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| April 2006 »
Buck left this world the same way he lived his life....on his own terms.
Hee-Haw was cool. But first, Buck should be remembered for his contributions as one of music's most influencial pioneers.
As Buck would want it, it sounds like it's going to be a pretty big party in Bakersfield this weekend.
If you want to catch one more glimpse of Buck, tune into our special "Buck Owens- The final conversation" airing on GAC all week long.
storme
First there was "Run C&W", then there was "Hayseed Dixie", then came "Moody Bluegrass".
Now, the album that just may trump them all, "Strummin' with the Devil", a bluegrass tribute to the music of VanHalen. Two tracks actually showcase new vocals from original VanHalen lead singer David Lee Roth - "Jump" and "Jamie's Cryin'".
Somewhat skeptical yet extremely curious, I couldn't get to a copy of the CD quick enough. Simply put, the music is fun. Hearing Eddie VanHalen's famous guitar solo "Eruption" done on banjo is worth the price alone. Add to that David Grisman, John Cowan, the Nashville Bluegrass Band and a slew of other top acoustic pickers and you just can't go wrong. Thankfully, "Hot for Teacher" is showcased as an instrumental. That might have been a bit of a stretch. ....Like the whole project isn't!
But it's a fun stretch, and one worth checking into. It's the perfect blend of styles for a guy like me who grew up on Country, segued into the rock and glam-rock days of the 80's and early 90's then somehow found my way back to Country. It all comes around.
Happy listening.
Oh, sorry for the misinformation is our show about the airdate of TIm McGraw's NBC TV special. Seems the wishy-washy Network exec's decided to change the date from the 5th to the 7th of April. Unfortunately they made the change 24 hours after our new CMAA show debuted. Sorry about that. Not much we can do about that one.
New topic for discussion coming soon.
storme
We've just finshed post-production on our latest "Country Music Across America" show. It debuts Thursday night at 9pm ET on GAC
As I mentioned previously, the show includes one of the most amazing merging of Living Legends I've experienced in my career. Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and master Country Music balladeer Ray Price spent some time in Franklin, TN's "Sound Kitchen" recording studio. They cut 18 songs in just over two days. I got the opportunity to hang out during the session. To put it mildy, I was awestruck.
Three of the last five male Country Music legends in ONE room, doing what they do best- singing Country Music. Who are the other two?
You tell me.
I got my picks.
If you think about it for a minute or two, I guarantee your Legends will match mine. I actually have a sixth that I put on that list, but he didn't really spend much time in Country Music.
We've already lost Waylon and Johnny. Merle, Willie and Ray are members of a VERY elite and shrinking classs of entertainer.
They lived in an era where the term "PC" didn't exist. They did things their own way, and often paid the price for doing so. But isn't that the American way?
Not lately.
Lately it seems that we, as Americans, have become lemmings. I'm guilty of it. We listen to the news and read the papers and simply react with an ambivalent response like "man, that stinks." or "someone should do something about that." or "good for them". Rarely are we, as regular ol' Americans, responsible for doing anything about the things we've become almost de-sensitized to.
Now, don't get me wrong. There are lots of people out there who DO speak their minds.
Are you one of them?
I'm not. Not when it comes politics, touchy issues, or anything else that might make feel like I've taken a particular side. And I know I'm not alone. We (the post baby boomers) have grown up in a very sheltered world. In terms of national and sometimes local affairs, we almost unknowingly depend on others to make decisions for us.
We live in a great Country. It's a Country built on being able to speak your mind.
Do I? Do you?
I, for one, do not.
Sorry to get off on a soap-box, but a little time with Merle will do that to you.
He made a career out rattling the cage, speaking for those without a voice. But even he has been silenced for a couple of decades.
He admits it. Lately, He's just been sittting and listening as well.
But if our recent conversation is any indication of things to come - Merle ain't done rattling cages yet.
I'm not saying Merle will be leading any pro-activist marches any time soon. Nor will I.
But maybe, just maybe, we could all use a little excercise in how to excercise our freedoms.
If you're one of those people out there who is actually doing something to change things you don't like about this Country - good for you!
And if you like everything about this Country and are speaking out about it - good for you, too!
Both sides deserve to be heard.
But lately, all I've heard is a bunch of political figureheads telling us which side of the party line we should stand on.
I personally think things should be a little more organic than that.
It's up to us (the "little" guys) to speak up.
Ok, I'm done. Sorry for the rant.
Funny...after reading what I just wrote I realize that I haven't said a thing, other than to go out and and say something.
"SOMETHING!"
There. That's a start.
in case you're wondering....
my six male living legends of country:
willie, merle, ray, george jones, kris kristofferson and Charlie Daniels. Toss Jerry Lee Lewis in for good measure.
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price.
Wouldn't it be cool to get three of the last few remaining rebels of Country Music together on an album?
Guess what?
It happened.
And, man, do I have stories to tell. Actually, they told the stories. I just listened and laughed.
I'll post more about the historic session as soon as I realize it wasn't a dream.
It's been a good 24 hours. Merle, Willie, Ray, Garth and Kenny.
We're busy putting it all together our show for next week so I'm little brain-fried.
Oh, yeah!....I've got a fun new topic for us to discuss soon,too.
Until then, thanks for checking in!
I'm exhausted....
Three and a half hours of watching back to back TV talent shows is really close to being way too much.
American Idol has been fun this season. I've got my favorites - Taylor Hicks is my top choice. Simon said he reminds him of the drunk father at a wedding. And the only difference is that he can sing.
