Hillbilly Music

Howdy Hillbilly Music Fans,

A thought came to us while trying to watch the Academy of Country Music Awards show Sunday night from Las Vegas. We applaud the ACM for renaming their prestigious lifetime achievement award the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.

But that got us to thinking, especially watching the 'new' up and comers. I think the ACM calls it Most Promising New Vocalist/Group. The CMA calls it the New Horizon award.

But listen up. In all of our research, emails and correspondence, we can't help but notice something. Ernest Tubb. Ole Ernest went out of his way it seems time after time, year after year to give the younger, local talents exposure not only when his personal appearances took him to a local venue, but also on his clear-channel powered Saturday night show - the Midnight Jamboree. For some, it may have been the pinnacle of their career, a long-cherished memory. For others, it gave them that needed boost to be heard in front of a wider audience.

So, CMA or ACM - isn't it time for an "Ernest Tubb Mentor Award" that would go to the person or group who has done the most during the year to provide opportunities to the new generation of performers who will someday become favorites of the fans? Who is making the effort to give those folks a chance on a regular basis?

To paraphrase a well known phrase of Ernest's - be better to your new entertainers and you'll have better entertainers...

It's time for an Ernest Tubb Mentor Award. Shine the light on those who give back and lend a hand.

Cheers,
Dave

Good evening Folks,

Ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick has been roaming around the internet checking out the sounds and sites. And of course, we're doing it from the confines of our local home computer.

WRVK in Renfro Valley, KY
We've been checking out B-Bob's Hillbilly and Western Jamboree show on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays the past few weeks. The timing of the show is about perfect for us out west - we can listen in at the end of the day. I tell you - if you're a fan of the old-time traditional style we call hillbilly music - you will enjoy B-Bob's show. You won't hear the Top 30 tunes - you'll be taken back in time to that bygone era and hear a lot of folks you don't hear on today's radio at all. We had some fun recently with him trying to figure out if there were two Al Rogers singers because in the end we found out Al actually did change his style of singing on his recordings. You got a computer and sound card? Check out B-Bob's show - you won't be disappointed.

But we're trying to make sure we get to take in Pete Stamper's Supper Time Jubilee on Tuesday's, but so far, we've been working too late to catch it!

Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree
Folks, you gotta respect tradition. And the folks that run Ernest Tubb's Record Shops are doing just that. Ole Gran'pa checks in the show just about every week over the internet as a way of paying a tribute to ole Ernie. We visited Nashville many times in the past when Ernest was alive, but for whatever reason, we never did take in the Midnight Jamboree while Ernest was around. That's our fault. But you check out www.wsmonline.com on Saturday nights after the Opry is done - you will be treated to the longest running show of it's type as Ernest would have it. You still get to hear a snippet of a Jimmie Rodgers' tune - a hero of Ernest's. And each week, you get to hear one of the classic country artists. A week or so ago, we got to hear Connie Smith. Before that, we got to hear folks such as Charlie Louvin, Mel Tillis, Jett Williams and last year, one treat was when Cal Smith, the Country Bumpkin himself hosted the show and kept the audience in stitches with his many tales.

Ole Gran'pa recommends you check out those show listings each day and give those shows a listenin' - judging by what we've been listening to - you're sure to be tapping those toes...

And Floy Case and Mary Jean Shurtz, wherever you are... here's to you...we've been listening, too.