Bio

Founder & Visionary,
The Listening Room

How a St. Louis kid with a restaurant job and a guitar built one of Nashville's premier rooms for hit songwriters.

Chris Blair

Chris Blair is the Founder and Visionary of The Listening Room, one of Nashville's premier venues for hit songwriters.

Raised in St. Louis, Blair balanced his time working in restaurants with a deep passion for music. After moving to Nashville in 2003 to pursue his own artist career, he saw an opportunity to combine the city's renowned songwriter scene with top-notch sound, food, and service. In 2006, The Listening Room was created, where guests can experience the stories behind the songs in an intimate setting.

Now located in Nashville's historic International Harvester Building at 618 4th Avenue South, The Listening Room prides itself on original music performances — two main stage live shows each night throughout the week, plus two Saturday brunch shows featuring an exclusive brunch menu.

On That Stage

The iconic stage, praised by some of Nashville's most prolific songwriters, has hosted talent including Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Stapleton, Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson, HARDY, and many more.

Beyond running his businesses and speaking at events, Blair serves on the boards of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and Operation Song, and leads The Listening Room's Sound Good, Do Good program, donating 100% of ticket sales from select shows to local nonprofits. He also serves on the worship team at Cross Point Church.

In his free time, Blair enjoys flying his Bonanza A36 plane, writing music, traveling, and spending time with his wife and three children.

2003
Moves to Nashville
Relocates from St. Louis to pursue his own artist career.
2006
Opens The Listening Room
The Listening Room opens in historic Franklin, TN.
2008
Moves to Cummins Station
The Listening Room relocates to downtown Nashville's Cummins Station Building.
2011
Partners with Cinco de Mayo
Opens a new Mexican restaurant concept together.
2012
Moves to 2nd Avenue South
The Listening Room relocates to a new location on 2nd Avenue South.
2013
Creates Emerge Nashville
Launches Emerge Nashville Management & Artist Development.
2017
Moves to Its Current Home
The Listening Room moves to the historic International Harvester Building at 618 4th Ave S., where it remains today.
2018
Creates Trinity Parking
Launches Trinity Parking, a parking management and valet company, with co-founder Hunter Allison.
2021
Partners with Liquor Lab
Opens a Liquor Lab location on 2nd Ave N in Nashville.
2021
Partners on Jon Bon Jovi's Bar
Helps develop a 4-story bar on Broadway in downtown Nashville.
2023
Partners with Luogo Italian Restaurant
Opens in The Gulch with Founder/Chef Anthony Scotto.
2024
Acquires Land for the Hotel
Purchases land in Pie Town for the future permanent home of The Listening Room Hotel & Venue.
2025
Launches Boots On the Water
Creates and launches The Listening Room's songwriter cruise with partners Sixthman and Norwegian.
2026
Launches TEMPI
Launches TEMPI, a live-performance booking and ticketing software company.
2026
20th Anniversary at the Ryman
A sold-out milestone show at the historic Ryman Auditorium on March 3, featuring HARDY, Blessing Offor, and Jo Dee Messina, with surprise appearances by Drew Baldridge, Boyz II Men, Old Dominion, Brett Young, and more.
2029
The Listening Room Hotel Opens
Planned opening of The Listening Room Hotel and Venue at 801 Ewing Avenue.