The Grand Ole Opry

Started and once known as WSM Barn Dance radio program, it became The Grand Ole Opry, that is currently played on the new radio studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance Company was located in the 5th floor. The concept began on October 18, 1925 when the WSM management decided and began to introduce a program that featured musicians. The newly hired radio announcer and also program director George D. Hay launched on November 28, 1925 the famous fiddler, then already 77 years old Uncle Jimmy Thompson. That was the birth date of The Grand Ole Opry. Since that day, many group bands and musicians were introduced and played here live. However, that was still the concept of the program until December 10, 1927, when the name Grand Old Opry was declared after the DeFord Bailey played the train song, The Pan American Song, which featured some realism of a railroad locomotive. This realizes the goal of the program to play not only classical and grand music but also present realistic music. A sound of a rushing train or railroad locomotive was usually played as the program’s final piece. Since the day when Judge Hay announced the “Grand Ole Opry”, it remained in the audience’s memory and the name was used since then.

Among the early and significant bands that played during the early airing of the program were the Crook Brothers, who were the first regular band that played there. Then there was the Fruit Jar Drinkers, which followed, and the famous dance in the barn, then the square dance was included as one of the night’s highlights. Fruit Jar Drinkers was always the favorite to play for the dancers. The following year, one of the featured musicians, Uncle Dave Macon, the banjo player from Tennessee, who recorded many songs and had toured the famous Vaudeville Circuit, became well known and was its first real celebrity.

Several locations served as the playing ground of Grand Ole Opry. Last October 1934, Grand Ole Opry moved to Hillsboro Theatre, now known as Belcourt. After a couple years of operating in a small venue it moved to Dixie Tabernacle located East of Nashville last June 13 1936 and moved to War Memorial Auditorium, near the State Capitol. The Grand Ole Opry moved on June 5, 1943 to the Ryman Auditorium where the best of Country Music was played.

A trip in Nashville will surely be memorable and cannot be completed without a visit to the phenomenal, Grand Ole Opry, a live radio show considered the longest running show not only in America but also in the world. This has already been considered as an icon in America.