Comments on: Forgotten Artists: Boxcar Willie (1931-1999)

By: lullabyonline.com » LADY "A" FOR EFFORT (Items on Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith, Kellie Picker, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, LeAnn Rimes, Boxcar Willie)

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:43:40 +0000

[...] at The 9513 is a dandy feature on “Forgotten Artists.” The latest is on Boxcar Willie. Check it out (and the archives, too) and then the music itself (’9513 will tell you where to find it). [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:01:06 +0000

I have three Boxcar Willie albums and they’ve rarely been far away from my record player – an absolute legend.

I think his lack of commercial success makes his music feel more personal, which I’ve always enjoyed.

I love that photo at the top too!

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:15:36 +0000

Slim Whitman’s star had long faded by the time his TV album was issued. From 1952 to 1954 Slim had eight top ten records,a #11 in 1955, then no charted records at all in 1956, 1957, 1958,1959 and 1960. Then another top ten record in 1961 followed by lower charting records until consecutive top tens in 1971. After that only two more records made the top forty. Slim’s last chart record was in 1981. He remained popular abroad throughout thios period, however.

I am a big Slim Whitman fan (I’m too embarrassed to let you know how many of his vinyl records I have) but from 1981 until his death in 1999, Boxcar Willie was far the bigger star in the United States, with thousands flocking to his Branson theater annually to see the “King of the Hobos” perform

By: Drew

Drew — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:51:38 +0000

And his “Move It On Over” album, which has some great covers. I must say, he probably does the best covers of “Kaw-Liga” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” that I’ve heard yet. I really recommend any fans of older country to chcek him out.

By: Drew

Drew — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:50:18 +0000

Great piece, just listened to his “20 Greatest Hits” and it’s some real good traditional country. Kind of a cross between Waylon and Willie vocally, if you ask me.

By: Nashville Avenger

Nashville Avenger — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:44:51 +0000

Slim Whitman was already a star long before his ad campaign. Nobody had ever heard of Boxcar Willie before he showed up in his own infomercials. He is “forgotten” now because the infomercials are off the air, and he isn’t around to promote himself. He was no more a “star” than the guy who sells kitchen tools that “slice & dice.”

By: Twang Nation Country Music Blog - Surveying Country Music in All Its Mongrel Forms - Americana Music, Roots Music, Alt.Country Music

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:44:25 +0000

[...] that was Lecil Travis “Boxcar Willie” Martin as part of their excellent and enlightening Forgotten Artists [...]

By: Paul W Dennis

Paul W Dennis — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:30:27 +0000

Lorrie Morgan was a bit of nepotism at work as her father had been a greatly loved Opry performer for many years. Even so she had four charting singles prior to being inducted in 1984 and had been performing on the Opry for years. She would eventually have 38 chart hits (not counting Christmas records)

Justin Tubb was inducted in 1955. He already had three top ten singles plus had written some big hits for othger artists, including his legendary father Ernest. Justin wasn’t that active as a performer until after his father died

By: Razor X

Razor X — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:44:24 +0000

Nice write up, Paul. I miss seeing Boxcar Willie on the Opry. But weren’t Lorrie Morgan and Justin Tubb inducted as Opry members without having a hit record first, subsequent to Boxcar?

By: J.R. Journey

J.R. Journey — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:27:15 +0000

What Leeann said. The first time I heard of him was on an episode of Roseanne, so I didn’t really know anything about Boxcar Willie until I read this.

Thanks.