COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Singers and songs sometime take the long way around before finding success - or before success finds them.
Such was the case of Gary Stewart, who scored his only number one this week in 1975.
Gary was making music professionally on the road by age 16 when Mel Tillis noticed him and suggested that he start writing songs and moved to Nashville. He was signed to a songwriter's contract with Forrest Hills Music and scored two top five hits with Billy Walker.
Before leaving Nashville to move back to Florida in 1971, Gary recorded a demo tape of country versions of Motown hit songs. That tape wound up on the desk of RCA Record producer Roy Dea, who signed Gary to record for RCA in 1973.
His only number one was written by Wayne Carson. "She's Actin' Single, I'm Drinkin' Doubles" came on the country music charts March 8th,1975 and was at the top of the charts the week of May 10th.
It was his 4th charted song and was on the charts for 13 weeks.
Gary Stewart went on to place 30 songs on the country charts thru 1989.
He committed suicide in 2003 at the age of 59.
^^^^^^^^^^
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
^^^^^^^^^^
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I heard that one of the Oak Ridge Boys was doing something with a book project with Cracker Barrel restaurants. Do you have any information?
A: Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores are now selling Joe Bonsall's book "G.I. Joe And Lillie: Remembering A Life Of Love And Loyalty." The book chronicles the life of his parents, Joseph Bonsall Sr. and Lillie Collins, through World War II and the remainder of their lives.
Q: Have you heard anything about a movie about songwriter Hank Cochran? My dad says it was mentioned on the radio?
A: The documentary film, "Hank Cochran: Livin' For A Song" premiered at the recent Nashville Film Festival. The film includes the last interview with Cochran, who died in 2010 at age 74.
Q: My dad has a tape recorded off the radio of Ray Price singing "It Should Be Easier Now." None of the music stores know anything about the song. Do you know when Price recorded it?
A: "It Should Be Easier Now" was the flipside of Ray's 1966 # 3 hit, "Touch My Heart."
Q: What was the name of the lady who had the song on the radio about "Money, Marbles And Chalk?"
A: "Money Marbles And Chalk" was a # 15 hit for Patti Page (real name: Clara Ann Fowler) in 1949
Q: I have a copy of Pee Wee King's "Tennessee Waltz which I bought in 1951. My brother says that record was released years before that. Is that true?
A: King's original version of "Tennessee Waltz" peaked at # 3 in 1948. RCA Victor re-released the same recording in 1951 and the second release made it to # 6
Q: Back in the late 1950's Don Gibson had a great song on the radio about "I Couldn't Care Less." I only heard it a few times and wonder if it was a hit and if so—when?
A: "I Couldn't Care Less" was the flipside of Gibson's 1959 #11 hit, "Lonesome Old House."
^^^^^^^
Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^
NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
1947
So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed - Merle Travis
1955
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce
1963
Lonesome 7-7203 - Hawkshaw Hawkins
1971
Empty Arms - Sonny James
1979
Where Do I Put Her Memory - Charley Pride
1987
Don't Go to Strangers - T. Graham Brown
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SONGS FROM THE REMNANTS OF THE YEAR.
By: Jack Blanchard
I write more songs during the remnants of the year,
when emotions are nearer to the surface,
the past is just over our shoulder, and old voices whisper in our ear.
Here's one of those songs.
When the Blues Come in from the Rain.
When the river's runnin' gray,
On a dark and cloudy day,
And the winds that bring October
Make the weeds and reeds and cattails sway...
Thinking my life over,
I see your face again,
When the Blues Come In From the Rain
When the leaves are coming down
On the sidewalks wet and brown,
And the cars all have their lights on
As they make their way back home from town,
Time may fade your picture,
But it sure don't dull the pain,
When the Blues Come In From the Rain.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not sayin' I'm to blame
Just the same, I've got an empty feeling inside.
Sometimes I'd like to break right down and call your name,
But all that I've got left now is my pride.
When the Blues Come In From the Rain,
And your face appears,
The tears are only raindrops on my window pane.
Still, if I could live life over,
I'd go back the way we came...
