Episode 3909

- [Announcer] "Tennessee Crossroads" is brought to you in part by...

- [Narrator] Some of our biggest checks have also made the biggest difference. The Tennessee Lottery, proud to have raised more than $7.5 billion for education. Now that's some game changing, life changing fun.

- [Narrator] Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways where adventure, cuisine and history come together. With 16 scenic driving trails, you can discover why Tennessee sounds perfect. Trips can be planned at TNTrailsAndByways.com.

- [Narrator] The co-op system in Tennessee consists of independently owned co-ops, driven to serve farmer owners, rural lifestyle customers, and their communities throughout Tennessee and in five neighboring states. More at ourcoop.com.

- [Narrator] Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts helps students explore the world, engage minds, rich lives, and earn a living. More at mtsu.edu/cla.

- This week we'll hear that high lonesome sound at a Nashville landmark. We'll tour a park full of Tennessee history, dine on great Thai food, and pay tribute to a music city legend. Howdy, folks. Don't adjust your set or phone. I'm Ketch Secor welcoming you to "Tennessee Crossroads." Hi, I'd like to say that I'm deeply honored to be the new host of "Tennessee Crossroads." I'm humbled to follow in the footsteps of the great Joe Elmore and I'm thrilled to debut our brand new set. Our first story begins as my introduction to you find folks and winds up where I make my living, on a concert stage, at the legendary Station Inn. Hope you enjoy it. Music is what first called me to Tennessee. It wasn't Nashville at first, it was Johnson County, the Volunteer State's eastern most place. In those hills, I honed my craft of fiddlin' and banjo picken' as well as developing a deep appreciation of the traditional arts and culture of East Tennessee. By the year 2000, after a lucky break at the Grand Ole Opry, my musical calling brought me to the capital of country music, Nashville, Tennessee. From there, I built up a successful band from the ground up, playing just about anywhere I could from street corners to farmer's markets, always yearning for something bigger. After 10 years of sweating it out and touring hundreds of shows per year, I finally hit that milestone of achievement when Old Crow Medicine Show won its first Grammy Award in 2012. And after all these years of hard work and persistence, they paid off. I finally get to play a world-class venue like this one, the Station Inn. ♪ Mr. OCMP won't you cut me some slack ♪ ♪ 'Cause I got a song to catch ♪ ♪ I make my getaway oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Let it rain ♪

- Of course, you know the Station Inn as well as I do. I mean, the venue sells itself. There's not a group that's out touring that doesn't wanna stop here and play. Number one, it's in Nashville and you can't name somebody in the business that's done anything that hasn't stood up here.

- [Ketch] Larry Cordle is a Grammy award-winning songwriter and musician, best known for hits like "Highway 40 Blues" and the iconic "Murder on Music Row," which critiques the shift away from traditional country music. He knows the Station Inn like the back of his hand. Heck, he's been playing here for nearly 40 years. Of course, the neighborhood was a little different back then.

- It was kind of a, I don't know if I wanna call it a slum, but it was a, you know, less than desirable location I guess. But JT came here and slowly but surely, you know, he built it into what it is today, which is a wonderful listening room.

- [Ketch] JT, of course, is JT Gray, the Station Inn's late owner who bought the bluegrass club back in 1981 when the genre was gaining in popularity. He kept booking more and more well-known bands until the Station Inn became the place to hear the finest in bluegrass music. A lot of people are surprised to find, especially those of us like you and I, who've been drawn into the music, that a place like this exists. And what do you think it is about traditional music that makes it seem so rare that there be a venue so devoted to it that can retain so much of the sort of ethos of the music?

- [Larry] People want the real thing. They want the real thing at the end of the day, I feel like, and you know, you can't go anywhere that they don't know about the Station Inn. You would think the place would be bigger, but by reputation I mean only. But I mean, man, when people come in here, I feel I can see all this history on these walls.

- [Ketch] I wanna ask you about "Murder on Music Row," because it seems to me that here, you know, about four, five blocks from Music Row that the Station Inn is a kind of holdout, an antithesis to the future that your song seems to suggest is upon us. How is the Station Inn a part of a effort to retain traditions and what are the threats against those traditions?

- [Larry] I don't think there's any threats of it at all at the Station Inn within these walls. I mean, this is not a place you have to beg people to come and play. So playing here and standing up on that stage where it's like the Opry, you know? When you walk out there and you're standing on that piece of oak flooring, there's a thing that comes over you. Every time I'm here, I think about who all has played here.

- [Ketch] Monroe McCoury not only thinks about who's played here, she's related to some of the best.

