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Your Genre Awaits at these Music Museums

Country Music Hall of Fame

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum should be on the bucket list of any country music lover, alongside a visit to the Ryman Auditorium and a ticket to the Grand Ole Opry. Visitors can tour the museum’s exhibits, the Hall of Fame, historic RCA Studio B and the letterpress printshop Hatch Show Print.

“When we have groups here we want to make them feel like stars, too,” said Dana Romanelle, group sales manager. The “Star for a Day” experience lets groups record their own single in RCA Studio B, where legends such as Elvis, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson recorded some of country music’s biggest hits. “It’s almost overwhelming to stand in front of that microphone and think of all the history that has taken place in that room” said Romanelle.

After finishing their recording and touring the museum, groups can dine at the Wild Horse Saloon, the museum’s on-site restaurant. They will be introduced as Nashville’s newest recording artists when their music recording is played.

Exhibits at the museum cover a broad spectrum of country music history, from classic performers to contemporary hit makers. The current exhibit, “Blake Shelton: Based on a True Story,” covers Shelton’s rise to fame as well as memorabilia from his megastar career. From now through November, visitors can see his lyrics and performance costumes, as well as Shelton’s chair from the hit TV show “The Voice.” Groups seeking a special experience will enjoy “Sharing the Art of Songwriting” where they work with a songwriter to co-write a song. Deck the Hall holiday concert series is also a popular event for groups visiting Nashville at the holidays. They get to hear some of country music’s most famous singers share their favorite Christmas songs and personal memories of the holiday season.

www.countrymusichalloffame.org

Graceland

Memphis, Tennessee

The Graceland mansion in Memphis was the home of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, but the destination awes visitors with much more. The complex now includes numerous buildings and The Heartbreak Hotel and the Guest House at Graceland.

The Guest House is the largest hotel project in Memphis since the construction of the Peabody Hotel. The project, overseen by Elvis’ former wife Priscilla Presley, will include 450 rooms, two restaurants and four theaters. The hotel will open in October and is taking reservations.

Guests can peruse the many artifacts at the mansion and other buildings in the complex. The “I Shot Elvis” exhibit is a collection of photography covering two decades of Elvis’ life in the public eye. The exhibit will run through this fall. Another popular exhibit is Elvis’ car collection, which includes his pink Cadillac and the Jeep from the film “Blue Hawaii.”

Groups that take the Graceland VIP tour will see the exclusive exhibit, “Elvis in Hollywood: From Teen Idol to Leading Man.” The exhibit celebrates the 60th anniversary of the premier of his first film,  “Love Me Tender” and focuses on Elvis’ Hollywood experience. Highlighted in the exhibit are scripts, costumes and other memorabilia related to his 31 films. This exclusive VIP experience will be offered through March.

www.graceland.com

Motown Museum

Detroit

Fans of Motown will recognize the bright blue-and-white house dubbed Hitsville U.S.A. on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, but few knew how revolutionary the new recording label, Motown Records, would be when Berry Gordy started it back in 1959. Today the Motown Museum is located in the same building where Motown Records began and is a National Historic Landmark.

During the 1960s, when racial tensions were at their height, Motown Records was able to break down prejudices and bring African American music into the mainstream with songs like “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Dancing in the Streets” and “My Girl.” Some of the first recording artists the label signed included The Miracles, The Temptations and The Supremes, all of which are featured throughout the museum.

Among the most popular exhibits is Studio A, the original studio where many early Motown hits were recorded.

“When you enter it, you feel like you’re in the same spot the famous people were in where history was made,” said Shanel Adams, public relations coordinator. “I’ve seen people fall to the floor, I’ve seen tears and you can just feel it. It’s so powerful if you’re a Motown fan.”

The studio is set up just as it was when it was in use and pictures of the famous artists who recorded there, including Aretha Franklin, line the walls.

Michael Jackson’s glove is on permanent display, and the special exhibit “Boulevard to Broadway” will run through the end of 2016. “Boulevard” tells the story from Motown’s beginnings to its impact on the national stage and features original costumes, instruments and photographs.

Groups can enjoy special events at the Motown Museum, including the spoken-word series Motown Mic, and includes Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

www.motownmuseum.org

Ashley Ricks

Ashley Ricks is the circulation and marketing manager for The Group Travel Leader Inc.