Wednesday July 21st, 2010 C O U N T R Y M U S I C C L A S S I C S

C O U N T R Y    M U S I C    C L A S S I C S

 

 

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/

Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer  

Wednesday July 21st, 2010

 

                     CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT  www.countrymusicclassics.com

 

                           

                                     STORY   BEHIND   THE   SONG

 

 

A lot of hit songs have been written about old sayings or popular sayings at the time. And according to John Schweers, Charley Pride’s 1973 number one, “Don’t Fight The Feelings of Love” was one of those tunes!

 

Schweers commented, “Don’t Fight The Feelings” was a saying that was going around about that time. I was in my upstairs in my $100 a month apartment, just doodling around on my guitar. I got this feeling going and was stomping my feet to the beat and my landlady knocked on my door because she thought I was nailing something on her wall.  I think she was a little unhappy to find out that I was a songwriter!”

 

RCA Victor released Charley pride’s “Don’t Fight The Feelings Of Love” on April 17^th, 1973 and on the final day of June, John Schweers had his first number one!

 

The single was Pride’s 22^nd charted song and his 12^th number one. It 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 features, “Classic Country First” and “Story Behind The Song” are now available to radio stations.

Both features are available  at no charge  thru  barter.

For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com

 

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                                  QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

 

 

QUESTION:   The radio folks mentioned Rosanne Cash on some awards program. Do you know which one?

ANSWER:      Rosanne Cash and Patty Griffin are among the confirmed performers for the upcoming 9th Annual Americana Honors and Awards ceremony. Other stars slated for the show include Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris, along with Will Kimbrough, Sam Bush, Wanda Jackson, and others. Jim Lauderdale will host the show. The 9th Annual Americana Honors and Awards will be presented at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on September 9th.

QUESTION:     Is there any information available on Billy Joe Shaver? My daughter says it was on the radio that he had had heart surgery.

ANSWER:         Billy Joe Shaver underwent a procedure last week in which doctors inserted a stent. Shaver's manager Greg Henry says a complete recovery is expected, and the singer plans on returning to the road next month. Shaver's next scheduled date is in Happy Valley, Oregon on August 6th.

QUESTION:       There was song on the radio back in the 70’s which was also part of a popular TV  series. The title was  “I’ll cry if you leave me tonight” or something to that wording. Can you identify the tune?

ANSWER:         “If You Leave Me Tonight I’ll Cry” was a # one for Jerry Wallace in 1972 and was also used in a “Night Gallery” TV episode titled “Dan’s Café.”

 

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“Country Music Classics”  is made possible only by donations from subscribers like you. If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, please support us by sending a check payable to “Country Music Classics”  for any amount to:

Doug Davis—Country Music Classics—3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503.  Or use   PAYPAL  ( http://www.paypal.com ) and donate (via your account or their secure credit card site) directly thru our email address (classics@countrymusicclassics.com). Thank you.

 

If you wish to make a contribution but do not have a Pay Pal account, you may use any major credit card and donate thru our secure Pro Pay account.

 

 

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QUESTION:      An old Conway Twitty song, “I Love You More Today” is my all-time favorite. Do you know who wrote that song?

ANSWER:         The  Conway Twitty 1969 # one was written by L.E. White.

QUESTION:       I would like information on a Loretta Lynn song about “I’m Making Believe While He Makes Love.” It was played on the radio several times years ago.

ANSWER:         “While He’s Making Love-I’m Making Believe” was a track in Loretta’s 1976, “Somebody Somewhere” album.

QUESTION:       Can you settle an argument? My dad says that Roger Miller’s “Dang me” was a # one record and I say it was not.

ANSWER:           Roger’s “Dang me” was in the number one slot for six week and on the charts for 25 weeks in 1964.

 

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COMMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS:

 

Thank you so much for the information on Hank Cochran.  We listened to the announcement on the Bill Mack show on Sirius radio and were saddened.  Your article gave even more detailed information.  The person that said you went too far is a jerk.  I think you should mention Hank every week now!  Thanks again for all you do.

B.J.

