This Is Nashville

Diving into North Nashville’s artistic heritage, then and now

Listen Later

Sixty years ago, North Nashville was a thriving cultural oasis. There were taverns and gambling joints, restaurants and ice cream parlors, boarding houses and nightclubs that drew the likes of Etta James and Jimi Hendrix. Construction of Interstate 40 through North Nashville in the 1970s split the historically Black neighborhood in two, severed community ties and brought noise and pollution.

Much of the Black middle class that had sustained North Nashville moved away, leading to years of neglect and disrepair. Today, a new generation is working to honor the artistic heritage of the area while also bringing it into the future.

We’ll begin today’s show with an update from WPLN criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger on the Covenant shooting.

Guests: 

  • Elisheba Israel Mrozik, owner of One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlour and Gallery

  • Jordan Harris, owner of Alkebu-Lan Images

  • Lucius “Spoonman” Talley, musician

    • Additional reading:

    • This Is Nashville: Etta James once rocked the New Era Club, one of North Nashville’s most famous stages. Today only a few pieces remain.
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      This Is NashvilleBy WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      58 ratings

      More shows like This Is Nashville

      View all
      Fresh Air by NPR

      Fresh Air

      38,571 Listeners

      The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

      The New Yorker Radio Hour

      6,798 Listeners

      Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

      Hidden Brain

      43,600 Listeners

      The Book Review by The New York Times

      The Book Review

      3,962 Listeners

      On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti by WBUR

      On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

      3,999 Listeners

      Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

      Travel with Rick Steves

      2,508 Listeners

      The Daily by The New York Times

      The Daily

      113,521 Listeners

      It's Been a Minute by NPR

      It's Been a Minute

      9,110 Listeners

      Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda by Alan Alda

      Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

      3,760 Listeners

      Throughline by NPR

      Throughline

      16,465 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      16,427 Listeners

      The Interview by The New York Times

      The Interview

      1,600 Listeners

      NashVillager by WPLN - Nashville Public Radio

      NashVillager

      43 Listeners

      This Old House Radio Hour by American Public Media

      This Old House Radio Hour

      101 Listeners

      Sources & Methods by NPR

      Sources & Methods

      857 Listeners