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
Wednesday November 7th, 2007
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com
N O T E: Thru the end of the year (and perhaps longer) I am cutting the newsletter to once a week. Age and mileage are catching up with me and a lot of my get up and go has just got up and went....so it’s either cut it down or cut it out and I don’t want to give it up. It probably won’t go out the same day each week...I will just send it out whenever I complete one...but will write at least one each week.
DD
STORY BEHIND THE SONG
A lot of hit songs were written especially for the artist and according to Glenn Sutton, Lynn Anderson’s 1971 hit, “You’re My Man” was one of those tunes!
Glenn commented, ”That was just a song I wrote for Lynn Anderson. She used to say that I wrote all those “man songs” about myself and I got her to sing them. But I just wrote that song for her. And it turned out to be a hit.”
Lynn’s Columbia Records single, “You’re My Man” entered the country chats May 8th, 1971 and made it to the top of the charts, where it stayed for two weeks.
It was her 21st charted song and was on the charts for 15 weeks.
READ MORE “STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS” ON A WEBSITE AT WWW.COUNTRYMUSICCLASSICS.COM
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HANK THOMPSON PASSED AWAY
"He was battling aggressive lung cancer," Thompson spokesman and Heart of
last couple of hours and passed away peacefully at about 10:45 PM on Tuesday
night surrounded by his friends and family."
Thompson was born on September 2, 1925, in
idolizing musicians like Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, the Carter Family and
shows as a teenager. His first radio program was on
featured as "Hank The Hired Hand."
"I had a local morning program on
'Legendary Conversations'. "It was for a grocery store and flour company
there in town. It was just me and my guitar. I would pick and sing and
then go back on Saturday afternoons and sing for the folks down at the
store. I got in the professional part of the business at a very early age."
After graduating from high school, Thompson joined the Navy as an electrical
engineer which he would continue to study at
In 1946, he formed his first band The
"I did not use the band on my radio broadcast," Thompson said. "We would go
out and work some of the schoolhouses together. After I left
to
heavy emphasis on Western Swing and what we kidn of call the Honkytonk
Swing." People liked that kind of music because they could dance to it."
In 1946, he recorded his first single, "Whoa Sailor" for Globe Records. He
then recorded for Bluebonnet before catching the attention of
Ritter helped Hank to obtain a recording contract with Capitol Records in
1947. He would remain on their roster for over eighteen years.
Thompson's first major hit for Capitol was the nursery rhyme influenced
"Humpty Dumpty Heart" in 1949 followed by his signature song "The Wild Side
of Life." That song inspired an answer song in the form of "It Wasn't God
Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" recorded by Kitty Wells. It became the first
number one song by a female in Country Music.
"I had no idea that the 'Wild Side of Life' would become a hit record"
Thompson said. "I really wasn't that excited about the song. It actually
came out as the B side of the record. We recorded it because it had been
popular by Jimmie Heap and the Melodymasters in
side made a little splash, the disc jockeys turned it over and it became a
smash hit."
Thompson was the first country entertainer to travel with his own light and
sound system, the first to have a corporate sponsor, the first to record in
high fidelity stereo and the first to broadcast his television show in
color.
In 1961, Thompson recorded the historic album "Live At The Golden Nugget"
which would become the first live album every recorded.
Thompson would also help several fellow musicians begin their career in
Country Music including Jean Shepard, Wanda Jackson, Billy Walker, Merle
Travis and Little Joe Carson.
Thompson recording career would continue to flourish with staple songs
including "Blackboard of My Heart" "Green Light" "On Tap In The Can or In
The Bottle" "King of Western Swing" and "A Six Pack To Go."
He recorded twenty one songs that reached the Top Twenty on the charts and
sold over sixty million records during his career. Thompson became the
first Country entertainer to record in seven different decades.
After leaving Capitol in 1965, Thompson would go on to record projects for
Warner Brothers, ABC Dot, MCA, Curb, Hightone and his last project "My
Personal Favorites" on his own independent label.
The last performance that Thompson made was in
It was declared Hank Thompson Day in the state of
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
"I guess that is the single most important thing that has ever happened in
my career," Thompson said. "I don't think there is anything that actually
epitomizes an industry any more that to be put into a very select group of
your peers like the Hall of Fame."
"Mr. Thompson requested that he not have a traditional funeral service,"
Pitcox said. "He wanted a 'Celebration of Life' ceremony. We are currently
in the planning stages of that event and it will be open to Mr. Thompson's
many fans and friends in the Ft. Worth area."
