VATION ECONOMY C’S BIRTHPLACE AL HERITAGE AND DESTINATION. In the Appalachian highlands where Virginia meets Tennessee, Bristol occupies a unique position in American cultural history. In 1998, the U.S. Congress officially designated this twin city as the “Birthplace of Country Music,” commemorating the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions where Ralph Peer recorded the first commercial tracks of Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family. Those 12 days of recording 76 songs by 19 artists created what scholars call the “big bang” of country music. Nearly a century later, Bristol, Virginia is building on that heritage while pushing toward a decidedly modern future. “We’re rooted in heritage, but rising through innovation,” says Mack Chapman, Economic Development Manager for Bristol, Virginia. “The 56 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12
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