Hillbilly Music

Audio - Visual Project in Atlanta - Country Music History

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Howdy friends and neighbors,

We found out through the grapevine that an Atlanta historian has undertaken an audio-visual project that documents historical Atlanta sites.

One of our friends of the site and long-time country music journalist and author, Wayne W. Daniel was one such participant and offered some historical notes related to the Atlanta City Auditorium, which was the scene of the Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers Conventions that took place between 1913 and 1935.

Check it out:

http://www.downhometraces.com/

Ninety Minutes With Betsy Gay

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Good evening y'all, ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick is pecking away at the keyboard again tonight. A few days ago, we had the occasion to hit the road on a business trip to southern California but found time to stop and visit with one of the early stars of country music, movies and television - Betsy Gay.

We first learned of Betsy from an old Tex (Jenks) Carman song folio that had her picture on the cover. Later, Janet McBride helped us start to tell her story - Janet is one of the long time supporters of those who still find the lost art of yodeling a part of country music's history that needs to be preserved. Needless to say, Janet arranged for us to talk with Betsy one Saturday afternoon, then Betsy allowed ole Gran'pa to stop by for a visit.

Our visit started from just about the moment we stepped in. She made us feel like were an old friend or relative. In just a few seconds we were sitting at her dining room table and she was showing us her scrapbook she had begun and a pile of many old photos from her career. This lady's career touched on just about everything and everyone. And yet she found the time to get married and raise five children.

She was Alfalfa's girl friend in the old Our Gang / Little Rascal series. She was in the Tailspin Tommy's series. She sang with Freddie Martin's orchestra - having a hit with Mockin' Bird Hill. She appeared on many Los Angeles country music radio shows - including those run by Foreman Phillips. Cliffie Stone. Texas Jim Lewis. She was a part of the Squeakin' Deacon's show on tv as well for 26 weeks. She was in the cast of the Country America show that featured such legends as Freddie Hart, Jerry Wallace and Lefty Frizzell along with host, Joe Allison. She was a part of the legendary Town Hall Party show.

It was hard to imagine she was over 80 years old, she was still as enthusiastic as can be, often singing several verses of songs that came to mind when she would turn through the photos. It was hard to keep up with her - it was like a staccato conversation of her memories as we turned through her photos.

She was a part of Spade Cooley's early history in Los Angeles - working with his band at the legendary Venice Pier Ballroom that Foreman Phillips operated in that day.

She played for us several of her old recordings from a CD that her family was trying to compile of her early vocal work. Her voice was crystal clear and strong back then. She is a petite person, perhaps similar to Brenda Lee in that regard, small, but with a great vocal projection.

Spike Jones. Texas Jim Lewis. Merle Travis. Cliffie Stone. Eddie Cletro. Tex Williams. Richard Dix. Monte Hale. Redd Harper. Stuart Hamblen. Carl (Squeakin' Deacon) Moore. She worked with them all, but you would never know she had rubbed elbows with such legendary artists.

Workin' with this feller on this web site does have its benefits sometimes. This is one time the benefits were something to treasure - being able to take a break and visit with someone who was a part of that golden era of country music, or rather, hillbilly music. And as the sun set in the west as we continued our drive down Rte. 99 to Los Angeles, we plopped in another CD of a recording of the Hollywood Barn Dance from that era. Somehow, that long drive didn't seem so long anymore.

Gaylord Fumbles Again

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:22:00 +0000

Is Gaylord Entertainment secretly funded by other musical genres to tear down what was country music chord by chord? The logic of their business decisions over time seem to defy common sense and lack of understanding of the core value of WSM and the Grand Ole Opry.

This week, like a lot of other corporations, they thought the thing to do was throw a lot of folks under the bus to 'cut costs'. Did any executives lose their jobs or have a cut in pay? Or did they get a bigger bonus package because of their cuts?

Their latest decision has made the front page of the Nashville Tennessean. They let Keith Bilbrey go - someone who had worked for their station for 34 years, an on air public good will ambassador for their Opry franchise and an announcer on the famed show. Has any other Opry announcer ever suffered such a fate?

Check what Gail Kerr had to say:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090314/COLUMNIST0101/903140329

"The ride ended because of money. Gaylord Entertainment, which owns the station, has dissolved 350 positions. Bilbrey's midday shift had fewer listeners than the morning and afternoon drive times, so he got the boot."

I would be willing to bet that they spent the least amount of promotional dollars and effort for his shift. In fact, shouldn't they be firing the marketing and sales staff instead for not being able to provide the sponsorship and ratings they seem to covet? That's where the problem is. Replacing him with some nameless person in a computer terminal won't solve anything. Did the executives give up their perks? Their cars? Their expense accounts? Did they eliminate the executive bonuses?

Why doesn't Gaylord just give up the Opry and WSM franchise? It's clear they think everything can be run without any human involvement; they think profits are nothing more than a macro button they can automate. They blew the Opryland franchise and the family aspect tied to the Opry. Yeah, the world needed another shopping mall instead.

Boycott their hotels when you go to Nashville. Send them a message. The micro managing have to have a quarterly profit because Wall Street says so mentality has got to go. If you're in the entertainment business - you provide entertainment. You don't get rid of it. Was it worth the front page publicity and bad public will it generated for that 'decision'?

It's about PEOPLE Gaylord - will you ever learn the lesson?

Inspirational Songs with Tenessee Ernie

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:39:00 +0000

Ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick was on the roamin' about again a while back. Drivin' up the old super highway, we found one of those "Friends of the Library" type of store that has a whole bunch of old used books, sheet music and records. All at your every day down to earth prices without the fancy shipping prices a lot of eBay sellers like to rip you off for.

