FEATURE
[ THE GIG OPENS AT BELMONT UNIVERSITY | Eric Dahl ]
Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill
Belmont
Christian use! George Gruhn, noteworthy instrument university in the state of Tennessee, has a well-
University,
the
largest
dealer/historian and the proprietor of Gruhn
establish the Shaw collection was Belmont.
earned reputation as one of the preeminent Guitars, had worked with Shaw over the The official Grand Opening was an invitation
Music based institutions in the country. Now years in amassing this incredible collection, only event held on April 25th, and it was
Belmont, located in the heart of Nashville TN, and as co-executor of the estate he also had greeted with a packed room of university
is also the home to a collection of almost 500 input into where they should be left. Gruhn dignitaries, A-list musicians, and lots of
vintage and rare instruments that belonged to said “The instruments in the museum will be media people! Ricky Skaggs, Grammy award
the late Steven Kern Shaw. Shaw, as George available for teaching, special recordings, and winning bluegrass artist, was in attendance
Gruhn had told me in a previous interview, performances. The ones currently on display and performed several songs with Gill and also
was a philanthropist and guitar collector. His are only a small portion of the total collection. It noted that he had two children that attended
grandfather was Jerome Kern, the famous is our goal to make many of these instruments Belmont! Vince is an alumnus of Belmont, and
American composer that scored “Ol’ Man more readily available for use in teaching. In the Larry Stewart (Restless Heart) who is also an
River,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” next few months we will be going through the alumnus, was in attendance.
entire collection and sorting out the ones to be
Housed in the Lila D. Bunch Library on set up in good playing order for loans.” Vince But the real stars were the instruments. I arrived
Belmont’s campus, the Gallery of Iconic Guitars Gill, Grammy award winning artist, mentioned early so I could wander freely to see the vintage
(The GIG for short) is a new kind of museum during the grand opening festivities that he guitars and mandolins up close and personal.
intended not only for the eyes but also for had suggested to Gruhn that the best place to The room is very well lit and also has humidity
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July 2017
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