Latest World News on Internet Business Money Market: Tuesday October 9th, 2007 C O U N T R Y M U S I C C L A S S I C S

C O U N T R Y M U S I C C L AS S I C S

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

Tuesday October 9th, 2007

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY BEHIND THE SONG

Very few song melodies to just keep hanging but the melody of the old tune, “I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blues,” was one that did.

According to Sara Carter, “That song was an old tune that I’d known all my life. I never knew where it really came from or how it got started. I remember hearing that old tune before I could even sing, when I was just a little girl.”

Gene Autry’s recording of “I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes” lists A. P. Carter as the writer and entered the country music charts January 1^st, 1944 and peaked at # 3.

His Okeh Records recording was his first charted song.

The melody to “I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blues Eyes” was also used for other hit tunes, including, “The Great Speckled Bird,” Wild Side Of Life,” and It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”

READ MORE “STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS” ON A WEBSITE AT WWW.COUNTRYMUSICCLASSICS.COM

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

QUESTION: I’ve heard on the radio about Reba McEntire making a speech somewhere. Do you have any information?

ANSWER: Reba McEntire received “Billboard” magazine’s Woman of the Year award last Friday and she delivered the keynote address at the New York Coty breakfast celebrating the magazine’s second annual “Women in Music” issue. The award was established to recognize extraordinary women in the music industry who have made significant contributions to the business and inspired generations of women within the field.

QUESTION: Do you know anything about Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton having an album about “Chains?”

ANSWER: Deana Carter’s new album, “The Chain,” includes guest appearances from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Simon, and Shooter Jennings.

QUESTION: I heard an item on TV entertainment news about the Country Music Association donating money for a school program. Do you have any details?

ANSWER: The Country Music Association donated 650-thousand-dollars to Nashville schools for their “Keep the Music Playing” program. The funds came from the CMA Music Festival. Every year the CMA donates half the net proceeds from the annual festival to charity on behalf of the artists, who perform for free. To date the CMA has donated more than one-million-dollars to build music labs and purchase instruments and supplies for public school students.

QUESTION: My sister tells me that Brenda Lee and Vince Gill performed at some event for some singer named Frances. Do have the full name and information?

ANSWER: Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow and Brenda Lee were among the celebrities l who gathered as Country Music Hall of Fame member Frances Preston was honored with the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award. Leadership Music is a Nashville-based organization dedicated to greater communication and education within the music industry, and the award recognizes Preston's contributions to the music industry throughout her career. Now retired, Preston served as president and CEO of BMI from 1986 until 2004 after joining the performance rights organization in 1958 and opening its regional office in Nashville, Tennessee.

QUESTION: Do you remember a Don Gibson song about “being far away?” My cousin talks about that song but I never heard it.

ANSWER: “Far Far Away” was a # 11 hit for Gibson in 1960

QUESTION: Do you know anything about Helen Cornelius’ childhood. Our neighbor says her family lived next door to a Cornelius family years ago in Washington state, and they had a little girl who played piano and sang.

ANSWER: Helen Cornelius was born Helen Johnson in Missouri.

QUESTION: My brother in law says that Buck Owens had a reco0rd about a “Great Horse” with Kitty Wells. Is that true?

ANSWER: “A Great White Horse” scored a # 8 hit in 1970 for Buck Owens and Susan Raye---not Kitty Wells.

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COUNTRY MUSIC’S TOP TUNES IN:

1949
Slipping Around - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely

1957
My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You - Ray Price

1965
Behind the Tear - Sonny James

1973
You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me - Ray Price

1981
Midnight Hauler - Razzy Bailey

1989
I Got Dreams - Steve Wariner

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FROM TANDY RICE:

Hello My Friends! What I would give to be able to share a covered dish dinner under a big shade tree with all of you. Wouldn't that be fun?

Something was said in casual conversation recently that made me think of Dottie West. The late Dottie West. I knew her well and found her to be most fascinating.. There was a style and flair about everything she did. I'll bet she wore ribbons and rhinestones to bed at night with a slinky, silk slip. I can't imagine her otherwise. She was a ravashing beauty to my eyes.

Dottie was one of the best singers ever. Listen to some of her stuff with Kenny Rogers. It would be competitive with the best in today's market.

She was a gentle soul as was her husband Bill and children. They were just simply kind, great people who were a joy to be around. Dottie would have given Dolly a run for her money when it came to dressing up. She was like a little child at Christmas time, especially. Her home was turned into a virtual wonderland and she was like a child during that holiday season.