We found some old sheet music. Then we started browsing their album sections. One got our attention - it was a six LP set by the Longines Symphonette Society featuring Tennessee Ernie Ford doing Inspirational Songs. And well, when we found out the price was less than a happy meal, we made sure it went home with us.

It was a 6-LP set of 60 songs. We went ahead and converted that to digital format so we can put together a CD or two to listen to it in the car and elsewhere, know what I mean?

Ole Gran'pa has vague memories of seeing the ole Pea Picker himself on the tv box at one time. He had a voice and personality that just got your attention.

When we made the CD, we picked many of the tunes we're familiar with. What struck ole Gran'pa was perhaps where today's artists got their inspirations to do their Gospel albums. We admit we are a fan of Charley Pride - our evidence is having every LP and CD.

Charley did a Gospel album in the early 1970s and included such songs as "Did You Think To Pray", "Whispering Hope" and "Church In the Wildwood". When we hear Ernie do these Gospel tunes, it led me to start comparing the way he did them to Charley's versions. The similarity is apparent to me.

In the booklet with the 6 LP set, it cites what Ernie's approach was to these tunes. "When he performed gospel songs on his weekly television show he shunned the ultra-sophisticated, flamboyahntly produced "numbers." "You go dressing up a simple message from the Bible, and you miss the point. The point is not how fancy you can make it. That's just showing off."

Listening to the CD I made, it makes you feel as if you are listening to Tennessee Ernie doing a concert in a church. The arrangements are sparce - a church organ, and not much else, the male and female church choirs, at times almost accapella in sound.

His voice is crystal clear and you feel the spirit and reverence he puts into the tunes and melodies.

Make no mistake about it - this guy knew how to use his voice.

Now to listen to that live album from the Indiana State Fair in the early 1960s. And we do remember stopping in to have a meal at his restaurant way back when when Mom drove us down to Nashville one summer weekend to see the Opry. We still have that EP.

PBS a while back broadcast a show featuring the Gospel tunes he always did at the end of his shows. If you get a chance - don't miss the rerun. We made sure we recorded that one.

Real Country Music Along Route 99

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick is atcha again. We've been meaning to write this for a long spell and well, the itch needed scratching again when we pulled the CD out again. A while back, the ole boy had to take a long trip down Rte. 99 in Central California, the heart of California's farm country. Naturally Ole Gran'pa pulled a few CDs from his library to listen to on the way, some new ones submitted for review, some old favorites as well.

I started with one from Ben Stafford Rodgers called "Texas Then & Now" partly because I wanted to hear the older, familiar tunes he had on that CD. Now sometimes folks tackle those old classics and well, its a tough comparison when you think of the first time you heard them.

I could make this review very short - the truth is - I listened to the CD over and over on the 3 hour ride. He does all of them justice. The music backing him on these vocals is a nice feel to that old style of country music that many still enjoy - the fiddles, steel guitar, electric guitars. His voice is crystal clear and easy to listen to - you can follow the story in the lyrics of the tunes he sings. Try listening to the radio these days and tell me that's possible - they probably think they're in a hollow arena and having to belt it out in the studio figuring no one going to hear them anyhow.

The first tune was Marty Robbins' classic El Paso - that's what started getting my attention. Then he goes to his version of Cool Water, the tune made famous by the Sons of the Pioneers. I started clicking through to the other tunes wanting to get a quick sample to make sure I wasn't being setup for a kick back into reality if the others didn't follow that pattern. But from Back in the Saddle Again (surely you remember ole Gene?), Cattle Call (hard for me to figure which fellow did it better - Eddy or Slim, but I still enjoy those ole 78s), Shame on You, New San Antonio Rose, Bouquet of Roses and a nicely done Jim Reeves classic, Adios Amigo.

Fans of the older era of country music will be familiar with all the tunes on this CD. You may find it hard to take this one out of the CD player when your driving around. I just put it in after that quick run through and then let it start doing its random selection. I did not get tired of listening to it and found myself trying to warble along (well, since I was the only one in the car, I could get away with that). And before I knew it, my trip was over.

To Mr. Rodgers, sorry I didn't put the word out earlier. To the rest of y'all - you can't have my copy.

Visit Ben's site at Ben Stafford Rodgers.

No Pickle Juice at Buck Lake Ranch

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:59:00 +0000

Good New Year Y'all,

Ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick been taking too long to get back on the old computer contraption. But after kickin' back last night and watching a documentary called "Buck Lake Ranch - The Nashville North", ole Gran'pa just gotta give you an earful.

You won't find musical performances on this video, but I guarantee you, once you put it in, you'll kick back and wonder at the images, memories that it provides about a long ago venue that was very popular in Northern Indiana, Buck Lake Ranch.

The video is nicely done. We get to hear from many country legends - Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Connie Smith along with Indiana's own legendary Joe Taylor of the Indiana Redbirds and Patsy Corbett.

You won't hear a long continuous dialog by any of the artists - but you will get a nicely organized arrangement of their memories in a way that tells the story of what Buck Lake Ranch was all about and why it was so popular.

You'll get to know who the owners were, Harry and Eleanor Smythe who created this little corner of country music history on about 80 acres on a 'rolling farm and timberland a few miles outside Angola, Indiana.

I know my aunt and uncle visited the venue - I've found pictures of their visits in their photos we inherited. And for the life of me, I have vague memories of maybe being there once when I was knee high to the weeds or maybe I have it confused with something else back in Indiana.

You get to see some snippets of performances without the audio to give you a feel for the stage shows. You also get a generous dose of the various introductions of the acts on the shows as well.

The artists tell you why they liked playing Buck Lake Ranch - the way it was setup. The way they had to move their instruments to the "Wigwam" when the weather got bad and they moved the music indoors. Each chapter gives you a different insight of what Buck Lake Ranch was about. It just seemed to flow naturally.

