Printer's Alley is a famous alley in downtown

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

, U.S., between Third and Fourth Avenues, running from Union Street to Commerce Street. The portion of the alley between Union and Church Street is the home of a nightclub district that dates back to the 1940s.

History

At the beginning of the 20th century, Printer's Alley was home to a thriving publishing industry. The area was home to two large newspapers, ten print shops, and thirteen publishers. When Printer's Alley first became a nightclub and entertainment district, sale of liquor for on premise consumption was illegal in Nashville (and throughout Tennessee). Restaurants and clubs in the alley served liquor anyway, often claiming it had been "brown bagged" (brought in by customers). Law enforcement agencies normally looked the other way when such sales occurred. Liquor sales in restaurants were finally legalized in 1968. One famous Printer's Alley club was Jimmy Hyde's Carousel Club, a jazz venue frequented by many Nashville musicians, among them a significant number of studio musicians who loved jazz despite spending their day backing country singers. These players would jam after the sessions were done and the music was often jazz. Among them were

Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson (musician), Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nash ...

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Boots Randolph Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III (June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007) was an American musician. His 1963 saxophone hit " Yakety Sax" became the signature tune of ''The Benny Hill Show''. Randolph was a prolific session musician and member of the Nas ...

Bob Moore Bob Moore may refer to: * Bob Moore (musician) (1932–2021), American session musician * Bob Moore (executive) (1929–2024), co-founder of Bob's Red Mill * Bob Moore (American football) (born 1949), American football tight end * Bob Moore (Au ...

, Brenton Banks,

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and

Hank Garland Walter Louis Garland (November 11, 1930 – December 27, 2004), known professionally as Hank Garland, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He started as a country musician, played rock and roll as it became popular in the 1950s, and release ...

. Later, Randolph purchased the Carousel. In 1998, murder came to the Alley when longtime club proprietor David "Skull" Schulman was murdered by a robber shortly before his club was due to open. Paul McCartney mentioned Printer's Alley in his song "Sally G.", released as the B_side of Paul McCartney & Wings 1974 single "Junior's farm".

Today

Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar
, Ms. Kelli's Karaoke
Fleet Street Pub
Skulls Rainbow Room,
Jane’s Hideaway
Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, Black Rabbit, and Daddy's Dogs are all found in Printer's Alley today.

References

{{coord, 36.1640, -86.7784, type:landmark, display=title Culture of Nashville, Tennessee Economy of Nashville, Tennessee Transportation in Nashville, Tennessee Tourist attractions in Nashville, Tennessee

History

Today

See also

References