COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday April 17th, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of songwriters have commented that ideas for songs come to them while driving and according to Billy Edd Wheeler - the idea for Kenny Rogers 1980 number one, "Coward Of The County" came to mind while he was driving along a mountain road.
Wheeler says the original title for the song was "The Promise" - that a son had made to his father.
Wheeler and co-writer Roger Bowling wrote three versions of the song before coming up with the finished product from what Wheeler described as Jesus' example of turning the other cheek as not being a sign of weakness.
He added "the idea also touched on what I was taught while growing up in the mountains - which was "always be a good neighbor - but carry a big stick."
Kenny Rogers ' United Artists single "Coward Of The County" was produced by Larry Butler - entered the country music charts November 17th, 1979 and was at the top of the list on January 5th, 1980 and stuck there for three weeks.
The single also scored a number three on the pop music charts.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: The radio guys were talking about a Texas benefit featuring Randy Travis and Kris Kristofferson. Do you have any information?
A: "The Mack, Jack and McConaughey event" was held this past weekend in Austin, Texas and orchestrated by University Of Texas football coach Mack Brown, singer Jack Ingram and actor Matthew McConaughey. The event featured Kris Kristofferson, Randy Travis, Radney Foster, and Guy Clark and proceeds benefitting several local and area charities.
Q: My wife says that during her childhood - her family lived next door to a family in Alabama whose last name was Lane and their little girl sang in church. She's wondering if that little girl was Cristy Lane. Is there any way to check that out?
A: It's highly unlikely that your wife lived next door to Cristy Lane - as she was born Eleanor Johnston and raised in Peoria, Illinois.
Q: I remember a group of fellows singing a song about "The Andy Griffith Show" several years ago. Do you know who had that record?
A: "The Andy Griffith Show" was a track in the Bellamy Brothers "Redneck Girl Forever" album.
Q: Why isn't Jimmy Wakely in The Country Music Hall Of Fame?
A: I included this in Q & A because I receive about ten of these each week - asking why certain folks aren't in the Hall Of Fame? I have nothing to do with who is or who is not in The Hall Of Fame and do not know why those artists not in the Hall have not yet been inducted. You should direct those questions to The Country Music Hall Of Fame.
Q: My dad says that former football player Terry Bradshaw was once a country singer. Is that true?
A: Terry Bradshaw placed three songs on the country music charts from 1976 thru 1980.
Q: I have a copy of Johnny Duncan's "To My Sorrow." My mom says that song was very popular on the radio years before Duncan's recording. Is that true?
A: "To My Sorrow" was a number 2 hit for Eddy Arnold in 1947 before scoring a number 47 hit for Johnny Duncan in 1968.
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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:
1947
So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed - Merle Travis
1955
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce
1963
Still - Bill Anderson
1971
Empty Arms - Sonny James
1979
(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right - Barbara Mandrell
1987
"You've Got" the Touch - Alabama
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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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SAME CIRCUS, DIFFERENT CLOWNS.
By: Jack Blanchard
A friend asked me "How are you today?"
I said "Same circus, different clowns."
WRITERS' BLOCK...
I want to have a lot of work done.
The songs and stories are there waiting for me...
Wilting and fading because I don't come.
I know they are there and yet I watch TV
And do things that don't count.
There must be something about Rap that I don't understand.
Maybe it's ALL THE WORDS.
MY TWO FEARS...
1. Things will change.
2. Things won't change.
Construct art backwards. Start with the desired effect.
All the TV shows in Central Florida tonight are preempted by tornado reports.
I don't understand why the safety of others
is more important than my entertainment.
The truth will set you free,
but a good lie will keep you out of jail in the first place.
I don't want a phone that's smarter than I am.
If what I'm doing isn't working,
doing it harder or more of it won't help.
I see North Korea's army goose-stepping around and hailing their weird leader.
It would be even scarier in black and white.
I don't like shows like TMZ.
I don't care to see rich young celebrities doing cute antics.
I hate cute antics unless I'm doing them.
I remember every joke I've ever heard,
and I make up a lot of new ones.
It isn't easy living in my head, but the rent is cheap.
People who worry us about global warming
are taking all the fun out of Armageddon.
Charlie Sheen is dating midgets.
He's tapering off.
We have a lot of gravity here today. I just felt a gust of it.
INTELLECTUAL BUMPER STICKER...
"Subvert the dominant paradigm."
FEMALE BUMPER STICKER...
"WARNING! I have PMS and a handgun."
