Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News: Ryman Auditorium Voted Best Music Venue in the 'Toast Of Music City'

BMNN wrote: on Jul. 25, 2010:

Nashville, TN -- Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium has once again been voted Best Music Venue by Tennessean readers choice poll, Toast of Music City. The announcement was made last night during a special ceremony held at the War Memorial Auditorium. "We continue to be humbled by the amount of love and support the citizens of Nashville have shown us over the years," said Ryman General Manager, Sally Williams. "This award holds a special place in our hearts because it is voted on by our guests."

Tonight Show host Jay Leno mentioned the Ryman this week when introducing Ohio-rockers, The Black Keys. In his introduction, he mentioned the band's scheduled performance at the historic venue August 12 calling it "...a great room!"

Originally built as a church in 1892, by the turn of the century the Ryman had transformed itself into one of the South’s premier performance halls and had launched a tradition of showcasing a wide variety of entertainment genres. Over the next half century, the Ryman stage attracted performances by legends ranging from stars of the silver screen such as Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin to famed composers such as Edward Strauss and Sergei Rachmaninov.

The stage also hosted Opera stars like famed African American contralto Marian Anderson and Vaudeville personalities such as humorist and cowboy singer Will Rogers. Later, during the Grand Ole Opry’s stay from 1943-1974, the building gained nationwide recognition as the "Mother Church of Country Music," when pioneering performers such as Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline helped shape country and bluegrass music from the Ryman stage.

The historically cool Ryman has a full calendar of a variety of upcoming events including Crowded House, August 2; Natalie Merchant, August 29; indie-veterans The Pixies on September 10 and 11; and country music's "Gentle Giant" Don Williams, October 20 and 21. A complete schedule of events can be found at www.ryman.com

A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The Ryman, voted one of the Top Ten “Best Live Music Venues” in the nation by Citysearch patrons, continues its more-than-100-year music tradition by offering the best in live entertainment. The Ryman Auditorium is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that owns and operates Gaylord Hotels, the Grand Ole Opry and ResortQuest International.

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