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
Friday, February 24th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Songs are written in somewhat strange or unusual places and sometimes under unusual circumstances and Ronnie Milsap's 1975 number one, "A Legend In My Time" was just such a tune!
Don Gibson reportedly wrote the song while traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee with Mel Foree, another songwriter from Acuff Rose Music. Gibson was passing the time thumbing thru a magazine while Foree drove and noticed an article in which an entertainer stated that he would like to be a legend in his time. Don remarked to Mel that he thought it was a good idea for a song and he began writing it.
The song wound up as the flipside of Gibson's 1960 hit, "Far Far Away" and was also a track in his 1974 "Country Green" album.
According to Milsap, he had liked the song for years and finally got around to recording it.
He said, "The song was written as a waltz and-- when I recorded it, I took it out of 3/4 and moved it to 4/4--just to make a change and it worked out great!"
Milsap's RCA Victor single "A Legend In My Time" came on the country music charts November 30th, 1974 and was at the top of the charts the week of January 25th, 1975.
The session was produced by Tom Collins and Jack D. Johnson.
It was Milsap's 6th charted song and his 3rd number one. The single was on the charts for 13 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. (NOT AVAILABLE TO INTERNET STATIONS)
Both features are available at no charge.
For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: In talking to my musician brother in law about one of my favorite records, Melba Montgomery's "No Charge," he said the song was written by the steel guitar player, Pete Drake. Is that true?
A: Pete Drake produced the session for Elektra Records. "No Charge" was written by Harlan Howard
Q: My mom says the radio guys mentioned that Cal Smith's "Country Bumpkin" was written by Connie Smith. Did she write that song?
A: "Country Bumpkin" was written by Don Wayne
Q: I have a tape of a song recorded from the radio about "Dance With Me Molly." It sounds like Hank Thompson. Did he record the song and was it a hit?
A: "Dance With Me Molly" made it to # 96 for Roger Bowling in 1978 and to # 88 for Hank Thompson in 1979
Q: Do you remember a song about "Dark Hollow?" This back in the 50's and I don't remember the singer's name.
A: "Dark Hollow" scored in the top 20 for both Jimmy Skinner and Luke Gordon in 1959.
Q: Do you know the name of the guy singing harmony on those old Ray Price video's?
A: The harmony singer was most likely Van Howard or Ray Sanders.
Q: Our elderly next door neighbor sometimes stretches the truth. He has told us several times that as a boy- he lived next door to Pee Wee King in Austin, Texas and was good friends with Pee Wee's parents, Mr. & Mrs. King. Did Pee Wee ever live in Austin?
A: Pee Wee did not live in Austin, Texas and his name was not King. Pee Wee was born Julius Kuczynski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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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:
1951
There's Been a Change in Me - Eddy Arnold
1959
Don't Take Your Guns to Town - Johnny Cash
1967
Where Does the Good Times Go - Buck Owens
1975
I Care - Tom T. Hall
1983
Faking Love - T.G. Sheppard & Karen Brooks
1991
Walk on Faith - Mike Reid
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NO CURLY LIGHT BULBS.
By: Jack Blanchard
They're planning to stop selling regular incandescent light bulbs.
Aargh! I hate fluorescent lights! Stuff looks bleached, including me!
I worked at one of the 1500 desks in the Bell Aircraft Engineering Department.
We had fluorescent lights in the ceiling, and nobody had a personality.
Ergo, fluorescent lights suck the personality right out of you.
Candice Stewart-Eden writes "They are also bad on eyes.
When I was in school, I was having difficulty learning.
They had me tested and found the reason was the fluorescent lighting.
So they put me in a room with no lighting but a lamp with regular bulb,
and my grades raised a great deal."
I was sitting by the pool with my friend Paul this evening.
Paul likes to wear sandals.
He said he wore them to church and somebody told him they weren't appropriate.
Paul told the guy "Jesus wore sandals, so they should be good enough for church."
I told Paul: "Jesus didn't wear socks with them."
Misty and I have had 6 dogs and 1 cat in our life together. We loved them all.
Pippin was a beautiful orange cat who had been abandoned in the neighborhood,
and on his own for a couple of years. We adopted him.
Pippin would come when called, would take walks and stay right with us,
and liked to take an evening nap in my desk chair.
I had to move.
We played for about a year at El Bolero Supper Club in Miami, about 1966.
There was a misprint in the newspaper one time and they advertised
"The Baked, stuffed Jack Blanchard Trio".
Pickers don't get no respect.
We met Richard Nixon when he came in, had a drink with us, and played the piano.
We voted for him for this reason alone. Smart.
Oh, we also voted for him because we were rich at the time,
and didn't want the less fortunate to get our money.
I really miss Spiro Agnew.
