Thanks. I'm really enjoying these articles. As I have mentioned, "old time" country musicians talked far louder to this Brit to our somewhat sanitised folk we are fed.
Stumbling across the fabulous Harry Smith stuff on the Smithsonian kicked me into another gear, and enraptured by Dock Boggs (never mind the name!) Sugar Babe, which still rips me apart.
So - thanks! Appreciated. This stuff needs to be propagated. It's people's music, the white man's blues.
I love this, Zach! I grew up just down the road in LaVergne, TN, attending high school in Smyrna, and once I hit 18 in 1975, I spent a pretty fair amount of time on the Lower Broad section of town. I purchased my first saxaphone at Al's Pawnshop and met Wolfman Jack at the Backstage Lounge on New Year's Eve 1977, while seeing many well known country music artists at Roberts Western Room, such as Jane Fricke.
Nashville trully did have a different air, aura and spirit about it back then, especially when the Possum Holler was still up and going strong. And the new Gaylord Entertainment Center never did have the same spirit and feel of something important as the Ryman Auditorium has held all these years.
I'm sure that You have met many of Nashville's top country music artists, just as I did way back in the day. I actually ran into Johnny Cash when he was drunk as a skunk at Rivergate Mall in Gootlettsville, TN -- dressed like an old broke down farmer with mud caked on his $500 cowboy boots in 1983, and a fast friendship went from there.
And if you were around back then, Heaven Lee [Vianka de la Prida] held many a man's attention at the Black Poodle. I met her when she made a PR visit on MTSU's campus in 1978 as part of a rush event held by the Sigma Chi fraternity. And another fast frienship developed. She was nothing like the way The Tennessean and other papers described her at the time -- very personable and actually well-educated.
Your piece has evoked a good many great, fond memories from those days. Thank You!
Great read. I am working my way up to the most recent posts. Growing up in NJ in the 1970's there was a faint country music radio station - or at least a program (my memory is a bit dimmed on that) and they played the country music classics. About that time Cash had a TV show my folks would sometimes let me watch, they preferred Glenn Campbell. I was consigned to the old black and white TV in the basement when I wanted to watch Hee-Haw. That was my introduction to country music and it stuck lo these many decades later. I knew some history but your posts capture a side that is not generally known and is quite informative while being entertaining. Keep on keepin' on. Great work.
When I lived there in the mid-to-late 80's, you were taking your life in your own hands if you ventured down lower Broad after 5PM. Even worse on the weekends. Just like Beale Street in Memphis. I'm glad they cleaned it up, I'm not so crazy about the French Quarter aspect of it, but it's not nearly as dangerous.. Great topic!
I’m originally from Memphis, and I thought the same thing about Beale Street as I was reading this. The Beale Street I remember as a child in the 70s was a shadow of its former glory, but it still had hints of what it was; what’s there now has nothing to do with old Beale Street and everything to do with drunken college students, bachelor parties, and a commercialized, sanitized version of the blues. I fear that’s the direction Broadway is headed (or has already gone).
I am too, the last time I went down there, and it’s been several years, I saw some guy puking in the street along with lots of other tourists staggering around, drunk. Just like the French Quarter
Pioneers (starving artists) go to a place because it's cheap. They make the place cool and hip, then everyone wants to go there. Suddenly, it ain't cheap no more.
I lived in Nashville from 1990-94 and remember going down to 2nd Avenue to the antique and junk stores down there. It was right around the time the convention center was being opened almost across Broadway from the Ryman. I had a neighbor (out in Bellevue where I lived) who worked for Gaylord and he got me Opry tickets out at Opryland. Never went to the Ryman, although I did have a co-worker whose husband was a musician on Music Row.
On the contrary, we need more authentic music seeking people to hold the bands accountable downtown. 100% come in and ask them to sing the real stuff, all the time. Make them rework the setlist. I’m always attempting to add stuff I’ve never done to my set if it’s actual real country.
A view of the world from 2nd Ave is a romantic one. I'm happy you see the windmills. I enjoy your writing. I hope you prosper in your adventure. How's the singing voice?
Thanks. I'm really enjoying these articles. As I have mentioned, "old time" country musicians talked far louder to this Brit to our somewhat sanitised folk we are fed.
Stumbling across the fabulous Harry Smith stuff on the Smithsonian kicked me into another gear, and enraptured by Dock Boggs (never mind the name!) Sugar Babe, which still rips me apart.
So - thanks! Appreciated. This stuff needs to be propagated. It's people's music, the white man's blues.
