OBITUARY: Travis Berry Collinsworth

Travis Berry Collinsworth, 47, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2025, surrounded by his wife, his dogs, and his family after a battle with stomach cancer.

Born on April 20, 1978, in Miami, Florida, Travis graduated from Christopher Columbus High School, where he created lifelong bonds of friendship as a member of the Debate team, and where he discovered a passion for political philosophy. A passion that led him to study at the University of Florida and later pursue a master’s degree at Boston College.

In Boston, Travis discovered the sounds of Jaco Pastorius, Charles Mingus, James Jamerson and Ron Carter, and in 2000 he moved to Nashville to focus on playing bass. There Travis found a home and community that inspired and accepted him. He played in a multitude of bands of different genres and over time he became a master of tone and rhythm.

In 2006, Travis became co-owner of The 5 Spot, a venue he helped build from the ground up, literally nailing together the very wood on the bar and band stand. The 5 Spot would soon become a cornerstone not only of East Nashville’s music scene, but of its community, a home for local artists, a refuge for touring musicians, and a showcase for new sounds to find their first audiences.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Travis helped organize a coalition of independent music venues working to secure critical funding and support. His leadership helped preserve the soul of a creative community during one of its darkest times.

Travis loved his dogs Tulsa, Bruce, Dragon, and Mo, but none more than his bulldog Rocky, who accompanied him to work each day and became a fixture of The 5 Spot and the neighborhood. It was Rocky who led Travis into Wags & Whiskers, a local pet supply store, where Travis met the love of his life, Sam DeSantis, and whom he would later marry in 2024.

A devoted fan of the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Titans (especially #22, Derrick Henry), his Mondays were either full of joy or quiet reflection, depending on how his teams played. He had an inquisitive mind and devoured books and media about history, music, politics, philosophy, technology, fantasy and science fiction. His humor was quick and witty, and delivered like a bass player; with perfect timing.

He was an avid bicyclist, cycling 20 to 30 miles everyday around Nashville’s Shelby Bottoms Park and trails. He loved the outdoors, loved working in his garden and was especially fond of Japanese Maples and Cherry Trees in bloom.

Travis was known for his kindness, his sense of humor, his integrity, and his ability to connect with everyone he met. He is survived by his wife Sam of Nashville, TN, his mother Beth, his father Meade, and sister Erinn in Miami, FL, as well as his brother Kevin, his sister in law Sierra and his niece Lily in Portland, OR.

His legacy lives on in every chord played at The 5 Spot, in every musician he shared a song with, and in every life he made more joyful just by being in it.

In memory of Travis, and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations: 1. Nashville Humane Society, 2. Music Health Alliance, 3. The Heimerdinger Foundation.