Since its beginnings as a frontier town on the Cumberland River in the late 1700s, Nashville has always been a place where music has been played, enjoyed, and cultivated. One of Nashville’s first celebrities, Davy Crockett, who was widely known for his fiddle-playing and storytelling, often visited Nashville, as he was a longtime resident of Tennessee. The 19th century was also the period of time when Nashville became recognized on the world stage as Music City. When the Fisk Jubilee Singers traveled to England to perform for the Queen, she was bowled over with the gospel group’s beautiful harmonies and inspirational songs.
The renowned Ryman Auditorium, which was built by riverboat captain and entrepreneur, Thomas Ryman, first opened its doors as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892. It later became home to the Grand Ole Opry and in the present day hosts concerts and other events as the world famous Ryman Auditorium. With the advent of radio in the 1920s, the music of Nashville found its way into millions of homes across America. Nashville’s oldest radio station, WSM, which is still in operation today, broadcast the original shows of the Grand Ole Opry, and featured many early country acts that are now considered household names. For generations, Nashville and the state of Tennessee have produced some of the most iconic names in music.
From country, rock, pop, gospel, and Americana, Nashville has been a welcoming place to artists from every background of music. Our database of Nashville families explores the roots of the many individuals who have contributed to Nashville's longstanding success. From the Nashville Sound to modern day indie rock, Nashville has seen it all, and its traditions, heritage, and ongoing legacy are all honored here.
