Building Nashville

After stints at several Nashville venues, including three decades at Ryman Auditorium; the Grand Ole Opry finds a permanent home at the Opry House in 1974.  In this episode, we chronicle the last days the show lives at The Ryman, the first night at the Opry House, and the 2010 disaster that nearly destroyed it all. 

In the late 1920's the Grand Ole Opry radio show on WSM had become appointment listening for much of North America. In this episode, follow the Opry as it outgrows the WSM studios in downtown Nashville and goes trekking across town, looking for a home. Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental of Tennessee. 

In this episode, Chuck Mead takes you to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for a very special Tuesday show. Then, you will meet a man who spent many years behind the famous red curtain; "Bud" Wendell. Bud arrived in the Music City in the 1960's and spent the next four decades helping to shape the Nashville we know today. Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental of Tennessee. Learn more about Building Nashville at wsmonline.com Follow WSM on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @wsmradio

As WSM becomes one of the most dominate stations in the US, station staff and engineers strive to develop programming and technology to reach an even bigger audience. When the country is plunged into WWII; WSM provides the news Americans want and the escapism they need.  Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental of Tennessee. Learn more about Building Nashville at wsmonline.com Follow WSM on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @wsmradio

When National Life and Accident Insurance Company decided to create a radio station to increase insurance sales, they created a legend. In this episode, learn how WSM broke new ground in broadcasting, from the famous Air Castle tower to connecting North America like no station had done before.  Building Nashville is brought to you by Delta Dental of Tennessee.

Minnie Pearl becomes and Opry star and Sarh Ophelia Colley becomes Sarah Cannon. While Minnie Pearl blazes a trail to comedy stardom, Sarah Cannon gains may friends and inspires more.  Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental of Tennessee. Learn more about Building Nashville at wsmonline.com Follow WSM on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @wsmradio

Today, Chuck Mead introduces you to Sarah Ophelia Colley. She is growing up in an upper-middle class family in Centerville, Tennessee. She dreams of a career entertaining from the stage. However, thanks to the Great Depression and chance encounters, that career begins to take a different shape than she imagined.  Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental of Tennessee. Learn more about Building Nashville at wsmonline.com Follow WSM on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @wsmradio 

In this Season 1 preview: Building Nashville Host, Chuck Mead, takes you on a virtual walk up Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. Along the way, he previews this season's stories. Building Nashville is made possible by Delta Dental. Find out more by finding WSM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @WSMRadio 

Today, George welcomes Fred Newell. Fred has spent the last four decades in Nashville, working as a studio musician and touring player. Fred was part of Ralph Emery's house band on the long running Nashville Now on The Nashville Network. Fred chats with George about his time in the Nashville recording studios and working with the likes of Porter Wagoner and Waylon Jennings. Now, here's George Gruhn with Fred Newell 

Welcome to Gruhn's Vault: Conversations with the Masters... with host George Gruhn, owner and founder of Gruhn Guitars, Nashville's most renowned musical instrument shop. Today, George welcomes, Jack Schneider. At age 15, Jack Schneider's parents drove from Atlanta to let Jack experience Gruhn Guitars. Now, Jack is 21 and nearing his degree at NYU. As Jack grew up, he became a friend to George and has completed two internships at Gruhn Guitars.

Welcome to Gruhn's Vault: Conversations with the Masters... with host George Gruhn, owner and founder of Gruhn Guitars, Nashville's most renowned musical instrument shop. Don Schlitz is a grammy winning songwriter and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Don's first hit as a songwriter was Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler", which became a crossover country hit upon its release in 1978.

Don Cusic is an American biographer, writer on music, historian of United States American popular music, songwriter, and record producer. He is the author of 25 books, most of them related to country Music.  Don is also the Curb Professor of Music Industry History and teaches in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.  Now, from the WSM studios, here's George Gruhn with Don Cusic.

Today, George welcomes, Larry Black. Larry Black was born in 1945 and grew up in Mobile, Alabama., the son of an Assemblies of God pastor, and worked a disc jockey for decades. At one point, his Larry Black Show aired on 125 radio stations. As an actor, he has appeared in the films and TV movies Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Scared Stupid, October Sky and Pure Country 2: The Gift, and in the TV series I’ll Fly Away, In the Heat of the Night, and Larry's Country Diner

Today, George welcomes,Tommy White. Tommy first took the Opry stage in the early 1980's with the music group, The Whites. In 1997 he became the Opry staff band steel guitar player. Tommy has also become one of the most sought after studio player for steel and dobro.  Now, from the WSM studios, here's George Gruhn with Tommy White.

Today, George chats with Ketch Secor, founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. OCMS came to Nashville in 1998 and after years of playing clubs and busking the historic Nashville streets; Old Crow's unique blend of musical styles earned them membership into the Grand Ole Opry.   From the WSM studios, here's George Gruhn and Ketch Secor.