COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday January 23rd, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
According to songwriter John Schweers, the idea for Ronnie Milsap's 1976 number one, "What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down" came from his wife.
Schweers commented, "I think she heard or saw an advertisement for a nightclub - or it was something she had seen in a magazine. Whatever it was - she thought it was a good song idea - so she wrote it down and gave it to me. I worked on it and then got disgusted with it. But I did finally finish it and had it on the end of a tape of several songs I played for producer Tom Collins and Ronnie Milsap and that was the one song they both got excited about. So I'm glad I did finish it and play it for them."
Ronnie Milsap's RCA single, "What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down" entered the country music charts March 20th, 1976 and was in the top slot on May 15th.
It was his 12th charted song and his 5th number one.
The single was on the charts for 14 weeks.
Top of Form
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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: I read that George Strait was planning a final tour but haven't heard anything lately. Do you have an update?
A: George Strait launched his "Cowboy Rides Away" tour last Friday in Lubbock, Texas. The tour will run thru 2014.
Q: I heard on the radio that the hall of fame had set some kind of record. Do you have any information?
A: The Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum has just announced that it broke it's all time attendance record in 2012 with a total of 565,000 visitors.
Q: Do you remember a song on the radio years ago about "I'm Not Gonna Buy A Used Car From Him?" Some girl singer had the record but I don't remember her name.
A: "I Wouldn't Buy A Used Car From Him" was written by Harlan Howard and scored a number 8 hit for Norma Jean in 1965.
Q: Back in the 1970's some guy had a record about "If Fingerprints Showed Up On You." Do you know the singer's name?
A: The song was titled "Fingerprints" and was a 1970 number 41 hit for Freddie Hart.
Q: Do you know who had the hit record on a song about "Black Land Farmer?" It was my dad's favorite song.
A: "Black Land Farmer" was a number 5 hit for Frankie Miller in 1959. It was re-released in 1961 and made it to number 16. Sleepy LaBeef's recording of the song peaked at number 67 in 1971.
Q: There was a song on the radio years ago about "Mr. Fiddle Man." Do you know who wrote that song and who sang it?
A: "Mr. Fiddle Man" was a 1972 number 59 hit for Johnny Russell - who co-wrote the song with Linda Watts.
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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
The Shot Gun Boogie - Tennessee Ernie Ford
1959
Billy Bayou - Jim Reeves
1967
There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene
1975
Kentucky Gambler - Merle Haggard
1983
(Lost His Love) On Our Last Date - Emmylou Harris
1991
Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
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A STRANGE NIGHT ON INTERSTATE NINETY.
By: Jack Blanchard
It had been a sunny winter day, about 34 degrees in the Dakotas.
Snow from the night before had partially melted,
wetting the road surface of Interstate Ninety.
It was late afternoon and we were behind a tractor-trailer.
Then the sun dropped below the horizon and the temperature fell,
turning the asphalt into a glassy ice-skating rink.
All traffic on the road lost traction, and slowed to three miles per hour,
trying to maintain control.
The roadway was crowned and vehicles were sliding slowly off the shoulder
into the deep ditch and settling on their side,
where the passengers could freeze to death during the night.
Somehow I kept our motor home on the road,
but I could feel the pull toward the ditch.
Then the eighteen-wheeler ahead of us began to turn,
like a slow-motion ballet,
until the truck driver was looking directly at me from his windshield,
about ten feet away.
Then the big rig coasted sleepily off the shoulder
and settled into the snowy ravine, facing backward.
I was amazingly alert at that point,
hands tightly on the wheel and foot carefully off the brake.
Misty shouted, "There's an exit and a KOA sign! Try to get off!"
I said, "Okay, but all the campgrounds are closed up here in the winter."
She said, "At least we'll be off this nightmare."
With some careful sliding around and correcting,
I managed the exit ramp and found the RV park.
I couldn't believe it! They were open!
I have never found another northern campground open this time of year,
because the water freezes up.
We went inside the lighted building,
and they told us that they had ice-breakers on their water lines on each site.
The ice-breaker looked like a pump handle.
You lift it up and force it down and it cracks the underground ice,
and the water comes out.
We hooked up our water and electricity, and Misty had a good idea.
She wrapped an electric blanket around our water hose and plugged it in,
and it kept the hose from freezing up during the night.
We could see the flashing lights out on the Interstate,
where rescue vehicles were getting people out of their cars and trucks,
and taking them to shelter, some to the heated KOA building,
where they were given hot drinks and food.
There was not enough traction to pull the vehicles out of the ditch,
so they were saving the people,
and would get the cars and trucks the next day, if the ice melted.
Misty and I had food and everything we needed in the motor home,
but we went inside to be with the rescued people,
and talk about the ordeal we'd just been through.
The television news reported that hundreds of travelers were being rescued
from their stranded vehicles.
Inside the campground building it was like an impromptu winter party,
with strangers in the fellowship of being unexpectedly alive.
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RARE LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM HANK WILLIAMS
NOW AVAILABLE FOR MOVIE, TV & ADVERTISING USAGE
DIRECTLY FROM HANK WILLIAMS ESTATE
This year marks both the 90th anniversary of country giant Hank Williams' birth and the 60th year remembrance of his tragic death. Within the thirty year timeframe of his life, Williams became the cornerstone of country music and one of the key influencers of artists from all genres. Songs such as "Lovesick Blues," "There's a Tear In My Beer," "Hey Good Looking," "I'm a Long Gone Daddy" and numerous others remain timeless classics.
Now, the Hank Williams Estate, overseen by his children Jett Williams and Hank Williams, Jr., is making over 200 live performance recordings directly available to movie houses, television production companies, and advertising agencies, where before these rare live recordings had never been accessible for licensing directly from the Estate.
