Thursday August 26th, 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 

 

Thursday August 26th, 2010

 

 

 

                     CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT   www.countrymusicclassics.com

 

 

                           

                                     STORY   BEHIND   THE   SONG

 

 

 

Songwriters are usually trying to come up with an unusual title or hook  but according to Jim Weatherly, he was surprised that nobody had written a song titled “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me,” as it was already a well worn expression by the time he wrote the song in 1971.

 

Weatherly commented, “I was always trying to come up with a title or a song idea and I started thinking that nobody had written a song by that title and I was surprised because we’ve all heard that expression hundreds of times. So I just sat down and started writing and finished the song in about thirty minutes.”

 

Ray Price’s Columbia Records single, “You’re The Best Thing That’s Ever Happened To Me” made the country music charts July 28^th, 1973 and was in the top spot the week of October 6^th.

 

It was his 63^rd charted song and his 8^th number one.

 

The record was produced by Don law and was on the charts for 16 weeks.

 

The single also scored a   # 82 on the pop charts.

 

 

 

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                                  QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

 

 

QUESTION:    I heard something about Dolly Parton’s motorcycle being stolen. Do you have any info?

 

ANSWER:       A 2010 Harley-Davidson Sportster belonging to the Lexington, Kentucky chapter of Susan G. Komen for The Cure organization was stolen from a locked trailer on their parking lot. The motorcycle had been signed by Dolly Parton.

 

QUESTION:  The radio guys were talking about George Jones being inducted into the hall of fame last week. I thought he was already in the hall of fame?

 

ANSWER:        George was recently inducted into The Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame. He was inducted into Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992.

 

QUESTION:     The TV News folks said that two women paid a lot of money to eat breakfast with Dolly Parton. Is Dolly taking in boarders now?

 

ANSWER:        A couple of ladies from Gatlinburg, Tennessee  bid over $90,000 for a barbeque at Dolly’s home  and breakfast cooked by Dolly. Their  bid was made at the 2010 Evening Of Elegance fundraiser and all proceeds go to the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation.

 

 

 

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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:     I heard on the radio that The Gatlin Brothers are now recording for Reader’s Digest. Do you have any info?

 

ANSWER:        The Gatlin Brothers will release a three CD set thru Reader’s Digest. The 60 song boxed set will be on sale September 8^th thru Reader’s Digest 2010 catalog and at readersdigest.com

 

QUESTION:     I heard on the radio that Wanda Jackson is doing something at the hall of fame. Do you know when?

 

ANSWER:         Wanda Jackson will participate in the Americana Music Festival and Conference September 8^th -11^th at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater. Jackson will discuss her career and her new album.

 

QUESTION:      Do you know where Johnny Lee was raised? Our neighbors in Ohio had a little boy who sang and their last name was Lee.

 

ANSWER:         Johnny Lee was born John Lee Ham in Texas City, Texas.

 

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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

 

 

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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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NUMBER  ONE  ON  THIS  DATE:

 

1945
You Two-Time Me One Time Too Often - Tex Ritter

1953
Hey Joe! - Carl Smith

1961
Tender Years - George Jones

1969
A Boy Named Sue - Johnny Cash

1977
Way Down - Elvis Presley

1985
Real Love - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

 

 

 

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WHEN COUNTRY SHOWS CHANGED.

   By: Jack Blanchard

In the 1970s country music shows featured a whole string of stars.
Often the number of major artists on a show was ten,
and they advertised them as "Country Music Cavalcade"
or "Country Star Parade.
There were older stars and younger stars, all in it together.
It was fun, and a whole lot of entertainment for the crowds.

Around 1980 we were told by our agents that things were changing.
The artists with current hits were considered "major artists",
and everybody else was "marginal" or "minor".
The major artists and their agents were demanding ALL the money,
and marginal artists were not getting booked,
including some pioneers and icons of the genre.

The days when we had shared show bills with Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride,
Boots Randolph, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom T. Hall,
Grampa Jones, George and Tammy, Archie Campbell, and all the others...
those days were at an end.

