The story of Tennessee's contribution to American music is essentially the story of three cities: Nashville, Memphis, and Bristol. While Nashville is most famous for its status as the long-time capital of country music, Bristol is recognized as the "Birthplace of Country Music". Memphis musicians have had an enormous influence on blues, early rock and roll, R&B, and soul music, as well as an increasing presence in rap.
Matt Mahaffey is an American multi-instrumentalist, record producer, composer, and recording engineer best known for his band Self and his composer collective Cake In Space.
Subliminal Plastic Motives is the debut studio album from rock band Self, and is perhaps their most well-known release.
Self is an American alternative pop rock band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The band is led by Matt Mahaffey. The band currently consists of Chris James, Mac Burrus, and Jason Rawlings (drums). Past members include Matt's brother, Mike Mahaffey and Timm Nobles. Mahaffey cites Electric Light Orchestra, Prince, and Pixies as some of his biggest musical influences.
The Half-Baked Serenade is the second studio album by alternative pop/rock band Self.
Breakfast with Girls is the fourth studio album by alternative band Self, released in 1999. The album was highly anticipated, being the first Self album released on a major label since their debut album, Subliminal Plastic Motives.
Gizmodgery is the fifth studio album by alternative pop/rock band Self. It released in 2000 by Spongebath Records. The LP was recorded entirely with children's toy instruments. It was released in the short-lived HDCD format.
Michael Darren Mahaffey was a founding member of the power pop band Self. Founded with his brother, Matt Mahaffey, in the early 1990s, Self-released two major-label albums and various independent and Internet-only albums. He played lead guitar, keyboards, and bass for the band on various occasions. Before joining Self, he played in several bands, the most successful of which was the Southern Rock band Blackfish. He played lead guitar in the band, but contributed little to the songwriting. Blackfish released one major-label album in 1992 before disbanding. The other members of Blackfish were Steve Ballard, Chris Reublin and Andy Howard. His last recorded work was on Self's Ornament & Crime.
Gene Victor Parsons is an American drummer, banjo player, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and engineer, best known for his work with the Byrds from 1968 to 1972. Parsons has also released solo albums and played in bands including Nashville West, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Parsons Green. Along with guitarist Clarence White, he is credited with inventing the B-Bender —a device which allows a guitarist to emulate the sound of a pedal steel guitar. The device is often referred to as the Parsons/White B-Bender, a trademarked name.
Randy Rogers Band is an American country music band from San Marcos, Texas. The band is composed of Randy Rogers, Geoffrey Hill (guitar), Jon Richardson, Brady Black (fiddle), Les Lawless (drums), and Todd Stewart. They have recorded seven studio albums and two live albums, and have charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
The Features are an American indie rock band from Sparta, Tennessee, United States of America. The original lineup consisted of Matt Pelham, Roger Dabbs, and Don Sergio. The most recent iteration consists of Pelham, Dabbs, Rollum Haas, and Mark Bond. They have released five full-length albums and three EPs. The band has appeared twice as musical guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Spongebath Records was an independent record label based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee during the mid-nineties. During its heyday, Spongebath was often viewed as the vibrant center of Murfreesboro/Nashville's music scene with a robust artist roster of critically acclaimed bands, singers, and songwriters.
The Katies are a three-piece power rock band originating in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee
Big Notebook for Easy Piano is the debut album by the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, band Fluid Ounces. It was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, with producer Ross Rice.
In the New Old-Fashioned Way was the highly anticipated second album from Spongebath Records' artists Fluid Ounces. The album was recorded in a marathon two week session with producer Richard Dortch in Jackson, Mississippi. All tracks were recorded live, with minimal overdubs. The album has a distinctive sound from other releases in the Ounces canon, and features mixing credits by Matt Mahaffey. The title of the album is the same as the last line of the chorus in the 1958 Brenda Lee song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".
Foreign Legion is the third studio album by Murfreesboro, TN band Fluid Ounces.
The Whole Shebang is the fourth studio album and third record label for Murfreesboro, Tennessee band Fluid Ounces.
The Plain were a rock band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
American Son is a studio album by American country rock musician Levon Helm, who is most famous for his work as drummer for the rock group the Band. It was released in October 1980 on MCA Records and was Helm's third studio album. It had generally been considered Levon Helm's best solo work until the release of Dirt Farmer in 2007.
The Palace Guard was an American garage rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. Though the band never obtained national success, they made a huge splash in Southern California with their song "Falling Sugar". The group is also notable for featuring the first commercial appearance of Emitt Rhodes, later a member of the Merry-Go-Round.