The key to it all was making it a family experience. The Smythes catered to the children a lot knowing that if they got the parents there, they would bring the whole family and would of course spend a little money.

You may wonder about the mention of pickle juice. Should I spoil it for you? The Smythes were kind to let the folks bring their own food in even though they did offer several concession stands with the usual southern, family style cooking. But where they drew the line was in letting people bring drinks in - they did not allow that as well, that's where they had to make a little money. And maybe you'll understand this pickle thing now.

There are many, many pictures of Buck Lake Ranch and what it was all about - from the onstage performances, to the western village type setup on the grounds, the concert settings, the timberwood type stage it had. The artists tell you the acoustics were very good for that type of venue.

One of the artists played at Buck Lake Ranch 27 times (I can't read my own writing to tell you who that was)! Loretta Lynn told of wanting to play it again after she recalled she hadn't been there in a while. It was a part of country music Americana - those outdoor parks that featured country music on a Sunday afternoon. It allowed families an easy way to get out and enjoy the outdoors as well as an afternoon of entertainment.

Buck Lake Ranch opened for business back in 1947 and according to the video has only had three owners. The Smythes, like John Lair who created Renfro Valley, created a very unique setting that lasted for generations, entertaining families - a unique experience that seems to be a part of what country music's heritage is all about.

One of the other things we learned watching the video was the way the Smythes ran the operation. They were sticklers for punctuality and keeping things on time. The artists mention how they would make sure they didn't over-extend their shows to make sure it stayed on course. Standing in the wings offstage giving them signs - they had their ways of prodding the artists along. All of the artists had fond memories of their dealings with the Smythes.

Ole Gran'pa enjoyed this video put out by Newshound Productions (www.newshoundproductions.com) - my advice is to pop that bowl of popcorn, get your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy your memories of Buck Lake Ranch or maybe, discovering it for the first time.

Buck Lake Ranch. Renfro Valley. Country music. Know what I mean?

Willie Nelson Earns Everything But the Panties at Radio City

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:17:00 +0000

Over the course of his 30-song sing-along at Radio City Music Hall last night, Willie Nelson proved he's nothing if not generous. When the man says he's about to play a Hank Williams tune, he's actually about to play three Hank Williams tunes. And don't try to clap, or whoop, or yell "WILLLLLLLIE!" when he's done crooning "On the Road Again" because you'll miss the opening couplets of "Always on My Mind." Nelson dashed from song to song to song, braids hanging to his belly, pausing only occasionally to fling red bandannas into the crowd.

Given the screams coming from the audience, you'd think a few undergarments might come flying onstage in return for this generosity. But that never happened, and the 75-year-old had to earn his own laughs. (He made it look easy with a new ditty called "Superman" — it starts with the punch line, "Too many pain pills, too much pot / Tryin' to be something that I'm not … I ain't Superman.")

Read the entire article in New York Magazine: Willie Nelson Earns Everything But the Panties at Radio City

Deal paves way for Hank Williams treasure trove

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:13:00 +0000

It took a fortuitous find and years of legal wrangling, but some of the lesser-known recordings by country great Hank Williams will soon be available for mass consumption.

"The Unreleased Recordings" includes performances from the "Mother's Best Flour" radio program, which Williams hosted on the legendary WSM-AM Nashville in 1951, two years before his death.

Time Life will release the 143 recordings in various packages in the next three years through an exclusive agreement with the Williams estate. The first set is due October 28.

Williams and his band prerecorded 72 shows to run while they were on tour. The shows were recorded on 16-inch acetate discs that were later thrown into the trash during a station move in the '60s but salvaged by WSM employee Les Leverett.

...

Williams said that even devotees of her father's music will find something new here. "Unless you were listening that morning in 1951, you've never heard that version of 'Cold, Cold Heart,'" she said. "You may have heard the master, but you've never heard the February 3, 1951, version of Hank Williams singing it.

"The fidelity of these recordings (is) better than his MGM masters," she said. "These have not been enhanced or tinkered with. It's as if it was 1951 and my dad was recording it right then. It was a one-time take."

In addition to Williams' best-known material, the recordings include 40 songs he was never known to have performed and others he never recorded commercially, including "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "Cherokee Boogie" and "On Top of Old Smoky."

Read the entire article: Deal paves way for Hank Williams treasure trove -- Tuscola County Advertiser (Michigan)

Music for the sake of the kids

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:05:00 +0000

When the Refugio Country Opry was started seven years ago, the organizers wanted it to be about more than music. More than $32,600 given out in scholarships later, board member Jay Monrad believes it is.

“We do this mainly for the kids in the community. It’s a way to listen to great music but at the same time, support our local students as much as we can,” he said.

The opry, a nonprofit organization, puts on a show the first Thursday of every month, showcasing both local and out-of-town talent in genres such as country, gospel, rhythm and blues and comedy. At the end of the school, the opry takes the money they received from their $5-per-person admission price and searches for deserving students from the high schools in Refugio, Woodsboro and Tivoli.

“We don’t go by top grades necessarily when picking students to receive the scholarships. We’ve made it more of a habit to pick children that are the most deserving,” Monrad said. “The top students are getting a lot of other scholarships already, so we go more by why they want the scholarship.”

Monrad added that depending on how much money they made over the year will determine how much they give out in scholarships. For example, last year, they gave out 18 $500 scholarships.

“Every penny above our expenses all goes toward the scholarships,” he said.

Read the entire article: Music for the sake of the kids -- Victoria (TX) Advocate

GA State Route 378 dedicated to Roy "Pop" Lewis

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:02:00 +0000

State and local officials honored a music icon in a big way, Monday afternoon. Friends and family gathered in Lincolnton to dedicate a highway to James Roy "Pop" Lewis.

