Tennessee Music Pathways connects visitors to the people, places and genres that make Tennessee the Soundtrack of America. A statewide driving tour, the Pathways represents hundreds of landmarks across the state and spans seven genres of music: blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll. From the largest cities to the smallest communities, Tennessee Music Pathways identifies and preserves the unique musical history throughout all 95 counties of the state. More than 500 possible locations for markers have been identified including birthplaces, resting places, hometowns, high schools, churches and locations of first-known recordings or performances of the musical pioneers and legends influenced and shaped by Tennessee.
Country Music songwriter and performer Dean Dillon was born Larry Dean Fynn on March 26, 1955, in Lake City, Tennessee (later renamed Rocky Top). Although Dillon began his career as a performer, he became renowned as a songwriter. His work includes . . . — — Map (db m248181) HM
Jazz trombonist Jimmy Cleveland was a versatile musician whose work was largely confined to other artists' sessions, pit orchestras and broadcasting. Among the artists he backed were Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, James Brown, Billie Holiday, Cannonball . . . — — Map (db m267849) HM
Gospel music publisher and hymnodist Robert Emmett (R.E.) Winsett composed many sacred songs, “Jesus Is Coming Soon” being the most well known, but his reputation rests more upon his publishing endeavor. The R. E. Winsett Publishing Company produced . . . — — Map (db m153659) HM
A keeper of the African American string-band tradition, Howard Armstrong was a multi-instrumentalist with a very extensive repertoire. He was also a multilinguist, painter, and teller of folk tales and anecdotes drawn from his long life and career. . . . — — Map (db m233100) HM
The first artist to successfully and consistently blend country and pop music into a new hybrid, Eddy Arnold was a pioneer of what became known as "the Nashville Sound." He introduced country music to a broad audience, registering 37 pop hits and . . . — — Map (db m174337) HM
A world-class vocalist and actress, Crossville, Tennessee, native Mandy Barnett has been called "a song's best friend” for her interpretive skill and devotion to classic country, R&B, and popular standards.
Barnett's formidable talents and . . . — — Map (db m182677) HM
Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry are siblings living in Greeneville, Tennessee, who have made records as The Band Perry since 2005. They began their recording career in country music, switching to pop and country-influenced rock in 2016.
Kimberly . . . — — Map (db m158149) HM
One of the most influential and significant groups in African-American music, The Impressions founding
members included Chattanooga residents Arthur Brooks, Fred Cash, Richard Brooks and Sam Gooden. Their
hits from the 1960s and 1970s bridged . . . — — Map (db m167721) HM
Written in 1941 as a song for “Sun Valley Serenade” — the movie debut of Big Band leader Glenn Miller — “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” became a top-selling pop hit during the early
years of World War II. It spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts and . . . — — Map (db m167719) HM
Pioneering Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips introduced R&B to young white audiences in the Mid-South and was the first to play Elvis Presley on the air. Journalist David Halberstam wrote that, although Memphis itself was strictly segregated, “At . . . — — Map (db m283069) HM
Drummer W.S. "Fluke" Holland played on all of Carl Perkins' Sun Records recordings before becoming Johnny Cash's only drummer, working with him for 37 years.
Born in Saltillo, Tennessee, on April 22, 1935, Holland left in 1948. His father . . . — — Map (db m157488) HM
Bass player, comedian and harmony vocalist Howard Watts worked as “Cedric Rainwater” and played in
three seminal country bands: Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, Flatt & Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Boys and Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys. He played on . . . — — Map (db m278485) HM
Comedian, singer, painter, golfer, television host, scriptwriter, businessman and raconteur Archi Campbell is principally remembered for his roles on the long-running television series , "Hee Haw". One of his comedic trademarks was spoonerisms, . . . — — Map (db m179404) HM
Murray Franklin “Buddy” Cannon, born in Lexington, Tennessee, on April 20, 1947, is a Nashville-based songwriter, record producer, music publisher, and former record company A&R (artists and repertoire) executive. He ranks among the most . . . — — Map (db m156581) HM
Singer, evangelist and educator Dr. Bobby Jones popularized African-American gospel music on cable television. He became known as the "Ed Sullivan of Gospel Music." His Black Entertainment Television (BET) show, "Bobby Jones Gospel," ran from 1980 . . . — — Map (db m179617) HM
Jamie Dailey, together with Darrin Vincent, leads one of the most popular bands in contemporary American music, embracing bluegrass, country and gospel. While steeped in tradition, they bring versatility, comedy and a broad selection of newly . . . — — Map (db m157369) HM
Clarence Earl McCurry was known professionally as both Clarence and Tom Ashley. His repertoire included many ancient Appalachian and early American songs, and he was the first to record “House of the Rising Sun.” He recorded from 1928 to 1933, . . . — — Map (db m298855) HM
Singer, songwriter, producer, attorney and educator, Ed Townsend remains best known for cowriting and coproducing half of Marvin Gaye's classic 1973 album, Let's Get It On. Over the course of a 50-year career, he wrote 250 published songs and . . . — — Map (db m196529) HM
Rockabilly was the sound of young country musicians in the 1950s infusing their music with rhythm and blues (R&B). It emphasized the electric guitar over traditional country instruments such as the steel guitar, fiddle and banjo. Originally called . . . — — Map (db m179098) HM
"Uncle Josh" Graves was renowned for playing with Flatt & Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys for nearly 15 years. His instrumental dexterity matched Scruggs' and helped repopularize the Dobro, or resonator guitar, placing it at the forefront of . . . — — Map (db m261731) HM
Banjoist Charlie Cushman is chiefly renowned for his mastery of the Earl Scruggs style three-finger banjo technique. During his career, he has performed with Andy Griffith, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill, among many others. He is a . . . — — Map (db m169085) HM
Dunbar Cave was a popular resort for many years prior to becoming a state park. Beginning in 1875, investors created opportunities to stay at Dunbar Cave and the nearby Idaho Springs. People were attracted by the perceived medicinal qualities of the . . . — — Map (db m213648) HM
“The most gifted instrumentalist of all time … an influence on guitarists everywhere -- a psychedelic rock pioneer whose work and approach touches all styles of music.” (The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
Although Hendrix vaulted to stardom in England . . . — — Map (db m212753) HM
Prolific Nashville session pianist Hargus Melvin “Pig” Robbins has played on records by artists as diverse as Alan Jakson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Dylan, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Joan Baez, . . . — — Map (db m178590) HM
Country singer and songwriter Chris Young is a Grammy- and Academy of Country Music-nominated vocalist. His style is rooted in traditional country music, although he performs with a contemporary sensibility.