- My dad is Rob McCoury, the banjo player of the Del McCoury Band and the Travelin' McCourys. And then Del McCoury is my grandpa. And so it's very full circle working here because I grew up in this,

- [Ketch] In addition to being social media director, tending bar, and keeping the crowd fed, Monroe was also in charge of a bit of Station Inn history.

- Yeah, the Station Inn bell, it's iconic and I try and ring it when I'm working a couple times a show because it makes a band feel good. It invigorates the crowd, gets 'em excited. A lot of people come and ask, what does the bell mean? And it's like, well, great show, great performance. The audience is always gonna experience a fantastic show, good pizza, ice cold beer. And hopefully they have the time of their life.

- The music speaks to people's heart. And old man Monroe told me that one time, he said, "You know, if you do that right, boy, it'll really speak to somebody's heart, you know?" And I think it does.

- Are you looking for a jumbo sized history lesson on the state of Tennessee? Then the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is worth a visit. Laura Faber has the story of the 20 acre outdoor museum that's one of Nashville's most visited public spaces.

- [Laura] It is a breathtaking view from the Tennessee State Capitol north to Germantown, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, a 20 acre outdoor linear museum about the Volunteer State, one of the most visited public spaces in the city. But early in the 19th century, this area of Nashville looked very different. An area abundant with freshwater springs and salt deposits. Wildlife came here and Indian tribes made use of the area.

- The Salt Lake is why Nashville is here. You had to have salt to live. Animals had to have salt to live. Native Americans had this as a salt, I will say a salt factory before the arrival of the Europeans. You also had the confluence of the river. And then later in the 19th century before the Civil War, it developed into a railroad hub. So all those natural elements were extraordinarily important in why we are standing where we are, and why the city of Nashville exists.

- [Laura] Dan Pomeroy is the former historian for the Tennessee State Museum. He is responsible for every bit of text you see engraved throughout Bicentennial Park.

- [Dan] I did not realize that I was going to be charged with the responsibility of doing all this copy. And of course, the joke is, don't worry, it's not gonna be set in stone. It's all set in stone. And there were mistakes.

- [Laura] This park was built to celebrate the state's bicentennial. Only a handful of people knew about it. Kem Hinton was also part of that small group privy to the early plans. Kem was the lead designer for Bicentennial Mall. He even wrote a gorgeous book about it. As an eighth generation Tennessean, it was hard to grasp the enormity of what the team was about to undertake.

- [Kem] So when this project started, one of our goals was to really, an essential goal was to exalt the capitol and make it really stand as a beautiful element. We based the whole design on three things, the land, the people, and the music of Tennessee. I will say as historians, we wanted it to be factually correct and we wanted it to be a teaching device. And on balance, we pulled it off.

- [Laura] At one end of the park is the biggest map of Tennessee ever created, made of green granite. Pillars along the map hold other nuggets of information. And while this is a museum, it is also a state park managed by park rangers. They see millions of visitors, human and animal, red foxes, barred owls, skunks, all together in the spectacular urban green space. The river wall is a map of all the rivers in the state. Tennessee's river system is fifth largest in the nation.

- [Dan] Rivers played such a role that it's really impossible to overstate it.

- The amphitheater is gorgeous, offering stunning views of the state capitol. But Dan says for him, the crowning jewel, the 1400 foot long pathway of history. There is a crack in this black granite. And it's intentional. It represents the time about 10 years before the Civil War, and that's when the state of Tennessee was talking about seceding from the union. For Tennessee, that crack led to war. So why does the rest of the wall look different here?

- Well, this symbolizes the conflict of the Civil War where everything blew apart in Tennessee. I mean, it's a disruptive time. And so all these elements represent the battles that took place, the chaos, the drama, the terror, the loss of lives. And right in the middle we made a statement. You had to select a side during the Civil War. You couldn't be neutral.

- [Laura] There is a World War II memorial in the park, Kem's personal favorite. It includes a nine ton granite globe of the world during that time. And it floats in all directions. Ironically, it came from Germany. The memorial also pays tribute to gold star veterans.

- [Kem] Symbolism is very important. The world globe of the 1940s. And then have elements that teach about what Tennessee did that affected World War II, which was significant

- [Laura] At the far end of the park is the Carillon, a tribute to the music of Tennessee.

- Well, when you do a circular configuration and this obviously, this space comes from the state flag, which is our most noted single symbol, you end up with a curious effect. And that is that the sound will bounce out and come back in. And the way to notice that in this space, we have 50 columns, 95 bells, is to stand on this little bell there. Stand on it. Now clap your hand. It's a remarkable echo and it occurs near the center.

- [Laura] Engraved around the edges are names of influential musicians, singers, and publishers.