In lieu of flowers, Ann Thompson has asked that memorials be made in
Thompson's name to the Heart of
Bridge Street
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: Do you know anything about The Statler Brothers performing in
ANSWER: Former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune performed "More Than a Name on a Wall" and read some of the names on the wall aloud, as part of a four-day special ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial in
QUESTION: Do you have any info on Vince Gill doing something with an Elvis Presley something?
ANSWER: Vince Gill and wife Amy Grant will help celebrate the music of Elvis Presley at the Ryman Auditorium in
QUESTION: The TV entertainment news had an item about Johnny Cash’s daughter having brain surgery. Do you have any details?
ANSWER: Rosanne Cash will undergo brain surgery in
QUESTION: My mom says she heard that Barbara Mandrell had something to do with a “walk of fame?” What is that about?
ANSWER: Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill and Barbara Mandrell were recently inducted into the
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QUESTION: Our radio station played a song called “Party Pickin’” and the guy said the singer was George Jones. There was a girl singing with him. Do you know her name?
ANSWER: “Party Pickin’” was a # 24 hit for George Jones and Melba Montgomery in 1967
QUESTION: This question may not qualify for the newsletter but considering your involvement in country music, I am curious as to who your favorite singer is?
ANSWER: That would be a tie between Vern Gosdin and Don Williams!
QUESTION: Do you remember a song from back in the 50’s about “Your Good For Nothing Heart?”
ANSWER: “Your Good For Nothing Heart” was the flipside of Webb’s 1955 # one, “I Don’t Care.”
QUESTION: I heard that Willie Nelson received some kind of achievement award. Do you have any information on that?
ANSWER: Willie Nelson recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriter from the
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FROM TANDY RICE:
Dear Friends
I STAND CORRECTED: I gave Shelby Singleton about 10 too many years in last week's column. He's 74, not 84. He's as robust as California Governor Arnold S, and is an absolute icon in the music industry. My Goof.
ABOUT PORTER WAGONER: Consider these points that are totally mine:
1. When Porter died, it was more than a "tree falling in the forest". It was like a a giant redwood or cedat tree crashing to earth, never to be replaced again.
2. His entertainment "walk" was almost totally unique. No country artist LIVED the life he did the way he did. He was Country "to the bone", and was totally satisfied with that. He lived it, breathed it, and WAS it. He had a rhinestone body and spirit.
3. An absolute traditionalist, he was not afraid to think outside the box creatively: Think James Brown, the Marty Stuart/New York City/
4. He was perhaps the greatest salesman I've ever known. And he made people feel invincible., much like
5. He loved his family, friends and country and was totally loyal to them. He would never betray a trust or a buddy. It wasn't in him to do so.
I called him "Sporta". He called me "TR". I will forever treasure his memory and the times we spent together. There will never be another one like him.
HAVE A RICE DAY
Tandy Rice
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Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter---are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com
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REMEMBER WHEN:
by: Pete Stamper
On November the 8th, I am scheduled to take a group of young visitors to the Valley on a “history tour”. I will be walking the group over the Valley and giving them facts of interest that have taken place here and there over the years.
My information comes from several sources. The Bugle news paper, The Gathering radio program, John Lairs written history of the Valley, but more and more I find I am relying on my own recollection of events that have happened since I have been a part of the operation.
Now most of the main stream history is written down on paper or recorded on records and tape, but a lot of the little side stories that make history interesting, are being lost with the passing of the central characters such as Old Joe Clark, Emory Martin, The Coon Creek Girls and of course John Lair himself, who appreciated and passed down more of the “color” of the Valley than any one else.
It was at reunion time just a while back that I was reminded of the liveliest show the Barn Dance has ever produced. It all took place in 1973 or 74 according to steel guitarist Bob England.
It was a Saturday night like any other at 7;30 when the show got under way before a packed house. Bob was at his steel guitar for the first few minutes of the show. Then he got a break and took a seat on one of the bales of hay that served as seating on the stage of the old barn at the time.
In just a few short moments, Bob felt a burning and itching on the end of his backbone that he was setting on. To tell it like it was, his but was on fire or felt like it was.
Now this was happening to a half dozen or more of the other entertainers, but no one would mention it to the other. How do you rub or scratch in a place like that in from of hundreds of people without bringing attention to your self.
Well, if you were there that night you would know that you do such things as clog. Squirm, prance, set down, standup, any thing that kept you moving.
