COUNTRY MUSIC CLASSICS
Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/
Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Tuesday June 5th, 2012
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
According to Merle Haggard, he wrote songs from inspiration, so when the producers of the TV series, "Movin' On" asked him to write a song for the series, it was a direct departure for him to write to someone else's work.
Haggard says he told the show's producers that he wasn't sure he could write such a song, which put him under even greater pressure as show officials had paid him half the money up front with the second half to come when he delivered the finished song.
Before starting to work on the tune, Merle watched the series pilot with Claude Akin. Afterwards, he decided to re-create what he had seen on the screen and try to pay tribute to Will and Sonny-the characters of the series.
When it was all said and done, Haggard's recording of "Movin' On" fared better than the NBC-TV series, which premiered September 12th, 1974 and was last seen September 14th, 1976.
Haggard's Capitol records single, "Movin On" entered the country music charts at # 78 on May 24th, 1975 and made it to the top of the charts the week of July 12th.
It was his 39th charted song and his 21st number one.
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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 have heard that Bill Anderson has a concert in Los Angeles, California sometime this month. Do you know when?
A: Bill Anderson and Bob DiPiero will perform at a CMA Songwriter's Series June 26th and 27th at Los Angeles House of Blues and Phoenix's Musical Instruments Museum.
Q: Do you know anything about a Johnny Cash Festival tasking place in Arkansas? It was mentioned on TV.
A: The 2012 Johnny Cash Musical Festival is set for October 5th at Arkansas State University. The festival will benefit the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home Project," which raises money to preserve and refurbish Cash's childhood home.
Q: The radio folks mentioned Emmylou Harris going to New York City for a hall of fame thing. Do you have any information?
A: Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett and Kenny Rogers are set for the 2012 Songwriter's Hall Of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner in New York City on June 14th.
Q: I heard on the radio that Lynn Anderson has appeared at every Fan Fair since it started. Is that the same thing as the CMA Festival?
A: It all started as "The Disc Jockey Convention" several years ago, then was renamed "Fan Fair," before be re-named "CMA Music Festival."
Q: The radio folks said that Dolly Parton has a gold record from Australia. What is the title?
A: Dolly's album "An Evening With Dolly Parton," which is a recording of a concert she performed in London, has been certified gold in the United States, Australia and the U.K. It's also the first album certified gold thru the Cracker Barrel music program.
Q: Do you have any details on a new Hank Williams Jr. album?
A: Hank's "Old School, New Rules" is set for release July 10th on his new label imprint, "Bocephus Records. The project features duets with both Brad Paisley and Merle Haggard.
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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:
1948
Texarkana Baby - Eddy Arnold
1956
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
1964My Heart Skips a Beat - Buck Owens
1972
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. - Donna Fargo
1980
My Heart - Ronnie Milsap
1988
What She Is (Is a Woman in Love) - Earl Thomas Conley
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THE LITTLE BROWN BOTTLE.
By: Jack Blanchard
Rulan Spinkter was losing interest.
His gaze wandered out the window
even during the goriest parts of the 6 o'clock News.
Beauty and nature were okay, but they didn't rouse him from his apathy.
TV violence wasn't as much fun as it used to be.
His wife said this to him:
"The Viagra must be growing mildew by now."
He didn't believe in happy endings,
and didn't worry about bad ones.
He was a lump of cells
taking up space that could be used for parking.
He read the obituaries,
looking through the death notices for people he didn't like.
He felt let down when they didn't accommodate.
Rulan wondered idly how long he might live...
not that it mattered.
He knew he was going nuts,
but it was too much trouble to think about it.
The top button on his pants was open
and he didn't shave much any more.
A television commercial came on
and told him to ask his doctor about some pill.
He wasn't sick,
but he didn't feel great.
Anyway, he already had some pills upstairs,
but he didn't know what they were for
or where they came from.
He got the pill bottle open,
cursing at the child-proof cap.
They were yellow and about the size of aspirin,
and seemed to glow a little.
He thought "What the hell."
and swallowed a handful.
An hour later he was jogging toward town,
looking for excitement...
an illegal grin on his face.
