The Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s opening,”Orthophonic Joy: 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited’s” creation and a national search for a new band were each announced at a recent press conference.
The grand opening of the museum, in Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, will be August 2. The museum will tell the history of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings. It explores the ways in which sound technology shaped their success and has evolved, and highlights how their rich musical heritage lives on in today’s music.
The museum exhibits will be packed with information, images, interactive displays, and media that all work together to bring the story of the music and its heritage alive. One highlight will be the foyer sculpture. Through a combination of innovative form and vibrant color and image, it celebrates the history and heritage of the 1927 Bristol Sessions. Also included will be a quilt specially created for the museum by the Bristol Tennessee-Virginia Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. The quilt blocks commemorate blocks from the 1800s to the present day.
Visitors will also get a chance to step into the train depot and learn about early arrivals in country music. Such as, musicians who recorded what was to become known as “hillbilly music” before the time of the Bristol Sessions. The museum will also offer listening stations where visitors can hear how contemporary musicians from Joan Baez to Nirvana arranged some of these classic songs. At these station, visitors can create a new sound by turning up the fiddle, or by turning down the banjo. It’s entirely their choice. Additionally there will be a sing-along station also available where visitors can belt out their favorite tune until their heart’s content with their family or friends.
The creation of “Orthophonic Joy: 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited” was also announced at the June 10 press conference and is set to be released in October. It will feature entertainment legend Dolly Parton, as well as country music stars Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Ashley Monroe. The recording project will include 16 of the original songs from the Bristol Sessions.
The idea to recreate the Bristol Sessions had been discussed for many years, but Birthplace of Country Music board member John Rainero, veteran songwriter Rusty Morrell and producer Carl Jackson got together and brought life to “Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited.”
“My dear friend Rusty Morrell approached me with the idea to produce a project honoring the original 1927 Bristol Sessions,” Jackson said. “ He was very aware and fond of a couple of other multi-artist ‘tribute’ projects I had produced and felt I was the guy who could bring his vision to life. In my opinion, the importance of those ’27 recordings cannot be overstated, and I am truly honored that Rusty asked me to shine a new and loving light on some of those classic works.”
Ralph Peer, producer for Victor Talking Machine Company that later was renamed RCA Victor, identified Bristol as an ideal place to make recordings. On Friday, July 22, 1927, Peer and two Victor recording engineers set up a temporary studio with the latest recording technology in the Taylor-Christian Hat Company building at 408 State Street. In the following days, a variety of performers arrived in Bristol for the Sessions. The recordings were unique because Peer didn’t just use well know artist. He listened to anyone that wanted to sing for him. He made five discs with 22 to 27 songs on each.
Keeping Peer’s tradition in mind, a national search for a new band was also announced at the press conference. The band will perform the last track on the “Orthophonic Joy” recording project, which will be produced by multi Grammy Award winner Carl Jackson.
For emerging and independent artists this is a great opportunity, each group may submit one of the following selected Bristol Sessions songs: “The Storms Are On the Ocean,” “Darling Cora,” “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow,” or “I Am Bound For The Promised Land.” Deadline to receive submissions is July 10. Four artists will be selected for Jackson and a panel of judges to review.
For a complete list of contest rules and more information on the Birthplace of Country Music, visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org
Featured Photo Credit: (Jay Phyfer)
