Music City

Music City! Nashville, Tennessee! I love traveling and discovering the world first hand. I’m not a country and western kind of gal and Brian just isn’t that kind of guy; but, they tricked us and we had ourselves a ball!

We drove down to the Gaylord Opryland on the finest of March days. Clear and sunshiny with a crispness in the air that hollered spring is hovering near! Just around dusk we arrived at Gaylord Opryland. This facility is the largest hotel and conference accommodation in the world. Relative to registration, our temporary residence was half way around it, up a few floors and down a couple more hallways. (Next time we plan to use a bell hop for our luggage.)

What a fabulous room! We grabbed some quiet time, freshened up and headed outside to explore the Grand Ole Opry only to discover it was closed.

Instead, we explored the hotel until we came across and settled in the Jack Daniel’s bar. Lively music was the draw. Country and Western? That’s Neil Diamond. And that’s Stevie Ray Vaughn. I didn’t know they were considered country and western. Brian said he had known all along. (This coming from the man who told me every Waffle House restaurant we passed on the way to Nashville was closed.) Nonetheless, this was toe tappin’, knee slappin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, down home music and we were having a great time!

Adding to the excitement was when the lead singer introduced the pianist, Jim. Jim had worked with Roy Orbison for eight years. I adored Roy Orbinson. Not just because of his music, but because he bridged a simple gap between me and my dad. Rarely had we agreed on ‘today’s’ music. 'Mystery Girl' though (Roy’s last solo album) was shared and enjoyed by us both.

I was so enthralled, I actually gathered enough courage to walk up and shake Jim’s hand. He came over and had a beer while relating personal tidbits from touring with Roy and identifying tracks he contributed to on albums. He remembered the excitement when Roy announced the formation of The Traveling Wilburys. Time was up; but, before Jim returned to his bench, he informed us that he would be playing the following night with a different group; an even better band. How could that be?

Dinner that next night was downtown Nashville at the Wild Horse Saloon. Posed horses took on human personalities intertwined with the tables and railings while a wild horse stampede finale was orchestrated upside down across the ceiling. Line dancing was being taught so most of our group joined in to learn and dance the night away.

Upon our return to the hotel, we were still curious about the promise of better music than the night before. We hit the Jack Daniels bar during the band’s first break. We waved at Jim and settled in for a nightcap. The music commenced and it swept us away; clapping, stomping and singing loud. This was one fine combo of musicians (notches above the last) and the night played on!

Heading back home, Brian and I broached the quality of music we were so thrilled to be a part of. His thought was “This is Nashville, Teri; Music City. The worst band here is probably better than the best one back home.” I didn’t argue.

Written By Teri Lee
March, 2004