Even though we mostly lived in town while I was growing up, I spent plenty of time in the country because we had lots of relatives living in rural areas. Having regular visits with them meant lots of opportunities for me to see 'good ol' boys', a term that was meant as a compliment. You … Continue reading Good Ol’ Boys – The Musical Kind
Tag: country music
Talkin’ The Talk With Chalk
Looking at pictures of some brightly-colored, amazingly realistic chalk drawings got me to thinking -- not just about the enormous amount of talent shown by the artist, but also about the medium itself. I can remember a couple of 'chalky' experiences in my past, and one of them even involved colored chalk -- blue -- … Continue reading Talkin’ The Talk With Chalk
Singing Partners – Clint And Roy
In the four years I've been doing this blogging thing, I've mentioned Roy Rogers several times. I've written about how Roy was my favorite cowboy star, in a piece I called Saturday Matinees With The King Of The Cowboys, and as recently as last week I related how Western Swing star Spade Cooley imagined that … Continue reading Singing Partners – Clint And Roy
Shame On You, Spade Cooley
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
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
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
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’
Rex Allen – Best Of The Singing Cowboys?
Rex Allen the best singing cowboy? It's certainly a startling thought, especially when you figure that most people would vote for Gene Autry or Roy Rogers. But here's the thing -- Autry himself called Allen the best cowboy among them, and Rogers said he was the best singer by far. So if you add up … Continue reading Rex Allen – Best Of The Singing Cowboys?
Country Songbird Billie Jo Spears
A country songbird I've always enjoyed listening to is Billie Jo Spears, who has had a long career specializing in a blend of honky-tonk and pure country blues. Although she's probably best known for her 1975 chart-topping hit "Blanket on the Ground," she's had several decades of solid success -- albeit with a few snags … Continue reading Country Songbird Billie Jo Spears
Geezer Music Club 