Posted by Pete Smith on October 4, 2008, 11:23 am
217.42.199.115
The Advertiser (UK)
19 September 2008
I suspect not many of you will be familiar with the name Stan Jones but I know for certain that at least a part of Stan’s wonderful body of cowboy songs will be very well known throughout the world. For instance, who has not heard the classic "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky", a song recorded not just by country but by pop, jazz and classical artists. Stan, a former Forest Ranger with an interest in music, was born in Arizona in 1915. In 1948 he was appointed Technical Director by Columbia Pictures and whilst on the set of “The Walking Hills” (Randolph Scott) pulled out his guitar and sang a few of his songs. Scott and others suggested his work would be ideal for western movies and that he should try Hollywood. Jones took that advice but was disappointed to find his “Ghost Riders In The Sky” turned down by more than one publisher. The song was brought to the attention of Burl Ives who recorded it. Later Vaughn Monroe, Gene Autry, Bing Crosby and many more recorded it and Jones was suddenly in-demand From 1950 Jones wrote music for “Rio Grande”, “The Searchers (John Wayne), the television series “Cheyenne” (Clint Walker) amongst other movie and television productions. Stan died in 1963. One guy who certainly has heard of Stan Jones is Keeter Stuart because Jones is his uncle and Stuart was weaned on Stan’s music. Keeter was born in California and spent most of his early life moving around the states, Mexico and Tahiti. Wherever he laid his hat Keeter picked up musical influences. By the time Keeter moved to and settled in Oregon he had begun to build a reputation as a singer/songwriter and has opened shows for Emmylou Harris, Chris Hillman, Doc Watson and many more. Stuart decided that it was a good idea to include some of his uncle’s songs in his repertoire and this proved to be a winning idea. He co-founded the locally popular Trigger’s Revenge band whose concert highlight was; you guessed it, “Riders In The Sky”. Stuart returned, briefly, to California in 1986 to record and album of his original songs but decided to include a couple of Stan Jones’ too. An idea was obviously germinating, one that would blossom some two decades later into “Ghost Riders, Searchers And Cowpokes – The Timeless Songs Of Stan Jones” (Comstock). Together with a band of superb musicians (including a wonderful singer named Susan Scholz Hammel) Keeter was lovingly revived twelve of Jones’ best songs. Obviously “Ghost Riders”, “Cowpoke” (included both as a band and solo number) and “The Searchers” are in there alongside other great songs like “Hannah Lee”, “Wedding Day”, “The Lilies Grow High”, “El Diablo”, “Buffalo”, “The Hunter’s Return”, “Wringle Wrangle” and “Burro Lullaby” featuring, on tenor guitar and vocals, Stan Jones!
www.keeterstuart.com
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
26 September 2008
Sad to report that Charlie Walker passed away on 12 September. Now, the name Charlie Walker may not mean too much to many readers but to those diehards of a certain age Mr. Walker is both respected and revered. But if you do not know the name I guarantee you will know the hits; “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down”, “My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You”, “Lil’ Ole Winedrinker Me”, “Close Up The Honky Tonks” are just a few. It all began on 11 November 1926 in Copeville, Texas where Charlie was born on a cotton farm. His father instilled in him a love of country music, which led the young Walker into performing, with the western swing band The Country Rambler, before he left high school. A year later though, Charlie now a member of the Armed Forces, found himself serving in Japan. During his service Charlie became a DJ on the American Radio Forces Network, a career he pursued with distinction upon discharge and for many years in tandem with his performing career. Charlie cut his first sides in 1951 for Decca but it was not until the mid-fifties when he signed with Columbia, then later with Epic, that the hits began to flow. For forty years, almost up until his death, Charlie was a member of and regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry entertaining audiences with the above mentioned hits and others including “Truck Driving Man”, “Honky Tonk Women”, “Who’ll Buy The Wine”, “Wild As A Wildcat” and “Don’t Squeeze My Sharmon”. That Charlie was a universal star is indisputable. His 1970 appearance at the Wembley Festival in London will stand testimony to that. He died, aged 81, from colon cancer and is survived by his beautiful wife Connie, ten children, eighteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild to whom we send our deepest sympathy. If there really is a “Honky Tonk Heaven” Charlie will be up there rubbing shoulders with Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce and maybe even boring them a little with his golfing stories (Charlie was a mean golfer in his time!)
Today (26 September) is the eighty-third anniversary of the birth of another legend, Marty Robbins. Marty, for several years suffered a heart condition which he bravely fought with the help of medical science but finally succumbed in 1982. Today is also the sixty-seventh birthday of David Frizzell, brother of Lefty (watch out for an upcoming review of his new album. It is superb!). Happy sixty-first birthday today for the “Rose Garden” lady Lynn Anderson, a sixtieth birthday wish to Olivia Newton-John and fifty-three today is Carlene Carter.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
3 October 2008
If I were pressed I would have to admit that Lefty Frizzell was my all-time favourite country singer. But Lefty is not the only Frizzell to record country, David and Allen, his brothers have, and still do, cut quality records. David joined Lefty’s band when only twelve years of age and later went on to record solo hits and duo hits with Shelley West. These days David is still recording, not only himself, but also other hit makers of yesteryear too. Frizzell and Friends “This Is Our Time” (Nashville America/BSW) is a superb album featuring brother Allen and fourteen friends. Twelve of these friends join together for the title cut with each artist throwing in one line of one of their hits to create a really exciting atmosphere. David Frizzell has a couple solos (“Dream Of Angels” and “No Regrets”) with former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune also soloing on the beautiful “How Long’s Love Gonna Put Up With That” but mostly it is duets with such greats as Merle Haggard (“If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time” – reminding us of the great Lefty), Bobby Bare (“Cowboy Hat”), Gene Watson (“Long Black Veil”- another reminder of Lefty), Joe Stampley (“Music”), Johnny Lee (“You Can’t Love Her”), T. Graham Brown (“Got to Get To Louisiana”), John Cowan (“Reckless Wind”), Allen Frizzell (“Three Minutes”) and Johnny Rodriguez (“Warm Spanish Wine”). But it is not all guys. The ladies are well represented with Crystal Gayle (“Wedding Dress For Sale”), Amy Clawson (“Why Wasn’t It Me”), Helen Cornelius (“Could It Be We Fell In Love Tonight”), Jeannie Seely (“Nobody’s Darling But Mine”) and Lacy J. Dalton (“Something ‘Bout You”). A remarkable line-up of talent that is well served by some of Nashville’s finest musicians and Merle Haggard’s band, The Strangers. Accompanying the CD is a DVD showing how the album was put together with interesting footage of the stars, as you have probably never seen them before. And speaking of film, David is currently involved in making a movie of the life of Lefty Frizzell. The producer will be Patrick Markey who worked on “A River Runs Through”, “The Horse Whisperer”, “The Associate” and others. The screenwriter is Elwood Reid.
The pride of Hull, Glenn Williams and The Ullbillies, have released a new album of old songs and tunes. “Live At The Square, Hull” (Lazyswede) has the band showing a real feeling for old-time country with ten tracks that include such favourites as “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”,
“Turkey In The Straw”, “Freight Train” and “Trail Of The Lonesome Pine”. Glenn provides the lead vocals and guitar with Paul Hewson (bass and vocals), Mick Morton (guitar), John Smith (fiddle, mandolin, bones and vocals) and Alan Row (accordion, flute, tin whistle, washboard and vocals). The guys stay true to the thirties and achieve a great sound. www.lazyswede.co.uk
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
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