- |
- |
In celebration of its twentieth anniversary, Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited returns to the Museum on April 26, 2024. The acclaimed 2004–2005 exhibit explored an often-overlooked chapter of Nashville’s musical history—an influential rhythm & blues scene that thrived from the 1940s through the 1960s. And the exhibit’s companion compilation album won a Grammy in 2005. This twentieth-anniversary edition of Night Train revisits highlights from the exhibit’s debut, along with new artifacts and rare photos.
Panel Discussion: All Aboard the Night Train! Nashville’s Groundbreaking R&B Television Series
Saturday, April 27 | 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Ford Theater
Filmed at WLAC-TV in Nashville, Night Train was the nation’s first syndicated R&B television series to feature an all-Black cast when it beamed into living rooms beginning in October 1964, six years before Chicago’s better-known Soul Train. WVOL radio executive Noble Blackwell produced and hosted Night Train, giving viewers a chance to witness many of Nashville’s best musicians backing both the city’s finest singers and out-of-town stars.
Night Train Online Exhibit
Explore Night Train from the comfort of your home—browse the online exhibit. Made possible by a major grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the exhibit’s online version includes archival photos, video footage, panel discussions, classic Nashville R&B recordings, and more.