Dottie was loyal to her hometown of McMinnville, Tenn and I hope they've taken steps to perpetuate her loving spirit. Ditto to the Grand Ole Opry and to the songwriting community, of which she was a stalwart member..

Dottie had a hard time "saying NO" and , in my opinion, that caused her great grief in her later years. Lots of problems visited her that could have been avoided. But she died a tragic death in a speeding car she had no business being in. A great talent and lovely spirit left us at that sad, sad time.

She was truly Miss Country Sunshine, and lived the part to the "T". I will always remember and treasure the time we spent together.

HAVE A RICE DAY!!

Tandy C Rice Jr

Nashville

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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

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From Pete Stamper:

Two most important events took place in Renfro Valley in 1956, one of the four years I was away trying my hand at other things. In that year, television came to the valley in a big way---big cameras, big production and big budget. It was “big time” for Renfro Valley.A new sponsor, Pillsbury Flour and their agency, reasoned that as the Valley programs had been such a hit on radio, why wouldn’t it work just as big on television. I’m also sure eyes had been on Springfield Mo. where Red Foley’s Ozark Jubilee, the first ever network TV Country Music show was in it’s second year on the air and drawing twenty million viewers a week.There was just one problem, well, just one big problem. There were no television facilities nearby. It was the same situation they had had to deal with sixteen years earlier with radio. But, by the way of a few telephone wires between Rockcastle County and WLW in Cincinnati Ohio, they were able to broadcast live direct from the Old Barn stage on that now historic November night in 1939. In 1956, this was not possible as far as television was concerned. The only option was to bring in a crew with all the equipment, film it, and take it back to the station for distribution to the network.

I am sure the viewing public loved all fifteen minutes of the fourteen shows made. I have seen copies of two of them, and I can tell you they were first class shows in every respect. I suppose the expense of a full crew and equipment out in the field in that day and time was just too much. I have been told that there were times when Mr. John Lair would go into his office, shut the door and rewrite the script leaving that costly crew just setting around twiddling their thumbs for hours. I wasn’t there, but I can tell you Mr. Lair’s first concern was to get it right or not do it at all.

As a matter of fact, he had had more than one invitation to go into the studios in Louisville and Cincinnati to do a Renfro Valley TV show, but chose not to because he couldn’t portray the Valley the way he thought it should be. The only set erected that wasn’t already here was the reproduction of a farm home living room patterned after the interior of the old Judge Lair house near Rose Hill, Ky. Other scenes were filmed in the pioneer room of the museum building, in the Old Barn, Country store and the Redbud schoolhouse.

A good many shots were taken out in the open. Mr. Reid Ray of Ray Motion Pictures Studio and Hollywood producer, S. Elkins, assisted Mr. Lair in preparing scripts for shooting. The results were something entirely different from any television show then showing.

Music, morals and memories was the theme of the show, much like the Renfro Valley Gatherin’ has always been. I believe the format would work today. It would have then, had the production costs not been so steep.

While Hollywood was making television, for Renfro Valley, another member of that entertainment community was helping Mr. Lair acquire his own little radio station. Tom Hargis, whom Mr. Lair had worked with at WLS Chicago, was a principal stockholder and was to be manager of the 500 watt AM WRVK (Welcome to Renfro Valley Kentucky).

It’s been reported that Western star Gene Autry put up the money for construction and other expenses that would have fallen to Mr. Hargus. Not only had Hargus and Mr. Lair worked with Gene in Chicago, Tom had been in the production of Gene’s Melody Ranch radio show in Hollywood. I do know that Gene was to be at the Grand Opening of the station in April 1957, but was only able to send a telegram of congratulations to his old friends. Mr. Lair didn’t need to borrow any money as he was furnishing the studio location and equipment left over at the remote facilities placed there by WHAS for the many daily broadcasts heard for many years from Renfro Valley.

I missed out on the short run of Renfro Valley television, but have been a part of WRVK radio for, thirty five of its fifty year history. We are now 1200 watts and “real” Country all day and half the night on the air and the internet. You can learn more about us at www.wrvk1460.com

Courtesy of The Renfro Valley Bugle...www.wrvk1460.com/petestamper.htm

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If you’re reading someone else’s copy of this newsletter OR it has been forwarded to you by a friend --- AND--- you’d like to receive your personal copy, get your complimentary subscription by emailing to Classics@countrymusicclassics.com with “SUBSCRIBE” in the subject box

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LETTERS FROM SUBSCRIBERS:

