the Nashvillle Palace - Nashville

Alexander Zaalberg · Post by **Alexander Zaalberg** » 16 Oct 2004 5:12 am

Pedal-Pro Universal
playing the universal pedal steel guitar
<a href="http://www.pedalprouniversal.com">URL:http://www.pedalprouniversal.com
</a>

In our november edition of de PPU website we'd like to publish an article about bar/restaurant/stage "the Nashville Palace" in Nashville.We'd like to publish your thoughts on the Palace.

Our request, when you ever have visited the Nashville Palace in Nashville, perhaps for a drink, eat or perform, what was the palace like to you. Also inform us when you know something of the bar/restaurant's history. We quote your exact words.

when you have pictures of the Nashville Palace (also interior) we would like to publish them along with this article.

Thanks in advance

to Email us:

alexander-zaalberg@planet.nl

Alexander Zaalberg
webmaster
Pedal-Pro Universal

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 16 Oct 2004 1:30 pm

no steel - no palace...

Nashville Palace = <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm802' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_15_7.gif' alt='Gagging' border=0></a>

Db

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"Promat"
~when the tone matters~

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Oct 2004 1:51 pm

Alexander, you'll want to correspond with Mike Sweeney, who played there for many years until they decided "no more steel guitar". Are you sure you want to do an article on this place?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 17 Oct 2004 12:22 am

I would question WHY as well.

We go to Nville a few times/year just to hang out, catch up with some friends and club hop. The Palace was one of the "Beer Joints" we used to visit until they dropped the Steel.

No point in going there..so we don't.

t

Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 17 Oct 2004 3:20 am

We spent a week in Nashville in September..being shown around by Smiley Roberts.....we must have gone into every Honky Tonk around........were with a few other people too of some note.........and never once did the Nashville Palace ever arise in conversation......and I'm sure it would have it was worth visiting
Tony

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 17 Oct 2004 4:37 am

I think they quit having a band, didnt they? Last time I was there, Bobbe was playing. Food was fair, music was great. But, with no band, and no steel, It'll be one of those places I drive right by next time I'm in Nashville.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 17 Oct 2004 6:53 am

The Nashville Palace was originally opened as "Jerry Reed's Nashville Palace". The first house band was Jerry's touring band. Hoot Hester/Fiddle, Richard Shook/Bass, Kenny Penny / guitar, Dennis Bottoms/keys, Ty Corbitt/drums, and I ran interference with various slide tools

We had two great singers. Sedena Reed and Lorrie Morgan. The gig lasted a year and Jerry pulled his name from the club shortly after that.
Paul

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 17 Oct 2004 7:36 am

enough said, thanks paul,no steel, me no go!!and thats nashville??forget it!!!

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 17 Oct 2004 8:43 am

I was the last [regular] steel player at the Palace [eight years]. And the 26th of next month it will be two years since I got the axe. I haven't been back but I was told that buisiness is way, way down. I wouldn't say it's because of no steel,although I did have my share of folks coming to see me I would guess the high prices and poor service and just a bad band period, steel or not have something to do with it. The Palace did have it's own website and it's on some tourists sites for the Nashville C.O.C. so if it were me I wouldn't give them any FREE advertisement.

Mike Sweeney

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 17 Oct 2004 8:45 am

...a LOT of steel players worked at the Palace...Paul Franklin,Bobbe Seymour,Mike Sweeney,Mike Cass,Hal Rugg,John Hughey,Mike Douchette,Mike Stidhoff,Stu Basore,Randy Beavers,Tommy Spurlock,Jim Vest,Curly Chalker,Larry Sasser,Gary Carter,Daryl Hornberger...those are the ones I saw and heard there myself!I'm sure I left somebody out...sorry!I did two different stints there-85-86 and 91-93...I once was let go by the owner so he could hire a fiddle player...three days later he changed his mind!Randy Travis was the regular singer/cook/dishwasher then...when he left we had Ricky Van Shelton,then Alan Jackson...I really enjoyed working there.

