Posted by :Pete Smith on June 13, 2009, 1:03 pm
86.153.200.59
“The Advertiser” (UK) 29 May 2009
Johnny Paycheck was a real country outlaw. Though overshadowed somewhat by Nelson, Jennings and Glaser Paycheck was more outlaw country than the three of them put together. In life and in music Johnny was a rebel. Had he lived, Johnny would have been 68 years old on Sunday (31 May). Born Donald Eugene Lytle in Greenfield, Ohio, he was playing the guitar by the age of six and made his first record at age 15. He served in the U.S. Navy where his rebellious character was noted through a court martial for assault. Upon discharge Johnny began performing using the name Donny Young, working with George Jones playing bass and steel and later co-writing George's hit “Once You've Had The Best”. Johnny has also been credited for helping to develop Jones' vocal style. As Donny Young Paycheck sang tenor harmony, in a number of bands including Ray Price's Cherokee Cowboys, and on record for Faron Young, Roger Miller and Skeets McDonald. Come the 60s Donny Young had become Johnny Paycheck, scoring a hit with Buck Owens' “A-11”. His early records were released on the Little Darlin' label (folded in the late 90s), owned by Paycheck and producer/writer Aubrey Mayhew. Johnny cut many great country sides during the 60s but by the end of that decade was suffering the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Little Darlin' Records folded. In the late 1990s, During the early 70s ace producer Billy Sherrill, who has revived the careers of George Jones, Tammy Wynette and others, threw Paycheck a lifeline and the two of them produced such hits as “Someone To Give My Love To”, “She's All I Got”,“For A Minute There”, “Take This Job and Shove It” (2 million plus sales),“Colorado Kool-Aid”, "Me and the IRS," "Friend, Lover, Wife," "Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets," and "I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)" . Johnny was also a talented song writer co-writing the Tammy Wynette hit “Apartment Number 9”. Paycheck remains the archetypal country outlaw. From 1981 he was sued for slander, arrested for starting a fight on an airline and for statutory rape (he thought she was 19 but she was only 14 and the charges were later reduced and he was fined). In 1985 Paycheck was convicted of shooting a man who he thought insulted him. Johnny spent just short of two years in jail before receiving the Governor;s pardon. In 1990 tax debts drove Johnny into bankruptcy. The prison stay opened Johnny's eyes to his unhealthy appetites but upoon release was suffering from asthma and emphysema. He died in Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Centre on 18 February 2003. The following year a tribute to Johnny, “Touch My Heart” (Sugar Hill), was released. The album was produced by Robbie Fulks and features George Jones, Marshall Crenshaw, Hank Williams III, Al Anderson, Dallas Wayne, Neko Case, Gail Davies. Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 5 June 2009
Mark Brine has often been described as the “modern day Jimmie Rodgers”. Though I hate such comparisons this is more than justified for Brine has for years kept alive the memory of Rodgers, the man and his music, and is the best blue yodeller since Jimmie. Mark began his musical career at the age of thirteen playing first in rock groups and then moving into folk during the late sixties. It was during this period that Brine became interested in the music of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams and this interest was so intense it persuaded Mark to relocate to Nashville (1971) to be closer to country music. It was extremely difficult for the singer/writer to open doors in “Music city” for he did not (and still does not) fit the perceived country mould, He did manage to release three singles on the Door Knob label and a couple on
Society Records but nothing great happened. In 1985 the disillusioned Mark left Nashville for Baltimore where, with KJK Records he announced his future career with the album “Return To Americana”, followed in 1988 with “American Pieces”. Four years later (1992) the Resigned label released the single “New Blue Yodel” and it impressed Hank Snow so much that Hank invited Mark to appear with him on the Grand Ole Opry. During the last twenty years Brine has released a stunning body of work on a number of albums highlighting an amazing writing talent and an astute knowledge of traditional American musical styles. Brine's latest offering is a “live” project recorded at various locations entitled “Live In A field Of Bluegrass” (Wild Oats). The magical performances include tributes to some of country music's pioneers including, naturally, Jimmie Rodgers (“Whippin' That Old T.B. Blues”, “California Blues” and the Brine composition “New Blue Yodel”), Roy Acuff (“Wreck On The Highway”) and Ola Belle Reed (“Fortunes”). Half of the fourteen tracks is Mark's own work including a trio of humorous ditties; “Road Rage Blues”, “Ukelele Yodellin' Blues” (love it!) and “Fred The Yodellin' Pig”. This really is old-time bluegrass at its very best that, in the words of Eddy Raven's opening track is firmly “Back In The Country”. Though Mark Brine is the undisputed star of the show, a standing ovation must be given to the guys who stand behind him picking banjo, fiddle, Dobro and stand-up bass. www.markbrine.com
Happy birthday to Harold Reid of the Statler Brothers who is 64 today (5 June) and to Joe Stampley who is 66 a day later. And a very special greeting to Vernon Oxford who, on Monday (8 June), will be 68 and still going strong.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 12 June 2009
Bob Rohan is Texas through and through. Known in his native state as Bad Bob, Rohan has been fiddling and singing for more than three decades opening shows for such luminaries as Carlene Carter, John Conley, Charlie Daniels and Merle Haggard and playing in bands for Jack Greene, Ray Price, Hank Thompson, Pam Tillis and Dale Watson. Bob is also a talented song writer and cartoonist, a talented that has garnered several nominations for major awards. Bob first started playing the fiddle whilst still at school, learning to play by ear. He later learned to read music and was soon playing in bands for his junior high and high schools and the Kiwanis Youth Symphony. Bob played his grandfather's fiddle making him unusual in that he, unlike his fellow school band members, owned his instrument. He also learned to play electric bass because good bass players were in-demand for country bands. Rohan arrived in Texas late in 12975 and immediately fell in love with the “Lone Star State”.It was, of course, the home of his great hero Bob Wills and this inspired him to perfect his performance of western swing. He adopted the name Bad Bob after hitting a bum note on stage and his guitar player remarked “That was bad Bob!”. The name remained with him. Throughout the years Bad Bob Rohan has remained extremely popular, particularly in Texas, the West, Mid-West, Canada, Spain and France though his recordings are surprisingly few. That is why “Prairie Rose” is so important. The twelve performances show just what a talented fiddler Bob is as he turns his bow to jazz (“Sweet Georgia Brown”), sweet dance music (“Robyn's Waltz”), popular favourites “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”) and western classics (“Red River Valley”) and Cajun (“The Ballad Of Harry Choates”). Western music though is dear to Bob's heart a fact emphasised on “Prairie Rose”, “Out Where The West Winds Blow”, “Don't Fence Me In” and “Happy Rovin' Cowboy”. Completing the track listing for this superb album are the story songs “Live Every Day” and “The Angels Finally Came” and the jazz/blues standard “Four Or Five Times”. Supporting Bob's vocals and fiddle are a dozen Texas musicians who provide sterling guitar, banjo, steel, bass and drums support.
www.badbobrohan.com
Eight-five years ago tomorrow (13 June) former opera singer turned hillbilly Vernon Dalhart recorded “The Wreck Of The Old '97” coupled with “The Prisoner's Song” for Victor (RCA). The record became country music's first million seller. Dalhart (real name Marion Try Slaughter) used more than 135 different names to record more than five thousand singles. He thought that by singing down his nose he sounded authentic as a hillbilly singer. Fast forward to 1956 and the British skiffle singer Lonnie Donegan who sold millions of records singing down his nose. There is nothing new in the music business.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
18
Message Thread:
« Back to thread