COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Although John Denver placed 27 songs on the country music charts between 1971 and 1989---including three number ones -- many die-hard country music fans did -- and still do not -- recognize him as a country music artist.
His 1975 number one "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" was a celebration of country lifestyles, with lyrics that surrounded farm life, country cookin' and the mountain fiddle.
Some five months later, a large segment of the country music industry was severely unhappy when the Country Music Association named John Denver their "Entertainer of The Year," as he was considered by many to be a "crossover" artist.
Denver's RCA Victor single, "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" entered the country music charts March 29th, 1975 and was at the top of list the week of May 31st.
It was his 7th charted song and his second number one. It was on the charts for 14 weeks.
John Denver died in a plane crash off the California coast in October 1997.
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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: Do you know of something to do with Patsy Cline going on at The Hall Of Fame?
A: A new biographical exhibit on Patsy Cline will open August 24th at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Q: There was a mention on the radio about Marty Stuart and Wynonna performing together. Do you know when and where?
A: Marty and Wynonna will perform at "Marty Stuart's 11th Annual Late Night Jam" at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on June 4th.
Q: Heard on TV that Kenny Rogers has signed a new recording contract. Do you have any details?
A: Rogers has signed to record for Warner Brothers Records with a new album scheduled for later this year.
Q: I have heard bits of information about Reba McEntire having another TV show. Do you have any information?
A: Reba's new sitcom "Malibu Country" is on the ABC Fall lineup. Lily Tomlin co-stars as Reba's mother in the story of the girl who relocates from Nashville to California to revive her singing career after leaving a cheating husband. Is that comedy or what?
Q: Have you heard of an Elvis Presley recording of a song titled "Stay Away?" My cousin told me about it and I've never heard it.
A: "Stay Away" was the flipside of Presley's 1968 # 55 hit, "U.S. Male."
Q: Years ago there was a singer in the Midwest by the name of Jimmy Osborne, who was quite popular. Do you know what happened to him?
A: Jimmie Osborne placed three songs on the country charts between 1948 and 1950. He committed suicide in 1957 at the age of 34.
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IT'S HERE! CHECK IT OUT: www.myhillbillymusic.com
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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:
1945
At Mail Call Today - Gene Autry
1953
Mexican Joe - Jim Reeves
1961
Hello Walls - Faron Young
1969
My Life (Throw It Away if I Want To) - Bill Anderson
1977
Some Broken Hearts Never Mend - Don Williams
1985
Somebody Should Leave - Reba McEntire
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WHY SUCCESS IS IMPOSSIBLE. A PEP TALK FOR MUSICIANS.
By: Jack Blanchard
When scientists discovered that much of what they thought was "reality"
was made up of stuff they don't understand, they did what they do best...
They gave it a fancy name: "The Chaos Factor".
The usual example of this is: A butterfly in Georgia flutters its wings starting a snowball effect that winds up as a tornado in Montana,
or a Walmart in Punxatawney.
These things are unpredictable,
which is weather forecasters' excuse for getting paid.
(Are TV weather girls more pregnant than average humans?)
The Chaos Factor is not really chaos at all.
It's just too many facts for our little brains to process. Data overload.
Here's how The Chaos Factor can work in the Music Business:
You've been striving all your life toward a career in the recording industry.
You started playing guitar as a fetus.
You wrote your first song when you were six months old...
"Time for a Change, Mama".
By the time you reach your teens you already have a recording contract.
You write, produce, sing, and promote your records.
A couple of decades go by and you're still trying, never giving up,
and then you finally have a hit that climbs to #2 with a bullet in Billboard.
You make a down payment on a guitar shaped Porsche.
About this time a guy in Lake Monroe, Florida
has just recorded "Dance of the Living Dead Chickens".
He recorded it in an empty dumpster,
with six bass drums and a police whistle.
It debuts in Billboard at #1, and parks there for two months,
killing your chances, and a number of your brain cells.