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 17 Oct 2004 8:49 am

Hey Steve,

If you add the subs in you would have a good size list.

Mike[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 17 October 2004 at 09:50 AM.]

Alexander Zaalberg · Post by **Alexander Zaalberg** » 17 Oct 2004 11:19 am

We were there last April during our USA visit. Food was good, but indeed no steel. I understand by your remarks they thrown out the pedal-steel. Why? To me country music and steel guitar go hand in hand. I understand writing an article about the Palace is a waste of time??? If so, we'll skip it.

AZ

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 17 Oct 2004 12:16 pm

Mike-some of those on my list were subs...but I know what you mean...by the way,I'm looking forward to hearing your new album!I have listened to the previous ones many times and I really enjoy them...keep up the great work!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Oct 2004 12:23 pm

Who was working there in July/August of 1989? Who was in the band?

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 17 Oct 2004 1:52 pm

Richard,

At that time Mike Douchette was the steel player. The rest of the band was John Propst on keys, Steve Hill on bass, Willie Cantu on drums, Dan Shaffer on guitar.
Mike also doubled on harp.

Mike

Steve, Doug Jernigan worked there for a time too. I think it was the early eighties but not sure when.

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Mike Sweeney[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 17 October 2004 at 02:54 PM.]

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 17 Oct 2004 1:57 pm

Mike-I knew I forgot some...but how did I forget DOUG?

Billy Johnson · Post by **Billy Johnson** » 17 Oct 2004 2:53 pm

Steve, Gene O'Neal was another one.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 17 Oct 2004 3:45 pm

Billy-you're right!I believe that was the last gig Gene had...sure miss him-he was always so nice to me...please tell your lovely and talented wife hey for me-Steve

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 17 Oct 2004 4:19 pm

Steve Hill is my favorite MC/Frontman/Singer...

Yeah right!!!![This message was edited by Bob Knight on 17 October 2004 at 05:19 PM.]

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 18 Oct 2004 12:38 am

I went a couple of times when Mike was the steel-player - only his fine playing made up for the indifferent food and lacklustre service. There's no reason to go there now, 'though I suppose they'll still get by without me, and thanks to the tourist buses (I bet the drivers eat for nothing!)

It WAS cool to see Willie Cantu there, though!

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 18 Oct 2004 3:41 am

I played there in the late 80's. It was only for two or three nights. I was with the Shotgun Red band. I think Kenny Jansen subbed on drums for us. At the time he was in the house band there. Kenny had also played with Tammy Wynette and is from MN, too.

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 18 Oct 2004 10:26 am

Ernie,
Kenny,& his wife,Diane Murrell,are now, running the "Nashville Nightlife",on Music Valley Dr.,& so far,it seems to be a success.
They've been booking some great Country acts in there,e.g.,Shotgun Red,Leona Williams,etc.
Of course,they get a lot of trade from the motorhome campgrounds that are located ther,too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BTW,the closest that Tony & Lyn Davis,& myself came to the Nashville Palace,was their parking lot,when we went to the Opryland Hotel. The hotel,now,wants $9.00 to park in their lot. NO WAY,JOSE!!

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 18 Oct 2004 4:18 pm

I use to go to the Palace every time I went to Nashville, but since they cut Mike, I refuse to step foot in the place. I can think of plenty of other clubs that are much more worthy of an article.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 18 Oct 2004 4:37 pm

Smiley;
Kenny and Diana come up to MN around Christmas time for a holiday show, (Kenny is from a town about 35 miles from here.) Our group is the back-up band. The same band is doing back-up for most of Shotgun Red's tour dates for next year. This year we did about half of them. Maybe we'll stop in town on the way thru. I haven't been out to Nightlife, yet.

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Chris Haston · Post by **Chris Haston** » 18 Oct 2004 8:54 pm

I've never heard of the Nashville Palace. Where is it?