Depression-era Lima, Ohio, wouldn't seem to be a likely place for a young boy to grow up dreaming about Hawaii, but on second thought it might have been ideal. After all, what better way to forget hard times than to imagine yourself in a Pacific paradise? That must have been how it was for steel … Continue reading Jerry Byrd’s Hawaiian Love Affair
Category: Country
Slim Whitman Passes On
Earlier this year, in a post titled Slim Whitman Is Amazing, I spotlighted the long and varied career of the iconic country music star. It has now been reported that he has died at age 90 in Florida, apparently of natural causes. I've reactivated the song link on that earlier post, and have also replaced … Continue reading Slim Whitman Passes On
Anatomy Of A Song – The Story Of A Rascal
Even though it's generally considered to be a Jimmie Rodgers Depression-era song, you would probably have to visit a vaudeville house even earlier than that to find the true roots of "In The Jailhouse Now." The first written trace is a 1915 copyright for the team of Davis and Stafford, but it was often performed … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – The Story Of A Rascal
Fantastic Foursome – But With A Twist
It's been about a month since our last Fantastic Foursome -- you know, the special feature that gives you the chance to vote for your favorite from among four versions of a song? That particular post featured the song "Moonglow" and also mentioned how I'd always been fascinated by the way it's often partnered with … Continue reading Fantastic Foursome – But With A Twist
Country Catalyst – Singing To The Walls
I always enjoy our 'special feature' posts -- you know, like Anatomy Of A Song and Fantastic Foursome -- because they're a change of pace from our usual stuff. Not that there's anything wrong with our regular posts, but I think it's good to have a breath of fresh air once in a while. With … Continue reading Country Catalyst – Singing To The Walls
Anatomy Of A Song – The Sound Of Pain And Suffering
One of my favorite movies has been on TV a lot lately, and it's the basis for today's Anatomy Of A Song feature. The film -- O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- starred George Clooney and was broadly based on Homer's Odyssey (in fact, Clooney's character was named Everett Ulysses McGill) but took place in … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – The Sound Of Pain And Suffering
A Salute To The Girls of the Golden West
One of the most interesting acts of the early days of country music was a pair of sisters who called themselves the Girls of the Golden West. Rising to popularity via radio in the late 1920s and early 1930s, they found a lot of success on the broadcast waves and in record sales while dressing … Continue reading A Salute To The Girls of the Golden West
Boyd Bennett’s Big Break-Out
Five years ago we featured the Fontane Sisters and mentioned several of their hits, including one that wasn't their biggest but still nearly reached the top of the charts. But the trio's version of 'Seventeen" wasn't the only one to hit high on the charts, and it also wasn't the first. That distinction belongs to … Continue reading Boyd Bennett’s Big Break-Out
Anatomy Of A Song – A George Jones Classic
Most of us probably know by now that country music superstar George Jones has died at age 81. You can find any number of long and detail-rich articles about him (here's a good one), but I thought we'd take a little different approach here on the GMC, by linking him to one of our regular … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Song – A George Jones Classic
Lily May And The Coon Creek Girls
Once in a while I get in the mood for the kind of music that has echoed through the heartland for generations. I can't say that I've always been a fan of it and for that matter a lot of it was really before my time, but the sound is timeless and it has the … Continue reading Lily May And The Coon Creek Girls
Geezer Music Club 