Our society is so star-obsessed that we sometimes forget that the evolution of music also depends on lesser-known performers. Guys like Tibby Edwards, who was never a big star but still managed to be in the middle of things during the early years of rock and roll. In fact, at one point he shared the … Continue reading Shining A Spotlight On Tibby Edwards
Category: Country
Link Davis Changed With The Times
I never cease to be amazed by the diversity of sounds that influenced early rock and roll, a diversity that even existed within each of the genres themselves. For example, what we now call rockabilly had room for rising young blues rockers like Elvis Presley alongside country music veterans like Link Davis, who first appeared … Continue reading Link Davis Changed With The Times
Fingers Are Not Just For Pointing
One of the most widely-publicized photos from the recent presidential debate was a view of the candidates simultaneously pointing fingers at each other. I suppose it was sort of dramatic and at the same time a little silly too. But fingers are useful for a lot of things besides pointing. I'm not even going to … Continue reading Fingers Are Not Just For Pointing
Roy Smeck – The Wizard Of The Strings
By the time he died in 1994, Roy Smeck was in his nineties and many years removed from his heyday as a performer, which began in the 1920s. But the guy known as the 'Wizard Of The Strings' was still a legend to several generations of musicians, who were not only inspired by his virtuosity … Continue reading Roy Smeck – The Wizard Of The Strings
Charline Arthur Was Something Else
When considering the female side of the early days of rockabilly, names like Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin come readily to mind. But one of the earliest -- and feistiest -- was a lady named Charline Arthur, whose career even included a boost from Colonel Tom Parker (before he became the force behind Elvis Presley). … Continue reading Charline Arthur Was Something Else
The Perfect Song For Geezers
I thought it was about time for us to do another Fantastic Foursome -- four different versions of the same song, with an opportunity to vote for your favorite. This time around, the song of choice is a perfect one for geezers -- "Funny How Time Slips Away." Written by Willie Nelson more than fifty … Continue reading The Perfect Song For Geezers
The Inspiration Of Stoney Edwards
As everyone knows, country music has never been highly populated with black performers. Charley Pride has built a long and solid career and is probably the best known, and there have been a few others, including Al Downing and the legendary DeFord Bailey, who was around in the early days of the Grand Ole Opry. … Continue reading The Inspiration Of Stoney Edwards
Jeanne Pruett Did It The Old-Fashioned Way
Country music fans who have been around a while might recall that things began to change in Nashville along about the late 1960s. In an effort to appeal to a wider audience, a lot of the music that was being produced began to move away from the traditional style and toward something resembling pop music. … Continue reading Jeanne Pruett Did It The Old-Fashioned Way
In Appreciation Of The Musical Fruit
I was reading the local newspaper today and noticed that a small nearby town is again holding its annual Bean Dinner, a special festival that has taken place for well over a century. Although my family never lived in that particular town while I was growing up, I can remember that we often made the … Continue reading In Appreciation Of The Musical Fruit
Hank Penny Wore A Lot Of Different Hats
For much of his career, Hank Penny was a Western Swing performer in the style of Bob Wills and Spade Cooley -- in fact, he worked with Cooley for a while -- but Herbert Clayton Penny was a lot of other things too. During a long career that began in the Depression era and lasted … Continue reading Hank Penny Wore A Lot Of Different Hats
Geezer Music Club 