Edgehill and DeFord Bailey

Just next door to Music Row is Edgehill—a historic Nashville neighborhood with deep roots in both African American life and the early years of the Grand Ole Opry.

After the Civil War, Edgehill became a vital hub for the city’s Black community. Between 1865 and 1875, newly freed men, women, and children arrived from across the South, building a vibrant neighborhood in the early 1900s. Take our Edgehill walking tour to learn more.

Edgehill was home to the first transmitting towers of WSM Radio, the station that launched the Grand Ole Opry. Located on Horton Avenue (now DeFord Bailey Avenue), the original setup included two towers with an antenna suspended between them. During the Opry’s first decade—from 1925 to 1932—live broadcasts were transmitted from right here in Edgehill. In 1932, WSM upgraded to a 50,000-watt tower in Brentwood, expanding its reach nationwide.

Edgehill was also the longtime home of musical pioneer DeFord Bailey, the first Black performer to join the Grand Ole Opry. Known as the “Harmonica Wizard,” Bailey was a brilliant musician whose signature tune, “Pan American Blues,” helped inspire the Opry’s name. He performed regularly on the show from 1928 to 1941 and participated in Nashville’s first recording sessions, cutting eight tracks for RCA Victor in 1928. Here’s a snippet of his 1928 recording of Pan American Blues, you can practically feel the train coming.

DeFord Bailey was beloved by audiences across racial lines. As songwriter and author Alice Randall put it: “He was the father of Country, and Country’s first superstar.” At a time when WSM’s signal reached millions across North America, Bailey’s music became a cultural bridge.

However, Bailey’s career was cut short in 1941 during a licensing dispute between radio broadcasters, including the Opry, and the performing rights organization ASCAP. Many of the songs he performed were copyrighted under ASCAP, and as a result, he was dismissed. While the official explanation cited licensing issues, DeFord’s departure reflected the racism he endured behind the scenes. The regular cast of the Opry would not feature another Black artist until Charley Pride in the mid-1960s.

Historian Kristine McCusker noted the Opry’s complicated racial politics, explaining that rather than side with either segregationists or integrationists, the Opry “embraced racially exclusive stages... on which Whites performed and Blacks were invisible.” DeFord Bailey was the rare exception.

Long overlooked, Bailey was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. And in 2023, Nashville renamed Horton Avenue as DeFord Bailey Avenue, honoring the man whose music helped launch the Opry—and whose legacy still echoes through Music City.

Now we’ll head back downtown, to the iconic Mother Church—the Ryman Auditorium. Stay straight on DeFord Bailey Ave. then turn LEFT onto 12th Ave S. You can learn more about this neighborhood on our Gulch Highlights tour. Turn RIGHT onto Division St. then LEFT onto 8th Ave S. Take the second exit on the roundabout onto Korean Veterans Blvd. then turn LEFT onto Rep. John Lewis Way. The Ryman will be on your right just after crossing over Broadway. You can find street parking or paid lots nearby.