He had me at “Hello.”

Johnny Cash, that is. I’ve only been in love with his mournful bass-baritone voice for a short time (since 2005, when the biopic “Walk the Line” first turned me on to the hell-raising maverick who originally wanted to be a gospel singer). Nevertheless, if CDs wore down like well-appreciated vinyl, my frequently replayed Cash discs would be ready for the junk pile.

Still, it’s understandable that I didn’t even think about the legendary... Read More

I love all kinds of food (I don’t discriminate!), but breakfast fare is by far my favorite. When I travel, I usually try to check out at least a few local eateries with standout morning menus. So, on a recent business trip to Nashville, I chowed down at the Pancake Pantry, said to dole out the yummiest pancakes in town. (Some devotees go so far as to claim the flapjacks doled out at the Pantry are among the world’s best.)

The local A.M. institution is in Hillsboro Village, a colorful neighborhood abutting Vanderbilt University. When I... Read More

When I listen to music, I play tracks from hardcore rappers, classical pianists and everyone in between. But, when someone asks me what genres I’m into, I invariably answer: “Pretty much anything—except country.”

While I do adore Johnny Cash’s haunting voice, such stars as Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks leave me cold, and some country songs actually make me cringe. Needless to say, I wasn’t overly thrilled about checking out the Grand Ole Opry during a recent Nashville trip, but I figured I could live... Read More

     'Grand Ole Music' is the theme of today's featured AAA Drive Trip - just one of over 100 available. Click here for a printable itinerary of this 1,071-mile trip, which is broken into four segments as it goes from Nashville to Memphis to Little Rock to St. Louis. You might well get 50 different answers if you asked the question, "Which state is most closely identified with music?"  This five-state jaunt can be traveled on one grand journey or broken into shorter trips that suit your musical tastes.... Read More

     Nashville is something of a paradox—it’s both musical and historical, kitschy and refined. I guess what you find is what expectations you bring to the city. We’ll see what that says about me.  I love this city and I try to visit at least once a year.  I usually stay downtown in a hotel just off Broadway.  Let me walk you through my typical first afternoon and evening in Nashville.

When I get to Nashville the first thing I do is take the short walk to Broadway and head for the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. The shop has been open for 61 years.... Read More