- [Kem] Bill Monroe over there, Patsy Cline's there, and the prime spot...

- [Laura And Kem] Elvis.

- [Laura] There is so much more to see at the park, like how the landscaping represents each region of the state, west, middle, and east. The old limestone columns that were first used at the state capitol are here. And all the bricks for long time volunteers. Only a handful of states have something like our Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. It is the achievement of a lifetime for everyone who had a hand in creating it. A perfect legacy to our state.

- What an opportunity, how blessed I am to have had a part and a role in this.

- Thanks Laura. One of the reasons most of us love to travel is to taste the delicacies of other countries and to experience the richness of their cultures. Well, in our next story, Miranda Cohen shows us how to enjoy the exotic flavors of Thailand without taking your passport.

- [Miranda] Tucked away on Robert Rose Drive in Murfreesboro, you will find this hidden culinary gem called Thai Corner. Here you can experience the sweet and savory flavors of a land far away, but you will never feel more at home. Thailand is known as the land of smiles. And when you walk into the Bangkok Thai cuisine, you know why.

- [Larpin] I believe you can learn a lot about someone's culture through their cuisine. We pretty much tell the story of Thailand through our cuisine. If you ever come here, it's like coming to a family friend's house and having dinner. We'll explain to you everything. We'll talk to you about it. My mom and dad will come out and say hello. We're showing our culture through our food. Thank you for coming in y'all.

- [Miranda] For nearly two decades, Larpin Butchareon, his parents and his brother, Pre, have been serving up bold and delicious Thai cuisine to locals.

- My family opened the restaurant in 1996. We were one of the first Thai restaurants in Murfreesboro. So this was very new cuisine to the community, new flavors to the community that people weren't used to.

- [Miranda] From flavor packed pad thais to savory curries, crispy spring rolls, rice creations and colorful vegetable dishes, exotic flavors are bringing the customers in in droves. And from the moment you walk through the door, you know you are somewhere very special.

- [Larpin] We designed this whole restaurant ourselves. We did everything ourselves. All the hardwood flooring is from Thailand, artwork, the art pieces from Thailand, a lot of pictures and everything that show where we are from. So when you step in here, it is like you're stepping into a restaurant in Thailand. That to us kind of completes the experience. The food is one thing, but also when you come in here, you really believe that you're stepping into a different culture.

- [Miranda] But the real secret family recipe isn't the warm delicate spice blends or the beautiful decor. It's the Butchareons themselves.

- My mom's food is, what can I say? It represents who she is. She absolutely loves to feed people. She's always been a wonderful cook, self-taught. She never had any formal lessons or anything like that. As a kid, she would just watch all the vendors around her cook and she would ask questions and just visually watched them, you know? And she just taught herself.

- [Miranda] Bubpha Butchareon and her husband, Mr. Jack, as he is known to everyone in town, came to this country nearly 40 years ago with two small boys, a big dream and even bigger talent, and an extraordinary work ethic.

- [Larpin] Growing up in a restaurant, especially a family restaurant, the moment you step in those doors, you're working. Cashew chicken gone, okay? You're clocked in as soon as you step in those doors. That's just what comes with owning and running a family business with your family.

- We will not go anywhere else because we know this is the best. Bubpha comes and talks to us about the food and we ask questions and we tell everybody about it. So this family's has been really close to us.

- [Miranda] But what the Butchareons are bringing to the table is far more than delicious cuisine. They are bringing comfort, longstanding family traditions, and an undeniable sense of belonging.

- After 26 years, we have developed, we've gained many, many, many friends that we call family now from the restaurant. They came to get a meal and the next thing they know we're, 15 years later, we are still friends. We just want people to feel comfortable, like they are eating at our house.

- Now, Larpin says it is a misconception that all Thai food is spicy. In fact, they can custom make your order with heat levels from zero to five. And if you do overdo it a little bit, we'll tell you the perfect way to cool down.

- [Worker] Number 70. Here you go. You're welcome.

- [Miranda] Just steps away from The Bangkok is one of Murfreesboro's most popular spots, Varin's Sweet Shop. Young entrepreneur, Christina Oudomsouk, is blending flavorful concoctions of culture into her delicious treats.

- I am four things. I am Chinese, Thai, Laos, and Vietnamese. So we like to incorporate a bunch of their sweet stuff from each little culture and bring it here. And we serve bubble teas, bubble waffles and puffles.

- I get bubble waffle 'cause it's really good here. And there's no other place in Murfreesboro to have bubble waffle. It's just, it's crunchy, but it's soft. It's very like, not as hard as a waffle, but like fluffy as a pancake.

- [Christina] There's Hong Kong egg waffle. There's puff waffles. They call them puffles.

