Denzel Irwin, a.k.a Santa of Santa’s Pub, Has Died

He was Nashville’s ever-present and year-long version of Santa Claus, and his haunt Santa’s Pub is like the North Pole of the South. Inside a triple wide trailer south of downtown and near Nashville’s new Geodis Park, some of the most lasting memories were made among Nashville’s population of artists and their fans, and Christmas cheer never went out of season.

His real name was Elmer Denzel Irwin. It was one of his 18 grandchildren who nicknamed him Santa for his long white beard and his friendly disposition. He was a painter for some 45 years, an army veteran, and a rare Nashville native. He also spent some time as a Pentecostal preacher. But when Irwin retired in 2011, he decided to open Santa’s Pub at 2225 Bransford Ave., decorating the otherwise run-down establishment with Christmas decorations.

Word is that for the first two weeks the bar was open, Santa sat inside by himself, with only a few brave souls poking their head in the door. But the low ceilings and off-the-beaten-path nature of the bar made it a favorite of many, especially local independent country musicians who could be themselves within Santa’s walls.

Six nights a week, Santa’s Pub is a karaoke bar, which some might consider the antithesis of a musician’s hang. But it’s in this environment where musicians could get away from the seriousness of performance and let loose.

Then somewhere around 2012 with so many musicians frequenting the place, they finally convinced Santa to allow one night of live music, and the Ice Cold Pickers were born—a backing band that could do just about any classic country music song you called out, with a revolving cast of singers coming up to front the band on a nightly basis.

Kristina Murray, Logan Ledger, Runner of the Woods, Emily Nenni, Hannah Juanita, Wade Sapp, Eliza Thorn, and a host of other musicians became mainstays of Santa’s Sunday night sessions, seeding their careers and cutting their teeth on classic country.

Santa’s Pub is also one of the places country artist Luke Bell first played regularly when making his way to Nashville. The video for the song “Sometimes” was shot at Santa’s, as were scores of others.

In fact, this week during AmericanFest, Thursday night (9-14) saw a tribute to Luke Bell with the Ice Cold Pickers comprising the house band. Guitarist Steve Daly and bassist Carter Brallier make up the nucleus of the Ice Cold Pickers along with musicians like steel guitarist Smokin’ Brett Resnick when they’re in town.

But it’s Santa’s ever-present smile as he sat on his stool with his beer and a cigarette that made the place so warm. Santa’s Pub only served beer. Irwin gave it credit for there never being a fight in the place. Santa’s Pub was one of the very last places in Nashville—and potentially, one of the few in the United States—to allow smoking. Nashville had to pass a special law to shut it down eventually. The smoking went from a relic, to an endearing part of a trip to Santa’s, eventually coming to an end in 2022.

Along with all of the traditional country artists who performed and hung out at Santa’s Pub over the years, many mainstream performers were spotted there as well. Jack White and Kacey Musgraves frequented the place early on. Kid Rock and even Morgan Wallen have been spotted there on karaoke nights. For some major stars, it’s been a tradition to stop by Santa’s pub while in town. But it will forever be an important location in the country music revolution for the Sunday night sessions with the Ice Cold Pickers.

Denzel Irwin never broke character. In April when the neighborhood experienced some minor flooding and Saving Country Music called into check on the status of Santa’s Pub, he responded, “Everything’s fine. Thanks for checking up on us. Ho ho ho!” To many in the music community, Irwin was the real version of Santa Claus.

No word on the fate or future of Santa’s Pub moving forward after Denzel Irwin’s death was announced Sunday morning, September 14th. But a capacity crowd is already starting to assemble there Sunday night to hear the Ice Cold Pickers strike it up again. This time it will all be for Santa.

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