The Musicians Hall of Fame is a premiere Nashville attraction and the one and only museum in the world that honors the talented musicians who actually played on the greatest recordings of all time. As Neil Young said about the Museum: “Everyone has shows for the hood ornament. Don’t forget what’s under the hood.”
Jimi Hendrix is well known, while others like L.A session drummer Hal Blaine are not as well known to the public, but have played on hundreds of hit records from Elvis, Frank and Nancy Sinatra,The Byrds, The Mamas and The Papas and The Beach Boys, just to name a very few. The Musicians Hall Of Fame And Museum has on exhibit the very instruments that these musicians used to record many of these classic hits.
Once a year the Museum hosts an Inductee Ceremony and Concert. Below are highlights from previous award shows. For a complete list of inductees, CLICK HERE.
2007 Award Show Highlights
2008 Award Show Highlights
Coming Soon : Santana Drum Set from Woodstock
We are always searching for new and exciting artifacts to add to our existing museum. Being that August is coming shortly it seems appropriate that we honor the memory of probably the most historic, musical and cultural events in 20th century America. Woodstock. Most everyone knows of Jimi Hendrix’s’ version of the Star Spangled Banner which ended that iconic event.
Santana’s performance was at the peak of the concert and there was hardly a square inch of grass available as everyone was standing or sitting on Max Yasgurs 600 acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York on August 15-18th, 1969.
The Musicians Hall of Fame just permanently acquired Michael Shrieve’s 1967 champagne colored, sparkle Ludwig drum set that he played with Santana at Woodstock 1969. Michael was barely 20 years old, making him the youngest performer at Woodstock. His drum solo on “Soul Sacrifice” is considered one of the highlights of the entire three day concert.
The unveiling of these drums to the public will be this August prior to the anniversary of Woodstock.
Michael Jackson leaning on the piano in Ouray
Elton John
This Wm. Knabe & Co. Baby Grand Piano housed in the Ouray Cabin (named after a famous Indian Chief) was used for writing and rehearsing all the top named artists who stayed there. Those artists included Elton John, Michael Jackson & more.
When John Lennon and May Pang stayed at Ouray, John and Elton arranged Elton’s hit version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. The piano is located within the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
Elton also used this piano to write “Philadelphia Freedom”, “The Bitch is Back” and “Don’t let the Sun go down on Me” among others.
Spent ten days in Southern US states and visited several museums along the way. This one is “Simply the Best”! It is just a great experience with so much musical history all gathered together under one roof. Further, when the new part is opened in March it will add a “hands on” experience that will set it apart from all the other similar places in Nashville, Memphis and the like. Finally, anyone, like us, who is fortunate to meet Curator, Jay McDowell, and to be able to talk to him, is extra privileged! We enjoyed all our experiences in Southern USA, but this was the cream of the cream!
Tim, United Kingdom
Glen Campbell
Most people first became aware of Glen Campbell from his TV show. But years before that, he was a busy session guitar player that appeared on many hits. Herb Alpert, The Chipmunks, The Champs, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to name a few.
During his 50 years in show business, Campbell has released more than 70 albums. He has sold 45 million records and accumulated 12 RIAA Gold albums, 4 Platinum albums and 1 Double-Platinum album. He has placed a total of 80 different songs on either the Billboard Country Chart, Billboard Hot 100, and/or the Adult Contemporary Chart, of which 29 made the Top 10 and of which nine reached number one on at least one of those charts. Campbell’s hits include his recordings of John Hartford’s “Gentle on My Mind”; Jimmy Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”, “Wichita Lineman”, and “Galveston”; Larry Weiss’s “Rhinestone Cowboy”; and Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights”.
The Crickets
No other group has influenced rock and roll like The Crickets. Formed by Buddy Holly and Jerry “J.I.” Allison in Lubbock, Texas, in 1956, The Crickets gave us “That’ll Be The Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” “Not Fade Away,” “Maybe Baby,” “It’s So Easy” and “I Fought The Law.”
Keith Richards
Keith was in Nashville to induct The Crickets in the 4th annual award show.
In 2008, Keith was in Nashville for the Musicians Hall of Fame award show to induct The Crickets.
Peter Frampton & Garth Brooks
Grammy Award winner Peter Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. At 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British band The Herd. At 18, he co-founded one of the first super groups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. His fifth solo album, the electrifying Frampton Comes Alive! remains one of the top-selling live records of all time.
Legendary guitarist Peter Frampton held the crowd spellbound as he jams onstage and celebrates his induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame at
Nashville’s Historic Municipal Auditorium.
He was a member of The Herd and Humble Pie as well as a successful solo artist and studio player. This photo with Garth Brooks was taken at the first annual Musicians Hallf of Fame Award Show
Roy Orbison
The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is happy to announce the grand opening of its newest exhibit commemorating Roy Orbison and the 50th anniversary of his iconic song, “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The exhibit will feature items from deep within the Orbison vault. These include, but are not limited to:
Prescription sunglasses that became the Orbison trademark
1957 Gibson Byrdland guitar
Model airplanes and boats Roy enjoyed building and collecting
The cast from when he broke his ankle in a motorcycle accident
The 1961 Gibson 335 guitar, owned by studio musician Jerry Kennedy and used in recording of “Oh, Pretty Woman”
“Roy’s impact on popular music as a writer, singer, and musician is immeasurable,” said Joe Chambers, Founder of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. “He influenced artists such as the Beatles, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few, and his iconic guitar intro to “Oh, Pretty Woman” continues to inspire musicians of all ages.”
Roy Orbison, began to make his mark on the music world in 1956 at Sun Records; his immense success came in the early-to-mid 1960s at Monument Records – the apex of which was “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The iconic hit was co-written by Orbison and Bill Dees, recorded in August 1964, and produced by Fred Foster at Fred Foster Sound Studios in Nashville, Tenn.
It was a massive #1 hit song, breaking all previous sales and radio play records worldwide. It debuted at #101 on Billboard’s ‘Bubbling Under’ chart in the Aug. 22, 1964 issue. It was soon #1 simultaneously on both the U.S. and British Hot 100 charts and stayed there for three weeks. This was a staggering achievement at the time, as no American had had this kind of chart-topping power on both sides of the Atlantic during the Beatles-dominated year of 1964.
Orbison played the famous “Oh, Pretty Woman” guitar riff on his 12-string Epiphone guitar that was captured live in one take without overdubs. This became one of the most covered guitar riffs of all time and influenced great rock songs like The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” and The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.”
Ben Keith
At the 4th Annual Award Show, Neil Young was in attendance to posthumously induct Ben Keith, a long time collaborator and partner.
Ben Keith’s first session in Nashville as a steel guitarist was on Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” and he has been a long time steel guitarist for Neil Young. Ben played on Neil Young’s hits such as “Old Man” and ” Heart of Gold”. Also, Ben produced one of the largest selling albums of all time, Jewel’s debut album Pieces of You.
