Western Swing is a type of country music that's been around for years, but is still popular with many (including me). A combination of big band swing and traditional country music, in its heyday it usually featured large groups of musicians with everything from fiddles to harps. It was fast and flashy, brimming with showmanship … Continue reading Shame On You, Spade Cooley
Category: Country
Queen Ida Still Rules
I've always maintained that music lovers of my generation have surprisingly varied tastes in music. I've tried to reflect that fact in the pieces I write, touching on a lot of different genres from time to time. However, it occurred to me that I've sort of neglected one of my favorites -- the music of … Continue reading Queen Ida Still Rules
Tea Party Reminiscent Of Johnny Cash
Recently I've been reading a lot of news stories about the Tea Party movement, and it made me think about the late Johnny Cash. That statement might sound like a head-scratcher, but before you jump to any conclusions, let me offer a quick explanation. There's a lot of information out there about the Tea Party … Continue reading Tea Party Reminiscent Of Johnny Cash
A Different Kind Of Sculpture
A while back I posted something that had as its centerpiece an amazing sand sculpture, one that carried a powerful message -- or at least it seemed so to me. Today I though I'd do the same with a different kind of 'temporary' sculpture, one that is a little more appropriate to the season. As … Continue reading A Different Kind Of Sculpture
Buddy Knox vs Buddy Holly
At one time, I thought that Buddy Knox's 1957 chart-topping "Party Doll" was reminiscent of something Elvis might perform. But my opinion changed through the years, and I eventually decided that Knox was probably a little more like his fellow West Texas native Buddy Holly. In addition to sharing a similar background, both wrote a … Continue reading Buddy Knox vs Buddy Holly
Danny O’Keefe’s Classic Lives On
Occasionally a relatively unknown musician will write and perform a song that is enormously appealing to almost everyone who hears it, a song that not only ends up becoming a signature piece for the guy, but is also eagerly performed by countless others. A good example is Danny O'Keefe and his classic "Good Time Charlie's … Continue reading Danny O’Keefe’s Classic Lives On
The OTHER Highwaymen
A while back I wrote about the Highwaymen, the legendary bunch that was made up of country music icons Willie, Waylon, Johnny and Kris. But there was at least one other group with the same name, and it had a huge number-one hit long before the country music guys got together for their little adventure. … Continue reading The OTHER Highwaymen
Have Guitar, Will Travel – Johnny Western
Lately I've been watching some of the original episodes of the classic TV Western, Have Gun - Will Travel. It was one of the most popular shows around in the late Fifties, although it had plenty of competition because Westerns were all over the dial at that time. But most shows didn't even approach the … Continue reading Have Guitar, Will Travel – Johnny Western
Music And The Highwayman
Sometimes it doesn't take much to entertain me. Lately I've found myself watching a TV reality series called Pawn Stars -- and for those who aren't familiar with the show let me just say that it's better than it sounds. It is truly amazing to see some of the odd objects that people bring in … Continue reading Music And The Highwayman
Carl Smith Was Known As ‘Mr. Country’
Although I wrote about Carl Smith just a few months ago, it seems appropriate to repost that piece (see below) because the legendary country music star died recently, at his home near Nashville. I also thought I'd offer up another song -- one of his best early hits, 1955's "There She Goes." It's one that … Continue reading Carl Smith Was Known As ‘Mr. Country’
Geezer Music Club 