April 14, 2026 | 7 pm @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
BRISTOL, TN-VA-The Birthplace of Country Music Museum invites the public to its April Speaker Session for a one-of-a-kind experience with musician and historian Martin Fisher. The talk is April 14 at 7 p.m.
TitledThe Art of Archaic Recording, this engaging program blends history, science, and live music to showcase the fascinating techniques behind early sound recording. Whether participants are drawn to modern innovation or vintage craftsmanship, this session offers a rare opportunity to experience both worlds at once.
During the event, Fisher demonstrates the recording process using equipment that is more than 100 years old, capturing a live performance by Kris Truelsen of Radio Bristol. The recording will be made directly onto a wax cylinder—completely without electricity—giving attendees a firsthand look at how sound was preserved in the earliest days of recorded music.
This immersive demonstration offers a unique chance to witness history in action while gaining a deeper understanding of the origins of recorded sound. Attendees will leave with a new appreciation for the artistry and ingenuity behind early recording methods.
Martin Fisherjoined the Center for Popular Music staff at MTSU in September of 2005 having accumulated and maintained a private collection of sound recordings for over 30 years and having 18 years experience in the field of television production with NewsChannel 5, WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee. Fisher also plays the trombone and is a self-taught fiddler who performs regularly with theNashville Old-Time String Band Association. His responsibilities include preserving, maintaining and augmenting the center’s sound recordings collection, assisting researchers in locating and obtaining copies of recordings, and conducting acoustical “wax” cylinder recording demonstrations as part of the center’s outreach program. Martin is also a member of theAssociation for Recorded Sound Collectionsand Tennessee Folklore Society.
For more information about this and other upcoming programs, visitBirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
Category: Lecture