It’s a music legacy that started more than 50 years ago.

"He stole Mamma from a second story window in 1925. They eloped. They had all of us. We bought a bus and started singing," said “Little” Roy Lewis, Son.

Little Roy Lewis is the youngest son of James Roy "Pop" Lewis. He remembers the musical foundation his father laid down to create the First Family of Bluegrass Gospel music. It all unfolded in Lincolnton.

"I remember getting into a Model “A” Ford and going to our piano lessons. My grandmother was in the other room listening to opera. We would hear the guitar and fiddle and knew we wanted to do something other than play the piano,” said Lewis.

But this bluegrass gospel group wasn't always a Christian band.

"We use to play hillbilly music back in the '40s. But we got booked on a Christian Radio station. My mamma said you can't sing what you've been singing. So that day we started to sing religious songs,” said Lewis.

After that switch, the rest was bluegrass gospel history. To this day, the Lewis family carries on Pop's legacy. His hometown of Lincolnton is paying tribute to the man who never forgot his roots. Just take a drive along State Route 378 in Lincoln County; you'll see a sign dedicated to remember this music legend.

Read the full article: GA State Route 378 dedicated to Roy "Pop" Lewis -- NBC Augusta, GA

Modesto Says Good-Bye to A Favorite Son, Chester Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:28:00 +0000

A memorial service for Chester was held at the Calvary Temple in Modesto, California on Saturday, August 16, 2008. Pastor Joe Wright officiated over the service and included testimony by Chester's friends Ronnie Svenhardt and the Rev. B. J. Robinson. We attended this service.

About 500 people showed up, many near Chester's age - a recognition of those from his generation who knew him through the years and quite a few of the younger generation as well. Mr. Wright told of a story about Chester's early life in his family. Chester was the youngest of six children in the family. His mother was a religious person and wanted to instill that same spirit in her children so they, too, would be saved.

Chester took to music at an early age, learning to play the guitar and singing. His mother told him, perhaps prophetically, "You won't amount to anything unless you sing about Jesus." Perhaps it is fitting that his biggest hit was "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus", a tune that has been recorded by over 100 artists.

The Herb Henry Family singers then did one of Chester's favorite gospel tunes, "Uncloudy Day", getting the crowd to clap along with their harmonious rendition that is typical of the traditional country music format.

Next up to the dais was Ronnie Svenhardt, a long-time friend of Chester's. He talked of knowing Chester as a Christian business man. He knew him as an astute 'negotiator', remembering that Chester once mentioned he always felt he left something on the table when he wrapped up a deal.

Ronnie spoke of the religious nature that Chester carried with him, citing the quote we saw in his memorial program, "In the world we are driven, but in the spirit we are led." He noted that Chester was now in a place where there is "...no more pain, no more sorrow."

We learned from Pastor Wright that Chester was offed a movie contract, offered a job if he moved to Nashville. But Chester was a driven person in one regard, he wanted to be the master of his destiny. He never collected a paycheck from anyone - he supported himself and through his thriving businesses, wrote the paycheck for others.

He owned the first country music radio station in northern California.

He then moved into television. Mention was made during the services more than once and in news stories at the time of his death of starting a string of Spanish language television stations. They noted he saw a lot in common with the migrant workers he saw in the farm fields in California to the folks who toiled the fields in Oklahoma before the dust bowl era. It may be the stations were Spanish-speaking, but in another sense, he was providing a bit of relief and entertainment to those folks who were doing the hard labor, a chance to relax and forget their aches and pains from a long day of labor.

He eventually sold those stations to Univision.

The Herb Henry Family Singers then did another of Chester's favorites, the old Hank Williams standard, "I Saw The Light". Pastor Wright noted after that tune, when that song first came out - it resonated with many because they needed to hear that message.

The Rev. B. J. Robinson came to the dais and spoke fondly of his times with Chester. He noted long ago that he had noticed that Chester was kind of sad at one point, perhaps depressed. But when he saw him a few weeks later, he was glowing, smiling and quite a changed person. When asked what caused this change, Chester just smiled and said, "I"m in love." Was it the love for his first wife? Or was it that he had found another calling in his life?

We then got to hear Chester's version of "Wings of A Dove", which included a bit of a recitation piece between verses pointing out the significance of the 'dove' and it's uniqueness.

We learned how Calvary Temple acquired the property it was currently on. It seems that because of Chester's association with the radio station that owned the property at the time (perhaps this was KTRB), that if the station ever decided to sell the property, they had to sell it to the church. But the church was not that well off back then when they were approached about the sale of the land. They asked the church - how much will you pay? And they gave their amount. And then they asked, how do want to pay for this? They told them they'd pay about $10,000 first. Then asked if they could wait another five years before beginning to pay the rest. The deal was made.

A video tribute was a welcome treat during this service. We got to see Chester perform a bit. During a Grand Ole Opry anniversary celebration, Merle Haggard introduced Chester to the Opry audience so they could do a duet on his tune, "Wait A Little Longer, Please Jesus". Chester wryly noted that it had taken him 40 years to finally get to sing on that stage where his idols such as Roy Acuff had performed.

Another snippet included Chester doing a tune as part of a FOX network tour of sorts for Fox affiliates. It had an American Idol background, Ryan Secrest, host of the popular show, introduce Chester to the audience who did one of his tunes as he could only do. Chester seemed to have this way of holding his guitar aloft and picking an instrumental interlude between verses.

We got to see him do a seemingly recent studio session caught on tape, an interview that allowed him to talk about his life briefly, then we got to hear him and his wife do a nice duet number together, "Let's Be Young Again".

Finally, the lights came back up and we got to hear Chester and Merle do one more time, Chester's classic tune.

