Robert’s Western World to Celebrate 25 Years with Block Party

Anyone who is an actual country music fan better well know that one of the last bastions of real country on Lower Broadway in Nashville is Robert’s Western World.

For 25 years now as Lower Broadway has gone from downtrodden, to resurgent, to downright bustling, to garish and ridiculous like the Disney World of Country Music, Robert’s has remained the rock that resists all temptations to modernize, demands all of its performers only play classic country, and keeps the “Recession Special” of a PBR, a fried bologna sandwich, a Moon Pie, and a bag of chips at the ready.

To celebrate their 25th Anniversary, Robert’s Western World is throwing one hell of a birthday bash on Monday, August 5th by shutting down the 400 block of Lower Broad, erecting two stages, and putting some of the best entertainment in town on them, all for free. Gates open at 10:00 am, music starts at 11:00 am, and goes all day.

Some of the acts scheduled to play include the Del McCoury Band, and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. But it will also include a lot of the luminaries that have called Robert’s home over the years. One of the most legendary residencies in the venue’s history has been the Don Kelley Band, which has been a proving ground for some of the best Telecaster talent ever assembled in the history of the world. Guitarists Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, Johnny Hiland, Guthrie Trapp, JD SIMO, Daniel Donato, Porter McClister, and David Graham will all perform.

Other notable performers include Sarah Gayle Meech, Paul Kramer and friends including Ray Benson, Chuck Mead, Nikki Lane, The Cowpokes with Ruby Lee, David Ball, and Logan Ledger, the Wendy Newcomer Band with Carlene Carter, Chris Casello, Jimmie Fortune, John England, the Western Swingers, Brennen Leigh, Ranger Doug, a salute to Sho-Bud guitars, as well as mounds of other performers and special guests.

Topping it all off will be the owner of Robert’s Western World, JesseLee Jones of Brazilbilly.

Again, the whole thing is free, so no need to purchase tickets or pay exorbitant handling fees. Just play hookie from work and get your butt down to Lower Broadway on the Monday when the tourists are out of town.

The History of Robert’s Western World

25 years ago, Lower Broadway in Nashville was not anywhere near the bustling tourist destination it is today. After the Ryman Auditorium was shuttered when the Grand Ole Opry House was moved across town in 1974, the Lower Broadway neighborhood began to fall into decline. Dirty bookstores and pawn shops moved into the area as the music-oriented businesses moved out.

But in the early 1990s, a resurgence in the neighborhood commenced, championed by young musicians and entrepreneurs who wanted to see this sacred ground of country music where so many legends once walked and played revitalized. The building housing Robert’s Western World was right across the alley from the Ryman Auditorium, and just down the row from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. The building had been used as a warehouse and offices until the late 1950s when steel guitar legends Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons bought it and used it to house their Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Company’s manufacturing hub and showroom. It remained as such until the early 80s.

Eventually, 416 Broadway B became a liquor store, until Robert Moore bought it, and turned it into Robert’s Rhinestone Western Wear—a clothier shop. He later added a bar, food, and live entertainment, and Robert’s Western World was born. Next door was Layla’s Bluegrass Inn (now Layla’s Honky Tonk), owned by Layla, and then partner Joe Buck (now known as performer Joe Buck Yourself). These two businesses—along with the Ernest Tubb Record Shop across the street that had endured all of the changes in the neighborhood—comprised the nucleus of the Lower Broadway revitalization.

Throwback neotraditionalist band BR549 was the big draw on Lower Broadway at the time, and was the house band at Robert’s, attracting fans young and old back down to that vital region of Nashville, and instilling it with night life. When current Robert’s Western World owner JesseLee Jones showed up, the BR549 members began calling him the “Brazilian Hillbilly.” Soon the name Brazilbilly stuck, and Jones was performing every Friday and Saturday night, with “Brazilbilly” emblazoned right on the Robert’s Western World sign in neon.

Robert’s owner Robert Moore was getting up there in age, and it was hard for Moore to keep up with all of the doings of a bustling honky tonk. So in 1999, he sold the business to JesseLee Jones and a friend named Libbi Lee. Eventually JesseLee Jones became the full owner with his wife Emily Ann Jones.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jones was exposed to country, rockabilly, and Gospel music growing up, and fostered dreams of moving to America to become a performer. In 1985 he officially immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 22, but fell on tough times. Being unable to speak fluent English, JesseLee was robbed on a Greyhound bus of his possessions, and he ended up in Peoria, Illinois relying on the charity of others, doing odd jobs in exchange for food and shelter. He learned English watching Sesame Street, and started working his way up in nightclubs to become a performer.

Eventually JesseLee Jones earned American citizenship and moved to Nashville in the early 90s to pursue his dream of being a country music singer. With the voice of a songbird, and a yodel as smooth as Slim Whitman, JesseLee Jones is arguably one of the most underrated classic country singers of our time, beyond his importance as the owner of Robert’s Western World. Both in his capacity as a performer and business owner, Jones has always been driven to keep the older sounds of American music alive.