Christopher Alan Young, born in . . . — — Map (db m166467) HM
Among the most well-known bluegrass songs of all time, “Rocky Top” was written in room 388 of the Gatlinburg Inn in August 1967. Originally recorded by the Osborne Brothers, it has become a standard. It was inducted as one of Tennessee's official . . . — — Map (db m194784) HM
Distinguished as a singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist, Dolly Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time, and among the best-selling country artists of the post World War II era. She opened one of the . . . — — Map (db m184490) HM
The Overton Park Shell is now one of the few remaining, Great Depression-era "hand shell" theaters. Despite efforts to have it razed, it was saved and renovated. The shell has hosted all categories of music and theater. Elvis Presley's first major . . . — — Map (db m254453) HM
A pivotal behind-the-scenes player in popularizing bluegrass music, Louise Scruggs was the wife of banjo player and bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs. She managed Earl and his partner, Lester Flatt, from 1956 until they broke up in 1969. Early on, she . . . — — Map (db m263471) HM
Acoustic bass player Barry Bales is the longest-serving member of bluegrass star Alison Krauss’ band, Union Station. He has also worked as a session musician, record producer and songwriter. His co-written song “Nobody to Blame” won the Academy of . . . — — Map (db m176973) HM
Skilled and polished, Brownie McGhee's music encompassed folk, acoustic blues, rhythm and blues, and protest songs. He appeared in movies, on television and Broadway, and recorded prolifically. Although his name is usually bracketed with his . . . — — Map (db m210269) HM
Bluegrass and country gospel musician Doyle Lawson is a mandolinist, singer, and, since 1979, the leader of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. The winner of may International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, Lawson was also the 2006 recipient of . . . — — Map (db m176976) HM
African-American musician Lesley Riddle exerted an influence on country music through his association with A.P. Carter of the Carter Family. Riddle introduced Carter to songs of African American origin, which Carter reconfigured and brought into the . . . — — Map (db m210280) HM
Pioneering rhythm and blues (R&B) and gospel disc jockey Bill Allen, known as “Hoss” or “Hossman,” worked in radio for more than 40 years. During the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, Allen’s nightly shows on WLAC Nashville played a pivotal role in . . . — — Map (db m170826) HM
Transcending labels, genres and eras, Johnny Cash's music drew from country, folk, rockabilly, gospel, pop and blues. Over a six-decade career, he constantly reinvented himself, becoming one of the most celebrated artists in American music. . . . — — Map (db m154959) HM
Taylor Swift wasn't born in Tennessee, but it's impossible to imagine the record-breaking superstar without her connection to the Volunteer State. Swift moved to Nashville when she was 14, and her songs — vividly written, insanely catchy, and . . . — — Map (db m178387) HM
The Isaacs, a family group that began performing in the early 1970s, moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee in 2000. Their music crosses between gospel, bluegrass, country, and Americana, and even though the group has had several lineup changes, Lily . . . — — Map (db m178506) HM
Isaac Hayes' symphonic soul records, together with his
dramatic stage presence, exerted a profound influence
upon soul, funk, disco and rap music. Early in his career
he worked in commercial rhythm 'n' blues as a
songwriter, session musician and . . . — — Map (db m200720) HM
Recording star and songwriter Dottie West was at the heart of country music for three decades. She scored more than 60 hits, mentored a generation of singers, and became a model of resilience in the face of personal crises and a rollercoaster . . . — — Map (db m197483) HM
Singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Mark Collie scored 16 country hits in the 1990s. He brought a rowdy, rockabilly edge to country music. His compositions have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Jones, Garth Brooks, and . . . — — Map (db m179082) HM
Country music singer, songwriter, actor, film producer, television and radio host, and vintner, Kix Brooks came to prominence as one half of country music's most successful duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn.
Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks III was born in . . . — — Map (db m178375) HM
Over the course of a career that began in the late 1950s, singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Daniels has bridged Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music.
Charles Edward Daniels was born in Wilmington, North . . . — — Map (db m154960) HM
