HISTORICAL MARKER CEREMONY COMMEMORATES
“THE BIRTH OF BLUEGRASS” AT THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM
Earl Scruggs to be Guest of Honor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2006) – This Friday, September 29th, the Ryman Auditorium will host a ceremony to mark the occasion of the installation and unveiling of a state historical marker celebrating the “Birth of Bluegrass.” The marker, presented to the Ryman by the Tennessee Historical Commission, commemorates a formative moment in the history of Bluegrass Music that took place on the Ryman stage. The ceremony was scheduled to coincide with the International Bluegrass Music Association conference, IBMA awards, and Bluegrass Fan Fest events which are being held in Nashville this week. The ceremony will be held outside at the 5th Avenue end of the building and will begin at 5pm. A group of young Bluegrass artists will entertain the crowd beginning at 4:30.

During the 1920's, 30's and 40's, Bill Monroe, universally recognized as the Father of Bluegrass, pioneered a new kind of music by taking Appalachian mountain music - or Old Time music - and infusing it with aspects of many other types, including blues, gospel, and jazz. Much of this creative process took place at the Ryman where he starred as a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry. Most Bluegrass historians agree that the final ingredient to this new form of music was added on a Saturday Night in 1945. That night, a young man named Earl Scruggs joined Monroe and his band -including guitarist Lester Flatt- on the Ryman stage. When Scruggs stepped up to the WSM microphone and played his 5 string banjo with his innovative three finger roll, Bluegrass music as we know it today was born. It is this seminal event that the historical marker commemorates.

Earl Scruggs, who is mentioned by name on the marker, is the ceremony's guest of honor.

Radio personality and Bluegrass historian Eddie Stubbs will serve as host of the event. Mayor Bill Purcell and Bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs will also take part in the ceremony.

The marker reads in part, “In December 1945, Grand Ole Opry star Bill Monroe and his mandolin brought to the Ryman stage a band that created a new American musical form. With the banjo style of Earl Scruggs and the guitar of Lester Flatt, the new musical genre became known as Bluegrass.” The marker was originally presented to the Ryman at last year's IBMA Awards ceremony by Congressman Jim Cooper. Before presenting the plaque, Cooper talked about the early days of Bluegrass music saying, “It was revolutionary; it was new; and it was born right here,” He went on to remark that he found it very appropriate that the plaque - which will stand at the old entrance to the Ryman on 5th Ave- “will be displayed forever where so many people once stood in line to hear the music it honors.”

About the Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The Ryman, named America's Theatre of the Year at both the 2004 and 2005 Pollstar Concert Industry Awards, continues its more-than-100-year music tradition by offering the best in live entertainment. The Ryman Auditorium is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that owns and operates Gaylord Hotels, the Grand Ole Opry and ResortQuest International. For more information, visit www.ryman.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

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