We visit Robert’s Western World
Robert’s Western World
Chris Scruggs Trio
GrassRoots Music Tour
Images: Jim Jacob
Words: Rob Dickens
Robert’s Western World is located on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. It stands but a stone’s throw from the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium.
While much of the rest of Broadway has adjusted to the increasing visitor numbers and now cater more for those looking for a souvenir or “good time”, Robert’s has kept to its traditions – live music mostly all the time and authentic forms of it – country, honky tonk and Western Swing in particular.
Some of the buildings on Broadway served as hospitals during the American Civil War. The building that is now home to Robert’s was used as a warehouse, office space for river merchants and for a variety of other purposes. From the late 1950’s to the early 1980’s, the building served as the home of Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Company.
According to Robert’s website, Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons, two of the greatest steel guitar players in history, manufactured and sold some of the best steel guitars and other musical instruments ever made. They manufactured dobro-style guitars and made other unique instruments including custom steel guitars for popular bands such as The Monkees, Yes and Poco.
Today the Chris Scruggs Trio successfully entertained us in a lengthy set containing so many songs (most of the old country tunes are pretty short) that it was impossible to keep a tally.
A native Nashvillian, Chris Scruggs is son to country singer Gail Davies and grandson to the legendary bluegrass banjoist Earl Scruggs. He has been front man to the music pioneers BR549 and is bass player in Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. As well as bass, he plays steel guitar, electric guitar and drums.
We visit Robert’s Western World