Doug
We love reading all the news from Jack and Misty, Bill, Tandy Rice and Pete Stamper. It's good to hear about so many country entertainers and everything connected with country. We have been fans of Renfro Valley, KY for many many years. We used to go to the all-night sings during the summer - even slept in our car one time when we forgot to try to get hotel reservations. We catch some of the country artists concerts now when they "come to town". If there are any country fans who have never seen Pete do his comedy routine there they have missed a treat. So many wonderful entertainers have graced the stages there in both barns, which are very comfortable, and the vittles in the restaurant are yummy.
By the way, Doug, do you know anything current about Shelley West and her daughter and two sons? Is she still in the music business? Thanks again for all you do for us - your fans.
-Pauline in Kentucky

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Doug:

Dolly Parton and Barbara Mandrell can both sing gospel music just as good as they sing country. Barbara's gospel album "He Set My Life To Music" was one of the best projects of her career! Barbara deserves to be in the Country Music Hall Of Fame alongside Dolly. The HOF electors need to get their act together and start honoring some of the forgotten women of country music. Personally I think the Hall Of Fame is a joke. I will not patronize it until more women are inducted.

Best wishes as you continue the awesome work you do on your newsletter Doug. May God bless you in all your endeavors.

CHIP YEOMANS

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Dear Doug

Referring to Tandy Rice's nomination of best Gospel singers, whilst I would never disagree with anyone who put Connie Smith at the top of any list, I must say that over the years I have been moved many times by by some wonderful Gospel singing by George Jones.

Best wishes

Tony Davey

Manchester, England

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"Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story" is available online and in most bookstores. In addition, the University of Illinois Press offers free personalized bookplates by following the "Get Your Personalized Bookplate"

link at http://www.press.uillinois.edu/f07/diekman.html. The bookplates get sent to me, and I sign and send them to you.

FARON YOUNG, FIFTY-TWO YEARS AGO: A Grand Ole Opry package came to the Dade County auditorium in Miami, Florida, on October 4, 1955. Minnie Pearl and Faron Young were two of the performers. Country music was popular in Miami at the time and a huge crowd pushed at one another to get tickets. Gordon Terry and the other Deputies sold pictures of Faron to the audience before the show. One fan remembers being invited to Faron's dressing room, which was filled with local deejays and musicians and songwriters. Everybody talked about the music business and asked Faron about being in the movies.

Faron, with a number one record and two movies completed, probably felt on top of the world that night.

LETTERS

Jean Earle writes from the UK, "I have now finished reading your book. I can

appreciate how much work and hours you must have put into your research.

Well done. It is a shame that you were restricted with the amount of words

that you were allowed to use as I wish you could have included more about

Faron's admirers, i.e his loyal Fans. He was loved and admired in many

countries as was shown by the membership of his International Fanclub. Faron

started the fanclub in 1981. Faron always supported the Country Music scene

in England by appearing at shows here and giving interviews on the radio.

One of our top Country groups, the Frank Jennings Syndicate, were very proud

when Faron agreed to be their honorary Fanclub President. Faron kept in

touch, with lovely hand written letters which I know Frank and the boys

really treasured. I think you have done a grand job with this book and I am

now looking forward to seeing how your book on Marty Robbins is

progressing."

Jessica Jacobson, fellow writers' critique group member and world traveler,

says, "I bought your book recently off Amazon and just received it! It looks

beautiful! . . . I wasn't able to check on the availability in Bolivia

because new books are pretty tough to find there. There isn't a big

selection of books in English, and a lot of books are just photocopied and

sold, rather than sold from the publisher. I think if someone there wanted

it, they'd probably be best off ordering it from Amazon or elsewhere

online." Read about Jessica's travels at http://jjstravels.blogspot.com/.

Jo Hamrick writes from West Virginia, "We just returned Sunday from

Nashville. . . . went to E.T's record store and.there was the book. I take

back what I first thought about the cover. sorry. it is nice. . . . I am

going to be there Nov.10. hopefully to get to visit with the guys. We did go

to Hall of Fame. Everyone was plugging a book on Marty Robbins.????quite a

large paperback. I want to get everything done here.so that I can be free

for my next trip to Nashville in Nov."

Sandy Cooper in Kansas says, "The great comments just keep rolling in,

Diane. These letters make me wish I'd known Faron!"

Diane Diekman

Washington DC, USA

altruria@verizon.net

Faron Young info: http://ddiekman.tripod.com/id8.html

Newsletter archive: http://ddiekman.tripod.com/blog

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/190250842

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THIS I BELIEVE:

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (John 3:`16)

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