Chris Blair

Chris Blair is the Owner and Founder of one of the most renowned music venues, The Listening Room Cafe with locations in both Nashville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,and can be best described as an innovator,a philanthropist, and a music lover.A successful entrepreneur, Blair sits on the board of the Nashville MS Society, Music Venue Alliance Nashville, DISMAS House, and is involved and volunteers in other non-profits and community service activities. As an entrepreneur he also owns and operates artist management company Emerge Nashville and is co-owner of many other businesses.A singer-songwriter by nature, Blair has had a love and appreciation for music as long as he can remember. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where his passions began,learning to sing at the ripe age of six and play guitar. He spent many of his formulative years working in the hospitality industry while expressing his creativity through songwriting, performing, and travelling for shows on the road. Blair attended Southeast Missouri State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Business Management. At his 1997 graduation, he performed an original song, becoming the only person in 100 years to perform at the college’s ceremonies.After moving to Nashville in 2003 and playing in some the city’s most iconic live music venues, Blair saw a distinct need for a venue that incorporated quality sound, talented songwriters, and great food in an upbeat restaurant-style setting. Combining his passions for music with his love of hospitality and great cuisine, he conceptualized the idea for what is now The Listening Room. Since 2006, The Listening Room has become a place where guests can actually hear the music and the stories behind their favorite songs, and songwriters are the heart of the performance. The venue is heralded as one of Nashville top live music establishments, acclaimed by national publications and top performing artists. Blair believes that behind every song, there is a storyto be told. He seeks to provide a platform for artists to share their stories and make a living in Nashville’s songwriter community. Through The Listening Room’s Sound Good, Do Good program, Blair also gives back to the community by donating  aportion of ticket sales to locally-based charities and those in need. When he is not listening to music, writing music, or creating exceptional opportunities for guests to hear music, Blair spend his free time flying planes, entertaining friends, and enjoying the company of his wife and three young children.