"After years of litigation and tribulation, we can now make these recordings available directly from the Hank Williams Estate, as well as make a decision in a heartbeat," adds Keith Adkinson, lawyer for the Hank Williams Estate. "This will only allow for a little more Hank out in the entertainment world."
"I am honored to join my brother Hank Williams, Jr. in making available these original recordings of our dad for multi-media use," says Jett Williams. "Many experts have said they are better than the MGM masters. You decide--but we can carry on the legacy of my dad with pride."
"Daddy's music has lasted decades and is being discovered by a new generation of fans. Not only did he influence country artists, but he also crossed over to influence rock artists," says Hank Williams Jr. "Today, the Williams legacy continues to endure with the release of these recordings for movies, commercials, documentaries, among others things."
Hank Williams' songs can be heard in approximately 100 movies and television shows including "Shawshank Redemption," "M*A*S*H," "The Last Picture Show," "Steel Magnolias," "The Wonder Years," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Forrest Gump," "Nurse Betty," "Cars," "Cold Case," "Rango," and more as well as an advertising campaign from Pepsi.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1911 - Fields Ward 1911~1987, fiddler, born in Buck Mountain, Virginia. Fields was the son of fiddler Davy Crockett Ward, and recorded with his band in the late 1920's and later for the Library of Congress as a member of the Bog Trotters.
1920 - Herman Barrier 1920~1988, of the Barrier Brothers, a Bluegrass Band was born in Harden County, Tennessee.
1932 - The first dressing room was constructed backstage at the Ryman Auditorium.
1937 - Polly Lewis Copsey, of "The Lewis Family" was born in Lincoln County, Georgia.
1940 - Johnny Russell 1940~2001, singer, songwriter, guitarist and TV actor, born in Sunflower County, Mississippi, and raised in Fresno, California. Johnny became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1985. He was billed as "The Biggest Act in Country Music." He recorded for RCA Victor and Mercury, and charted 28 country single hits on Billboard's Country Chart.
1940 - Joe Dowell, recording artist, born in Bloomington, Indiana.
1947 - Merle Travis recorded "Steel Guitar Rag."
1949 - Ernest Tubb recorded the Vaughn Horton penned "Till The End Of The World" and the Troy Martin-Ernest Tubb penned "Daddy, When is Mommy Coming Home" at Castle Studios, in Nashville. Paul Cohen produced the session, which required adding a second day (January 24th) to complete the project. The session personnel included Ernest Tubb~Vocals; Jack Drake~Bass; Bill Drake~Rhythm guitar; Hal Smith~Fiddle; Don Davis~Steel guitar; Tommy Paige~Lead guitar; Banjo Murphy~Banjo. Till The End Of The World charted in March, topped out at #4, and remained on the chart for 9 weeks. This was Ernest's 20th chart hit. Daddy, When is Mommy Coming Home charted in May, topped out at #15, and was on the chart for 1 week. This was Ernest's 23 chart hit.
1956 - Harley Allen, son of Red Allen, singer, songwriter born today in Dayton, Ohio.
1957 - Gerald Cline, Patsy Cline's first husband, filed for divorce.
1959 - Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Dion began their ill-fated "Winter Dance Party" tour. Less than two weeks later (February 3, 1959) all but Dion would be dead, the result of a plane crash.
1969 - Elvis Presley recorded "Suspicious Minds" in Memphis at the American Studios, for his album "From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis." The two record album hit the Billboard Country Album chart in December, and topped out at #5.
1972 - T. Texas Tyler 1916~1971, age 55, a.k.a. David Luke Myrick died from cancer in Springfield, Missouri. Tyler was known as "The Man with a Million Friends."
1976 - Donny and Marie Osmond debuted their "Donny & Marie Show" on the ABC network.
1982 - Ricky Skaggs' "Cryin' My Heart Out Over You" charted, and became Ricky's first #1 single.
1986 - Elvis Presley was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at their first ever ceremony.
1987 - Reba McEntire's MCA album "Whoever's in New England" was certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. This was Reba's first Gold album.
1990 - Texas Jim Lewis 1909~1990, singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor, leader of the "Lone Star Cowboys" died at the age of 80.
1990 - Clint Black's RCA album "Killin' Time" was certified Platinum by the RIAA This was Clint's first Platinum album.
1991 - The IRS auctioned off Willie Nelson's property, to satisfy his tax debt. Most of the items that Willie cared about were purchased by friends and returned to him.
1993 - Wayne Raney 1920~1993, disc jockey, recording artist, and sideman, known as "The Harmonica Wizard," died at the age of 72. Wayne was inducted into the Country Music D.J. Hall of Fame 1993.
1993 - Thomas A. Dorsey, age 93, writer of "Take My Hand Precious Lord" and "Peace In The Valley" died in Chicago from Alzheimer's disease.
1995 - Alan Jackson's single "Gone Country" went to #1 on Billboard's country chart. The song charted 23 weeks earlier. No song in Billboard history ever took that long to reach the top.
2004 - Josh Gracin signed his first recording contract with the Lyric Street label.
2005 - Bill Simmons, age 80, keyboardist with the Light Crust Doughboys died in Texas. Inducted Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
2005 - Kenny Alphin, the 'Big' of "Big & Rich," and Christiev Carothers were married in Deadwood, South Dakota.
2005 - Johnny Carson, age 79, host of NBC's Tonight Show died in a California hospital from emphysema.
2005 - Art Stamper former fiddle player for Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys died in a Louisville, Kentucky hospital.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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