another influential musician. He was part of the Negro Baseball League and owned a team which he played on for some time.
In the 1950s, Jefferson Street’s music and nightlife scene was on fire. Boasting numerous clubs and restaurants along its length, the district became home to some of Chicago’s renowned entertainers.
However, many clubs and businesses on Jefferson Street were hard-hit by urban renewal. A few of these establishments were completely demolished in 1968 with the construction of Interstate 40.
Today, a few determined residents with deep family roots in the neighborhood are striving to guide Jefferson Street towards a revitalized and prosperous future that preserves its cultural heritage. Their story is featured in an NPT original documentary called Facing North: Jefferson Street, Nashville.
It’s an inspiring tale that shows us the relevance of history in explaining present events. That’s why it’s essential to remember Jefferson Street and those responsible for its development – these tales form part of Nashville’s vibrant cultural heritage. These stories form part of what makes Nashville such a wonderful city today.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country music is an integral part of Nashville’s culture, and this museum showcases it all. With over two million artifacts and exhibits, there’s something special for everyone at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Hall of Fame boasts world-class exhibitions and family activities to bring country music history to life. Additionally, they provide various tickets that allow visitors to explore the museum at their own pace. You can get your ticket online in minutes and avoid those long lines at the door!
Established in 1964, the Museum is a non-profit educational organization that preserves over 2.5 million artifacts and offers two floors of gallery space to showcase country music’s development within American history. Both permanent and limited-engagement exhibitions highlight this significant figure.
Experience a lifetime of memories at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of country music memorabilia.
The museum, popularly referred to as “The Smithsonian of country music”, is situated in downtown Nashville and features 350,000 square feet of galleries, archives storage, education classrooms, retail stores and special event spaces. Designed by Tuck-Hinton Architects from Nashville with a Postmodern aesthetic in tribute to Nashville’s rich musical legacy.
At its center is the Hall of Fame Rotunda, which displays plaques honoring those inducted into the Hall. According to legend, this rotunda inspires reverence for country music’s oldest roots.
Every year, three additional inductees are announced. Their names, faces and biographies are featured on a wall in the rotunda.
These musicians are some of the greatest and most renowned in country music history. You can actually see their guitars as they play them and stand on stage where they perform!
I’ve never been so charmed by a museum! Give yourself at least two or three hours to fully take in all that this stunning attraction has to offer – you won’t regret it!
Night Train to Nashville Online Exhibit
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s newest online exhibit, Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970, delves into the story of Nashville’s vibrant R&B scene. You can visit it for free on their website.
The exhibit begins with a stunning sepia tone photograph of Black musicians and performers standing together on the platform at Grand Ole Opry in 1950. This image is captivating, staring directly into your eyes through all the distance of time as these individuals gaze back into yours.
This opening image sets the scene for what lies ahead in this exhibit. Constructed from historic photos, performance videos and audio recordings, instruments, show posters, stage wear – it all comes together to form one comprehensive experience.
One of the exhibit’s most striking features is that it largely draws inspiration from oral history. Many stories in the exhibition are told by performers themselves, offering a refreshing perspective from other museum displays which often start with curators’ opinions on a subject.
In this instance, the voices of those living the Nashville music scene were instrumental in developing the exhibit. Their input can be seen both in the selection of artifacts and writing that accompany it.
Ultimately, this exhibit serves as a great example of how museums should be created and designed. It’s not simply an accumulation of artifacts but a true scholarly work that anyone would be proud to own and enjoy.
This exhibit provides a fascinating look into Nashville’s musical heritage, featuring icons such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.
The Hall of Fame and Museum has several online exhibits, but Night Train to Nashville stands out among them all. This NEH-funded project can be viewed free on their website and showcases archival photographs, artifacts and recordings of historic performances featuring many of country music’s stars who helped it gain global success.
Musicians
Nashville has long been known as the birthplace of country music, but it also produces a range of other genres. From bluegrass to jazz and rock ‘n’ folk, a glance at Ryman Auditorium’s concert schedule shows just how widely Nashville has adopted music and musical styles over time.
R&B and soul musicians have long been part of New Orleans’ music scene. However, their presence hasn’t always been recognized to the same degree as country artists.
By the mid-1940s, Nashville’s WLAC radio station had begun broadcasting R&B music across southern U.S., while Jefferson Street nightclubs showcased some of the city’s greatest talent. And thanks to Nashville’s bustling recording industry, artists such as Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and B.B. King enjoyed widespread recognition.
By the early 1960s, WLAC radio station had become one of the world’s foremost sources for R&B music and New Orleans had become a mecca for rhythm and blues fans. Nightclubs along Jefferson Street and Fourth Avenue featured an array of black singers performing their tunes with help from some of New Orleans’ premier session musicians.
These artists were joined by a new wave of musicians with similar aesthetics. Rappers like Starlito and Mike Floss demonstrated that Nashville was ready to reconnect with hip-hop culture.
American music has long been a major force in the city, but with the rise of hip-hop there has been an explosion in its urban roots. One notable local rapper, Tim Gent, stands out with his impressive acrobatic flow that blends production styles from any genre for an audience with diverse interests and exciting new opportunities.
Nashville’s hip-hop scene is flourishing, and artists such as Gent are helping to shape it. He’s a pioneer in fusing his style with various genres, and his recent single “DTP” demonstrates this ability to combine various sounds on one track.
Other promoters are staging shows that honor a variety of artists, from R&B singers Yola Carter and Raegan Wilkins to soul and funk icon Kiya Lacey. Plus, The Hype Artist Collective has organized all-women She-Hype showcases.