PROGRESS...
We don't know where we're going,
but we're making good time.
My neighbor said "That road crew got tar on my new car!"
I said "You should have stayed for the feathers."
Women like to talk about their babies.
Maybe if I develop a diaper rash I'll be more popular.
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan are the oldest working duet in country music,
with top awards and major label hits.
http://youtu.be/4-OrVQaqkg0
Honk if you love peace and quiet.
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1901 - J. B. Fusilier 1901~1976, Cajun fiddle pioneer, born Jean Batiste Fusilier in Oberlin, Louisiana.
1906 - Claude Grant, founding member of the Tenneva Ramblers, born in Bristol, Tennessee.
1926 - Uncle Dave Macon, age 55, became the first member of the WSM National Barn Dance who was known from coast to coast. Fiddler Henry Bandy made his second appearance on the Barn Dance this evening.
1926 - The Skillet Lickers first recording session for Columbia Records.
1926 - Ray Patterson was born in Clayton, New Mexico.
1926 - Marshall Claiborne, a one-armed fiddler made his second appearance on WSM's Barn Dance.
1960 - Eddie Cochran 1938~1960, age 21, Rockabilly pioneer, died in a car crash enroute to the London airport. Gene Vincent was a passenger in the same vehicle and was seriously injured. Cochran has been inducted into the R&RHF & the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Eddie was laid to rest in Forest Lawn~Cyprus, Cyprus, California.
1961 - Duane Eddy' s single "Theme From Dixie" charted.
1965 - Marty Robbins' hit the charts with "Ribbon Of Darkness." The song was recorded March 2, in Nashville. Gordon Lightfoot wrote the song, and the session was produced by Bob Johnston. Session players included: Marty Robbins~vocals & guitar; Ray Edenton~guitar; Jack Pruett~guitar; Joe Zinkan~bass; and Louis Dunn~drums. The song went to #1.
1968 - Dorsey Dixon 1897~1968, age 70, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler for the Dixon Brothers died today. The brothers recorded for Bluebird in the 1930' s.
1970 - Johnny Cash performed at the White House for President Nixon.
1973 - Asylum released the Eagles second album "Desperado."
1974 - Bobbie Jett, mother of Jett Williams (fathered by Hank Sr.) died in California.
1982 - Johnny Cash hosted Saturday Night Live.
1986 - The Everly Brothers' Warner Bros. album "The Very Best of the Everly Brothers" was certified Gold.
1986 - Little Feat's Warner Bros. album "Feats Don't Fail Me" was certified Gold.
1992 - Aaron Tippin' s RCA single "There Ain' t Nothin' Wrong With The Radio," went to #1. This was Travelers Rest, South Carolina's favorite son's first #1 single.
1992 - Hank Penny, Western Swing legend, died at the age of 73.
2000 - Murray Nash 1918~2000, age 82, early RCA Records executive, died in Ocala, Florida.
2001 - Johnny Russell, had both legs amputated below the knees, due to diabetes.
2002 - Tammy Wynette' s children reached an out of court agreement; with the doctor they had sued for contributing to the singer' s death.
2004 - Dave Kirby, age 65, singer/songwriter/guitar session player, died in Branson, Missouri. Dave was married to country singer Leona Williams.
2004 - Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker' s single "When The Sun Goes Down" topped the charts.
2004 - Shortly after leaving a show, Kenny Chesney' s merchandise truck was involved in an accident on an Interstate on-ramp in Little Rock, Arkansas. The truck, and contents were destroyed by fire. No serious injuries were reported.
2004 - The Judds, Wynonna, and Naomi, debuted on the Grand Ole Opry, twelve years after Naomi retired from the duo for health reasons.
2004 - Dave Kirby 1938~2004, age 65, singer, songwriter, and session guitarist died Branson, Missouri-. Dave and Leona Williams were married in 1985 and lived in Branson. Dave Kirby was laid to rest in the Vienna Public Cemetery, Vienna, Missouri.
2007 - Glenn Sutton 1937~2007, age 69, Hall of Fame Songwriter, and Grammy winner died in Nashville from a heart attack. Inducted NSHF in 1999. Glenn wrote, or co-wrote: Almost Persuaded; She Still Comes Around; What A Man My Man Is; Take Me To Your World; I Don't Wanna Play House; Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad; You' re My Man, and many more. Glenn's funeral is scheduled for April 20th.
2008 - George Jones is scheduled to appear in concert at Aitken University Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
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