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Street renamed in honor of Ralph Peer Sr.
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The late Ralph Peer -- the Victor Recording Co. engineer and talent scout who was at the center of the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions -- was honored during a ceremony Friday in Bristol Tennessee.
A portion of Progress Street was renamed Ralph Peer Street and a plaque -- with details about the roles that Peer and Bristol played in country music -- was unveiled by officials from both cities and the Rhythm & Roots Reunion. The three-day music festival got under way Friday in the Twin City.
Music historians have said that Peer's initial recordings -- made in a State Street warehouse -- of artists like the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and the Stonemans were the first to generate national interest in commercial country music. Both the Carters and Rodgers are enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
"It's really important that we remember what happened 75 years ago. This is the first opportunity we've had to honor Mr. Peer and his accomplishments," Bristol Tennessee City Councilman David Shumaker said.
Mayor Trish Bane said the ceremony was timed to coincide with the festival, which celebrates the musical diversity of those early recordings.
"With this weekend's music festival -- and all of the different types of music we will hear -- it would be easy to imagine what Bristol was like when Ralph Peer first came to Bristol in 1927," Bane said.
Peer died in 1960. Ralph Peer II, son of the music pioneer and president and chief executive officer of Peermusic, attended the ceremony with his daughter, Mary Meagan Peer.
"I think my father would feel deeply appreciative of this honor that recognized the events of August 1927 and all that came out of those events," Peer said. "And more importantly, that you continue to take the opportunity to honor the creators of the music because that is so important to our national culture today."
Peer said that his father didn't seek out recognition for his work.
"He enjoyed the peacefulness of the household and he didn't go out of his way to seek the spotlight, but Bristol and the recordings here were a great source of pride to him," he added.
"He was certainly a good dad too. I miss him a lot and this helps in my memory of him," Peer added.
Rob Nicar, one of three co-chairmen of this weekend's music festival, said festival officials were glad that Peer could attend some of the events.
"It's nice to make this a real reunion. We'll have great music this weekend and many times the songs will be the same ones recorded here in the 1920s by Mr. Peer," Nicar said.
Peer praised officials of both Bristols for honoring their roots and predicted that the communities will be "better places to live" for their efforts.
Renaming downtown streets to honor music pioneers is expected to become an annual event in Bristol, Shumaker said.
"This is something that has been approved by both cities and the planning commissions to change the names. We'll alternate every year, so next year will be Bristol Virginia's turn," Shumaker said. "We plan to go down State Street, so the next one will probably be either King or James Street and I would guess they would probably honor the Carter Family, since they were from Virginia."
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