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Wu-Tang To Be First Hip-Hop Artist To Play Ryman Auditorium

Wu-Tang To Be First Hip-Hop Artist To Play Ryman Auditorium
By Daniel Schwen [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
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NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) It only took a half-century or so, but hip-hop is finally coming to the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville’s Ryman Theatre, in the form of the Wu-Tang Clan.

The Wu is expected to play tomorrow night, June 9, to a sold-out auditorium. “The Mother Church of Country Music” opened its doors, as a church in 1892 and has hosted everyone from Helen Keller to Harry Houdini. Minnie Pearl gave music lessons there on Sundays.

Shannon Sanders, who used to perform in a hip-hop group in Nashville in the 1980s, told NPR, “It’s just been hard to be part of the narrative of the city’s musical story.”

Pam Matthews, former GM for the Ryman, told NPR culture did not play a big part in this delay but rather that hip-0hop artists hesitated to visit the Ryman because of its size and the awkward placement of its pews.

“I did make an offer on 50 Cent,” Matthews said. “And I also feel it’s possible I made an offer on Insane Clown Posse.”

“You know, the Ryman has had to grow up too, and had to grow up into what the city is,” Sanders added. “You know, the Wu-Tang is ready for the Ryman, but also the Ryman is ready for the Wu-Tang.”

 

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