Description
In Issue 13, we traveled to Nashville “Music City” where we visited with Fanny’s House of Music, Music Row, found lots of great wall murals, and learned more about local recording studios and music venues.
Road trip! As we continue our cross-country road trip, which began in Southern California and then on to Austin, our next stop was Nashville, where we hit the ground running.
Known for its history, hot chicken, honky-tonks, and music, aspiring musicians flock to Nashville to follow their dreams to pursue a career in music. Garnering the nickname “Music City,” historic Music Row is home to world-renowned recording studios and music labels where many iconic musicians made history. A newly released book, Hidden History of Music Row, delves into the area’s past.
In our Fall issue, we highlight several studios, including the John and Martina McBride’s studio, Blackbird Studios. Over the years, Blackbird Studios has worked with some renowned names in the music industry, including Rush, Queen, Kings of Leon, Greta Van Fleet, George Jones, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Ed Sheeran, 1500 or Nothin, Miley Cyrus, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Lionel Richie, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Buddy Guy, Kid Rock, Mariah Carey, Stevie Nicks, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.
And if you’re looking for a music venue, Nashville has plenty, from major stadiums to the honky-tonks that line Broadway to East Nashville and beyond. We delve into a few iconic venues like the Bluebird Café where Taylor Swift was discovered, The Basement East that was destroyed during the tornado, and more.
Gracing our covers are Brandy Clark and Lindsay Ell, who fill us in on new music and more. Nashville is a special place as it’s full of very talented musicians. We chose a few of these musicians to chat with, from award-winning musicians Molly Tuttle and Jamie O’Neal to indie and up-and-coming artists like Kalie Shorr, Larkin Poe, Madysyn, Katie Pruitt, and so many more. If you think it’s all about country music, you’ll be surprised to hear from rocker Olivia Jean on adjusting to life in Nashville.
We couldn’t go to Nashville and not catch up with Gibson. Gibson’s President and CEO, James ‘JC’ Curleigh, filled us in on the history and legacy of Gibson, as well as Elizabeth Heidt, Global Head of Entertainment Relations, on working in the industry.
If you’ve ever wondered what the Nashville Number System is, we explain it in our Lessons section, followed by some motivational and business tips.
Nashville has had their fair share of troubles this year with the devastating tornado that ripped through the city in March, followed by the music industry’s shutdown due to COVID-19. As the community says, they are #NashvilleStrong, rebuilding, and on their way back!
