At one time, several members of my extended family were involved in coal mining at some level, and that's probably true of many of us with rural roots. Along with farming (something my family also knew a little about), mining was one of the most common jobs around in those days. In some cases -- … Continue reading Coal Miners And Country Gentlemen
Category: Country
Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
As a young teenager with eclectic music tastes, one of my favorite records was Tennessee Ernie Ford's tribute to coal miners, "Sixteen Tons." Of course, I wasn't the only one who found a lot to like about that song -- after all, it rocketed to the top of both country and pop charts -- but … Continue reading Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
In all fairness to the 1960s group known as the Hondells, it's probably a little misleading to call them "bogus". In fact, they were a bunch of solid musicians who did manage to generate some good sounds that were very reminiscent of the Beach Boys -- but the group wasn't quite what it might have … Continue reading Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
In Search Of A Salty Dog
Just browsing through old pictures again, and I happened across one that includes a really cute little fella. No, not me. I'm referring to the puppy I'm holding, although I have to blushingly admit that I did possess a little touch of cuteness myself (long since lost). A lot of dogs and a slew of … Continue reading In Search Of A Salty Dog
Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
If you were to ask current music fans what they know about Johnny Duncan, most would either not recognize the name or would think of the country music star who first rose to prominence in the 1970s. But there was an earlier Johnny Duncan and his story makes for a fascinating tale, one that involves … Continue reading Johnny Duncan’s ‘Skiffle’ Inspired The Beatles
Get Your Kicks On Route 66
One of my favorite nieces (actually they're all favorites) is a talented and entertaining writer whose posts on her own blog often tickle my funny bone. In a recent tale about a road trip she mentioned Route 66, and that's all it took for my memories to rev up to full speed like a super-charged … Continue reading Get Your Kicks On Route 66
The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
I suppose it's just a microcosm of life itself, but pop music is filled with haunting stories and senseless tragedies. One of those occurred in 1959 at Clear Lake, Iowa, when a plane crash took the life of the pilot and his three passengers. It's been immortalized as 'The Day the Music Died', but most … Continue reading The Third Passenger At Clear Lake
Honky-Tonk Swingin’ With Hank Thompson
Fans of modern country music might not immediately recognize his name, but for a couple of decades the charismatic and talented Hank Thompson was one of the biggest stars around, a master of Western Swing who was equally at home with romantic ballads or pure honky-tonk. Henry William Thompson was yet another of the many … Continue reading Honky-Tonk Swingin’ With Hank Thompson
Still Waitin’ For That Train
When I wrote about a song called "Night Train" in a recent piece, I connected it to my high school marching band and my transition into a football player. But aside from those memories, it's also a type of song that's very near and dear to me -- a train song. It's pretty common knowledge … Continue reading Still Waitin’ For That Train
REVIEW: High Performance – Live From Breaux Bridge: Pt 1
Steve Riley, the leader of the Mamou Playboys, is probably one of the better-known names in Cajun music -- admittedly not a major genre but still one with lots of fans, including me. That's why it caught my attention to see that he's teamed up with band-mate Kevin Dugas on a labor of love, an … Continue reading REVIEW: High Performance – Live From Breaux Bridge: Pt 1
Geezer Music Club 