Day 2 - Nashville, Tennessee

Today we are going to the RCA Victor Studio B and Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.  We begin our day at the RCA Studio B where over 35,000 songs were recorded with over 1,000 of them becoming top ten hits.

In this studio, Elvis recorded more than half of his songs here.   Elvis used the piano in this studio for many of the his songs. 

He loved the piano in the studio so much that he wanted to take it home, but the piano was kept here on display.  

In the back, behind the piano is a piece of the cabinet that is broken.  It is said that Elvis kicked it when his favorite record player would not run.  

Next we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.  The tour included some of the cars owned by some of the biggest country stars.  Including this 1960 Cadillac limousine once owned by Elvis Presley.

On display are many gold and platinum records by various artists.  Here is Carmen in front of one of Elvis' platinum records, Elvis' Christmas Album.  

There were many plaques depicting those inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  There are those you would think should be here including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chris Kristoffferson, Roy Rogers, and more.  But, I was surprised to also see the Everly Brothers.  For a non-Country fan, the exhibit was pretty good.  I was amazed at the number of country artists I actually new and heard. 

After the Hall of Fame, we spent the remainder of the afternoon in downtown Nashville and all its Honky-Tonks.  We ate lunch at Jack's Bar-B-Que.  Lunch was good, and so was walking around town.

I know we are in Honky-Tonk central, because the sign said so.

Just across the river from where we are is the Tennessee Titans stadium.

On of the last bars we pass before leaving for the day is Big Shotz.  Like most of the others we have gone by some people are in the bars, music is playing, and people are, as the sign, says are having a "hell of a time".

As we were driving away, I caught this sign advertising Popcorn Sutton's whiskey.  You might remember him, if you watched, I think the discovery channel, where they followed moon-shiners.  Popcorn was caught and imprisoned.  He later died and his wife, using the money from his revenue, paid for a legal license.  This advertising sign is the result of that licensed moonshine.

Tomorrow we leave for Memphis, Tennessee.