| Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum | |
| Coordinates: | 36.1583°N -86.7763°W |
| Established: | 2006 |
| Type: | Hall of Fame and Museum |
| Ceo: | Linda Chambers |
| Curator: | Linda Chambers |
| Website: | www.musicianshalloffame.com |
The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum (MHOFM) is a 501(c)(3) charity organization. The mission of the MHOFM is to honor all great musicians regardless of genre or instruments. This is done by exhibiting the actual instruments they used to record some of the most iconic songs in recorded history. Not only does the MHOFM entertain local and international visitors, but also educates them about the musicians who actually played on the sound tracks of their lives.
In November 2003, Joe Frank Chambers and his wife Linda Chambers co-founded the future Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. They purchased a 30,000 square foot building at 301 6th Ave. S., Nashville, Tennessee across from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN and began renovating. After two and half years of renovating, they first opened the MHOFM to the public on June 6, 2006. The 30,000-square-foot facility was unique in the world, and its annual awards galas were star-studded affairs. The museum was voted venue of the year 2008 by the Meeting Professionals International. Exhibits consisted of instruments owned and played by well-known artists as well as behind-the-scenes session musicians.[1]
The session musicians were often the house studio musicians in cities such as Memphis, Los Angeles, Detroit, Nashville, Muscle Shoals and New York City. These musicians were often the unsung heroes behind the hits of many great artists. These relatively small groups of players often recorded the majority of hits in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
In 2009–10, the city of Nashville seized the building (under the rules of eminent domain) to make way for the construction of The Music City Center. The artifacts were then stored in designated buildings, but many were damaged in the 2010 Nashville flood.
In 2013, the museum found a new home in the spacious old exhibit hall of Municipal Auditorium, which more than doubled the size of the original museum. On August 29, 2013, the MHOFM reopened on the first floor of the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium just off the James Robertson Parkway exit at 401 Gay Street, Nashville, TN 37219. The 200,000 square foot building houses the historic 10,000-seat Municipal Auditorium. The 68,000 sq. ft. exhibit floor, which was also Nashville's first convention center, houses the museum and its artifacts.
The museum was voted venue of the year by the Meeting Professionals International in 2008.
The inaugural ceremony was highlighted by the performances of Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Peter Frampton, George Jones, Amy Grant, Rodney Crowell, B.J. Thomas, and Dobie Gray honoring the evenings inductees.
Keith Richards, Kid Rock, Phil Everly and Lee Ann Womack were among the performers to welcome the inductees. Richards joined The Crickets on stage for a performance of Holly's "Not Fade Away", which The Rolling Stones covered in 1964.
After a four-year absence due to relocating, the 2014 Induction Ceremony was held in their new location on January 28, 2014.
Musicians Hall of Fame held its 5th annual Induction Ceremony and Concert.
Special guests included: Kenny G, Bruce Hornsby, Steve Wariner, Russell Thompkins Jr. and Peter Frampton.
The Musicians Hall of Fame held its 6th Induction Concert and Ceremony on October 22, 2019 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The Induction Ceremony was hosted by Paul Shaffer. Guest performers included: Jason Aldean, Mandy Barnett, Garth Brooks, Kix Brooks, Zac Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Mike Farris, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Keb' Mo', and Ricky Skaggs.
The Musicians Hall of Fame held its 7th Induction Concert and Ceremony on November 20, 2022 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium
The Induction Ceremony was hosted by Phil Vassar. Guest performers including: Rodney Crowell, Steve Miller, Wendy Moten and Mike Farris. The Special performer performances Linda Chambers, executive vice president & chief operating officer.
In February 2010, under the rules of eminent domain, the city of Nashville purchased the MHOF property in order to make room for the Music City Center (new convention center). On August 29, 2013, the MHOF reopened on the first floor of the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium just off the James Robertson Parkway exit at 401 Gay Street, Nashville, TN 37219. The 200,000 square foot building houses the historic 10,000 seat Municipal Auditorium. The 68,000 sq. ft. exhibit floor, which was also Nashville's first convention center, will now house the museum and its artifacts.