It was said that Chester was happy during his last days, unafraid of death, knowing that he would be in a better place. It was said that he was the lucky one - he had beat us there and was waiting.

We drove home after the service listening to our copy of Chester and Merle singing the Roy Acuff classic, "Wreck on the Highway"...

Film festival features local guitar legend

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:47:00 +0000

A close-to-home story shares top billing with films from around the world in the 9th annual Real to Reel International Film Festival.

The too-short but trail-blazing career of Cowpens, S.C., native Hank Garland makes a compelling story with ties to a handful of local musicians.

"Crazy" will screen Friday night and, at Saturday's Festival Wrap Party, area musicians who knew Hank and his music and played with him will pay tribute in the lobby of the Joy Theatre.

Bill Allen of Cherryville remembers jamming with "one of the greatest and most influential" country/jazz guitarists from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s.
Garland played on a number of hits with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Shelby's Don Gibson. He worked live or in studios with Chet Atkins, Grady Martin, Jim Reeves, Patti Page, Eddy Arnold, Tommy Jackson and other legends.

Allen took John Reid of Shelby Music Center to Hank's home, where he brought out his own Gibson Byrdland Guitar that he and Billy Byrd (another session guitarist and Ernest Tubb's long-time lead guitarist) designed.

"The Byrdland name comes from the combination of their names," Reid said. "The old ones have greatly increased in value and Gibson is still making them in limited quantities in their Heritage line."

Read the whole article and get some insight into what Don Gibson thought of this legendary musician.

The Star (Cleveland County, NC)

Country legend Jack Greene visits the Northwest

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:44:00 +0000

When country music legend Jack Greene performs at the Haynie Opry on Saturday, July 26, it might be the first time a country star of his status plays a show at a local grange since Loretta Lynn performed at the Delta Grange in the 1960s.

At least that's what Matt Audette, coordinator of the Haynie Opry, speculates.

Greene's upcoming performances at the Haynie Grange will mark his first return to Washington state in several years.

Greene still travels the country, plays the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., and is even scheduled to play a two-week tour in Ireland next year.

"I love it," Greene said of his busy schedule. "Seeing old friends and making new friends all the time, getting to see the world. It's a joy."

He always signs autographs and poses for pictures with fans after shows.

Greene is planning on playing 45 minute to hour-long shows at the Haynie Opry Grange on Saturday. Matt Audette and The Circle of Friends Band will provide backup for Greene.

Read the whole article:
The Bellingham Herald

18th Annual Tribute To Hank Snow - Aug 14-17 in Nova Scotia

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:22:00 +0000

If you're looking to learn and hear a bit more about one of country music's true legends, you might consider taking a trek up north to our Canadian neighbor up in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia for the annual Hank Snow tribute. If you ever get the chance, pick up his autobiography and I swear, it will read like Hank was telling the story to you - you hear his voice as you read.

Check out the poster for the show

Check out the Hank Snow site for more details

Grand Ole Opry to Add Thursday Night Opry Country Classics Show to its Line-up of Shows in 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:07:00 +0000

Howdy Friends and Neighbors,

Ah, another sign that the folks at Gaylord are not worthy of the Grand Ole Opry franchise. But nonetheless, we hear they have a new show. The only question is - why don't they put it on Saturday night? Are they afraid the ratings might actually increase?

To quote from the Press Release:

"Nashville will have a new entertainment option on Thursday nights next year when the Grand Ole Opry adds Opry Country Classics to its current line-up of Tuesday, Friday and Saturday performances.

The all-new addition to the Opry’s schedule will shine a spotlight on the classic country songs that have defined country music for generations of fans. Opry Country Classics will share country music’s colorful story through a live performance featuring country favorites performed by legends of the genre as well as talented new artists, a rousing live band, square dancing, and more. Like current Opry broadcasts, the show will be heard on 650 WSM-AM."

This is tacit admission that they have been wrong in their marketing of the Opry. If you ask me - fire the management that currently runs the Opry. When was the last time the Opry sold out on a Saturday night? When was the last time a visitor had to write months in advance to get a ticket?

They just don't get it. The Opry was always a family show, attended by families who made it a vacation experience to visit the Opry. Targeting only a small demographic will never get them anything.

Maybe Gaylord should go build another mall?

We hope this new show gains the support of fans so that it eventually ends up being a part of the mainstay Saturday night event.

Read the Press Release:

July 25, 2008

Grand Ole Opry to Add Thursday Night Opry Country Classics Show to its Line-up of Shows in 2009

New Award: Ernest Tubb Mentor Award

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:12:00 +0000

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

We've Been Roaming Around and Listening...

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:09:00 +0000

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.

Concert Review: Merle Haggard Brings Country Music to the Gallo Center in Modesto

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Friday night - Modesto's newest concert venue paid tribute to the country music roots of the central valley of California by playing host to Merle Haggard. The concert was said to be sold out, but not everyone showed up to sit in their seats. And shame on them - they missed a good one. Ole Gran'pa H. M. Crittick got himself a ticket somehow and had to put on some clean clothes, but it was well worth it.

The evening started off with the opening acts - running until about 8:45 (show started 8pm). Chris Milpass was one of the opening singers - he did an old Hank Williams tune, trying to do the bended knee stuff, etc. But when you're waiting for someone like Merle, you get a bit itchy, even if that person is pretty good.

After the intermission - Noel Haggard opened the second half of the show - giving you a resemblance of Merle and what he looked like in his early career. You can't help but compare him to that early version of Merle you grew up listening to, even the way he handles himself with the guitar.

Merle finally came on about 8:45pm or so - to a standing ovation.

As someone who grew up listening to his tunes of a bygone era, you knew he wasn't going to get to all of the hits, but the crowd enjoyed each one he did sing.

