COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Wednesday May 1st, 2013
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Since the recording industry began - there have been stories about recording artists who - for one reason or another - recorded songs they really didn't like.
According to The Oak Ridge Boys' Duane Allen - their 1978 number one, "I'll Be True To You" was one of those tunes!
Allen commented "Our producer Ron Chancey found that song and brought it to us. We started using the song on our road shows and I sang the lead. And Ron kept telling us that we should record it because it was a hit. But I didn't want to record it because the woman gets killed at the end of the song and I just didn't want a record with that in it. But it turned out that Ron was right. We recorded the song and it was a number one record."
The Oak Ridge Boys' ABC Records single " I'll Be True To You" was produced by Ron Chancy and came on the country music charts April 15th, 1978.
The song was written by Alan Rhody and was The Oak's 5th charted song and their first number one. The single was on the charts for 15 weeks.
^^^^^^^^^^
MEMO:
Several of our subscribers are also newsletter publishers. I would like to hear from you as to the company you're using to handle your newsletter mailing list – as my subscriber list co-ordinator is getting out of the business.
I had used Topica several years ago but left them because of so many problems with people getting on and off the mailing list. Any ideas or suggestions?
Email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: The TV news had a thing about a Willie Nelson Merchandise Program. What is that?
A: The Willie Nelson Artist Spotlight merchandise program is a joint venture between Willie and Hard Rock International and will offer a special bandana, T-shirt, limited edition collector pin and an online exclusive pin. The merchandise will be available on June 6th at hardrock.com and a portion of the retail price will benefit The Sustainable Bio-diesal Alliance and The Animal Welfare Institute.
Q: My mom says that she heard that one of Hank William's band members passed away. Do you have any information?
A: Ninety seven year old Braxton Schuffert - an original member of Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys - died recently.
Q: I had heard that Glen Campbell was still touring - then heard later that he is no longer touring. Do you have any information?
A: Due to the progression of Alzheimer's disease - Glen Campbell has officially retired from touring.
Q: Do you know how many hits George Jones had?
A: From 1955 thru 2005 - George Jones placed 167 songs on the Billboard Country Music Charts.
Q: I have a copy of the Carl Smith record "Don't Worry Bout' the Mule - Just Load The Wagon." My brother in law says that song was played on the radio by another singer before Smith's record. Is that true?
A: Glenn Barber scored a number 41 hit on the song in 1968 - before Carl Smith's version peaked at number 44 in 1971.
Q: My wife has a tape of a song about "The Rain Never Falls In Denver." I''m pretty sure the singer is Johnny Paycheck. But I can't locate any information about the song. Do you know?
A: The song was a track in Paycheck's 1972 "Someone To Give My Love To." album.
^^^^^^^^^
Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
^^^^^^^^^^
NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:
|
| |
| 1945 1953 1961 1969 1977 1985
| |
^^^^^^^^^
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
^^^^^^^^^^
EDDIE SIMMONS.
By: Jack Blanchard
When I first got to Miami I answered some help-wanted ads for piano players.
One was at The Sportsman's Lodge, a restaurant and lounge
that sat right in the driveway of The Hollywood Dog Track.
I auditioned for a man in his fifties named Eddie Simmons.
I thought he was the owner, because he had an air of authority.
He was small, wiry, and bald, except for a fringe of dark hair.
His long nose pointed straight out like Pinocchio or Cyrano,
but his Sean Connery eyes nailed you to the wall.
There was also a little of the sad clown about him.
It turned out that Eddie was the singer and drummer
who would work as a duo with me.
He had one of the greatest voices I've ever heard...
the depth of Barry White, with Al Jolson's power.
He didn't need a mike.
When Eddy sang, he was an actor, drawing the crowd right in.
Everything Eddie Simmons did he did with a flair.
He'd come out from behind the drums, during a song
and sing personally to women in the crowd.
It would have been corny if I had done it, but Eddie had the touch.
One week the chef was out sick and Eddie cooked for the whole place,
making it look easy.
I saw him take a head of lettuce, slam it down on the counter,
and then drop into a pot of cold water.
The core fell right out and the lettuce opened like a flower.
He'd switch from the chef's apron and hat to a waiter's jacket,
and glide out from the kitchen with heavy laden trays of food held high,
and serve it with a flourish, a smile, and a bow...
like a magician.
Eddie had problems, but he didn't let the public know it.
One was alcohol and the other: women.
He married a nice lady named Betty
who got pregnant and stayed that way for about ten months.
