COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday February 7th, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Some hit songs have been written in just a few minutes - while others took days or months or sometime - even years - to complete.
According to Wayne Kemp - Johnny Cash's 1976 number one, "One Piece Of Time," was one of those tunes!
Kemp commented, "The idea for that song actually came from my wife. I was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee and although I was working on a song - all I had was a bunch of words going in all different directions. And she mentioned that if all those car parts were stolen over several years - that none of them would fit. Then it hit me -- that if the parts didn't fit - it would be one ugly
car! And it's the longest song I ever wrote - wound up being seven hand-written pages and four typed pages."
Johnny Cash's Columbia single "One Piece At A Time" came on the country music charts April 10th, 1976 and was in the top slot on May 29th - and stayed there for two weeks.
It was his 97th charted song and his 13th number one.
The single was on the charts for 15 weeks.
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A T T E N T I O N: R A D I O S T A T I O N S:
Our short form daily radio feature, "Story Behind The Song" is now available to radio stations. (NOT AVAILABLE TO INTERNET STATIONS)
The feature is available at no charge.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard on the radio that Willie Nelson was performing in New Orleans. Do you know when?
A: Willie Nelson is scheduled to perform at The New Orleans Jazz Fest - along with The Mavericks and The Del McCoury Band. The seven day Festival begins April 26th.
Q: I keep hearing different stories concerning Randy Travis. Do you know his current status - with all his troubles?
A: Randy Travis was sentenced to 180 days in jail in connection with his naked DWI arrest in Texas last August - but probably won't actually serve any jail time - as he struck a deal for two years probation - 30 days in a rehab facility and 100 hours of community service.
Q: Is Johnny Cash going to be on a postage stamp? My daughter says it was mentioned on the radio.
A: According to The United States Postal Service - Johnny Cash will be honored with his very own postage stamp later this year - as part of the "Music Icon's" series of stamps.
Q: I heard that The Country Music Hall Of Fame is building a building for Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Do you have any information?
A: The Country Music Foundation is donating $250,000 to help in the construction of the first ever physical Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame to be located at the new Music City Center.
Q: The radio guys mentioned that Emmylou Harris having something with a John Denver album. Do you have any information?
A: Emmylou Harris is reportedly one of several artists to be featured on a tribute album to John Denver. The new project is scheduled for April 2nd release and a portion of the proceeds will go to The Wilderness Society.
Q: I know the song "If You Ain't Lovin' - You Ain't Livin'" - was a hit for Faron Young and for George strait - but my son says he heard Buck Owens sing that song on the radio several years ago. Did Buck record that song?
A: Buck's version of "If You Ain't Lovin'" was a track in his 1964 album titled "Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins."
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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1950
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley
1958
Ballad of a Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash
1966
Giddyup Go - Red Sovine
1974
Jolene - Dolly Parton
1982
Lonely Nights - Mickey Gilley
1990
Nobody's Home - Clint Black
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VIET NAM VET KIDNAPPED
By: Jack Blanchard.
Our friend Mike Miller was kidnapped last week.
Mike is a Viet Nam vet who saw the worst that war had to offer.
Two or three years ago he got cancer, diabetes,
and other deadly effects of Agent Orange,
which had hidden out in his liver for decades.
He had had a number of major surgeries and came through them,
over a hundred pounds thinner,
but still with his musical ability and sense of humor.
We drive to the Jacksonville area to visit Mike and his wife Wanda,
and we talk and laugh often on the phone.
Mike is as sane as you and me. He's probably saner than I am.
He has to take a lot of medication for his physical health and his PTSD.
Occasionally the medication needs to be adjusted if he's not feeling well.
He went to the emergency room in a Florida hospital last week
to see about getting his prescriptions adjusted.
It was a different place from the one where he usually goes.
They put him to sleep with something and he woke up in a mental facility.
They had Baker Acted him with no explanation, and kept him for a week.
His wife had no idea where he was.
Nobody did.
The place was filthy, the staff were terrible,
and there were mentally ill patients there
along with perfectly sane ones who had also been shanghaied.
One man said he was terribly sick
and the nurse fluffed him off with a glass of water,
which he immediately threw up.
Mike told them "This man is really sick! Call 911 or you'll be in trouble!"
The medics from the ambulance said the guy was seriously dehydrated
and they hurried him away.
The place was dirty, violent, cruel, and the food was inedible.