He had about 11 people backing him up. Norm Hamlett, a long time member of Merle's Band, the Strangers, was again on steel guitar - dressed a bit like someone from the Blues Brothers.

We got to hear Merle in his best form doing his classics - Swinging Doors, Silver Wings, Big City, Mama Tried, the Lefty Frizzell classic, If You Got the Money, I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am and then the crowd pleaser, his classic Okie From Muskogee.

He didn't lose a beat as he moved into a duet with the female backup singer of the Johnny and June Cash classic, Jackson.

One down side is while he introduced local act Chester Smith, they didn't do a duet number together. Why couldn't they do the tune they recorded together, "Wreck On The Highway"? Was there a union rule? What is the protocol in such a situation - does the main act give a portion of their fees to the guest singer? Of course, Chester may have been a bit under the weather, too and couldn't sing. But still, it would have been great to hear them perform together, even if just one song. Chester still has good stage presence based on the last time I saw him in action.

Merle was in fine form, vocally and on the guitar. Sometimes he was in his hat along with dark glasses but once in a while, he tossed the hat and glasses aside so folks got a better look at him. Perhaps they're props that fit the mood of the music he was doing.

He closed with Sing Me Back Home and Rambling Fever. The crowd gave him a rousing ovation, a standing ovation - but evidently the contract would not allow him to come back for anything more or the concert venue has a time limit. But God help us if
Willie Nelson comes to town - they may have to start at noon to let him get through all of the tunes he's known to do at his concerts.

But the venue made for a great honky tonk - you can't beat the sound, even from where I sat - up in the balcony.

The crowd was decidedly demographically unappealing to today's radio stations - over 50 - the folks that probably grew up listening to him on the radio. Trust me - we still know how to whoop and holler and have a good time. The odd thing was the local country station KATM listed this concert as something that was part of their 'classic country series' yet they were no where to be seen, nor did I even hear a mention of the concert on Friday afternoon. In fact, I don't recall hearing even one song by Merle listening to them while driving around doing my errands. Sorry, but the local radio station doesn't get any kudos for this one.

And for one Saturday night - downtown Modesto was doing a toe-tapping two-step rather than a hyphy stomp or some other rock stuff. It was something the entire family could enjoy whether mom and dad remembering the tunes they listened to on the radio or their kids that were getting to see one of the legends of country music.

But the thing is - he showed why he won entertainer of the year awards, he showed us why he was a legend, he showed us why today's radio won't play his music - the truth is - he's better than what's being spun. He can still pick the guitar, he can still sing his classics, he can still entertain an audience.

Later in the weekend - the Gallo Center for the Arts hosts a tribute show to Patsy Cline.

Well, at least for a night or two, hillbilly music (also known as country and western music) was more than an old 78rpm.

WOV Broadway Barn Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:01:00 +0000

An author-historian friend of ours is looking for information on one of the old radio shows. Read on and if you can help him out - send him an email!

Wayne writes:

I'm looking for information on the WOV Barn Dance. WOV was (is still?) a radio station in New York City. All I know about the show is the following that I
found recently in the Saturday, July 22, 1944, issue of Billboard, p. 16:

On Saturday, July 1, WOV inaugurated the WOV Broadway Barn Dance, taking over Palm Garden at 52d Street and Eighth Avenue, a stone's throw from the Stem. They brought in a cornhusker crew of musicians and singers for a half hour of live broadcast, followed by an old-fashioned barn dance. At 85 cents a head, the 1,200-capacity hall has been jammed both Saturdays and is again tonight. Station is taking ticket orders for several weeks in advance, and next two broadcasts are sold out.

Does anyone know how long the show lasted and/or who performed on it?

Thanks,

Wayne W. Daniel
wwdaniel@yahoo.com

Review: Blue Grass Country Featuring the Twin Country Accordions

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:26:00 +0000

Blue Grass Country - Twin Country Accordions

Greetings once again Country Music Fans,

Can you fans remember when the accordion was a major part of the band for many country music acts in that earlier era? We can think of Doc Williams and his Border Riders and move right up to one in the Hall of Fame - Pee Wee King. Or even when the Moms and Dads captured the interest of the nation with their "Ranger's Waltz"?

This came in the mail box one day and well, Gran'pa got a bit curious as to how it would turn out. There's three fellows listed as the musicians on this release - Dan Yarnick on accordion; Eddie Liszewski on accordion and Lee Martin doing work on guitar, mandolin, bass and fiddle.

First comment - folks, some of the new generation of singers and musicians might want to give a listen to this one. They might learn that good music doesn't have to be coming out a decibel levels that would bust an eardrum in the next county. It was nicely mixed and balanced.

Second - the 'sound' that I heard reminded me of another easy style type of instrumental country I found a few years ago by a fellow named Joe Weed. This one is like that a bit - all instrumentals and as relaxing to listen to as sitting on your front porch on a summer afternoon with a pitcher of good iced tea.

Fans will recognize many of the tunes on this one. One of my favorites is the first tune, "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again; Then there's "Little CAbin Home On The Hill", "Kentucky Waltz", "Red Wing" and "Wabash Cannonball".

There's even a couple of Bob Wills tunes on this one, "A Maiden's Prayer" and "Faded Love".

Ole Gran'pa enjoyed this one. The true test came when I put it in the car on those long drives just to ease the tensions of being in traffic. It's great to hear an instrumental album only once in a while, and the accordion sound is a nice treat, too. But ole Gran'pa wonders if they might be up to trying some Cajun stuff someday?

The record is on the Lee Records lable out of Creekside, Pennsylvania and can be purchased on the CD Baby web site.

