Music in Music City (North Broadway)

Welcome to the Music in Music City North tour! Nashville is known as Music City, and we’re proud of our music history, but there’s more than meets the eye. It’s not all about country music—we’re known for music publishing, jazz, soul, gospel, bluegrass, barbershop quartets, and more. And there are plenty of great stories to tell and melodies to hum along the way. Here at Nashville Sites, our Music in Music City tour is divided into two parts. This tour will cover music history on the northern side of Broadway. To learn more about why we’re called Music City, take one of our other Nashville Sites tours: Music in Music City South, Music Row Neighborhood, and Historic Music Row. 

You should begin this tour in front of the historical marker and statue at the corner of Ryman Auditorium, near its original entrance on Fifth Avenue. Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys gave bluegrass its name. This band played together for nearly 60 years and featured Bill Monroe, the legendary mandolinist, Earl Scruggs on the banjo, and Lester Flatt on the guitar. Their “sound” was more known for simple lyrics, rapid tempos, and extended instrumental solos. Monroe, who hailed from rural Kentucky is remembered as the “Father of Bluegrass.” According to an NPR article published in 2011, “Monroe influenced early country music and rock 'n' roll, as well as the hard-driving, high-lonesome genre he created.” Bluegrass is just one example of fusing musical traditions, as it combines English and Scottish folk music with traditional African American blues and jazz. This makes for the perfect start for a tour, which will explore the many types of music that have evolved right here in Music City. 

Hello, I’m Andriana Haygood, and I am a vocal artist, a vocal coach, and adjunct professor at Belmont University right here in Nashville. I have a bachelor and master’s degree in vocal performance and have been awarded a variety of opportunities to sing on platforms such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., YouTube Studios in New York, and the Grand Ole Opry, which is one of the sites that you’ll learn about on this tour. I’ll be your guide as we listen and learn about the people, places, and songs that have shaped our city’s distinct musical culture. Be sure to check out the Spotify playlist for this tour and follow and tag us on social media @NashvilleSites. And please… feel free to sing along! 

Begin the tour at the Birthplace of Bluegrass historical marker and statue of Bill Monroe. The Bill Monroe statue is currently removed from its location, but will return soon! Your next stop is Ryman Auditorum, and the visitor’s entrance is on Fourth Avenue. Press “next stop” to begin and feel free to explore the Ryman’s hallowed grounds as you listen to the narration.