They get $550 a day for each patient they capture and keep.
Mike has consulted his regular doctors since,
and they say he is not mentally unstable in any way,
and that he has been victimized.
They even threatened Mike with loss of benefits.
He has learned since that they have no authority to do that,
or to threaten him.
He has written to a lot of important people
in associated government positions, and he wrote this:
"If my phone doesn't ring soon I'm going to the press with this."
Mike is our friend, so I'm making as much noise as I can.
We want people to know what's going on.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1898 - Moran Lee "Dock" Boggs 1898-1971, early recording artist, born West Norton, Virginia.
1901 - "Austin" Ambrose Allen 1901-1959, of the Allen Brothers, born in Sewanee, Tennessee.
1921 - Wilma Lee Cooper was born Wilma Leigh Leary, in Valley Head, West Virginia. Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 12, 1957.
1933 - Warren Smith, Sun recording artist, born in Humphreys County, Mississippi.
1934 - "Donna" Laverne Stoneman of the Stoneman Family born in Alexandria, Virginia.
1943 - Tony Booth singer, guitarist born in Tampa, Florida. Tony is a former member of Gene Watson's band, and has charted country singles on the MGM, Capitol, and United Artists label.
1953 - Marty Robbins, "Mr. Teardrop" became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His first chart hit was his self-penned Columbia single "I'll Go On Alone" which charted in December 1952.
1957 - Jim Reeves, "Gentleman Jim," recorded "Four Walls," at RCA in Nashville. The single charted in April and went to #1. This was Jim's 3rd #1 hit.
1958 - Johnny Cash's "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen," topped the charts.
1962 - Garth Brooks, born Troyal Garth Brooks in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1963 - Patsy Cline's last recording session was held in Nashville, for Decca Records. The four hour evening session produced: "He Called Me Baby" by Harlan Howard; "Crazy Arms" by Ralph Mooney and Chuck Seals; "You Took Him Off My Hands" by Harlan Howard; and "I'll Sail My Ship Alone." (The last song Patsy ever recorded) by Bernard, Thurston, Mann and Burns. The session personnel on her last session included: Patsy Cline-vocals; Grady Martin-electric guitar; Randy Hughes (Patsy's manager and pilot)-acoustic guitar; Ray Edenton-rhythm guitar; Wayne Moss-6 string electric bass; Bob Moore-acoustic bass; Buddy Harman-drums; Floyd Cramer-piano: a six piece string section; and the Jordanaires-background vocals. Patsy died in a plane crash less than three months later. The above name Randy Hughes was flying the plane.
1966 - Buck Owens released "Roll Out The Red Carpet."
1967 - Boots Randolph's Monument album "Yakety Sax" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1971 - Moran Lee "Dock" Boggs 1898-1971, age 73, recording artist, died on his birthday.
1976 - George Jones and Sunday Sharpe were featured guests on HEE HAW.
1976 - Eddie Rabbitt's Elektra single "Drinkin My Baby (Off My Mind), charted today. This would be the first of many #1 country hits for this very talented man.
1980 - Gordon Lightfoot's Reprise album "Summertime Dream" was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
1980 - Anne Murray's Capitol album "I'll Always Love You" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1981 - John Conlee became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1984 - Jennifer Hanson singer, songwriter born in Whitter, California. Her mother was a singer, her father a guitar player, it's in the girls DNA.
1985 - Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash appeared on the David Letterman Show.
1988 - Pie Plant Pete 1906-1988, a.k.a. "Claude J. Moye," star of the WLS National Barn Dance, died at age 81. Moye sang and played guitar, and a harmonica which was suspended by wire from around his neck.
2001 - Dale Evans 1912-2001, age 88, widow of Roy Rogers, died in California. Dale wrote "The Bible Tells Me So" and Roy's theme song "Happy Trails To You. Named California Mother of the Year in 1967; inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame 1995; and has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dale and Roy were married for fifty years. Dale Evans was laid to rest next to Roy, in Sunset Hills Memorial Park, in Happy Valley, California.
2003 - Jennifer Hanson singer, songwriter, Capitol recording artist made her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
2005'ÄìSawyer Brown served as grand marshals of the Mardi Gras procession, and Toby Keith was the parade's celebrity monarch in New Orleans.
2006 - John Conlee celebrated his 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
2006 - Marty Stewart's latest album "Live at the Ryman" with Marty's great band the Fabulous Superlatives was released today.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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