 

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Doug......It is beyond me how anyone could write something so evil as this Arthur person. I would guess he does not KNOW real country music or its writers. I am a song writer and I can't come even a little bit near the talents of Hank Cochran. May the Lord God rest his soul....thanks for the articles and may the Lord bless you and your site.

Jack Hall

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I want to to know why in the hell does any body like Arthur that had the rude comment about your story on Hank Cochran even subscribe to your newsletter. He needs to remember there are those of us that enjoy things like that. I thought it was just great! You wrote a wonderful article about a great songwriter that made such a impact on country music.l do not care for the Arthur's of the world. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Keep up the good work.

Wanda

 

 

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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:

 

1946
New Spanish Two Step - Bob Wills

 

1954

Even Tho - Webb Pierce

 

1962
Wolverton Mountain - Claude King

 

1970
He Loves Me All the Way - Tammy Wynette

 

1978
Only One Love in My Life - Ronnie Milsap

 

1986
Until I Met You - Judy Rodman

 

 

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FRED  CARTER JR. PASSES AWAY

 

Born in the Louisiana delta, Fred Carter, Jr. was raised in an environment that favored both hard work and great music. Like all seminal musicians, artists, and writers born to the pre-war American South, Carter cut his teeth on country, blues, gospel, and jazz, combining them all into the art form that would later become Rock and Roll. A consummate musician, Carter held the guitar chair on recording sessions and live performances for artists of every musical genre.  Carter began his career as staff guitarist on the legendary Louisiana Hayride, working alongside Horace Logan and a revolving cast of country hitmakers. After leaving the Hayride, Carter played a significant role in the development of Rockabilly and Rock and Roll through his guitar work with Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, Dale Hawkins, and Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks.

 

Settling in Nashville in the late 1950’s, Carter quickly moved into the “A-Team,” first-call session work that defines the Nashville recording industry. There, Carter worked with a steady stream of legendary recording artists, including country greats such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, as well as contributions to the classics of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters. Throughout his career, Carter maintained a lifelong association with Levon Helm, including Helm’s RCO All-Stars, which included Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Booker T. and the MG’s, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, and the Saturday Night Live Horns.  Carter was also a prolific songwriter, writing alongside the likes of Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, and Hank Cochran.  Carter’s songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Dean Martin, Chet Atkins, and Burl Ives.  Through his varied associations, Carter played a critical role in broadening Nashville’s musical persona beyond its traditional country borders, serving to integrate Nashville into the larger musical acceptance in which it finds itself today.

 

Carter passed away on July 17^th from stroke-related causes at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

 

Carter was the third of seven children born to Fred and Hattie “Tillie” Carter of Winnsboro, Louisiana.  A loving husband and father, Carter is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anna; his sons, Ronnie and Jeff; his daughter, recording artist Deana Carter; and his five grandchildren.

 

 

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THE OPTIMIST.

      By: Jack Blanchard

Denver Omlit was an optimist through and through.
He and his neighbor Ed were admiring Ed's new Corvette convertible.
"I knew you could do it", said Denver, "because you set your goal,
pictured it, believed it, and went after it."
Ed said, "I won it in a lottery."
Not to be dismissed so easily, Denver said
"You believed in your heart that you had the winning ticket."

Ed said,
"With all the crime in this city, I'm scared something will happen to it.
I never owned anything this expensive before."
"Think only positive thoughts", Denver said,
"and nothing bad can happen to your car."

Ed said, "You think you can do anything if you believe it?"
Omlit said, "You're reality is a product of your thoughts."
Ed was thinking a violent thought about Denver right then.

"OK. Let's see you fly", said Ed.
"I don't want to fly", said Denver.
"But you could, if you set your mind to it, right?"
"Yes, definitely. You are what you think", said Denver.
"Then prove it, bigmouth!” said Ed.

The optimist wasn't around for several days,
and then he was seen on the roof of their seventeen storey building,
carrying out several large items toward the Forty-seventh Street side.
The items were:
two light-weight balsa surfboards,
a large cardboard carton,
and a garbage bag with something lumpy in it.

He took a can of quick drying spray glue from the bag,
and sprayed both sides of the boards.
Then he dipped the boards into the box one-by-one,
and brought them out covered with feathers.

