|
A Murfreesboro benefactor has put up $575,000 to purchase "Mother Maybelle"
Carter's guitar and return it — permanently — to the Country Music Hall of Fame
and Museum.
The 1928 Gibson L-5 guitar had been on loan to the museum since 1998, but it
was put up for sale by its anonymous owner three months ago.
Bob McLean, identified this morning as a Murfreesboro businessman, agreed to
buy the guitar and donate it for permanent display at the hall of fame. The
agreement was announced this morning at a press conference. Nashville vintage
instrument dealer Gruhn Guitars served as middleman on the deal.
McLean presented the guitar to the museum this morning in a ceremony at the
museum's Ford Theatre attended by music industry personnel and musicians
including Earl Scruggs, Marty Stuart and Vince Gill. Mayor Bill Purcell
was also on hand.
The Original Carter Family, country music's first stars, debuted in 1927
when family members Maybelle, Alvin Pleasant (''A.P'') Carter and his wife,
Sara, performed in Bristol, Tenn., for Victor producer Ralph Peer, who
was scouting for ''hillbilly'' musicians. Throughout Maybelle's long recording
career, the Gibson L-5 was virtually the only instrument she used.
(Note: User registration may be required to read this or any article
on some news media sites. You are under no obligation to provide
any news media site with any relevant information and
we encourage the use of an email address that you want
spam/advertisements sent to in such situations.)
|