Nashville Tennessee
On my bucket list 😁
I love this, Zach! I grew up just down the road in LaVergne, TN, attending high school in Smyrna, and once I hit 18 in 1975, I spent a pretty fair amount of time on the Lower Broad section of town. I purchased my first saxaphone at Al's Pawnshop and met Wolfman Jack at the Backstage Lounge on New Year's Eve 1977, while seeing many well known country music artists at Roberts Western Room, such as Jane Fricke.
Nashville trully did have a different air, aura and spirit about it back then, especially when the Possum Holler was still up and going strong. And the new Gaylord Entertainment Center never did have the same spirit and feel of something important as the Ryman Auditorium has held all these years.
I'm sure that You have met many of Nashville's top country music artists, just as I did way back in the day. I actually ran into Johnny Cash when he was drunk as a skunk at Rivergate Mall in Gootlettsville, TN -- dressed like an old broke down farmer with mud caked on his $500 cowboy boots in 1983, and a fast friendship went from there.
And if you were around back then, Heaven Lee [Vianka de la Prida] held many a man's attention at the Black Poodle. I met her when she made a PR visit on MTSU's campus in 1978 as part of a rush event held by the Sigma Chi fraternity. And another fast frienship developed. She was nothing like the way The Tennessean and other papers described her at the time -- very personable and actually well-educated.
Your piece has evoked a good many great, fond memories from those days. Thank You!
Great read. I am working my way up to the most recent posts. Growing up in NJ in the 1970's there was a faint country music radio station - or at least a program (my memory is a bit dimmed on that) and they played the country music classics. About that time Cash had a TV show my folks would sometimes let me watch, they preferred Glenn Campbell. I was consigned to the old black and white TV in the basement when I wanted to watch Hee-Haw. That was my introduction to country music and it stuck lo these many decades later. I knew some history but your posts capture a side that is not generally known and is quite informative while being entertaining. Keep on keepin' on. Great work.
When I lived there in the mid-to-late 80's, you were taking your life in your own hands if you ventured down lower Broad after 5PM. Even worse on the weekends. Just like Beale Street in Memphis. I'm glad they cleaned it up, I'm not so crazy about the French Quarter aspect of it, but it's not nearly as dangerous.. Great topic!
I’m originally from Memphis, and I thought the same thing about Beale Street as I was reading this. The Beale Street I remember as a child in the 70s was a shadow of its former glory, but it still had hints of what it was; what’s there now has nothing to do with old Beale Street and everything to do with drunken college students, bachelor parties, and a commercialized, sanitized version of the blues. I fear that’s the direction Broadway is headed (or has already gone).
I am too, the last time I went down there, and it’s been several years, I saw some guy puking in the street along with lots of other tourists staggering around, drunk. Just like the French Quarter
Now the Opry’s gone and the streets are bare
Ernest Tubb’s record shop is dark
And the drunks are gone from the Merchant’s Hotel
Everybody’s gone to the park
Where can you go to see the country music stars
Sittin drinkin’ coffee ‘til four?
Shoney’s closed at nine o’clock; there’s nothing left to do
Nobody eats at Linebaugh’s anymore
-- John Hartford
This is great.
It's all about land. The big secret of economics.
Pioneers (starving artists) go to a place because it's cheap. They make the place cool and hip, then everyone wants to go there. Suddenly, it ain't cheap no more.
I lived in Nashville from 1990-94 and remember going down to 2nd Avenue to the antique and junk stores down there. It was right around the time the convention center was being opened almost across Broadway from the Ryman. I had a neighbor (out in Bellevue where I lived) who worked for Gaylord and he got me Opry tickets out at Opryland. Never went to the Ryman, although I did have a co-worker whose husband was a musician on Music Row.
I have fond memories of the Broken Spoke in Austin Texas, back before the 6th Street scene, SxSW, and all the money rolled in.
The intimacy is long gone.
A great article. Thanks.
An authentic music fan seeking authentic music has no business on Lower Broad.
On the contrary, we need more authentic music seeking people to hold the bands accountable downtown. 100% come in and ask them to sing the real stuff, all the time. Make them rework the setlist. I’m always attempting to add stuff I’ve never done to my set if it’s actual real country.
A view of the world from 2nd Ave is a romantic one. I'm happy you see the windmills. I enjoy your writing. I hope you prosper in your adventure. How's the singing voice?
BR549 -- on the to-listen-to list. Thanks, and keep 'em coming!