Remembering Joe Chambers: Founder, Fighter for Musicians Hall of Fame

“You can see the hood ornament on the car when you go to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. But if you want to look at the engine, and see what’s making it go, go to the Musician’s Hall of Fame.”
–Neil Young
In all of music, but in country music especially, the musicians and songwriters who work behind-the-scenes commonly with little or no recognition from the public at large are often the ones who truly make the magic happen. Without them, some, if not many of the stars of music would collapse like hallowed-out husks from a lack of depth and talent, especially in today’s talent pool.
For all of its other flaws as an industry, country music and Nashville have always tried to give songwriters their due, establishing the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and making sure songwriters share in awards given to songs. But until Joe Chambers came along, musicians continued to play a role as second fiddle.
There would not be a Musicians Hall of Fame if it wasn’t for the undying commitment of Joe Chambers to the institution, along with his wife Linda. Despite being located in Nashville and having significant ties to country music, the dedication of Joe Chambers was to showcase the work of the studio and touring musicians from all across the United States, and from all genres of music. Opened in 2006 and facing significant adversity in its early years, the Musicians Hall of Fame is now a Nashville institution.
Joe Chambers was a musician himself, and a connoisseur of important instruments from the start. Originally from Georgia, he came to Nashville in 1978 as a member of a rock and roll band. He soon fell under the tutelage of Nashville Sound producer Billy Sherrill, and superstar Conway Twitty as an understudy. Mesmerized by the talents of the studio musicians playing on so many of country music’s hits, this is where Chambers found his passion for highlighting and preserving their contributions.
In 1985, Joe Chambers opened Chambers Guitars, and started dealing in instruments from across the country. He was successful enough to be able to open multiple locations, and it was through this venture that he made connections with musicians throughout the music business.
Interestingly though, the most lasting contributions of Joe Chambers to the music itself came in the form of songwriting. The title track to the 1988 album Old 8×10 from Randy Travis, the 1990 hit “I Meant Every Word He Said” by Ricky Van Shelton, and “Beneath a Painted Sky” by Tammy Wynette were some of the numerous cuts Joe Chambers earned in his career, along with songs from Conway Twitty, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Joe Diffie, and others.
In 1998, Joe Chambers began looking into producing a TV special that would help expose many of the musicians behind hit songs from the rock and country realm. The special never came about, but the passion Joe Chambers contained eventually morphed into what became the Musicians Hall of Fame. First established in a 30,000 sq. ft. building the previously housed an electronics business, it was near the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and Lower Broadway, making it an important part of the Nashville downtown tourism district.
But the Musicians Hall of Fame always felt like the odd man out in Nashville since it wasn’t strictly affiliated with country music. Along with the musicians and instruments from Music Row’s iconic studios, Chambers also featured the musicians from Muscle Shoals, Motown in Detroit, and the Wrecking Crew in California, as well as musicians from New York, New Orleans, and other locations. In 2009 when the City of Nashville was looking to construct its massive Music City Center convention complex, the Musicians Hall of Fame fell right into its cross hairs, and it received an eminent domain notice.
Chambers and the Musicians Hall of Fame was the last holdout in the new convention center footprint. An independent appraiser valued the Musicians Hall property at $9.8 million, but Nashville only wanted to give Chambers $4.8 million. At that price, Chambers was concerned rebuilding the Musicians Hall of Fame in a new location with the same scope would be impossible in Nashville. When he lost the legal battle, the city gave him only seven days to vacate.
Also, during negotiations with Chambers on what to do with the property, the city of Nashville made offers of housing the Musicians Hall of Fame within the new convention center, and finding a temporary home for it during construction. But apparently when Chambers began to stand up to the city, they became much less willing to work with him. Instead, in 2012, the Songwriters Hall of Fame was moved to the Music City Center property.
To add insult to injury, in May of 2010 when Nashville experienced historic flooding, it damaged many of the instruments that were in the Musicians Hall of Fame collection since they had been forced into storage and had yet to find a permanent home after being moved from the original property.
It would have been just as easy for Joe Chambers to close up shop permanently, or perhaps move to another city that would be more hospitable to his idea of featuring the musicians behind the music. Eventually the Musicians Hall of Fame landed at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium about a mile north of the original location where it remains today, though they lease the property from the city instead of owning it.
Nonetheless, the Musicians Hall of Fame has become a destination spot for tourists and musicians from all across the country who come to Nashville every year. Joe Chambers also was the narrator for an excellent series of interviews and features posted on the museum’s YouTube Page on a regular basis. Highly respected among musicians and performers, Joe Chambers was able to get some of the best stories and personal revelations out of major music contributors.
It seems unfortunately fitting that when Joe Chambers passed away last week on September 28th, few if any media outlets paid attention, because just like the musicians he championed, the Musician’s Hall of Fame has always been considered the other Hall of Fame in Nashville, and under-reported on. Joe Chambers refused to follow the script, or fit the mold. But what he did to preserve the moments, the instruments, and the players who helped make the hits of American music was invaluable, and the musicians of American music always remembered him, loaning and donating their time, their attention, and their instruments to the institution.
In lieu of flowers, mourners are being asked to donate to the Musicians Hall of Fame.
