MUSIC Nashville returns to its roots

Nashville returns to country roots


Michael commins

FOR far too long, Nashville has lost touch with its country roots. It was real, traditional country music that made it famous and attracted thousands of visitors to Tennessee over the years. But somewhere along the line, and especially over the past two decades or so, record company moguls hijacked the authentic sounds of country with the result that genre moved back to Texas – and that is where you’ll find the real deal today.
However, in what may be a sign that the old Nashville is making a comeback, Larry Gatlin this week returns again to the city. During the 1990s, Larry decided he could not take the Nashville scene anymore and, after 20 years in Music City, he moved to Texas. During his time in Nashville, he had a string of hits along with his brothers, Steve and Rudy. His decision return to host a regular Thursday night Opry Country Classics show in the old Ryman Auditorium, the mother church of country music, is welcome news.
The Gatlins have also released their first album in 17 years, ‘Pilgrimage’. The title links to Larry’s first days in Nashville – his debut album was called ‘The Pilgrim’, and it included liner notes written by Johnny Cash.
Maybe, just maybe, the penny is dropping at last and real country music will be heard again in Nashville.
The city would do well to remember the old adage, ‘If you cut off the roots, you destroy the tree’.