Fortunes, Fiddles and Fried Chicken : A Business History of Nashville

By Bill Carey

Did Teddy Roosevelt really say that Maxwell House Coffee was “good to the last drop”? When did Nashville become Music City U.S.A.? What led to the federal investigation of Columbia/HCA? Providing rare... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1577361784
• ISBN13: 9781577361787
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Hillsboro Press
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Thorough and entertaining look at business, Nashville-style

As a longtime former resident of Nashville, I found this book entertaining and thorough, as well as being--with a few exceptions--accurate and well-balanced in its painting of portraits of some very outsized and colorful (and controversial) business and civic leaders. As a lawyer and a reader generally interested in how the commercial life of a locale can affect it and its citizens at large, I was captivated. Anyone interested in either of these themes owes it to himself or herself to read this well crafted and highly readable work.

Valuable history -- and a great read!

Perhaps every American city harbors as many untold stories of hustlers, visionaries, scoundrels and larger-than-life characters as Nashville does -- but few other cities have had the stories of their business lives told so vividly. Carey's research lays aside long-held misconceptions, punctures the PR-myths of current and former Nashville institutions, and holds surprises on nearly every page. Business people all over Nashville are talking about this book, and the conversations always seem to begin with "I've been in [real estate, health care, banking, what have you] for 35 years, but there are things in Carey's book that I never knew about...."

Nashville business has never been more entertaining

Ever wonder how the "Grand Ole Opry" came to exist? (It was developed as a marketing tool to sell insurance!) Bill Carey shares this story and many more in a most entertaining style. This is a must read for anyone who lives, has lived, or has ever done business in Nashville. Carey does a great job explaining the development of Nashville's major industries complete with interesting, and in some cases, little know facts about the people behind those industries.Many of the companies discussed no longer exist, but you'll no doubt recognize the names that currently adorn many Nashville buildings, roadways and bridges as those of the early business leaders.During my read, I often found myself marveling at how little I really new about the history of my home town. Enjoy!