Lynn Jenkins: “Mr. Speaker, the city of Bristol is two cities: Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia; Bristol, Tennessee, being in…”

“Mr. Speaker, the city of Bristol is two cities: Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia; Bristol, Tennessee, being in the First Congressional District of Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, being in the Ninth Congressional District of Virginia, and represented very ably by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher). Mr. Speaker, in the 1920s, when country music was in its infancy, artists from throughout Tennessee and Virginia and the entire region gathered in Bristol to perform. Some of the most important developments in country music took place there. In 1927, the Carter family, which later became the First Family of Country Music, and Jimmie Rogers, who became the Father of Country Music, had recording sessions there, very significant recording sessions there. These recordings became known in time by the country music foundation as the 'Big Bang of Country Music.' They are credited with propelling the Carter family and Jimmie Rogers and country music itself to a commercially successful venture. Today, country music is enjoyed throughout this country and throughout the world.”