Editing Bristol, Tennessee (section)

==History==
Before 1852, the land where Bristol is located was owned by [[Reverend James King]]. His son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson of [[Blountville, Tennessee]], bought {{convert|100|acre}} of the plantation and named it Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Bristol {{!}} Bristol, TN - Official Website|url=https://www.bristoltn.org/389/History-of-Bristol|website=www.bristoltn.org|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref>  The [[G.W. Blackley House]], one of the oldest houses in Bristol, was constructed in 1869.

===Country Music===
{{further|Bristol sessions|Music of East Tennessee}}
[[File:Bristol, Tennessee Guitar at the corner of State Street and Volunteer Parkway. .jpg|thumb|upright|The Bristol Guitar]]

The U.S. Congress declared Bristol to be the "Birthplace of Country Music", according to a resolution passed in 1998, recognizing its contributions to early country music recordings and influence, and the [[Birthplace of Country Music Museum]] is located in Bristol.<ref name="ALgov">"Birthplace of Country Music", AmericasLibrary.gov, 2011, web: [http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/tn/es_tn_bristol_1.html AL].</ref>

In [[1927 in music|1927]], record producer [[Ralph Peer]] of Victor Records [[Bristol sessions|began recording local musicians in Bristol]], to attempt to capture the local sound of traditional "folk" music of the region. One of these local sounds was created by the Carter Family, who got their start on July 31, 1927, when A.P. Carter and his family journeyed from [[Maces Spring, Virginia]], to Bristol to audition for Ralph Peer, who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry.  They received $50 for each song they recorded. That same visit by Peer to Bristol also resulted in the first recordings by Jimmie Rodgers.<ref name=Sanjek>David Sanjek, "All the Memories Money Can Buy: Marketing Authenticity and Manufacturing Authorship", p. 155–172 in Eric Weisbard, ed., ''This is Pop'', Harvard University Press, 2004. {{ISBN|0-674-01321-2}} (cloth), {{ISBN|0-674-01344-1}} (paper). p. 158.</ref>

Since 1994, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has promoted the city as a destination to learn about country music and the city's role in the creation of an entire music genre. The alliance is organizing the building of a new Cultural Heritage Center to help educate the public about the history of country music in the region.<ref name=BCMA>"BCMA - Birthplace of Country Music Alliance", BCMA, 2012, webpage: [http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/ BCMA].</ref> On August 1, 2014, the [[Birthplace of Country Music Museum]] opened in [[Bristol, Virginia]] to commemorate the historical significance of the [[Bristol sessions]]. The museum features a 24,000-ft building that houses core exhibits, space for special exhibits, a performance theater, and a radio station.

Every year, during the third weekend in September, a music festival called the [[Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion]] takes place. The festival is held downtown, where Tennessee and Virginia meet, and it celebrates Bristol's heritage as the birthplace of country music.<ref>"Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion", BristolRhythm.com, 2011, webpage: [http://www.bristolrhythm.com/ BR]</ref>