Every body thought their affliction was personal until after the show when one poor soul couldn’t stand it any longer and mentioned that they were, itchin’ in their britchen’. That’s when the truth came out or at least part of it. It was discovered that anyone that had sat any time at all on the bales of hay, was experiencing this same discomfort. It was learned later that the hay had been sprayed with some kind of fire retardant, which gave every one the “ants in their pants”.
The hay bales are gone from the stage now and the hay loft has lost it’s “hang over” that once gave it the look of a real barn. It was considered a fire hazard and had nothing to do with the night just mentioned. When you come to
www.wrvk1460.com/petestamper.htm
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Here's the link to the new
FARON YOUNG, FIFTY YEARS AGO: One of Faron's movies was released and another filmed in November 1957. "Raiders Of Old
"The worst part of it was when I finally get him to the local jail. I had to get Marty off the horse and put him on my back. It was in
BOOK RELEASE PARTY IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE Saturday, 10 November 1:00-3:00 -- I will be signing books at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on
7:30-10:00 -- The Faron Young tribute show at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Music Valley will include all Country Deputies and friends of Faron who want to perform. Robyn Young and his band, NEXTAKYN, will open the show. The entire evening is free and open to the public.
12:00 -- The Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree (http://etrecordshop.com/mj.htm), broadcast live over WSM Radio 650 AM (on the Internet at http://www.wsmonline.com/), will be a Country Deputy reunion with:
Host - Darrell McCall
Bass - Ray Emmett
Guitar - Richard Bass
Drums - Jerry "Cootie" Hunley
Steel - Stu Basore
Piano - Gene Dunlap
Twin fiddles - Kenny Sears and Hank Singer I will "call the roll" of the 40-year list of Faron's Deputies. This is a great opportunity for fans to get autographs of all the Deputies. I'll sign books before and after the Jamboree.
LETTERS
Richard Spooner writes from the UK, "Would love to be at the party. I stay in touch with Ray Emmett from the Deputies. I would really love the chance to sing just one song with those guys, they were the business and the best band of all time. . . . Have a great party. My copy of the book is on order here in the
John Morris in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, says, "We finished your great book this week and I can't wait to read it again. The last chapter was hard to read and some tears were shed I can tell you. I ordered 2 copies of the book for Christmas through Chapters here in
Marie Kugler in Nebraska received her personalized bookplate and she says, "Thanks a million for the autograph, Diane. I will treasure the book even more now with this addition."
Tom Lipscombe writes from Canada, "Thanks for your latest newsletter, which has been posted on the
Congratulations on going into your third year! . . . Thanks for sharing your brother's message from
Bill Yarbor in Haubstadt, Indiana, received the book as a gift, and he says, "I finished reading it last night and found it almost impossible to put down once I started. I always thought Faron was a really good singer and saw him in concert back in the early 1970's around the time of FOUR IN THE MORNING.
I was also a fan of his recordings on Capitol and consider I MISS YOU ALREADY as an underappreciated masterpiece. . . . I found myself smiling to myself as I read some of the things he said and then finding myself frustrated at some of his behavior. But I guess on that latter point there was a pretty long list of folks who found themselves frustrated with him. I think you did an outstanding job of presenting him as a flawed man but one with a very kind heart. He was truly a walking contradiction. . . . While Faron obviously had an ego and who in show business doesn't, it seems that he truly cared about and for many people. . . . It is a great book. I learned so much from it and enjoyed every page and look forward to your Marty Robbins biography. He was a great singer and one I really enjoyed."
MARTY ROBBINS INTERVIEW SEARCH
Can anyone put me in touch with Chuck Morgan, Vice President of In-Park Entertainment for the
Joe Carver (former manager of Nashville speedway) Thomas "Curly" Mills (airline captain and race car driver) Eddy Fox (drummer in late 60s)) Jeff Chandler (rhythm and harmony in 70s) Conrad Noddin (piano in 70s) Bill Martinez (drums in 70s and 80s) Larry Hunt (bass in 70s and 80s) Jim Hannaford (keyboard in late 70s) Gary Adams (rhythm in 1982) Mike Cutright (harmony in 1982) Skip Slayton (Marty's bus driver) Shipmates of Martin David Robinson in the South Pacific 1943-45 (USS Crescent City, Boat Pools 11 & 15, etc.)
CMA AWARDS AND MARY KAY INC.
Mary Kay Inc. is one of the sponsors of this year's Country Music Association awards show. If you see anything in the commercials you'd like to purchase or learn about, please contact me directly or through www.marykay.com/ddiekman. I have the products and will ship them at no cost anywhere in the
Diane Diekman
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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