Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Celebrates New Home

Several members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame were on hand for the grand opening of the gallery. Pictured (L-R): Mark D. Sanders, Gary Burr, Pat Alger, Kenny O’Dell, Sonny Curtis, Rory Bourke and Larry Henley. Photo: Bev Moser

NaSHOF inductee Bob DiPiero and wife Leslie. Photo: Alan Mayor

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame finally has a home. The gallery, which opened Sunday (May 19) at the Music City Center, is the first time the revered hall will have a noteworthy physical location.

“It’s a big day for the Nashville songwriting community,” said Pat Alger, Hall of Fame member and chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “It took a lot of devoted volunteers a long time to get this done, but after seeing the Hall of Fame Gallery with people standing around it, appreciating the work and using the touch screen displays to learn about the writers behind the songs, I’d say it was well worth it.”

During the grand opening event, several Hall of Fame members were on hand to talk with the visitors, and perform a few of their biggest hits. The Hall of Famers participating included Alger (“Small Town Saturday Night,” “Unanswered Prayers”), Bill Anderson (“The Tips Of My Fingers,” “Whiskey Lullaby”), Rory Bourke (“I Know A Heartache When I See One,” “Shadows In The Moonlight”), Bobby Braddock (“He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “I Want To Talk About Me”), Sonny Curtis (“I’m No Stranger To The Rain,” “I Fought The Law (And The Law Won)”), Larry Henley (“Wind Beneath My Wings,” ‘Til I Get It Right”), Don Schlitz (“The Gambler,” “Forever And Ever Amen”) and Thom Schuyler (“16th Avenue,” “Love Will Turn You Around”).

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery is located in MCC’s lobby adjacent to Sixth Avenue and facing Demonbreun Street. It features songwriting artifacts as well as three 55” touch screens that allow visitors to access sound, video and other information about the history of Nashville-associated songwriting and the 188 members of the Hall of Fame. The names of Hall of Fame members, who come from every genre of music, are engraved in a special outdoor Songwriters Square at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Demonbreun, and on the stone steps leading from Fifth Avenue up to the interior display.

An estimated 15,000 people visited the newly opened Music City Center’s grand opening. See more of MusicRow’s exclusive coverage.

Established in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame had a physical location for a brief period decades ago. Each year, four writers are inducted into the Hall. The Hall of Fame is funded and managed by the non-profit Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. See the complete list of inductees.

NaSHOF inductee Rory Bourke with the multimedia touchscreen display. Photo: Alan Mayor

NaSHOF inductee Bill Anderson.