Posted by Pete Smith on February 18, 2009, 1:02 pm
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“The Advertiser” (UK) 2 January 2009
56 years ago in the early hours of New Years Day Hank Williams passed away in the back of his powder blue Cadillac. It is widely believed that Hank had a premonition of his death because increasingly his songs took on dark aspect and just two days before his passing he told his wife “I think I see God comin’ down the road” But only his physical body died on that cold January morning, his music, memory and influence remain to this very day testimony to a poorly educated farm boy who became a musical genius. It was Hank who set the benchmark for country. Every new star that came after was judged against the sound Williams made and, indeed, the direction country music was taking was also judged against the standard established by Hank. More than one country star has performed the song “Are You Sure Hank Did It This Way?” as they bemoan the rock ‘n’ roll and pop influences country music took on. The answer they were looking was “no” but in fact it was a pretty emphatic “yes”, Hank did do it that way. Probably the most popular song Hank ever recorded is “Lovesick Blues”. His version became the archetypal country song. Instantly recognisable it could not be anything other than country music. Or could it? “Lovesick Blues” was in fact a pop song written by a redneck jazz musician and a dissident Russian Jew and was first recorded around 1925 by the Vaudeville star Elsie Clark. The next recording of this song appeared a few months later by the enigmatic Emmett Miller and the Georgia Crackers, a band that included jazz legends Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. Miller must have loved the song for he re-recorded it using just a simple guitar backing and introducing a yodel. (Miller was a Vaudeville artist who included a number of hillbilly songs in his repertoire, but, like other Vaudevillians, such as Frank Crumit, has sadly been forgotten). Fast forward around a decade and Rex Griffin recorded “Lovesick Blues” using Miller’s arrangement and yodel, then move on another ten years and we find Hank recording an almost identical version of the song to Griffin. So when we hear Hank sing “Lovesick Blues” we are actually hearing the ghost of Emmett Miller. Hank did sing pop songs. Hanks own “Rootie Tootie” has long been established as the first ever rock ‘n’ roll song. Hank did sing rock ‘n’ roll. “Are You sure Hank Did It This Way?” – I am most certain he did and God bless him for it!
21 years after the passing of Hank, on 2 January 1974, another country legend left us. Tex Ritter was at the Metro jail in Nashville arranging bail for one of his band when he suffered a massive heart attack. Tex, though a big movie and recording star, was the most humble person I have ever met.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 9 January 2009
Monday 12 January marks the eighty-third birthday of the legendary country performer Ray Price. During a career spanning more than half a century Price has influenced countless stars, helping the careers of several others who would themselves become legends. Born in Perryville, Texas in 1926,Ray served in the Armed Forces until 1946 when he began college studies. His part-time performances led to lot on local radio and then to a recording contract with Bullet Records. In 1951 Columbia signed Price and this is where the story really begins. Ray the honky tonk singer scored immediately with hits like “Talk To Your Heart”, “Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes”, “I’ll Be There” and “Release Me”. Ray struck up a friendship with Hank Williams who helped Ray get on the “Grand Ol’ Opry” in 1952 and, when Hank passed on, Ray took his Drifting Cowboys Band and renamed them The Cherokee Cowboys. Price has always had a good ear for musicians and during the early part of his career hired steel guitarists Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day, drummers Roger Miller and Johnny Bush, bass player Johnny Paycheck and guitarist Willie Nelson. Over the years Ray changed from a honky tonk singer to a smooth ballad performer, and though he created a lot of controversy at various stages of his career, was always able to win over and increase his fan base. As early as 1954 Ray began to change the way country was presented when he became the first artist to use drums on the stage of the “Grand Ol’ Opry” and in 1957 he dared use seventeen violins on his Gospel “Faith” album and on his hit recording of “Crazy Arms” he introduced drums, a 3-4 bass and a shuffle beat that totally redefined the sound of country music. Hank never did it this way – or did he? In 1967 Price brought in a 49-piece orchestra to record his version of “Danny Boy” and the backlash from the country diehards was unremitting. However, “Danny boy” became one of Ray’s greatest hits. Ray, before any others, had a vision of the way country must go to escape the “minority taste” tag and he pursued it with courage and was rewarded with great hits such as “For The Good Times” and “I Won’t Mention It Again”. Ray’s appeal extended way beyond the realms of country and has been described by influential commentators as “a national treasure” (personally I would say “international treasure”) and “the Frank Sinatra of country music”. In 1996 Ray Price was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Now at the young age of 83 Ray Price is still in demand and continues to grace a stage whenever he can. God bless you Ray!
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 16 January 2009
This week the Sounds Country spotlight falls on Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan. Jack and Misty have been partners, both professionally and personally, for more than forty years and during that time have experienced international fame, national chart hits (both country and pop) and have received several awards. Yes, back in the early seventies Jack and Misty were superstars. Though those heady days are behind them, I believe the duo have recorded their best work as independent artists. Free of the demands of a highly commercialised Nashville Jack and Misty were allowed to pursue their own creative aims, and man are they creative! Jack has a weird sense of humour not unlike that of the late Roger Miller (of whom I am a huge fan) and like Miller Blanchard can switch from a madcap ditty to a sensitive heart ballad at the drop of a plectrum. Possessing a wonderful writing talent, Jack and Misty have written songs for other artists as well as themselves and who cannot remember those great seventies hits “Tennessee Birdwalk”, “Humphrey The Camel” and “You’ve Got Your Troubles” (a hit in the UK for the Fortunes). Really, Jack and Misty were made for each other. Was it just a coincidence that: both were born in Buffalo, New York at the Millard Fillmore Hospital in the month of May (though four years apart). Both have blue eyes and brown hair. Both have parents named John and Mary and a sister called Virginia. Both have traced their ancestry to Alsace-Lorraine. Both lived (separately) for a time in southern Ohio before moving to Florida where they finally met and married. Almost as weird as Jack’s humour you might say. Before teaming up both Jack and Misty were recording artists in their own right. Misty recorded for Zodiac and Those Darn Records (as Maryanne Mail or Jacqueline Hyde) and Jack for Coral (Dawn Breakers), Mida (Jackie Blanchard and The Rockin’ Impalas) and Zodiac (The Jack Blanchard Group). As a duo it was originally Misty Morgan and Jack Blanchard for Zodiac and Those Darn Records then, switching the names around, for Wayside/Smash, Mega, King, Velvet Saw and Stardust International. Jack and Misty continue to perform and record great country music. They are probably the most under-rated writer/performers in the business yet maintain a large global fan-base. They have around 15 albums under their belts, a dozen still available on CD through www.jackandmisty.com
Happy birthday on Monday (19 January) to Dolly Parton who is still looking great at age 63. Dolly has been performing for more than half a century and is still going strong. Phil Everly, the younger half of the Everly Brothers, is 70 on Monday. Happy birthday Phil!
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
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