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Called the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium closed a historic chapter in its life in 1974 when the Grand Ole Opry moved to new quarters at Opryland USA. Nashville photographer Jim McGuire was there, with full access to the Ryman in its final months as the Opry's home. Collected here are more than 100 of the best of McGuire s images, most of them never published, all of them handsomely reproduced and captioned.

Garrison Keillor, legendary host of A Prairie Home Companion, a radio show inspired in part by the Opry and on occasion performed on stage at the Ryman, writes the foreword. Marty Stuart follows up with opening remarks on McGuire and his work. This volume is a must-have for any fan of country music, and for every fan of the Opry at the Ryman.

Reviews

"More than 100 rare photographs taken by McGuire in 1974 are showcased with exceptional clarity in this beautiful book and brought to life through McGuire s insightful captions. With a foreword by Garrison Keillor and opening remarks by Marty Stuart, Historic Photos of the Opry sheds light on a crucial period in the history of the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and the country music genre." -CyberGrass Magazine