I've attended my share of auctions through the years. When I was a young family man with limited funds I knew it was a good source of everything from furniture to tools, and -- admittedly -- the occasional useless gadget. But even before that, I had been known to place a bid or two and … Continue reading Upping The Bid With Leroy Van Dyke
Tag: country music
Born To Be A Cowboy?
There was a period during my late teens when I was convinced that I'd been born in the wrong time and place. I was sure that I should have been a cowboy. Or maybe the marshal of Dodge City. I was a little unclear on the details, but the whole idea of having been around … Continue reading Born To Be A Cowboy?
Country Songbird Connie Smith
When I write about the music of the past I try to balance my efforts among several different genres, including jazz, oldies, country music, and a few others. But it occurred to me that even within a particular genre I can be neglectful. Case in point -- all my country music features lately seem to … Continue reading Country Songbird Connie Smith
Carl Smith – Anything But Ordinary
Even though his career stretches back for over half a century, Carl Smith is probably not one of the most remembered singing stars from country music's honky-tonk era -- but his ordinary-sounding name might be part of the problem. After all, a moniker like Faron Young or Ferlin Husky tends to be a little more … Continue reading Carl Smith – Anything But Ordinary
Playing Make-Believe
We all like to play make-believe from time to time. It can be fun for everybody involved, and it can be done in a lot of different ways. Sometimes we can even find ourselves playing make-believe in a musical way, but I have to admit that I'm not completely on board with Guitar Hero. I … Continue reading Playing Make-Believe
Jimmy Day And His Blue Darlin’
Steel guitars in all their many variations have long been a fascinating part of music. Named after the steel slide used to alter the pitch of the strings while playing -- not the material of the guitar itself -- the distinctive sound they create has become a familiar part of everything from country music to … Continue reading Jimmy Day And His Blue Darlin’
Songwriter Turned Star – Eddie Rabbitt
Perhaps more than any other genre, country music has always been filled with singing stars who got their start as songwriters. Many worked behind the scenes for years, surviving by furnishing memorable songs to better-known singers before hitting the big time as a performer. A good example would be a guy who wrote a couple … Continue reading Songwriter Turned Star – Eddie Rabbitt
The Many Talents Of Tex Ritter
Maurice Woodward Ritter came by his nickname honestly. Born and raised in the great state of Texas, he had as much right to the name "Tex" as anybody, and it turned out to be an especially good name for someone who would end up having a long career in the public eye. Along the way … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Tex Ritter
Dave Loggins – Kenny’s Talented Cousin
I've written before about how some of the lesser-known relatives of big stars have had nice careers of their own, even if not to the heights of their famous kin. Johnny Cash's brother Tommy is one, and another would be Dave Loggins, whose famous cousin Kenny has certainly made a bigger splash, with countless hit … Continue reading Dave Loggins – Kenny’s Talented Cousin
A Porcine Song With A Message
We can all understand the importance of self-reliance, but how we express the need to take care of ourselves can sometimes be a little baffling to those unfamiliar with a particular idiom. A good example is an expression that's been around for many generations, one that has become so firmly entrenched that it has even … Continue reading A Porcine Song With A Message
Geezer Music Club 