Gran'pa H.M. Crittick

Review: The Stanley Brothers - The Definitive Collection (1947 - 1966)

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:36:00 +0000

The Stanley Brothers Definitive Collection

Howdy Real Country Music Fans,

Time for Gran'pa to take a break from the summertime chores of mowing the lawn and tending to the vegetable garden. You know there's just something nice about planting some corn and beefsteak tomatoes and tending to them and knowing that in a few weeks, you'll savor those things just a tad bit more. The cucumbers are coming in just great, too!

Now where do you start when you start talking about such a group like the Stanley Brothers and listening to a 'definitive collection'. This set was released in April of 2007, on the 60th anniversary of their first studio recordings. Now the fact that someone thought there music was good enough for all you folks out there to hear their legendary music six decades later ought to tell you something. Good music lasts for generations and defies demographics.

Recently, we got to hear their tunes in that movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?". I just shake my head and chuckle though to think someone like a George Clooney is doing a movie with old time country music classics weaved into the story.

Now let's talk about the music in this collection. There's three CD's with a total of 60 recordings to enjoy. It was a lot of fun to listen to their original tunes Gran'pa had heard by other artists previously. Some I had never heard by the Stanley Brothers before. Remember Ricky Skaggs' versions of such tunes as "Don't Cheat in Our Home Town" or "If That's The Way You Feel"? You can then see the influence on Ricky I think in the way he handled those and included great harmonies on the choruses, not just voices singing together.

You get to hear the tune the Soggy Mountain Boys gave a rousing rendition to in the movie - "Man of Constant Sorrow". There's tunes associated with Hall of Famer, Bill Monroe as well - "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "Molly and Tenbrooks". I enjoyed tunes like "Orange Blossom Special" (never get tired of hearing how other folks add their touch to that tune); "Angel Band"; "Will You Be Loving Another Man" (I first enjoyed this tune when I discovered an old Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman album on RCA when some ages ago I was getting a higher education of some sorts.); "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" and "Rank Stranger".

Now if the music wasn't enough, they've included a great 40 page color booklet of biographical information and photos. I bow to the level of detail they include in the chronological history of this storied and revered group. The booklet includes the recording details of each tune.

Because ole Gran'pa's sidekick runs this hear hillbilly music web site, we have to include a quote attributed to Carter Stanley in describing their musical efforts as the term "bluegrass music" had not been invented back then.

" I think anytime that you play a good song, to me it's hillbilly music. The Carter Family played good hillbilly music and they're definitely not bluegrass, and J. E. Mainer played good hillbilly music and he's not bluegrass, and I don't figure we're bluegrass. We're the Stanley Brothers, that's the way I've always tried to work it... we have gotten out, I think, and developed a sound of our own."

Before I get to ramblin' on ole Gran'pa just wants to add another note. The dozens of tunes on this CD I found to be quite a treat. Every time I put one in the car to drive around town or going back and forth to work, playing them at random, it just felt like I'd discover another gem or treat to listen to and even repeat the song. Legends don't get to be known as legends for nothing - they earned and deserve their status.

Gran'pa H.M. Crittick

Review: Country Music is Alive and Well in Tokyo!

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 27 May 2007 08:17:00 +0000

Miya Ishida - Himawari
Howdy Country Music Fans,

Gran'pa knows a few people as you might reckon and several of them were taking an overseas trip to Tokyo in Japan. Naturally, ole Gran'pa prodded them a bit to find a country music venue to hear that good old sound.

It took my friends a try or two, but they did manage to find a nightspot where one could hear some good ole true country music. They found a gal named Miya Ishida performing with the Citylites, which was led by her steel guitar playing father. They must have liked what they heard because they brought back a copy of her latest CD, Himawari; backing her up was her father's band, The Citylites.

Just the song titles alone would got my curiosity up a bit to hear their tunes. Blue Moon of Kentucky; Hobo's Meditation (the old Jimmie Rodgers tune); Roly Poly; (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I; I Do My Crying At Night; You Don't Know How Lucky You Are and on it goes. A few golden oldies, some others of a later era.

Two of the tunes are in Japanese, the title song of the album, Himawari and Love Song. Miya co-wrote those two tunes with Katsuki Okayama. The CD includes the lyrics to the tunes, including the Japanese tunes. But you'll have to listen to the tunes she co-wrote as the lyrics included were only provided in Japanese. Perhaps forcing one to listen to the melodies, the instrumental backing and her voice.

To me, one of the tests is whether you would play the CD again after hearing it. This one I've listened to several times. My mode is to not necessarily play the songs in order, but use the car's or home stereo's shuffle feature. There are some nice country songs and arrangements on this one that Nashville today would be hard pressed to duplicate.

Hobo's Meditation got my attention. The instrumental intro to this tune seems to cause a person to think of the Far East then there's no mistaking the old tune - nicely done. Gran'pa may be fussing a bit, but Jimmie always yodeled on his recordings - every one of them. But that's hardly a minus on this CD, just reminding the folks out there to do your homework and know what Jimmie was about. No one's passed a law against yodeling that I'm aware of.

You Don't Know How Lucky You Are is another keeper and one I came back to more than a few times. She does ballads quite well, they seem to give Miya a chance to be a bit more expressive in her vocal inflections. Then like the old country recordings, her dad Shintaro Ishida kicks in with a nice steel guitar interlude between verses.

Miya sings tunes like Roly Poly and I Do My Crying At Night that will get your feet tapping in no time.

A couple of more modern tunes were "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Jolene" - tunes made famous by Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. Not quite classical country but probably crowd pleasers with the rhythms those tunes provide.

Miya began singing with her father's group around 1992 or 1993 according to the notes sent to us by Mr. Ishida. He appeared at the International Steel Guitar Convention back in 1987, appeared onstage with Buddy Emmons and got himself a standing ovation as well. Shintaro has been playing country music since he was a teen-ager in high school.

