The year was 1927. An eight-month pregnant Maybelle Carter drove nine hours on a flat tire just to record a song in Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee. She was joined by musicians like Jimmie Rodgers and The Stoneman Family. They went to make music. They ended up making history.
Today, country music history is born again. Straight from the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee comes the release of Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited. Listen to exclusive re-recordings of the original songs by some of country’s biggest names. Grammy Award-winning producer, Carl Jackson, along with an amazing collection of country artists, bring new life to the most influential recordings in country music history. Not only does this album pay homage to the original recordings, it is destined to stir a re-awakening within the industry the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions helped shape.
Bristol’s influence on the music scene is honored through the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This Smithsonian Institution-affiliated museum takes you on a journey through country music history with a number of interactive exhibits, listening stations, live performances and more. The museum is a touchstone for visitors seeking a personal connection with the music of the region and Bristol’s important role in the evolution of recorded music history.
Located along Virginia’s Crooked Road Heritage Trail, a stretch of 330 miles trailing through over 60 music venues and festivals in Southwest Virginia, The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is an essential first stop on any music lover’s road trip.
The sounds of country music beat strong and pure in Virginia. Annual music festivals, weekly concerts, live radio shows, and informal jam sessions abound throughout the Commonwealth and welcome visitors to follow their roots to the place where country music began.
The Big Bang of Country Music still echoes today with Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Session Revisited. Follow the music to Virginia.org/Music.
