Robert's Western World is a

honky tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano ( tack piano) ...

located in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...

. It has hosted and continues to host many big name country artists. Some of the famous artists that have passed through Robert's Western World's doors are Big Ben Keith of

Crosby, Stills, and Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member, ...

;

Don Warden Don Warden (March 27, 1929 – March 11, 2017) was an American country steel guitarist and manager best known for his years on ''The Porter Wagoner Show'' and as the manager of Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Biography Early life Born to Reverend ...

, Dolly Parton's manager; and many, many others, including: Billy Robinson, Lloyd Green, Smiley Roberts, Jack Boles, Ron Elliot, Curly Chalker, Don Helms, Andy Gibson and Chris Casello. Robert's Western World continues to host local and up and coming country music talent. The band

BR549 BR549 (originally spelled BR5-49) was an American country rock band founded in 1993. It originally consisted of Gary Bennett (lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar), Don Herron (steel guitar, resonator guitar, fiddle, mandolin, acoustic gu ...

which gained local and national press from its four-hour nightly gig at Robert's Western World went on to open for country greats, George Strait,

Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...

and

Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...

. Despite these accomplishments, the band never made it big with the mainstream country audience. However, BR549 released an album in 1996 titled "Live From Robert's" which was a compilation of original work as well as cover songs recorded in Robert's Western World. On October 15, 2010, Robert's Western World hosted the "Bluegrass on Broadway" presented by C. F. Martin & Company, this kicked off the annual

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

in Nashville. This event showcases bluegrass music and its artists to the public.

History

The building that houses Robert's Western World was used as a warehouse, office space for river merchants, and a variety of other purposes until the late 1950s. Steel guitar players Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons bought the venue and named it Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Company. The steel guitar shop manufactured and sold steel guitars and other musical instruments until the early 1980s. When lower Broadway hit on hard times the building was converted to a liquor store until Robert Moore bought and converted the building into a western apparel store named Robert's Rhinestone Western Wear. After the lower Broadway area rebounded, Mr. Moore added live entertainment, food, and alcohol. In the 90's, Robert's house band BR549 graced the stage and helped revitalize the lower broadway district. In 1999, Jesse Lee Jones bought Robert's from Robert Moore and has been dedicated to preserving the title "the home of traditional country music" on lower broadway. As of 2011 Jones's band Brazilbilly plays Friday and Saturday nights as the house band.

References

External links

* http://robertswesternworld.com/ * http://www.guitargearheads.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1482 Buildings and structures in Nashville, Tennessee American country music Culture of Nashville, Tennessee Tourist attractions in Nashville, Tennessee Music venues in Tennessee Honky-tonks {{Tennessee-struct-stub