The Grand Opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum

The Bristol Sessions started out with a simple ad in the Bristol Herald Courier newspaper that read, "The Victrola Co. will have a recording machine in Bristol for 10 days beginning Monday to record records…" At that point in history, country music was being recorded and released, but it was all done in New York City so it wasn't true "hillbilly." By the end of the 12 days of sessions, 19 artists had recorded 76 songs and true country music was commercially born. (Thus the "birthplace" moniker.)

The first day, Ernest Stoneman became the first artist to record at Bristol. He was one of the very few out of the 19 that had already recorded music in New York.

The following week, the Carter Family (A.P. Delaney Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter, and his sister-in-law Maybelle Addington Carter) made their first record and started the journey towards country music royalty. On August 2, 2014, Carlene Carter, Maybelle's granddaughter, will perform at the grand opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, bringing the circle back around, 87 years later. She will be joined onstage by Jim Lauderdale with Ralph Stanley and The Whistles & The Bells also performing.

Carlene talked about the honor with the Bristol Herald Courier, saying, "To me, it’ the greatest honor to be there in Bristol. I’ll get Lauderdale to do it with me. I’m going to keep it real bare bones that day, because that’s what they did."

She also shared some memories passed down by her grandmother. "Grandma said she was really uncomfortable that day. When they got to Bristol, they were not dressed as well as some of the other people. Plus, she was pregnant with Aunt Helen. But I think of her sweet voice and playing her guitar and making it sound like more people were playing."

The day after Carter appears at the grand opening, she will appear at the Paramount in Bristol for Mountain Stage with Larry Groce. The nationally syndicated radio show will also feature Martina McBride, bluegrass legend and Bristol resident Doyle Lawson along with A.P. and Sara Carter’s grandson, Dale Jett.

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