The last few months she looked like the Queen Mary.
A doctor finally told her it was a false pregnancy", and she immediately deflated.
It was all in her mind.
She left Eddie for a Norwegian sea captain
who docked his last ship at Port Everglades and retired.
Eddie did what alcoholics do, but his singing was still genius,
especially the blues.
The last I saw of Eddie he was going with a lady alcoholic.
It was sad to see them drinking their lives away.
Eddie Simmons was a star the world lost before he was found.
I wish you could have heard him sing "When It's Sleepy Time Down South".
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
1894 - Sam McGee 1894~1975, of the Grand Ole Opry's "The McGee Brothers" was born in Williamson County, Tennessee.
1910 - Ott Devine 1910~1994, WSM executive, Grand Ole Opry manager, was born in Gadsden, Alabama.
1926 - Dr. Humphrey Bate, a Nashville M.D. and leader of the Possum Hunters appeared on the WSM Barn Dance this evening. Dr. Bate was known as "The Dean Of the Opry," after the Barn Dance was renamed the Grand Ole Opry in late 1927. Dr. Bate played the harmonica, and was a practicing physician in Music City. Also appearing on this evenings program were the Carthage Fiddlers.
1929 - Sonny James singer, songwriter, and guitarist was born James Loden in Hackleburg, Alabama. Sonny joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965, and was inducted into the CMHF in 2006.
1931 - Jimmy Gately was born in Springfield, Missouri.
1938 - Vernon Dalhart the first country artist to sell a million copies of a record, ("The Prisoner's Song") on the Victor label in 1924, recorded his last recording session today.
1944 - Rita Coolidge singer, songwriter, pianist, and actress was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Rita and Kris Kristofferson were married from 1973~1980.
1954 - Andy Griffin the pride of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, debuted on the Grand Ole Opry.
1954 - Don King singer, songwriter was born in Fremont, Nebraska.
1960 - Johnny Horton appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
1965 - Wayne "The Train" Hancock, was born in Dallas, Texas.
1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu were married in Las Vegas, Nevada. Priscilla filed for divorce on August 11, 1972, and the divorce became final on October 11, 1973.
1967 - Tim McGraw was born in Delhi, Louisiana. He grew up as "Tim Smith," not knowing who his father was until he was twelve years old.
1973 - Tammy Cochran was born in Geneva, Ohio.
1973 - Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Max D. Barnes moved to Nashville.
1976 - Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter's RCA duet single "Suspicious Minds" charted today for the second time in their career. The song was first released by RCA in 1970, and it topped out at # 25. Six years later the duo had become a little more famous, and the 1976 release topped out at #2 on the Billboard charts.
1979 - Wynonna and Naomi Judd moved to Nashville. Their first residence was at the Music City Motor Inn.
1980 - Loretta Lynn was named "Artist of the Decade," by the Academy of Country Music. Larry Gatlin won three awards; Male Vocalist, Top Album "Straight Ahead," and Top Single "All The Gold In California."
1982 - Randy Parton's RCA single "Oh, No" hit the country charts today. The song was written by Lionel Richie. Randy is the brother of Dolly, and Stella Parton. He charted five songs for RCA between 1981-1983.
1993 - Charley Pride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1993 - Tracy Lawrence's Atlantic single "Alibis" went to # 1.
1999 - Charlie and Emily Robison were married.
2001 - Nashville police arrested Terri Clark for DUI. Clark was released after posting a $2,000 bond.
2003 - Record producer, Tony Brown, was flown from UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, to Nashville's Centennial Medical Center. Tony was recovering from a head injury received in a fall on April 11th in Los Angeles.
2004 - Joe Diffie, age 45, and wife Theresa welcomed daughter Kylie Tarissa Diffie into the world.
2004 - Brad Cotter, age 33, was selected as the winner of the USA Network's Nashville Star, Season 2, contest. Prior to the contest, Brad was a demo singer in Nashville…sound familiar? Last year's winner Buddy Jewel, also came from the ranks of Nashville Demo Singers.
2008 - Charlie Pride celebrated his 15th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
2008 - Jim Hager 1946 - 2008, one half of the Hager Twins, was found dead in a Nashville coffeehouse parking lot. He was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from natural causes. Jim and his twin brother Jon joined the cast of Hee Haw in 1969, and remained with the show until 1988.
Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html
^^^^^^^^^^
If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, send a blank email to countrymusicclassics-off@milepost1.com
^^^^^^^^^^
No comments:
Post a Comment