Posted by Pete Smith on September 12, 2008, 8:14 pm
217.42.199.115
The Advertiser (UK)
5 September 2008
Singer/songwriter Ray Sanders is one of those veteran performers who have never received the attention, or respect, his career deserves. Ray, a native Kentuckian, began as a DJ in 1950 and also appeared on the Lincoln Jamboree and Renfro Valley Barn Dance during that decade. After graduating college in 1957 he made his first recordings unfortunately not a commercial success. However, Ray joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 and this helped him gain a contract with Liberty the following year. His debut for the label, “A World So Full Of Love”, made the top 20 and the following year “Lonelyville” achieved similar success. But success was hard to find and it was not until 1969 that Ray found the charts again, this time with “Beer Drinkin’ Music”. The 1970s started well with the chart hit “All I Ever Need Is You” but again hits were difficult to find and Sanders settled in at the White Sands in California as resident artist. Ray, who now lives in Hawaii, where he is still very popular, has always been a busy performer, a regular on the Hee Haw show, the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and the Hank Thompson show emphasis this guy’s popularity. He recorded for Liberty, United Artists, Republic and currently for Hillside Records who have released Ray’s current album “Ray Sanders Sings Texas Dance Hall Style”, a superb blend of wonderful vintage honky tonk and beautiful mainstream country. Some of the tracks are from the archives, previously unreleased material recorded in Nashville whilst others are recent recordings cut in Fort Worth, Texas. The Nashville musicians are superb and include the legends Lloyd Green (steel), Buddy Spicher (fiddle), Hargus Robbins (piano), Bob Moore (bass) and guitarists Steve Chapman, Ray Edenton, Billy Sanford and Jimmy Capps. Also lending magnificent support are fiddler Dale Morris Jr and steelies Jay Dee Maness and Jim Loessberg. The songs featured include Jerry Chestnut’s classic honky tonk “Another Time, Another Place”, Nat Stuckey’s “Don’t You Believe Her” and Red Stegall’s “Beer Drinkin’ Music”. Newer songs include “Shuffle Me Back To Texas” (destined to be a big dance floor favourite), “Rock And A Hard Place” and “Single Mom”, all written by Ray and Dewey Hollyhand. There is also an excellent version of “My Special Angel”, a UK hit for both Bobby Helms (number 22) and Malcolm Vaughan (number 3) in 1957. Great country music from a truly great artist. www.hillsiderecords.net
Did you know that Ray Sanders sang the high tenor part on Ray Price’s mega hit “Heartaches By The Number?
One hundred and eleven years ago on Monday (8 September) Jimmie Rodgers was born near Meridian, Mississippi. Though his recording career lasted for barely six years, until his death in 1933, he did leave behind around 100 songs that influence country music so much that Rodgers was named “The Father Of Country Music”. He was the first person to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1961).
12 September 2008
Singer, songwriter, ace guitarist, actor and all round good ole boy Jerry Reed died on 1 September in Nashville from complications caused by emphysema. Jerry passed away shortly after completing his new album “The Gallant Ones”, a charity project to raise money for wounded veterans. Jerry was rated by Chet Atkins as the best guitarist and so he was but he was also among the best songwriters, penning songs like “Guitar Man” and “U.S. Male” (both Elvis Presley), “A Thing Called Love” (Johnny Cash), “Crazy Legs” (Gene Vincent) and for himself such raucous pieces as “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”, “Lord Mr. Ford”, “Eastbound And Down” and “Amos Moses”. With help from his good friend Burt Reynolds Jerry became a movie star in the “Smokey And The Bandit” movies and by the third in the series Reed had replaced Reynolds as the top billing. During his career, which began in earnest in 1967, up to his death at the age of 71 Jerry recorded around 40 albums, some in collaboration with Chet Atkins and many became best sellers. Jerry Reed Hubbard was born on 20 March 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents divorced just after he was born, causing him to spend seven years in foster care. He was later reunited with his mother after she remarried in 1944. As with so many other country boys Jerry began picking the guitar as a child and by his sixteenth birthday had signed with Capitol Records who were greatly impressed by his “express train” fingerpicking. As a recording artist he had little success but his songs were being picked up by the likes of Brenda Lee and Gene Vincent. In 1961 Reed relocated to Nashville where he became an in-demand guitarist for touring and recording sessions. The Country Music Association named Jerry “Musician of the Year” for 1970 and 1971. For a few years music was put on the back burner whilst Jerry concentrated on his acting career though he was back in the charts during the early eighties with hits like “She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)” and “The Bird”. Though the hits dried up after 1983 Jerry still continued to record albums and act (his last movie was “The Waterboy” in 1998) though his songs and tunes continued to be used on movie and television soundtracks. Jerry leaves his wife of 49 years, Priscilla, two daughters and two grandchildren to whom we offer our deepest sympathy. God bless you Hoss!
I recently received a very welcome e-mail from a name from the past. Mick Conlin developed a large fan based through his regular gigs at The Travellers. Mick and his band played the Masborough gig almost every Sunday for about 20 years. In 1990, much to the dismay of many, including myself, Mick left to live in France, then Switzerland, then Tenerife but now he is back and you can re-live those heady “Travellers” nights every Friday at The Three Horseshoes in Wickersley commencing 26 September.
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