As hard as it might be to believe, the GMC is approaching seven years of existence and has featured almost twelve-hundred articles. At least half of those (and probably more) have been profiles of various musical performers from the past, and during that time I've noticed some similarities in how their careers progressed in later … Continue reading The Mystery Of Charly McClain
Category: Country
Slim Whitman Is Amazing
Slim Whitman occupies a unique spot in the world of music. Lots of would-be sophisticates have poked fun at him for years, a practice that probably reached its peak in 1996 when the silly sci-fi movie Mars Attacks! utilized one of his yodeling songs ("Indian Love Call") as the only weapon that could stop the … Continue reading Slim Whitman Is Amazing
Patti Page Topped The All-Time Charts
I was saddened to read that pop/country singer Patti Page died recently. She was 85 when she died and had enjoyed a long career, continuing to be musically active almost to the end. She's probably most remembered now for early hits like "Tennessee Waltz," which was one of the best-selling records of all time -- … Continue reading Patti Page Topped The All-Time Charts
Dorothy Shay – The Park Avenue Hillbilly
If you were a dedicated fan of The Waltons, the iconic 1970s TV show that was a huge hit for many years, you might remember that one of the teens - Jason - was musically inclined, and that he sometimes risked his mother's wrath by entertaining in an area roadhouse, the venerable Dew Drop Inn. … Continue reading Dorothy Shay – The Park Avenue Hillbilly
Onie Wheeler’s Surprising Finale
Revisiting a point I've made before, there were a lot of traditional country music artists who spent at least part of their careers performing what would become known as rockabilly. Guys like Onie Wheeler, who was never a big star but did enjoy a long, solid career before dying in 1984, in a way that … Continue reading Onie Wheeler’s Surprising Finale
And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Remember when we all had six-shooters like those carried by the heroes of movie and TV Westerns? Of course, theirs were real -- or at least seemed real even though we knew they were shooting blanks -- and ours were smaller and made their 'bang' from paper rolls of caps, but we still had a … Continue reading And Another Childhood Icon Bites The Dust
Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
Although Maine isn't the first state that comes to mind when you think about country music, it was nevertheless the birthplace of one of the best of several guys who specialized in a certain type of song -- truckin' tunes. Dick Curless was a special favorite of truckers and anyone else who enjoyed his highway … Continue reading Dick Curless – The Baron Of Country Music
Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Most of us remember Dale Evans, the long-time wife and performing partner of singing cowboy Roy Rogers, a lady who was often billed as the Queen of the Cowgirls. We might also know that she was an actress and a singer long before she paired up with Roy. But did you know that Roy was … Continue reading Dale Evans – Before She Was The Queen
Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
As unlikely as it might seem to modern music fans -- especially after listening to his decidedly odd singing style -- there was a time that honky-tonk pioneer Floyd Tillman was described as a combination of Ernest Tubb and Frank Sinatra. But even if that now seems an odd idea, music historians still consider him … Continue reading Floyd Tillman – Croonin’ Honky-Tonk Pioneer
Chugging Through The World Of Graffiti
Those who remember the HBO miniseries Rome might also recall that the opening titles sequence showed example after example of graffiti on the walls of the ancient city. That was historically accurate because graffiti has been around for a long time. In fact, it's a pretty good bet that as soon as someone built the … Continue reading Chugging Through The World Of Graffiti
Geezer Music Club 