An Elvis Guitar outside of Studio B

If you’ve never heard of Studio B, you’ve definitely heard the songs produced by this historic Nashville studio. Dubbed the home of 1,000 hits,  RCA Studio B pumped out classic tunes from the 50s through  today, including Elvis’ “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” The Everly Brothers’ “All I Have To Do Is Dream”, Ray Charles’ “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Dolly Parton’s original version of “I’ Will Always Love You.”    This 30 minute tour is the only historic studio tour in Nashville.

You can feel the history oozing out of the walls of the studio as soon as you step through the doors. Large photos of the studios famous recording artists like Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Elivs and The Every Brothers loom over your movements.  Elvis recorded 200 songs at Studio B and his presence is perhaps the strongest. The tour guide tells fascinating stories about the details of a lot of the recordings.  Elvis apparently recorded ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight” at 4Am in total darkness. The piano that he played gospel tunes to warm up his backing group the Jordainaires still sits in the middle of the studio. Tours leave daily from the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum and are only sold in conjunction with museum admission. Afterwards, head to the stylish Sambucca restaurant in the hip Gulch district. Sample elegant fare like the Cosmo pizza with vodka tomato cream sauce, prosciutto and smoked gouda or the blackened snapper etouffee.

Photo by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure: All activities were part of a sponsored press trip.