Folk figure. Founder of The Ryman Auditorium (known as "The Mother Church of Country Music"). In the late 1800s, Captain Thomas Ryman owned a successful saloon and steamboat business on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Whiskey was one of the main cargos. In 1885, he went to see the Rev. Sam Jones give a Christain revival meeting. His intent was to heckle Jones, instead he was converted. Ryman, who had ended all sales and transport of whiskey, decided to build an auditorium in Nashville, large enough to hold the evangelist's audiences. The prominent businessman was able to rally many in the Nashville business community to raise the money for the project. Originally called the Union Gospel Tabernacle, at Ryman's funeral in 1904, Sam Jones, who was officiating, suggested the name be changed to honor its builder. With the arrival of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, The Ryman Auditorium earned its nickname "The Mother Church of Country Music." Today, it is considered one of the premiere concert halls. Its stage has hosted performers from Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen to James Brown and the New York Symphony. A life size statue of Captain Ryan stands outside the hall today. Ryman is probably the most well known, non-musician name in country music today.
Folk figure. Founder of The Ryman Auditorium (known as "The Mother Church of Country Music"). In the late 1800s, Captain Thomas Ryman owned a successful saloon and steamboat business on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Whiskey was one of the main cargos. In 1885, he went to see the Rev. Sam Jones give a Christain revival meeting. His intent was to heckle Jones, instead he was converted. Ryman, who had ended all sales and transport of whiskey, decided to build an auditorium in Nashville, large enough to hold the evangelist's audiences. The prominent businessman was able to rally many in the Nashville business community to raise the money for the project. Originally called the Union Gospel Tabernacle, at Ryman's funeral in 1904, Sam Jones, who was officiating, suggested the name be changed to honor its builder. With the arrival of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, The Ryman Auditorium earned its nickname "The Mother Church of Country Music." Today, it is considered one of the premiere concert halls. Its stage has hosted performers from Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen to James Brown and the New York Symphony. A life size statue of Captain Ryan stands outside the hall today. Ryman is probably the most well known, non-musician name in country music today.
