Husband and wife singing teams are nothing new, even in country music, but usually it's a situation where the duo just gets together occasionally for special performances or recordings. Not many couples have found that only by teaming up were they able to reach stardom -- but that's the case with Carl and Pearl Butler. … Continue reading The Married Singing Duo That Helped Themselves — And Dolly Parton
Category: Country
REVIEW: Ricky Nelson -Greatest Love Songs
It's not often that I sit down to review a new album and find that it includes a song that I not only remember, but can clearly recall where and when I first heard it -- 50 years ago. But that's exactly the case with a new release from Capitol, Greatest Love Songs, a collection … Continue reading REVIEW: Ricky Nelson -Greatest Love Songs
Burl Ives – More Than Just Sam The Snowman
Legendary folk-singer, Oscar-winning actor, star of radio, TV and Broadway, but someone who in recent years is probably most often heard during the holidays. Burl Ives was a multi-talented performer but will forever be known as the voice of the snowman narrator of the animated Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, a perennial video favorite. The character … Continue reading Burl Ives – More Than Just Sam The Snowman
REVIEW: Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers – The Corner Post (Le Poteau De Coin)
Once again I find myself musically transported to the bayou country of South Louisiana, listening to the latest release from Swallow Records. The Corner Post (Le Poteau De Coin), performed by accordionist Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers, provides plenty of proof that the musical traditions of the area are being upheld. The group … Continue reading REVIEW: Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers – The Corner Post (Le Poteau De Coin)
In Search Of Singing Cowboys
I was watching an old Western movie the other day, and I got to thinking about how so much of what we think we know about the history of the American West was actually shaped by Hollywood. Of course, they were probably just following the pattern set years earlier by dime-novels, but Hollywood took the … Continue reading In Search Of Singing Cowboys
Sleepin’ In The Country
I recently read a news item about the discovery of a drug that's supposed to eliminate sleepiness and possibly even reverse the effects of sleep deprivation. It's delivered via nasal spray and seems to work pretty well, or at least it does when tested on monkeys. (I wonder how they got the little guys to … Continue reading Sleepin’ In The Country
Best Wishes To All…
Merry Christmas Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Perry Como Vince Gill Do You Hear What I Hear Perry Como Vince Gill
REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold Country – Vol. 2
Louisiana has always had a huge presence in country music, with a rich history that includes everyone from Faron Young and Floyd Cramer to modern stars such as Tim McGraw. Through the years, performers have starred in every venue from regional dance halls to radio and TV, where the Louisiana Hayride trailed only the Grand … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold Country – Vol. 2
Commander Cody – Silly Songs and Beyond
About this time last year I wrote the first of a couple of articles about silly songs, spotlighting not only the music but also how modern practitioners such as Weird Al Yankovic have been preceded by generations of musicians. One of those I featured was Phil Harris, whose "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette" was a … Continue reading Commander Cody – Silly Songs and Beyond
Mule Skinners – From Jimmie Rodgers To Van Morrison
Sometimes you hear a song that seems to be sort of a lightweight - or even silly - but it just grabs you and hangs on in a way that other tunes can't match. "Mule Skinner Blues" by the Fendermen is exactly that for me. It tickles my fancy every time I hear it (and … Continue reading Mule Skinners – From Jimmie Rodgers To Van Morrison
Geezer Music Club 