Good news for musicians:
CD Baby just announced that we will be getting 74 cents on every song downloaded for 99 cents.
That's the highest rate paid by any music download company.
We loved our 100 year old home in Winter Park Florida.
It felt like roots to us...like an old family homestead.
A good feeling when you come off months on the road.
Channel 6 in Orlando is creating excitement
by exposing convicted felons living in child day care homes.
I have only one problem with that:
They don't see a distinction between dangerous and non-dangerous felons.
Martha Stewart is a convicted felon, and there are many like her.
They are heaped in with sex offenders and violent criminals. Not fair.
What are they going to do? Embezzle the children?
We know a young man who is doing five years in prison.
He was eighteen and his girlfriend was seventeen,
considered statutory rape due to the one year difference in their ages.
He will carry the sex offender mark for life, wherever he goes.
A friend saw my mother's picture on Facebook and said
"She looks so much younger than you, Jack."
I said "Yes she was actually younger than me. It was a premature birth."
A fan said You two are better than ever, What's your secret?"
I said "We have always been motivated by bill collectors."
My family had a pet monkey when I was little.
They finally had to give it to The Buffalo Zoo and we visited him once a week.
Sometimes you just need a monkey.
But now they're under my bed and I can't sleep!
A scorching hot day at The Cincinnati Zoo. A DJ showed us around.
The radio station had a contest,
and the winners got to have lunch with us at The Zoo Restaurant.
We were allowed to pet a baby elephant, and a camel chewed on Misty's hair.
Time again to floss the cat and go to bed.
Jack Blanchard
The Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan Home Page: http://jackandmisty.com
Restoration and mastering studio: 407 330 1611.
CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackmisty
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1902 - Don Law 1902-1982, Columbia Records executive, and producer, born in London, England.
1942 - Roy "Little Roy" Lewis Jr., of "The Lewis Family" born in Lincoln County, Georgia.
1949 - Steve Buckingham, producer, born in Richmond, Virginia.
1950 - Becky Hobbs singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist born Rebecca Ann Hobbs in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Becky is known to her friends as "The Beckaroo."
1958 - Sammy Kershaw, singer, songwriter, and guitarist was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, and raised in Kaplan, Louisiana. Sammy and Lorrie Morgan were married on September 20, 2001. This was Lorrie's 5th marriage and Sammy's 4th.
1962 - Patsy Cline's Decca single "She's Got You" was released today. This was Patsy's 2nd #1 hit.
1964 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens single "My Heart Skips A Beat" b/w "Together Again." The songs were recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood. The session was produced by Ken Nelson, the session players included: Buck Owens-vocals & guitar; Don Rich-rhythm guitar; Jelly Sanders-rhythm guitar; Tom Brumley-steel guitar; Doyle Holly-bass; Mel Taylor-drums. Both sides of this single went to #1.
1968 - Loretta Lynn hit the charts with "Fist City."
1969 - Johnny Cash recorded "Johnny Cash at San Quentin."
1969 - B. J. Thomas' Scepter single "Hooked on a Feeling" was certified Gold by the RIAA.
1973 - Donna Fargo, Tommy Cash, Charlie Rich, and Tennessee Ernie Ford were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1978 - As a result of the popularity of "Take This Job and Shove It," Johnny Paycheck was asked to join striking coal miners on the picket line in Virginia. Johnny did just that today.
1979 - Charlie Rich and Mary K. Miller were featured guests on "Hee Haw."
1981 - "Lee" William Allen of the Allen Brothers died.
1991 - George Gobel 1919-1991, singer, comedian and actor died at age 72. George joined the cast of the WLS National Barn Dance when he was 13 years old.
1991 - Webb Pierce 1921-1991, age 69, died in Nashville, Tennessee. Webb began his career at the KWKH Louisiana Hay Ride. He made his debut guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1952, and became a regular member the following year. He was inducted into the CMHF 2001. Webb Pierce was laid to rest in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, Tennessee.
1998 - Hal Ketchum and Gina Pacconi were married.
1998 - Razor & Tie released "The Fine Lookin' Hits of Eddie Cochran."
2005 Goldie Hill 1933-2005, age 72, "The Golden Hillbilly," and wife of country legend Carl Smith, died from cancer at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Goldie joined the Grand Ole Opry 1953. She was laid to rest in Williamson Memorial Gardens, Franklin, Tennessee.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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In response to many requests, YES I am on Facebook and you are welcome to become a friend—UNLESS you are one of those that posts photos of your grandkids or your pet cat every other day. I don't have the time or interest for that. SO—if that's what you do on Facebook.. just forget me !
I'm the Doug Davis with the photos of the guitars.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Be better to your neighbors—and you'll have better neighbors"
Ernest Tubb
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