He leaned the boards on the foot high wall at the roof's edge,
and while they dried he got some other equipment from the box...
a football helmet, goggles, and two rolls of industrial duct tape.
He put on the helmet and goggles first,
because according to his plan it would be difficult later.
A crowd was gathering down on the street.

He turned back toward the roof entrance door and clapped his hands twice.
Three musicians came out,
carrying a bass drum, and accordion, and a police whistle.
They gave a raggedy fanfare as a young lady in a bathing suit twirled out,
did a circus curtsey like a magician's assistant,
and began duct taping the feathery wings to Denver's arms.
The bass drum beat slowly to raise the suspense.

From the garbage bag, the assistant retrieved a bullhorn,
and held it to Denver Omlit's mouth as he spoke to the crowd below.
"If a bird can do it with a brain the size of a pea,
I can do it with my wonderful pineapple of a brain.
I believe with all my heart that I can fly.”
He spread his wings with a flourish and stepped of the roof.

As he fell straight down he pep-talked himself.
"I can do it! I can soar like a mink!"
He looked down and saw the flagpole on the 14th floor.
It was coming at him right between the legs.
He hit it like a wishbone and the flag staff broke off
and started falling with him.
"Embrace the pain", he shouted! "The pain is our friend!"

At the tenth floor his pants caught on a window air conditioner,
ripped off, and flew away.
"Ah, that breeze feels good", he yelled!
The flagpole and the air conditioner had slowed his descent slightly,
and he imagined he had planned it that way.

At the fifth floor, the optimist said "So far, so good."
The updraft was gathering under his football helmet,
causing a slight parachute effect.
He hit a small window awning on the third floor,
and then the big awning at the street entrance to the building.
It became a trampoline that bounced him toward the street,
where Ed's Corvette convertible was parked... with the top up.
The convertible top crushed nicely,
affording Denver a comfortable landing in the red leather upholstery.

The above account is reported here
exactly as it was presented at Ed's trial for killing the optimist.

 

Jack Blanchard

Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan...

Grammy Nominees. 

Billboard's Country Duet of the Year.

ASCAP and BMI Awards.

HOME PAGE: http://jackandmisty.com

 

 

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               TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

                           compiled by Bill Morrison

 

 

Ken Maynard, Singing cowboy, born Vevay, IN 1895. The studio press said Ken was born in

Mission, Texas, however that was not true.

 

Sara Carter born Flat Woods, VA 1898. Sara and the other Original members of the Carter Family were inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1970.

 

Eddie Hill born Delano, TN 1921.

 

Margaret Whiting born 1924.

 

Junior Husky, "first team" session bassist, born Knoxville, TN 1928.

 

Bobby Hicks born 1933.

 

Lefty Frizzell joined the Grand Ole Opry 1951.

 

Wanda Jackson released "I Gotta Know," 1956.

 

Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line," became his first #1 record 1956.

 

Sidney Lawrence Cox, "Cox Family," born Homer, LA 1965.

 

Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Tall Dark Stranger" 1969.

 

Paul Brandt born "Paul Renee Belobersycky, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1972.

 

Jeanne Pruett joined the Grand Ole Opry 1973. Pruett was the last person to become a member of the Opry, on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, prior to the move to the new Opry House.

 

Michael Martin Murphey's single "Wildfire," was certified gold 1975.

 

Charlie Daniels' #1 country hit "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" charted on Billboard's Top 40 in 1979.

 

ASV released Gene Autry's album "Last Round-Up: 25 Cowboy Classics" 1998.

 

Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html

 

 

 

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

 

FRIENDSHIP’S PATH

 

I choose to walk friendship’s path with those who know me best,

For we share life’s precious moments, and everyone is blessed.

 

We celebrate the happy days and dry each other’s tears,

As the road keeps winding upward throughout the passing years.

 

On friendship’s path, we’re not alone when troubles come our way,

For we can lean on one another and gather there to pray.

 

Every life is a stepping stone for those who come behind,

For when we need that special hug, it’s never hard to find.

 

Life throws us curves and detours with bumps here and there;

But we share each other’s burdens, wrapped in the arms of prayer.

 

We always try to keep in touch whenever we’re apart,

For the center line of friendship’s path runs through each other’s heart!

 

               Clay Harrison

 

 

 

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