Discovering Nashville's Rhythm And Soul: A Musical Journey Through The Heart Of Tennessee

Perched on the roughly 500-mile-triangulated region of the mythical Mojo Triangle, Nashville, TN has long been a musical hotspot with a focus on rhythm and soul. The Mojo Triangle is a geographic destination where the harmonies of the Natchez, Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes converged with both the tempo and staccato of enslaved Africans and the lyricism and instrumentation of Europeans.

Draw a straight line from Nashville to New Orleans, then over to Memphis and back to Nashville, and that is the Mojo Triangle, a place where a musical cauldron percolated, formulating into the rhythm and soul sound that would define Nashville especially, giving it its sobriquet ‘Music City’. Tourism to Music City has been on the rise, with Nashville generating nearly $9 billion in revenue and over 9.5 million rooms booked in 2022 alone. For tourists still planning their musical-themed escapade, there are numerous ways to discover the rhythm and soul heart of Nashville.

What Is The Music History Of Nashville?

Nashville Tennessee at night

Before exploring Nashville, it is helpful to have a rough sense of the music history, if only to recognize that the metropolis is more than just a haven for country music lovers, as the ultiimate travel guide to Nashville will prove. It was in the 1800s that Nashville began to become a hub of music publication, alongside the opening of Fisk University, which set out to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” They began to tour and sing as a gospel group in order to raise funds for the college.

In the 1930s, Jefferson Street rose to prominence, becoming home to the city's rhythm and blues scene thanks to its beehive of speakeasies, supper clubs and nightclubs. As the 1960s roared into being, Jimi Hendrix began performing at the Club Del Morocco while other stars who cut their teeth along the mythical stretch of Jefferson Avenue were Otis Redding and Etta James. These icons solidified Nashville's place as a hubbub of soul music even as country began its ascent.

While Club Del Morocco was torn down when Interstate 40 was built, there is still a historical marker commemorating its impact. Its location is in Hadley Park, with the marker itself standing at 2510 Jefferson.

The crossover between rhythm, soul and country, however, has always existed. Country music began to dominate in the 1950s as the smooth sounds, intricate tempos and stylized background vocals began to replace the rougher improvisational sounds of country music during the 1930s and 1940s. Record companies such as RCA Victor and Columbia set up shop in Nashville, and, with legendary musicians and producers such as Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes, developed a country-rock hybrid sound known as Rockabilly, using the fusion sound to revive sales in the face of rock and roll's domination of the charts.

How Do You Experience Music In Nashville?

Music Tours In Nashville

There are several ways to become immersed in the rhythm and soul of Nashville, and one of the ones that focus on those genres is The Soul City Music Tour. The evening tours are a land and river affair, with stops at such venues as Nashville Ryman Auditorium. Also known as the "Mother Church of Country Music", visitors will learn how the stage, once built for evangelical performers at the turn of the city, has since morphed into an essential stop for contemporary performers across all genres. The tour allows visitors to easily hopscotch to other legendary musical locations, from Jefferson Street to Music Row.

Soul City Music Tour: from $42.95
2-Day Old Town Trolley Tour: from $75.90

Other city tours include Music City Rollin' Jamboree - a singalong tour down music history - Old Town Trolley Tours and Music City Pub Crawls.

To save money, consider booking a combo guided tour. One such tour includes entry into the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Music History Sites In Nashville

Because music in Nashville is an elaborate tapestry, it goes without saying that visiting iconic venues such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (which visitors can tour) only further helps one understand the rhythm and soul component. Dedicated to the preservation of American music, the Music Hall of Fame is called the 'House that Holds the Music' for a reason. Chartered by the State of Tennessee in 1964 to be an educational institution, one of the museum's permanent exhibits is Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music, which both educates and entertains.

To honor its rhythm and soul history, the museum continues to host events that support its exhibition, Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970. The exhibit hails Little Richard and his bandstand approach as well as Jimi Hendrix and his rock and roll and blues synchronization, reminding visitors how the heart of country and country's lineage are the rhythm and blues pulsations. The exhibit is also online, for visitors who want to take a peek prior to their visit.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: over 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space
Address: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way, S. Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: 615.416.2001

Discover the costs involved with visitong the Country Music Hall of Fame and how long to spend there before planning a visit.