We struggled around the country through the 80s,
playing some places where our fans came to see us,
and other places where nobody knew who we were... not even the owners.
We would go from a Jack and Misty concert in Dayton to a jazz club in Schenectady.
Our early musical experience helped us to survive.

Where and when Misty and I started out you had to know the old standards...
pop and jazz songs from about about 1920 through the forties and fifties.
Working at piano bars we had to know all the ancient singalong songs,
barbershop songs, Irish songs, and other ethnic favorites.
Having to learn all these kinds of music was an education
that came in handy later.
We have jammed with some of the best country bands,
even playing jazz with Ernest Tubb's band at the E.T. Record Shop.

Originally, Misty and I were both piano players.
There weren't many good electronic keyboards then.
During the seventies we were very much into the new analog equipment.
We found that with a small combo and the new keyboards
we could sound more like our recordings, and do it all live.

Here's an example where we used just three keyboards and our drummer.
Misty sings a good old standard ballad.
On her two keyboards she plays piano, backup vocals, brass, etc..
On my keyboard I do acoustic bass and rhythm guitar.
Click a link to listen:
BROADBAND: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=9551212&q=hi
DIAL-UPS: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=9551212&q=lo

This kind of stuff saved our lives when times got tough.

 

 

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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Country singer Bill Phillips, best known for his hit “Put It Off Until Tomorrow,” and for playing a pivotal role in Dolly Parton’s early career died yesterday, Aug. 23. He was 74.

Parton co-wrote and sang on “Tomorrow,” which helped her garner enough attention to land a record deal.

When Phillips came to Nashville he signed with Cedarwood Publishing and Columbia Records. But his biggest success came at Decca Records, where he had two top 10 hits in 1966: “Tomorrow” and “The Company You Keep,” both written by Parton and her uncle Bill Owens. Phillips also reached the Top 10 with 1969’s “Little Boy Sad.” Among the hits he wrote that were recorded by others were Webb Pierce’s “Falling Back To You.”

Phillips was also a frequent guest on many television shows, including those headed up by Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson, and Parton. He was also part of Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright’s TV show and touring troupe from the late ‘60s until 1984. 

 

 

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               TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

                           compiled by Bill Morrison

 

Cecil Surrat, Bluegrass, born Coalwood, WV 1926.

 

Don Bowman, singer/songwriter/comedian, born Lorinzo, TX 1937.

 

Ernest Tubb recorded "White Christmas" and "Blue Christmas" 1949.

 

Carl Smith topped the charts with "Hey Joe" 1953.

 

Bob Miller, age 59, songwriter/band leader, died in New York 1955.

 

Bobby Helms released "My Special Angel" 1957.

 

Marvin Rainwater recorded "The Valley of the Moon" 1959.

 

Jimmy Olander of "Diamond Rio" born Minneapolis, MN 1961.

 

George Jones' "Tender Years" went to # 1 in 1961.

 

Merle Haggard recorded "I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am," 1968.

 

Charlie Pride recorded "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone" 1969.

 

Elvis Presley's "Way Down" topped the charts 1977.

 

Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers duet "Real Love" went to #1 in 1985.

 

Cecil Null, age 74, songwriter, died in Bristol, VA 2001.

 

Jamie O'Neal married recording engineer/songwriter, Rodney Good 2000.

 

Wilma Burgess, age 64, died in Nashville, TN 2003.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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                                            THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

 

O God, You are testing our nation and purifying us as silver refined.

Too often, we have trusted in our own resources, wealth, and possessions for our security; and we have, at times, failed to honor You by forgetting the hurting believers in other nations.

Remind us of what is important, Father.

Show us yet again that You alone are our security--the only One who truly provides for us.

Protect us from the oppressive burden of further taxation so that we may continue our glad giving to the cause of the gospel. Guard us from anyone who would attempt to rule us by controlling the crops we've harvested with our own hands.

Set us free so that we can continue funding missions to every nation on earth.

We thank You, Father, that whenever we have gone through fiery trials and floods of adversity in this nation, You've brought us back to a place of abundance.

Please do so once again, oh God! We praise You and thank You for hearing the prayers of Your people.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

 

 

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