Posted by Pete Smith on September 4, 2009, 1:16 pm
86.152.33.32
“The Advertiser” (UK) 14 August 2009
“Been down That Road” (Leg Room) by London based singer/writer Roger Knott is a superb piece of work! The twelve original songs, penned by Knott, cannot be faulted and the delivery is truly excellent. This is not a one-off. For some years Roger has been working toward an album of this calibre playing in a variety of guises, solo, duo, band,
and recording four previous albums. It was the 2004 release, “Find Your Wings”, produced by former Dolly Parton steelie Steve Honest, that began opening doors for this burgeoning talent. The album was heard by respected Nashville drummer Pat McInerney who invited Roger to record in Tennessee. The invitation was taken up and the result was the exciting, all original, “Dust and Promises” released in 2006. Knott's career was moving quickly. For his next venture into the studios Roger chose noted producer Clive Gregson to move things forward. The venue was Nashville and the result was “Step Into The Sun”. It was Charlie Daniels' country, that is, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, that Roger chose for his latest album, “Been Down That Road” with multi-instrumentalist Thomm Jutz in the producer's seat. With the quality of the material and with musicians such as Jutz (guitars, mandolin, Dobro, keys), Pat McInerney (drums), Mark Fain (acoustic bass), Shad Cobb (fiddle) and Jeff Lisenby (accordion, piano) Roger could not go wrong – and he doesn't with such marvellous performances as the spiritual, “Been Down That Road” (my favourite cut), the optimistic “When Love Comes Round Again” and the story of “Uncle Charlie's Baton”. Definitely an album not to be missed! www.rogerknott.com
On this day (14 August) sixty-eight years ago Connie Smith was born in Elkhart, Indiana. One of fourteen children, Connie did not take singing seriously until she was twenty-two. She entered a talent competition where she was heard by Bill Anderson who assisted her in securing a recording contract with RCA. She quickly hit the number one spot with Anderson's “Once A Day”. Connie enjoyed a large number of hits thereafter including “Nobody But A Fool” (1966), “Cincinnati, Ohio” (1967), “Baby's Back Again” (1968) and “Just One more Time” (1971). A hometown girl at heart, the constant touring took its toll on the young beauty contributing to two failed marriages and bouts of depression brought on also by the realisation that her peers were not all she expected. Connie re-found God and her life. I saw Connie, one of my all-time favourite girl singers, at the 1976 Wembley Festival and was moved by her testimony to Christ. Connie continues to perform on the “Grand Ole Opry” where she remains a firm favourite. She married Marty Stuart in 1997.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 21 August 2009
Personal statements, story songs and social commentaries robustly delivered is just what I would expect from the 1960s country/folk groups but not from a twenty-first century Swedish outfit. Roger and the Rockets on “Unknown Man” (Bluehall) perfectly recreate the passion of the folk revival and so magnificently that I am immediately transported back in time to the heady days of the Kingston and Cumberland Trios. The Rockets though have an edge on those folk heroes in that they write their own songs, songs that sound so traditional yet are penned (all seventeen of them) by the guitarist/lead vocalist Roger Haggstrom. The album has been three years in the making and has obviously had a lot of love poured into it. The songs are beautifully crafted and so well played on fiddle, harmonica (Bjorn Sohlin), guitar, mandolin (Mats Bystrom) and string bass (John Vigebo) behind wonderfully lusty vocals. Sample the rousing “Praise The Lord”, “Educated Man”, “Silver and Gold” and the title cut “Unknown Man” www.raketerna.se
Forty-four years ago today (21 August) Waylon Jennings made his chart début on RCA Records with “That's The Chance I'll Have To Take”, the first of many hit singles. He was Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and shortly after, on 19 December had his left foot amputated due to the complications of diabetes. The disease finally took Waylon Jennings on 13 February 2002 when he died in his sleep. Waylon enjoyed a glorious career spanning more than fifty years years that had him playing in Buddy Holly's band, co-creating the Outlaw Movement, earning award after award and recording successfully for three major labels, RCA. MCA and Epic, who, collectively, released some 53 albums during his lifetime and 5 posthumously. All of these albums are currently available.
Kenny Rogers is seventy-one years old today. Kenny has been involved in music and recording since his high school years playing in rockabilly, jazz and folk groups. In 1967 he joined the legendary New Christy Minstrels but after just one year left to co-found The First Edition, a band that was extremely successful, enjoying world-wide hits with “Just Dropped In”, “Reuben James” and “Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town”. When Kenny left the group in 1974 he was heavily in debt. Larry Butler, a producer with United Artists, took Rogers on and turned him into a country pop artist so successfully that Kenny became the most successful artist in music (in terms of dollar earnings) of the 1980s. During his long career Kenny has recorded with many of the top stars and though he has recorded some of the most beautiful heart ballads ever written, will always be remembered for his sing-along, “Lucille”, “Coward Of The County” and, of course, “Ruby”.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 28 August 2009
One hundred and nine years ago tomorrow (29 August) Buell Hilton Kazee was born in Burton Fork, Kentucky. Kazee is not a particularly well known name yet he played an extremely important role in the development of early country music. Music was a big part of the Kazee’s life, Buell’s father was responsible for music at his local church so spiritual songs would help mould young Kazee’s future. He also heard many of the old folk songs too at family get-togethers. Kazee Senior recognised his son’s passion for music and when he was Buell was five he built his son a banjo. The young Kazee studied hard to acquire the skills required for his new instrument and by the time he started school had amassed a large number of old-time songs and tunes. Buell Kazee was not typical of the hillbilly performers of his era. He was a very intelligent man who studied religion at the Baptist Magoffin Institute from 1917 to 1920. He was later ordained as a minister and then moved to Georgetown College where he received his degree all the while avidly collecting songs and tunes. As a Baptist minister Kazee was very unusual in that, unlike his peers, he did not consider music to be sinful, in fact throughout his teens Buell performed at local gatherings and by the time he entered college could play banjo, guitar and piano. By the time he graduated Kazee had garnered a local reputation as a musician and in 1925 performed his first major concert at the University of Kentucky. Buell ministered in several churches in Kentucky before accepting the post of Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Moorhead, Kentucky. He remained in that position for the next twenty-two years directing church choirs and composing church music. During the period 1926 to 1930 Buell recorded more than fifty songs for the Brunswick and Vocalion labels. These sides included “Rock Island Line”, “Hobo’s Last Ride”, “Darling Cora”, “East Virginia” and “The Roving Cowboy”, all of which became standard country fare in the ensuing years. His recording career was interrupted by the Great Depression of the thirties though he did manage to make a few recordings for the Library of Congress Archive of American Folk Song. In 1941, Buell, who had written many spiritual articles, had his book “Faith Is The Victory” published. He subsequently had two more books and a banjo tutorial published. Though a widely respected performer and church minister Buell Kazee never travelled far from his beloved Kentucky. His last appointment was as professor of Old Testament studies at Lexington University. During the 1960s folk revival Buell was encouraged to perform again and was one of the first pioneers to appear on the Newport Festivals. Buell Kazee passed away during August of 1976. An album well worth seeking out is “Buell H. Kazee His Songs And Music” on the Folkways label.
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
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