He bought a new convertible,
put his new baseball cap on sideways,
buttoned up his pants,
and roared down Main Street,
singing songs of questionable taste.
That's when he noticed the patrol car flashing behind him.
He stepped on the gas.
Thirty-seven police cars were pursuing him on the Interstate.
They were going ninety-three miles an hour,
when Rulan and his convertible vanished.
The head cop barked "Spread out." into his radio:
That's what police are trained to say
when perps disappear into thin air.
Rulan was never seen again
except on Dateline, and 60 Minutes,
where he was the Mystery of the Week.
His wife was going through his things for The Good Will,
when she found a little brown pill bottle.
The label was dirty and unreadable,
but the pills had a funny Day-Glo look.
The label was too dirty to read,
so she spit on a Kleenex
and rubbed it until the letters became clear.
These words were printed on the label:
"Do not ask your doctor.
Take a chance."
She tossed the bottle into the pocket of an old jacket,
and put all of Rulan's stuff into the Good Will box at the mall.
Later that night,
Quince Duckworthy, a homeless wino,
found some free pills in a pile of old clothes,
and became a successful motivational speaker.
The theme of his Duckworthy Self-Improvement Program was this:
"Take a chance."
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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If you're a musician in the Four States Area: Texas – Arkansas – Oklahoma – or Louisiana--- or – if you searching for musicians in these four states- – check out: http://texarkanamusician101.weebly.com/)
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
compiled by Bill Morrison
William Boyd a.k.a. Hopalong Cassidy, born Cambridge, OH 1895.
Albert Green Hopkins, of "The Hill Billies" born Gap Creek, NC 1889.
Ira Stripling, of the "Stripling Brothers" born Pickens County, AL 1898.
Harold John Breau, of Lone Pine & Betty Cody" born Pea Cove, ME 1916.
Al Gallico, publisher, born Brooklyn, NY 1919.
Jerry "Carrot Top" Dykes born 1927.
Yodelin' Tommy Floyd born 1935.
Pee Wee King debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1937.
The Grand Ole Opry moved for the fourth time in nine years, leaving the "War Memorial Auditorium" for the "Ryman Auditorium," in 1943. The Opry remained at the "Mother Church of Country Music," for the next thirty-one years.
Don Reid "Statler Brothers," born Staunton, VA 1945.
The Hayloft Hoedown debuted on ABC-TV 1948.
Gail Davies singer/songwriter, born "Patricia Gail Dickerson," Broken Bow, OK 1948.
Elvis Presley appeared on Milton Berle's TV Show Texaco Star Theatre 1956.
Carl Perkins' recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" topped the charts 1956.
Bob Dylan "Bob Zimmerman" graduated from High School in Hibbing, MN 1959.
Brenda Lee's single "I'm Sorry" charted 1960.
John Y. "Lonzo," Sullivan, age 48, of "Lonzo and Oscar," died 1967.
Marla Suzanne Cox, "Cox Family," born Springhill, LA 1967.
Max Terhune, WLS Barn Dance/Western movies, died Cottonwood, AZ 1973.
"Urban Cowboy," premiered in Houston, TX in 1980.
Marty Robbins released "One Man's Trash/I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow" 1980.
Alabama's #1 single "Take Me Down" debuted on Billboard's Top 40 1982.
Conway Twitty, age 59, died near Branson, Mo. in 1993. Inducted NSHF 1993. CMHF 1999.
Nashville's world famous "Bluebird Cafe" celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2001.
Gary Allan and Angela Forsythe were married 2001.
CMT presented the 32nd Annual Fan Fair, in downtown Nashville, June 5th through June 8th, 2003. Beginning in 2004 this event was renamed the CMA Music Festival.
Dwight Yoakam, honored with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
Tracy Lawrence's Homecoming Weekend Concert was held in his hometown of Foreman, AR 2004. Also appearing on the show were Rhett Atkins, David Kersh, Daryle Singletary and Chad Brock.
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:
Most of the stuff people worry about, ain't never gonna happen anyway.
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