The Southeast Region: Music Capital of the World

I just loved studying the Southeast region with you.  I have only visited a few of the states in this region, but they definitely bring me a lot of joy because of all the different musical genres that originated there. 

New Orleans, Louisiana:  Of course, you all figured out that my favorite city is New Orleans, and we talked about the Preservation Hall of Jazz, a club that is open to everyone where you will hear some of the best jazz in the world.  Here is one performance, and you can actually see the audience sitting on the ground like we talked about in class.  What an experience!  Enjoy this treasure that we can proudly call "American Made".

Nashville, Tennessee:  This is definitely the place to go if you want to hear country music.  You can still go to Nashville, and walk down Broadway Street, where many musicians play for tips.  This means the only way they get paid is if the people in the audience put tips in their tip jar. 

Nashville is where country music all began, from country greats like Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.  We learned about the Grand Ole Opry in our studies, which is the theater where many of these musicians made their first appearances.  Here is a rare performance of Patsy Cline at the original Grand Ole Opry, one of the most talented vocalists of the 20th Century.  Take a look at the original architecture and the stage.  Would you like to see a show there?

Kentucky and Virginia:  Last, but certainly not least, we can't forget about bluegrass music.  The area around the Appalachian Mountains is where this originated, especially the states of Kentucky and Virginia.  Here is a short example of the typical bluegrass sound.  Do you notice anything different about the instruments?  If you want to learn more about bluegrass music, be sure to visit the International Bluegrass Music Museum website.