Cat's Music Records & Tapes: Nashville's Beloved Independent Record Store

Nashville is famous for its music. But before streaming, before downloads, before even the big-box music chains arrived in Tennessee, there was Cat's Music Records & Tapes — and for generations of Nashville music lovers, it was the place.

The Store

Cat's Music was the kind of independent record store that defined a city's music culture. Deep selection, knowledgeable staff, and the particular pleasure of flipping through bins and finding something you didn't know you were looking for. In a city built on music, Cat's was where the locals actually shopped — not the tourist traps on Broadway, but a real record store for real music fans.

Independent record stores like Cat's were the backbone of American music discovery through the 1970s, 80s, and into the 90s. They stocked local artists alongside national acts, gave shelf space to genres the radio ignored, and built communities of listeners who kept coming back. When the chains arrived and then the internet followed, most independents didn't survive.

The Memory

If you grew up in Nashville and spent Saturday afternoons at Cat's, you know exactly what we're talking about. The Cat's Music Records & Tapes Retro T-shirt, Trucker Hat, and Sticker are for everyone who remembers. Find them in the Nashville collection.