October 4, 2022 @ 6:24 pm
Trigger,
Thanks for this. I have watched many of Joe’s interviews. Class act.
October 4, 2022 @ 7:15 pm
What a fine, solid, dedicated person. Rest in peace, Joe.
October 4, 2022 @ 7:54 pm
Thanks, one of the best interviewers in the business along with everything he did for the musicians.RIP
October 5, 2022 @ 4:20 am
Glad to read this, thanks. “Joe Chambers refused to follow the script, or fit the mold.” Fine tribute.
October 5, 2022 @ 4:37 am
Our family visited the original location in 2008. We arrived one morning shortly after it opened. I had no idea who Joe was at the time, but he greeted us as we entered the exhibits and walked around with us for most of the time we were there, answering questions and explaining what we were seeing, and how they had obtained the items on display. He made a tremendous impression. Very sorry to hear of his passing. He was one of a kind.
October 5, 2022 @ 4:39 am
R.I.P.
October 5, 2022 @ 5:57 am
RIP Mr. Chambers. His interviews are a treasure trove. Listen to one today and remember him. Condolences to his family and friends.
October 5, 2022 @ 7:02 am
Oh man, I discovered Joe via his wonderful YouTube channel. He felt like an old friend, in many ways, his passion for music and love of the musicians, the equipment and the minutia behind recording the great songs, all made him one of the coolest guys in Nashville. Didn’t know he was a Billy Sherrill understudy. Love Billy Sherrills work. So bummed that Joe has left us. His vision and the museum he’s left behind , are something to be proud of. To me, the players and pickers are the true guts, and soul of great music.
October 5, 2022 @ 10:29 am
Thank you so much for tributing Joe Chambers! I only discovered him through YouTube a year or two ago and love everything I find of him. Especially hearing from so many different artists of how Joe impacted them. Seems like this guy was everywhere, but mostly stayed behind the scenes.
To have a life mission of championing the musicians shows how deeply passionate he was about the music
Please everyone share and make this man known and keep his memory alive.
So much can be learned from his kindness and genuine interest in people. We need more of that in this world.
October 5, 2022 @ 10:49 am
Finished the article. So we’ll written and ties together the bits and pieces I picked up from him interviewing people.
He has such a wonderful story but never would have been the type to just talk about himself.
I feel like more of his story needs told. Would love to see more artists tell of their encounters with Joe.
October 6, 2022 @ 8:27 pm
Joe’s museum is a hidden treasure in Nashville.
October 8, 2022 @ 1:18 pm
Agree with so many of the other earlier commenters: His interviews were (are) a real pleasure. Sorry to hear about the struggles he went through with the museum — have always looked forward to visiting it some day. RIP.
October 12, 2022 @ 8:42 am
Glad I stumbled upon his interviews on YouTube, especially with Neil Young. He was a very strong advocate for musicians.
October 14, 2022 @ 9:10 am
Thank you very much for writing this.
November 9, 2022 @ 12:24 pm
Joe’s laid back interviewing style made his YouTube videos a pleasure to watch and always informative. His musical knowledge was second to none and he seeemingly knew everyone in the business. In many ways it feels like I’ve lost a personal friend. RIP
November 24, 2022 @ 4:09 pm
Really a sad day , seems as though many great musicians arent around anymore , Joe was great guitarist from Georgia and a great songwriter , I had just talked to him not a month before he passed , we talked about another fine musician that passed, , Joe will always be a legend here
June 16, 2023 @ 4:30 pm
He was terrific interviewer whose humanity shined through in every conversation with the many greats he hosted. I hope those priceless interviews are well preserved and will long be accessible to music lovers and researchers. He seemed like a genuinely decent man.
March 17, 2024 @ 12:42 pm
My heart is broken! Over the years, I’ve remembered Joe so many times and wondered where he was and whatever happened to my good friend! Joe and I were good buddy’s long before he ever became “Joe Chambers”. We laughed so much and, as I write, recall the trips to Panama City Beach…LOL…I remember a trip where about 9 or 10 of us crashed, in a room, at the Chateau, a major hotel on the beach and back in the day! I remember the night I lost my virginity with some gal from Headland, AL and afterwards, Joe and I went out carousing the grounds, drinking beer and celebrating my “conquest”. The next day, I couldn’t wait to see her again and continue a burgeoning love affair (we were so young then). Joe and I saw her, in the daylight, and ran! LOL! We saw two gals beneath us, sitting in lawn chairs up against the seawall. We both jumped over, landing next to them and started hittin’em up! So many stories I could tell…so much fun together! I can see the last time i saw him, at Columbus Square Mall…who knew it was our last goodbye? Many years later I later found he owned a music store up in TN and then one night a few years back, saw him on a ‘Huckaby’ show interview…I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT! We were so young and broke together, back in the day. I often wondered if he remembered his good friend like I did…and still DO! Its 3/17/24, I Googled “Country Music Stars we’ve lost” and clicked on and I just saw where he died in ’22…and I’m almost crying. I love Joe Chambers! I miss him. Thanks for reading what I just threw up on ya. I wish I could call someone from back then to lament but all those ties are broken over time. I hope Joe was a Christian so I can see him again…and laugh! All my heart goes to his wife, family and friends…GOD BLESS!