Tennessee's Music City Nashville gives Mark Silver plenty to raise a glass to

Thinking I'd hit a brick wall when the tour guide asked if we knew the name of Dolly Parton's first big record, it turned out I wasn't too far off the mark.

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We had just visited the brilliant Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, and were now heading to part two of our excursion - Historic RCA Studio B, where so many music legends have recorded, including Dolly.

But arriving there for the first time, she was so nervous she drove straight into the car park wall. Later, Dolly joked it was her first big hit.

I soon realised you needed to be on the go more than “9 to 5” to see the delights Nashville has to offer. The music centre of the world, for sure, but with lots more, including fabulous art.

Studio B did turn out to be one of my best stops, especially as my favourite, Elvis, recorded most of his hits here. Our guide, Ron, confessed to being a massive fan, too, and he made us close our eyes to imagine when The King recorded Are You Lonesome Tonight in darkness at 4.30am after insisting the lights were off.

His biggest-selling track, It's Now or Never, was also recorded here. If you are feeling peckish after and want to be All Shook Up, then you may fancy trying the city's famous spicy hot chicken at nearby Assembly Food Hall.

Its founder, Thornton Prince, was a womaniser and, after again returning home late one night, was served chicken by his wife but did not realise she had made it ultra, ultra spicy as a punishment. She was then shocked to see her husband actually enjoying it and he then made a fortune from it.