The 9513 - Country Music Blog

Since my September 2008 article, Charlie McCoy, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark, Don Williams, Billy Sherrill, Ferlin Husky and Jimmy Dean have been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. As I noted, for decades the Country Music Hall of Fame was caught in the position where many deserving performers died before their turn for [...]

Continue reading "Revisited: Who the Country Music Hall of Fame Should Induct Next"

There’s a new bluegrass album titled Homecoming from Joe Diffie being released in the coming weeks with a song on it called “Route 5 Box 109.” It’s one of the true musical treasures of 2010. Without being too general and without dropping down to the lowest common redneck denominator, Diffie presents a beautiful and touching [...]

Continue reading "Friday Five: Street Addresses"

And now let’s get things started Why don’t you get things started It’s time to get things started On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational This is what we call the Muppet Show! Don’t deny it. You were singing along just now… Kermit taught us that it’s not easy being green. Or in Gonzo’s case, [...]

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Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy became the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday in a ceremony that included tributes from Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Josh Turner, Michael McDonald, Rodney Crowell and others. Reba McEntire is scheduled to sign autographs at CMA Fest for the [...]

Continue reading "Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark & Charlie McCoy Take Their Place In Hall of Fame"

This is meant neither to be a comprehensive list of great country songs from the 1970s, nor any sort of ranking of records; It’s just a list of some songs that I liked and remember. See if you recall any of these records “Cowboy Convention” – Buddy Alan A silly record with some great trumpet [...]

Continue reading "Great Country Songs from the 1970s, Pt. 1"

Even those of us who love Western Swing are forced to acknowledge that for that form, Bob Wills, much like Bob Marley for Reggae and Bill Monroe for Bluegrass, is the colossus against whom all other artists are compared. While others may occasionally break out of the shadow of the colossus, still the colossus remains. [...]

Continue reading "Forgotten Artists: Hank Penny (1918-1992)"

Today in Nashville the Country Music Hall of Fame announced its 105th, 106th and 107th inductees. The three individuals–one each from the Hall’s three categories–will be formally inducted this spring at the Hall’s Medallion Ceremony. Musician: Charlie McCoy Charlie McCoy is a noted musician who has performed and recorded with some of the most famous [...]

Continue reading "Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy Inducted Into The Country Music Hall of Fame"

Most people trace the dawn of recorded country music back to the famous Bristol sessions of 1927, from which Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family rose to prominence. While I am not sure that even Ernest Stoneman (May 25, 1893 – June 14, 1968) represents the dawn of recorded country music, he has a far [...]

Continue reading "Forgotten Artists: Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman and The Stoneman Family"

The comedy show “Hee Haw” featuring performances from country music stars is being resuscitated. The RFD-TV cable channel will begin airing reruns of the Roy Clark and Buck Owens co-hosted show on September 7th. Peter Cooper has a nice article on Don Helms: In performance, he would treat audiences to instrumental versions of songs by [...]

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Dierks Bentley joins “Mr. Push Up Bra Inventor” and “Mr. Tiny Thong Bikini Wearer” as one of the subjects immortalized in Anheuser Busch’s “Real Men of Genius” radio spots. In the ad, he’s saluted as “Mr. Sad Country Song Songwriter” (listen). “Getting a ‘real men of genius’ spot is pretty much the pinnacle for a [...]

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