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Country Music History

Artifact Bytes Videos

These two-minute videos allow students to explore social studies, country music artists, and artifacts from the Museum’s extensive collection. Composed largely of primary source multimedia from the Museum’s archives, Artifact Bytes are free and accessible to the public.

Historic RCA Studio B

Explore the properties of sound waves through the history of Music Row and the legacy of Historic RCA Studio B. Hear the history of Studio B, learn about jobs in the recording studio, discover the science of sound and how it works with recorded music, and learn about the evolution of recording technology from 1961 to today.

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Deford Bailey

DeFord Bailey was an influential harmonica player in both country music and blues, one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular early performers, and country’s first African-American star.

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Ray Charles

Did you know Ray Charles, known as the Genius of Soul, is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame? Click below to discover his connection to country music!

Country Music

Hall of Fame Members

Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame is country music's highest honor. The Country Music Association (CMA), the country music industry's trade organization, created the accolade to recognize significant contributions to the advancement of country music by individuals in both the creative and business communities. Click below to see the full list.