musical instrument guitar

For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville

This is a documentary film rooted in authenticity. A story filled with passion and truth. A film made simply for the love of music.

About the Film

For over 130 years, Nashville has evolved into the world’s premier Music City. From the 1800s when the Fisk Jubilee Singers travelled across continents spreading their music, to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and so many others building the foundation of America’s most vibrant music scene. Today, the evolution continues as artists like The Black Keys, Eric Church and Kings of Leon break new ground in the city they all call home. We’ve created a one-hour documentary that tells this story in its entirety through the eyes of the musicians, songwriters, producers and artists who live and breathe the inspiration of this great city.

For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville

Full Documentary

He's erased better lines than I'll ever write.

— Jon Randall, on Kris Jristofferson

You can go out on any given night and see some great musicians...because it's just about the music here.

— Tommy Sims

Credits

Learn about who made this documentary come to life.

Cast
  1. Ben Folds
  2. Bill Anderson
  3. Billy Cox
  4. The Black Keys
  5. Brett James
  6. Charlie Daniels
  7. The Civil Wars
  8. Damien Horne
  9. Duane Eddy
  10. Emmylou Harris
  11. Eric Church
  12. Fisk Jubilee Singers
  13. Jessi Alexander & Jon Randall
  14. John McBride
  15. Kellie Pickler
  16. Kings Of Leon
  17. Kris Kristofferson
  18. Manuel
  19. Martina McBride
  20. Marty Stuart
  21. Michael W. Smith
  22. Peter Frampton
  23. Rivers Rutherford
  24. Steve Cropper
  25. Ten Out of Tenn
  26. Tim Nichols
  27. Tommy Sims
  28. Vince Gill
Crew

Directed By

  • Zach Merck

Executive Producers

  • Butch Spyridon
  • Dana Locatell
  • Hugh Broder

Produced By

  • Tim Mack

Created By

  • Butch Spyridon
  • Chuck Creasy
  • Deana Ivey
  • John Godsey

Director of Photography

  • Blake McClure

Edited By

  • Brian Budak
  • Jeremy Kotin

Story Producer

  • Jay Heyman

Creative Direction

  • The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
  • VML, Inc.

Music Supervisor

  • Anastasia Brown

Music Consultant

  • Shar’n Clark

Camera Assistant

  • JT Sumner

Gaffer

  • Jeffrey Gordon

Best Boy Electrician

  • William Jackson

Electrician

  • Shawn Jenkins

Sound Recordists

  • David Rogers
  • Grant Johnson
  • Jeremy Mazza
  • Thomas Figlio
  • Thomas Morrison

Finishing

  • Contact Color and Post

Colorist

  • Blase Theodore

Assistant Confrom Artist

  • John Mattiuzzi

Audio Post Production

  • Colin Thibadeau
  • Demian Sims

Production Assistants

  • Deborah Gordon
  • Jennifer Bostic
  • Nancie Yoo Kang
  • Shawn Daughtery
  • Zuzu Snyder

Still Photography

  • Bill Miller
  • BMI Archives
  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
  • David Pearcy
  • Fisk University Archives
  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Jim McGuire Photography
  • Johnny Cash Museum
  • The Owen Bradley Family
  • The Wade Brothers

Video & film archival footage

  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Jeff the Brotherhood
  • Johnny Cash Show
  • Kings of Leon
  • The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
  • The Black Keys
Special Thanks
  • 3rd & Lindsley
  • Blackbird Studios
  • Bluebird Cafe
  • BMI
  • Charlie Daniels Studio
  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar
  • Fisk University
  • Fontanel Mansion
  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Hatch Show Print
  • Historic RCA Studio B
  • Musicians Hall of Fame
  • Printers Alley
  • Q Prime South
  • Rocketown
  • Ryman Auditorium
  • Schermerhorn Symphony Center
  • Sirus/XM
  • Vector Management
  • Alison Auerbach, Public Relations
  • Corissa Benchley
  • Clay Bradley
  • Erin Burr
  • LeeAnn Carlen
  • Joe and Linda Chambers
  • Brenda Colladay
  • Kristen Dabbs
  • Tim Davis
  • Maria Elena
  • Phil Graham
  • Kathy Hicks
  • Britti Himelfarb
  • Betty Hoffer
  • Joel Huffman
  • Lisa Jenkins
  • Dr. Paul Kwami
  • Ken Levitan
  • Sandy Liles
  • Drew Loschke
  • John Marks
  • Jacquelyn Marushka
  • Ebie McFarland
  • Andy Mendelsohn
  • Marc Oswald
  • John Peets
  • Dan Rogers
  • Tamara Saviano
  • Michael Sayles
  • Randi Seplow
  • Jim Sheridan
  • Paula Szeigis
  • Jennifer Templeton
  • Travis Yetton