Nashville Cats: Rob Hajacos

2:30 p.m. Central: Ford Theater. Included with museum admission. Program ticket required. Free to museum members.
Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine,” Country Music Hall of Fame members Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” are just a few of the hits to feature acclaimed fiddler Rob Hajacos. His melodic lines introduced Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait to the world on Strait’s 1981 debut single, “Unwound,” and he contributed fiddle parts to Taylor Swift’s early hits, such as “Love Story.” Hajacos, a Virginia native, received his first fiddle from his parents at the age of four — his father, Nick Hajacos, also played the instrument. At age 19, while playing gigs in his home state, Hajacos crossed paths with Country Music Hall of Fame member Little Jimmy Dickens, who recruited Hajacos for his Nashville-based band. After several years of touring with Dickens, Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis and others, Hajacos established himself as one of Nashville’s top session musicians, with his expressive style informed by rock guitar. He is a member of the G-Men, a tight-knit group of musicians who have played on all of Garth Brooks’ studio albums. Hajacos is a member of the Musicians Hall of Fame and the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. The interview will be moderated by museum writer-editor Jon Freeman and will be illustrated with rare photos, film and recordings. After the program, Hajacos will sign commemorative Hatch Show Print posters.