I agree. He rocks. Taylor is the perfect blend of Michael McDonald, Joe Cocker and you're most embarassing frat brother. I told my wife tonight that he's the only singer on Idol that I would pay to go see. I hope he sticks around for a few more weeks. Chris Daughrty did well too, but he sounded too close to the Chili Peppers for me. My favorite females so far are Mandisa, Lisa Tucker and Katharine McPhee.
Nashville Star debuted their 4th season tonight. Jewels Hanson got tossed out. I think there were at least 3 worse performances during the show. Seems a little unfair that she got thrown out by the judges and the rest of the contestant's fates are up to the voting public. Just my opinion.
Chris Young is my front-runner so far. Kristen McNamara and Melanie Torres aren't far behind. Actually, Melanie and Chris might be tied.
Who are your favorites from Idol and Nashville Star? Let me know.
OK....time for the topic of the day.
But a quick publisher's note first.
The comments on our first topic about which Country artists have left the airwaves too soon spawned some nice additions to my short list. And the next topic about the Chicks created-or rather-continued a nice debate about their Country Music future. Thanks to all those particpated.
Past topics are never closed. Feel free to browse previous discussions and add to them.
What's the topic for today? Click the "continue reading" link below to find out.
Craig Morgan and I taped an interview today as his new club, the revived "Nashville Palace" near Opryland Hotel here in Nashville. Before the cameras began rolling we got into a discussion about music. A discussion sparked by a Lee Ann Womack song playing on the bar's sound system. Craig said Lee Ann's new CD is one of the best he's heard in a long time. I agree.
I shared with Craig my favorite record. Not a current one, but my favorite Country album of the last ten years...or more.
Marty Stuart's "The Pilgrim".
I could go on and on about how the CD is a history lesson in Country Music. And how Marty mastered the art of storytelling on the album. But...I won't. The best thing for you to do is just simply listen to it and prove me right or wrong. So far, EVERY SINGLE person I've turned on to this masterpiece has thanked me. "The Pilgrim" probably sold a total of ten copies. It was never pushed by MCA records. Marty never went out of his way to promote it. And radio never really found a single on it they could play. But mark my words, this album will go down in history as one of the greatest albums to ever come from the modern era of Country Music.
No, I don't get paid to promote stuff. This is my blog. I say what I want to. I just don't want music fans to miss out on this CD. It came out back in the late 90's. It might be hard to find, but it's worth the search. I'm listening to it now. "Hobo's Prayer" is playing.
OK...now the question. What's your "desert island" Country album? The one you can't live without. The one that keeps you company. The one that has become an integral part of your life's soundtrack.
This one should be fun.
Happy blogging!
Storme
Greetings from Savannah, Georgia.
Videographer/Director Tom Zaleski, Producer Jenny Dew and myself rolled into town a few hours ago.
I love this city. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Savannah, along with its deep history as a southeast port city, is also home to the second largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the U.S. I was here about 11 years ago for the big party and yep, it's big. We're still a week away from the Irish drunkfest and already the town is well into the swing of things. Not a hotel room to be found.
We're here to film a bunch of stuff with Toby at his last show of the "Big Throw Down II" tour. Brand new album coming up for Toby April 11th, "White Trash with Money". Should be another big one. His first as owner of his own label, ShowDog Nashville.
I just told our producer this story this afternoon and thought I might share with you as well.
A few years ago, Toby and his band were playing a gig at the Country Gold Festival in Kumamoto, Japan. Late one night, the guys kidnapped me for a pub-crawl, Kumamoto style. We hit a few clubs near town and had great time trying to hide a 6'5" Okie in a crowd of locals. They didn't know who Toby was, but still, he stuck out. The attention resulted in us getting followed by a gang of "curious" party-goers. I don't think they liked us much. Everytime we turned around, the gang got bigger and more ominous looking. Being the smart people we were, we decided to head back to the one "American" bar called "Goodtime Charlies". A place owned by the concert's promoter and recent ACM international award winner Charlie Nagatani. After a few more beverages, I headed back to the hotel.
No more than 20 minutes later, the building began to shake and sway violently. We were in the middle of a pretty big earthquake. When the shaking stopped, my phone rang. It was Toby and his bass player, Chuck Goff asking me why I left. Still shaken by the quake, I said "Dude, did you not just feel that?"
Chuck replied, "Feel what?".
"The earthquake!" I yelled back.
Chuck dropped the phone down and yelled out to the bar, "Hey ya'll, Storme's on the phone saying we just had an earthquake." Loud laughter followed. I hung up.
10 minutes later, the hotel began shaking again. This time, I looked out the window just in time to see the whole city skyline swaying back and forth. It was pretty freaky. When it stopped, the phone rang again. It was Toby, laughing. "I felt that one!!"
Just one of those random memories that pop up every now and then.
Now, on to the new discussion........(click the link below)
When you think of Toby, one headline always sticks out. The big "feud" between Toby and the Dixie Chicks over Toby's song "Angry American" and the Chicks comments made in London regarding President Bush being from Texas.
Whatever your political side on the "issue", I don't care.
What I do care about is your thoughts on whether Country radio will or should play the Chicks new music due to hit the airwaves in the next few months.
They say they don't want any part of the Country industry. Should Country radio ignore them?
Should politics play a role in how Music is played? Have they paid enough of a price to be forgiven for Natalie's comments? Do you care?
Can't wait to read your comments.
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