When the Blues Come In From the Rain
*******************************************
Listen to the song here: http://tinyurl.com/35qnsz6
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
^^^^^^^^^^^^
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1910 - Curtis Massey 1910~1991, of "Louise Massey & the Westerners" was born in Midland, Texas.
1928 - Dave Dudley 1928~2003, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and disc jockey was born David Pedruska in Spencer, Wisconsin.
1931 - Jerry Chestnut, singer, songwriter, was born in Harlan County, Kentucky.
1947 - Merle Travis's "So Round, So firm, So Fully Packed" topped the charts.
1952 - Kitty wells recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," at her first session for Decca. The session was held at Castle Studio, in the Tulane Hotel in Nashville. Owen Bradley produced the session, Jack Anglin played rhythm guitar, Shot Jackson played steel guitar, Johnnie Wright played bass, and Paul Warren played fiddle on the session. Joe Miller wrote the song, it charted two months later, went to #1, and is now a Grammy Hall of Fame song.
1954 - Marty Robbins released "Your Hearts Turn To Break" b/w "Pretty Words."
1955 - Web Pierce's Decca single "In The Jailhouse Now" topped the country music charts. The record stayed at #1 for 21 weeks. The song was written by Jimmie Rodgers. This was Webb's 9th #1 hit in the past four years.
1956 - Jim Beck 1916~1956, age 39, owner, operator of Beck's Recording Studio in Dallas, Texas, died of exposure to carbon tetrachloride.
1957 Scott "Cactus" Moser, drummer for "Highway 101" was born in Montrose, Colorado.
1963 - Less than two months after dying in a plane crash with Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and pilot Randy Hughes, Hawkshaw Hawkins topped the charts with "Lonesome 7-7203." Hawkshaw was married to Grand Ole Opry star Jean Shepard.
1968 - Shane Minor was born in Modesto, California. He charted three singles for Mercury Records in 1999-2000.
1974 - Joe Stampley's Epic single "Roll On Big Mama" was # 1 on Billboard magazines chart. The song was written by Dan Darst. This was Joe's second #1 single.
1977 - Eric Church singer, songwriter was born in Granite Falls, North Carolina. Eric Church and music publisher Katherine Blasingame were married January 8, 2008 in a private ceremony at the Westglow Spa & Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
1979 - Charlie Pride's RCA single "Where Do I Put Her Memory" sat atop the charts. The song was written by Jim Weatherly, and was Charlie's 21st #1 single. Charlie Pride was inducted into the CMHF in 2000.
1983 - Alabama's RCA Victor album "The Closer You Get" was certified Gold & Platinum today.
1986 - Dollywood opened for the first time.
1987 - Red Taylor, fiddler, former member of the Blue Grass Boys died today.
1987 - T. Graham Brown topped the charts with "Don't Go To Strangers."
1989 - Dave Stogner 1920~1989, Texas Swing bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist, Dave died today at the age of 68. Dave Stogner has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
1991 - Ernest Tubb's Midnight Jamboree celebrated its 50th Anniversary, with a street party in downtown Nashville.
1996 - Patsy Montana 1908~1996, age 87, died in 1996. Patsy was the first major female recording artist (I Wanna Be A Cowboys Sweetheart.) Patsy Montana was inducted into the CMHF in 1996. She is one of seven female solo artists to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the past 46 years.
2003 - Buddy Jewel, age 42, won the "Nashville Star" talent show, broadcast on the USA Cable TV network. The Grand Prize: Recording contract with Sony Music Nashville.
2006 - Lynn Anderson was arrested for DWI in New Mexico after causing a traffic accident. She was released on bond the following day.
2008 - The Stagecoach Festival, was held the 3rd & 4th, in Indio, California.
2008 - Cumberland University honored Charlie Daniels and wife Hazel, at the University's Commencement ceremony. The Daniels' were presented with the University's Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, for selfless community service.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet soup?
^^^^^^^^^^
If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, send a blank email to countrymusicclassics-off@milepost1.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^
No comments:
Post a Comment