centers in the state including Greenville, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston continue to have thriving rock and hip hop scenes. Prominent venues The region of Myrtle Beach has been home to the well-known Carolina Opry, a country music-based variety show, established in 1986 by singer, producer and entrepreneur, Calvin Gilmore, South Carolina's official country music ambassador, who continues to produce and perform in the show today. The Carolina Opry was the first live family entertainment venue on the Grand Strand and helped turn Myrtle Beach into one of the major centers for country music on the East Coast. Local venues include the Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage, one of many attractions owned by Dolly Parton, the Alabama Theater, named for the band Alabama. Other artists tried their hand with their own theaters which did not last, such as Ronnie Milsap and the Gatlin Brothers. Myrtle Beach is also home to the South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival. The Carolina Country Music Fest has been held on the Myrtle Beach boardwalk since 2015. Outside of Myrtle Beach, the town of West Columbia is notable as the home of Bill Wells of the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass; he is the owner of a local music shop, which hosts a weekly bluegrass show at the Pickin' Parlor. Lesser known venues include the Radio Room in Greenville, Ground Zero in Spartanburg, the New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia and the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach as well as the Pour House on James Island, and the Music Farm with locations in downtown Charleston and Columbia. The Five Points district in Columbia features a variety of bands each year at its St. Patrick's Day festival. Charleston's WYLA FM (97.5 mHz) programs almost entirely local and in-state artists. The station broadcasts 24 hours per day from studios at the Charleston County Main Library, where they also host live performances. Lists of musicians and bands Musicians Gus Aiken, jazz trumpeter Bill Anderson, country singer BC Villanova, musician Cat Anderson, jazz trumpeter Pinkney "Pink" Anderson, Piedmont blues singer Nick Ashford Brook Benton John Blackwell Lee Brice, country singer Ben Bridwell, singer Arthur Briggs, jazz trumpeter and bandleader James Brown Maxine Brown, soul singer Peabo Bryson Chazwick Bundick Chubby Checker Julian Dash, jazz tenor saxophonist Reverend Gary Davis, blues and gospel singer and guitarist Ray Davis Tom Delaney Jacks Flat (musician, songwriter, and singer) Ronnie Free, jazz drummer Dizzy