- [Miranda] That's right, a puffle. It's a tender crispy waffle with a very unique shape and texture.

- [Christina] But it's actually a waffle mold that we make. Inside is an air pocket. So it's light and airy, crispy on the outside. Those you can have with or without ice cream. You can have 'em flat with just toppings on it.

- [Miranda] The cases are filled with cakes, ice creams, and delicate Asian pastries. But the real draw is the sweet and spicy blends of exotic bubble tea, also known as boba. The bubbles are actually smooth tapioca pearls, and they provide a burst of flavor.

- We have over 14 toppings, different kinds of bobas, jellies, popping bobas, crystal bobas that they can have put in their drinks. Everything we sell here is everything that my family and I love. You know, it brings us joy to know that people enjoy it. And knowing that we do have people that keep coming back.

- [Miranda] So the next time you get the urge to travel, take a trip to Thai Corner and you might just feel like you never left home.

- Thanks, Miranda. We'll wrap up my first show with two of my heroes, Chet Atkins and Joe Elmore. They met more than 30 years ago at an event honoring the certified guitar picker and country music legend. Here's a flashback from 1994.

- According to "The Lovin' Spoonful" song, there are at least 1300 guitar pickers in Nashville. And when this convention comes to town, there are at least 300 more. It's made up of people from around the world who play like Chet Atkins, try to play like Chet, or like me, just wish they could. Are you learning something?

- I learn something every year. And you think you're the only guy who knows one song and suddenly there's folks all around you that can help you with what you're doing right and what you're not doing right.

- [Joe] Dr. Mark Pritcher of Knoxville is president of CASS, the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society. Members gather at this annual music city convention to buy Chet Atkins records, Chet watches and other products, or to swap licks and find the newest how to tapes.

- [Announcer] Ladies and gentleman, Chet Atkins.

- I kind of wanted to be a violinist, but, and my dad wanted me to be a violinist. And I rebelled of course, but I wanted to be a violinist. And, but I read my daddy's music magazines all the time, and I read where most of them started when they were seven years old. And I was about 12, 13. And I thought, well, I'm too old to be a fiddler. It's the truth. So I'll be a guitar player. I get bored with the same music. If I had to listen to country music all the time, I don't think I'd like that very well or any kind of music. So I think you need variety in your music that's just like you do in your life.

- [Joe] Do you think there are a lot of good guitar players coming up now?

- Oh, they're everywhere. They're everywhere. Great, great guitar players that play so much better than I do. But I got there first with a finger picking, you know? And so I can always beat Chet Atkins, I guess, and make a living and or teach or something.

- I seriously doubt if Chet Atkins will ever have to give lessons for a living. He's a living legend who's picking proficiency is still unexcelled. Chet, this is the 10th year of this event. How does it feel to still be considered the king of the guitar players?

- I think it's mighty nice. It's really nice. And I have to pinch myself and how I think, how in the hell did I bring this about? Because if you knew where I was from, I'm so far back in the sticks and it's just amazing to me how well I've done. It just amazes me. I can't believe it. I never thought I'd be vice president of a record company. I was years ago. I'm not anymore. Or that would be known all over the world as a famous guitar player. I wanted it really bad, but I don't think I ever really believed it would happen.

- Thank you, Joe. It's an honor to help carry on your legacy as part of the "Crossroads" family. Loyal viewers like you are the biggest part of that family. So please stay in touch by checking out our website at tennesseecrossroads.org. Follow us on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube, and watch us anytime, anywhere with the PBS app. Thanks again for tuning in and join us again next week. See y'all then.

- Hey, "Crossroads" fans, it's Morgan from The Ramblin' Bee out in Gallatin. I'm still blown away at the support of the "Crossroads" community. Y'all really show up. I still have customers comment on the segment, and I'm truly, truly grateful for the impact that "Crossroads" brought to my store and my local community.

- [Announcer] Tennessee Crossroads is brought to you in part by...

- [Narrator] Students across Tennessee have benefited from over seven and a half billion dollars we've raised for education, providing more than 2 million scholarships and grants. The Tennessee Lottery, game changing, life changing fun.

- [Narrator] Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways where adventure, cuisine and history come together. With 16 scenic driving trails, you can discover why Tennessee sounds perfect. Trips can be planned at TNTrailsAndByways.com.

- [Narrator] The co-op system in Tennessee consists of independently owned co-ops, driven to serve farmer owners, rural lifestyle customers, and their communities throughout Tennessee and in five neighboring states. More at ourcoop.com.

- [Narrator] Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts helps students explore the world, engage minds, enrich lives, and earn a living. More at MTSU.edu/cla.