Ryman auditorium downtown Nashville, Home of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville wall art, country music fan gift, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings

Nashville is my hometown so as a photographer, I knew I needed to focus on the historic sights here. One of the most famous is the Ryman Auditorium downtown Nashville.

It was originally built in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle by Thomas G. Ryman, a wealthy businessman and devout Christian who wanted to create a venue for religious revivals and other events.

Over the years, the Ryman Auditorium became known for hosting a wide variety of events, including political rallies, lectures, and concerts by performers such as Enrico Caruso, Charlie Chaplin, and John Philip Sousa. However, it became particularly associated with country music in the 20th century.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the Ryman hosted the Grand Ole Opry, a live radio broadcast that featured some of the biggest names in country music, including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash. The Opry continued to be broadcast from the Ryman until 1974, when it moved to a larger venue.

In the years that followed, the Ryman fell into disrepair and was nearly demolished. However, a group of concerned citizens banded together to save the historic venue, and it was restored and reopened in 1994. Today, the Ryman Auditorium continues to host a wide variety of events, including concerts, theatrical performances, and special events. It is considered one of the most iconic and important music venues in the United States.

I love taking pictures of some of the most beautiful places on this amazing planet. What was once a hobby has now become my second career and I absolutely love it! I spent most of my work life in the radio broadcasting arena first as a D.J spinning records while still in high school. Slowly I worked my way up the ladder and eventually became the President of a radio company operating radio stations all over the country.

My last 15 years were spent in Colorado and it was there I started taking pictures of the amazing scenery in the Rocky Mountains. I retired early from radio after severe hearing loss came upon me almost overnight. This shattered by ability to enjoy music anymore which was so awful.

We moved back to Nashville where our family lived. Not knowing what I would do next (I knew I could not return to radio anymore due to my hearing loss). One day some friends saw a few of my mountain pictures in our home and they said……”this stuff is good……people would buy these”. I didn’t believe them at first but I kept hearing it from other friends.

We were planning a summer trip with family heading back out to Colorado for a week. Without telling anyone, I decided to bring a couple canvas pictures on the trip. We were headed to Breckenridge so I brought a few pictures I took there a year earlier.

One morning with almost zero confidence and a fear of being rejected, I walked to Main street with a few of my canvas pictures. To my amazement the first gift store said “Yes, these are good….our customers will love these”. They ordered 6 pictures which totaled less than $400, but to me it was like I hit the jackpot. I was so excited which is a little funny because in my radio career I mentioned 8 figure budgets. I couldn’t wait to share the news with my family.

WOW!!!!! I was on top of the world and a new career was born.