The Jefferson Street Sound Museum is another excellent place to learn about Nashville's music scene and is essentially the convergence point of all things rhythm and soul in the city. Complete with a production studio, museum and rehearsal hall, its intention is to offer a creative atmosphere that educates visitors while also providing musical resources for local schools and community groups.

Address: 2004 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208
Contact: 615.414.6675
Tours offered on the hour: Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CST

Scheduling tours for Tuesdays - Thursdays at the Jefferson Street Sound Museum are highly encouraged.

Signs along the streets of Music City in Nashville, Tennessee

In terms of history, it is impossible to study rhythm and blues without acknowledging the impact the Civil Rights Movement had on the sound as it evolved in Nashville. Like other sites on the Civil Rights Trail throughout the Deep South, Nashville's culture was defined and sculpted by the fights for equality. The National Museum of African American Music supplies not only a history in civics, but a connection between that history and the soulful style of music that rooted itself deep in Tennessee.

With a tagline, "One Nation Under One Groove", the museum preserves the history of African Americans and their musical genesis, offering visitors deep dives into rhythm, blues and R&B with such exhibits as "A Love Supreme", which looks at the overlap between spiritual music, jazz, and bebop, a sonic collaboration that introduced the world to such chanteuses as Billie Holiday and Etta James. "Rivers of Rhythm Pathways" allows visitors to trace the timeline and the geographical progression of specific sounds, noting how rhythm and soul sometimes diverged from country and rock and roll, only to rejoin the genres at key moments in pop history.

Address: 510 Broadway Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: 615.301.8724

Nashville Nightclubs & Music Venues

It goes without saying that the nightlife and the club scene can be the best places to find the rhythm and soul heartbeat of Nashville. Partying at Printer's Alley is one of the best things to do in Nashville for music lovers, and is a place once devoted to the publishing scene, in the 1940s and beyond, it became a hotspot for such legendary performers as Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, the Supremes and Jimi Hendrix. Today, it continues to hold sway over Nashville's nightlife with constant live entertainment.

Address: 150 4th Avenue, Nashville, TN 327219
Contact: 615.743.3090

The Bourbon Street Blues and Music Bar says it all in the title. With live rhythm and blues, the music perfectly dovetails the Cajun cuisine that it offers.

Address: 220 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201
Contact: 615.242.5837

Meanwhile, Rudy's Jazz Room placates the palates that crave jazz music layered with blues and served up with New Orleans homestyle dishes. To keep in time with history, many of the cocktails date back to the illicit drinks that were served during prohibition. Big time bands that have performed in the past (and who continue to do so), include The Rougarou Horns Brass Band and the Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler.

Address: 809 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: 615.988.2458

While a bit outside of Nashville, The Caverns, also known as Bluegrass Underground, demonstrates just how thoroughly bluegrass, rhythm, and soul overlap, creating a cacophony not heard anywhere else. Perhaps the most eclectic music venue that the region has to offer, The Caverns offers unique acoustics for the variety of bands that play there, adhering to a Mojo Triangle principle that believes that nature is of paramount importance when understanding the area's idiosyncratic sound.

Address: 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham TN, 37336
Contact: 931.516.9724

Where To Shop For Music In Nashville?

The bars along the streets of Nashville, Tennessee

If one is going to become immersed in the music scene, it only makes sense to do some shopping for apropos souvenirs. As Nashville is an undisputed music lover's haven (epsecially music-themed road trips), the abundance of music stores and all things analog promises to satisfy the enthusiasm of every diehard musicophile.

Grimey's New and Preloved Music has long followed the belief that vinyl is both retro and relevant. With over 4,000 square feet and two floors to house its analog collection, the store also has a stage built in, where it constantly welcomes bands of all of genres.

Address: 1060 E Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37216
Contact: 615.226.3811

Vinyl Tap is located in East Nashville and it too adheres to the philosophy that music is simply better when on a record. In addition to its epic collection of records, it also serves beer on tap, satisfying multiple appetites with one visit.

Address: 2038 Greenwood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206
Contact: 615.454-3995

The Groove isn't far from Grimey's or Vinyl Tap, making a visit there part of a road trip for any music liver. The outside of the building gives the impression that one is about to visit a friend's house, and the ambiance of the store isn't far off. With a vibe that is welcoming and comforting, the store also has a healthy collection of vinyl art to dovetail its collection of music.

Address: 1103 Calvin Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206
Contact: 615.227.5760

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