musicians. That just fueled his fire to bring the concept into fruition. He also felt that it would solidify Nashville's reputation as a music epicenter for all types of music.
"We wanted to see Nashville continue to be recognized as a music center and give people more reasons to come to Nashville," he said. "There's so much more to Nashville than just one genre of music. Nashville is Music City, U.S.A. So many big records of all genres are recorded here that people don't associate with Nashville. Bands fly in and record and fly out and nobody knows anything about it."
Chambers believes the Hall of Fame will draw more visitors, especially ones who are music fans, back to Nashville. He said that the demise of Opryland, a music theme park that closed several years ago, led to a decline in tourism. City officials are also excited about the new project.
"With the addition of the Musicians Hall of Fame to the landscape of Nashville's diverse product offerings, the circle truly is unbroken," said Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Multiple music genres, songwriters and now the musicians are all being properly honored in their rightful home, Music City."
Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, even the Red Hot Chili Peppers - these are all names that are instantly recognizable to most fans of popular music. The names Floyd Lightnin' Chance, Pete Drake, Marshall Grant, Joe Osborne and Billy Sherrill don't roll off the tongue with the same sense of connection, but these studio musicians were vital in the creation and recording of some of the biggest songs and albums of the 20th century.
Musicians who often work in the shadow of bigger stars now have their chance to step into the spotlight with the opening of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. The Museum, which opened in Nashville in June, honors the studio musicians who are often overlooked by the general public.
Genius in the Shadows: New Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum Shines Spotlight on Session Musicians
By John Hood
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.
August 8, 2006
The main room entrance of the Musicians Hall of Fame. Photographer: Howard Ezell
Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, even the Red Hot Chili Peppers - these are all names that are instantly recognizable to most fans of popular music. The names Floyd Lightnin' Chance, Pete Drake, Marshall Grant, Joe Osborne and Billy Sherrill don't roll off the tongue with the same sense of connection, but these studio musicians were vital in the creation and recording of some of the biggest songs and albums of the 20th century.
Musicians who often work in the shadow of bigger stars now have their chance to step into the spotlight with the opening of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. The Museum, which opened in Nashville in June, honors the studio musicians who are often overlooked by the general public.
Entrepreneur Joe Chambers, a noted songwriter, producer and owner of Nashville guitar store Chambers Guitars, is the guiding force behind the new museum. He has long believed studio musicians deserve more recognition for their contributions to popular music.
"Working in the studio as songwriter and producer, I learned the importance of studio musicians," Chambers said. "They are the backbone of the record business. I had spoken to Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy and James Burton about doing a project that would talk about and educate people on musicians. Those conversations ultimately metamorphosed into the museum."
Entrepreneur Joe Chambers, a noted songwriter, producer and owner of Nashville guitar store Chambers Guitars, is the guiding force behind the new museum. He has long believed studio musicians deserve more recognition for their contributions to popular music.
"Working in the studio as songwriter and producer, I learned the importance of studio musicians," Chambers said. "They are the backbone of the record business. I had spoken to Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy and James Burton about doing a project that would talk about and educate people on musicians. Those conversations ultimately metamorphosed into the museum."
Doing research on the concept, Chambers discovered that there were no museums anywhere dedicated to studio
The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum occupies a 30,000 square foot building in Downtown Nashville on the corner of Sixth Avenue South and Clark Place. The exhibit space features musical instruments, photos, movies and other memorabilia from musicians around the world. Currently on display are Drake's steel guitars, heard on Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" and George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass, as well as many of the Country hits from George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Visitors can also see Billy Sherrill's cigarette-burned piano, on which he composed Country classics "Almost Persuaded," "The Most Beautiful Girl" and "Stand by Your Man," plus, Marshall Grant's basses, heard on Cash's "Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire." Items will be added to the Museum regularly and a limited number of musicians will be inducted annually into the Hall of Fame.
In addition to exhibit space, the venue features a 5,000 square foot performance hall, a 1,100 square foot screening theater, a gift shop and a school of music where aspiring musicians can hone their craft. A fully functional recording studio is in the works and will be an important part of the Hall of Fame experience. Visitors will have a chance to get up close and personal with musicians while they are recording. Sennheiser, a world leader in microphone technology and the first official sponsor of the facility has provided all the audio equipment for the performance hall and audio engineer T.C. Furlong has designed the audio systems.
"During the tour of the museum you'll go into a viewing room where you can see the recording studio," Chambers said. "That room has tiered seating and three mirrored windows so that musicians won't know if anyone is watching them or not. The musicians can record without interruption and fans can see how a recording session really works. It's very educational, kind of like going to Hollywood and being able to walk onto a movie set and watch a movie being made."
Perhaps the best indicator of success for Chambers' new venture is the overwhelming support and encouragement he's received from both studio musicians and the stars they make sound so good. Garth Brooks and Neil Young are just two of the noteworthy artists who have voiced support of the project.
In a statement released by the Hall of Fame, the normally reticent Young offered these words of praise: "You can see the hood ornament on the car if you go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but if you want to look at the engine and see what's making it go, then you go to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum."
On the Web: www.musicanshalloffame.com
Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell and Vice Mayor Howard Gentry watch Joe Chambers cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Musicians Hall of Fame on June 9. Photographer: Howard Ezell
The Wrecking Crew exhibit features Jim Horn. Photographer: Howard Ezell