Your family spends the next ten years trying to coax you out of your guitar case.
Nothing happens for the next two or three decades,
and then you get one more big break.
Somebody has dug up and re-released your old recording,
and it's all the way up to #2 again!
But there's this guy in Outhouse, Ohio who is just now putting out a song
called "Moon Me Again, Mrs. Mooney", and it looks like a hit.
Success in music is really not impossible.
Neither is winning the lottery, so, keep trying.
It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
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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IT'S HERE! CHECK IT OUT: www.myhillbillymusic.com
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1912 - Grant Turner, Grand Ole Opry announcer for 49 years, was born in Abilene, Texas. Grant was inducted into the CMHF in1982, and the CMDJHF in 1975.
1918 - Dorris Paul Warren, Bluegrass fiddler, was born in Lyles, Tennessee.
1921 - Brad McCuen, Industry executive, founder of Mega Records and record producer, was born in New York City.
1925 - Cousin Herb Henson, was born in East St. Louis, Illinois.
1925 - Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley 1925~1972, guitarist for "Reno & Smiley" (formed in 1951) was born today in Marshall, North Carolina.
1928 - Ben Smathers, founder of The Stoney Mountain Cloggers" was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
1929 - Eddy Arnold's father, Will C. Arnold, age 58, was buried on the grounds of Friendship Baptist Church, in Chester County, Tennessee.
1933 - Jimmie Rodgers recorded "Blue Yodel No 12" b/w I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now."
1944 - Jesse Winchester songwriter, singer, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1947 - Red Foley's recording "New Jolie Blonde" was Billboard magazine's #1 record.
1948 - Penny DeHaven, singer, actress was born Charlotte DeHaven in Winchester, Virginia.
1948 - Eddy Arnold's RCA recordings of "Bouquet of Roses," and "Texarkana Baby" both hit Billboard's Best Sellers chart today, and both songs went to #1. Bouquet of Roses for 19 weeks, and Texarkana Baby for 3 weeks.
1952 - Johnny Horton 1925~1960, The Singing Fisherman debuted on the Louisiana Hayride. John was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, however, for personal reasons he chose to remain in Shreveport. John was married to Hank Williams widow Billie Jean, who hated the Opry because they fired Hank. As a result, this very talented country music ambassador of country music, is not a member of the CMHF.
1952 - Ray Price debuted on the charts with his Columbia single "Talk To Your Heart." The song climbed the charts to the #3 position, and Ray joined the Grand Ole Opry later that year.
1952 - Pat Flynn, vocals, guitar, mandolin, and banjo founding member of "New Grass Revival," was born in Los Angeles, California.
1964 - Ralph Emery emceed four performances of a huge Country Music show held at Madison Square Garden. The show featured Buck Owens, Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe, Webb Pierce, Bill Anderson, Stonewall Jackson, Skeeter Davis, Porter Wagoner and Leon McAuliffe. The show was a huge success.
1966 - Wiley Walker, of "Wiley & Gene" died at age 54.
1975 - Freddy Fender's debut
album "Before The Next Teardrop Falls," went to #1.
1980 - Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood's "Bar Room Buddies," charted.
1982 - Merle Haggard and George Jones recorded "Yesterday's Wine."
1993 - Johnny Cash recorded his album "Def American" in Hollywood, California, between the 17th and the 20th.
2001 - The New "Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum," opened for business in downtown Nashville. This magnificent $37 million facility is the Crown Jewel of Music City USA. Having said that, the jewels in this crown would shine much brighter if more honesty, and less politics were involved in the selection process, regarding who gets inducted into this elite body. Do you know the names of the Music Row geniuses, who have had the final say in deciding who goes in, and who stays out of the Hall of Fame? Of course you don't. Who would admit to being responsible for inducting only seven female solo artists into the Hall of Fame since 1961.
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:
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
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IT'S HERE! CHECK IT OUT: www.myhillbillymusic.com
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