Miya Ishida's Official Web Site is at: http://www.jah.ne.jp/~networld/country/

Til next time, keep it country and don't be afraid to hear some good steel guitar licks on a record once in a while. Thanks to some good friends, we got to listen to some great sounds that show that good country music crosses the borders and demographics. This one stays in my collection. Meanwhile, you folks traveling over to Tokyo - have no excuse for not finding some good country music while you're on the road.

Gran'pa H.M. Crittick

Review: Darrell McCall - Old Memories and Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:41:00 +0000

Darrell McCall - Old Memories and Wine
Howdy Country Music Fans,

Well, old Gran'pa took a while to get the keyboard oiled up to start reviewing the musical CD's that get sent to our post office box out yonder. Luckily I got a fella that drives down there every now and then to pick up the mail. 'Nuf said about that.

I imagine there's one or two of you out there that is out on the road somewhere away from home in some strange town, having to sleep in some place other than your own home. You ask around to the local folks you meet where you might here some country music. Work for the day is done, it's time to unwind a bit, relax, have a cold one - iced tea or whatever and a decent meal even. You're just getting ready to sip that cold one when you hear a twin fiddle or hard steel guitar kick off a tune ... and then the voice of that singer kicks in ... and suddenly, you're not so tired. You know you've come to the right place. You found the real deal.

Ole Gran'pa felt just like that when he started spinning this CD by Darrell McCall. There is no mistaking the sounds you hear on this CD. Darrell's voice is as strong and powerful as you knew it back then. The twin fiddles, steel guitar, rhythms - you can tell Darrell has a good handle on what "his" sound is. And his producer Justin Trevino was smart enough to not try to pop-i-fy it like today's conglomerate country music media radio outlets seem to play. You want to know what country music sounds like - this would be a good place to start.

You get a good mix of new and old songs on this CD. Darrell also introduces you to his family on this CD as well - his wife Mona sang two tunes, his son Cody sang harmony and his daughter wrote the title song. The album does not lose any of its appeal with those inclusions.

Remember the tunes "I Miss You Already" written by Faron Young? Or the classic "Divorce Me C.O.D."? A great showcase of Darrell's style - the Werly Fairburn tune, "I Feel Like Crying"? Then there's the old Roger Miller tune, "When Your House Is Not A Home" that ole Gran'pa recalls Connie Smith did. In fact, ole Gran'pa was thinking - Darrell and Connie would probably be an interesting duet on that tune. There's even an old Ernest Tubb tune written by Cindy Walker - "Answer the Phone".

I enjoyed the fiddle playing in the background on this CD (attributed to Bobby Flores) - the style, the sound level, the weaving in and out with Darrell's renditions - are what you enjoy hearing. The steel guitar sound by Dickie Overby and Rick Price - ole Gran'pa mutters - sounds great. Today's so-called country music radio seems to have put the steel guitar on the 'missing' picture you see on a milk carton sometimes. Once in a while it's almost too loud, but then, that sound and rawness is what gives the music its edge, makes you feel like you're listening to country music the way it was meant to be and many folks still enjoy.

We need more CD's like this.

Til next time, keep it country, will ya!?!
Gran'pa H.M. Crittick

Introducing Gran'pa H.M. Crittick

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:17:00 +0000

From Hillbilly-Music.com
Howdy friends and neighbors!

Folks, there's a web site getting a bit of attention from folks who are recording music and think they're good enough to be a part of what many of you folks would consider traditional country music. You know what I mean, a song with lyrics you can understand, includes instruments that Nashville seems to want to bury such as the steel guitar, fiddle and guitar and a distinctive sound that tells you instantly who you're listening to.

Folks, that hillbilly-music.com site gets its fair share of attention and mail and CD's from the new generation trying to get some attention as well as the artists that made the history.

So, they've given me the chance to let y'all know what I think of the current crop of music. Keep in mind that if they sound like a group of folks singing in unison in the local bar restroom we're going to tell you so.

In short, if they don't measure up to the traditional sound of country music - we're going to tell you up front.

No syrup. No apologies. If a singer or group is game enough to send us a CD, old Gran'pa is gonna let y'all know whether it's worth opening a wallet and buying that album.

Folks, just because they put it on a CD doesn't mean it's good ole country music. We're here to let you know if they're the real deal. Before you open your wallet, you'll want to hear what we think.

Now excuse me while I pull out my dobro and pluck a few tunes...

Sincerely,
Gran'pa H. M. Crittick

Country gets its turn in Grammy week

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Sichak) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:12:00 +0000

From the Forth Worth Star-Telegram
Country took its turn in the Grammy week spotlight with LeAnn Rimes, Marty Stuart, Charley Pride and Porter Wagoner among the stars calling attention to efforts to preserve vintage country audio and video performances.

Rimes on Thursday night kicked off the "The Soul of Country," this year's Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project with a rendition of the Patsy Cline classic "Crazy."

"It's so important to preserve music history," she said. "I want my kids to know all these great artists of the past."

Porter Wagoner, known for his duets with Dolly Parton, made his Los Angeles debut at age 79 at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, performing "Men With Broken Hearts" while Stuart accompanied him on guitar.

Pride credited Wagoner for being one of the first musicians to give him a break as Wagoner's opening act when he toured with Parton. Wagoner is marking his 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Besides the live performances, the event featured film footage from the archives of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, including Richard Nixon's 1974 piano-playing appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Pride hobnobbed with actor Terrence Howard, who will portray the groundbreaking country singer in an upcoming movie. The two men plan to spend a couple of months together before filming.

"I had a chance to play Bob Marley or Rick James or Charley Pride and I chose Charley," Howard said. "I'm so ready and so excited."

Read the article
Fort Worth Star-Telegram