Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to: Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

Tuesday July 8th, 2008

C O U N T R Y    M U S I C    C L A S S I C S

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to:  Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

Thursday July 3rd, 2008

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY   BEHIND  THE  SONG

According to Wayne Walker, there was no great love story or romantic memory behind Jack Greene’s 1967 number one hit, “All The Time.”

Walker said, “There was no idea or story behind that song. Mel Tillis

and I were writing for Cedarwood Music in Nashville and they had

these offices where writers could come in and write.

Mel and I were in the office one day just trying to come up with

anything!

We got the melody for the song because I was singing another song and Mel Was joining in on the harmony. We thought the harmony notes made a great melody for a new song! So that’s how the melody started and the lyrics just seemed to fall into place! At the time we were writing all the time and as many songs as we could…trying to come up with something that would sell! And that song happened to be the one!”

“All The Time” made the country charts April 22nd, 1967 and made it to number one where it stuck for five week!

It was Jack Greene’s 3rd chart single and his second number one.

The song was written by Wayne P. Walker and Mel Tillis and was on the country charts for 20 weeks.

QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

QUESTION:  Do you know anything about Lee Greenwood performing at an inspirational country music award show in Nashville? My daughter heard it mentioned on the radio.

ANSWER: The  14th Annual Inspirational Country Music Award Show  will be held Thursday, October 16^th at Trinity Music City USA Auditorium  in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Collin Raye will host the show as well as performing, along with Wynonna, Charlie Daniels,  Josh Turner, Lee Greenwood, Emerson Drive, Diamond Rio, Randy Owen, and more. For more information, go to http://www.icm-awards.com/

QUESTION:     I know that Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton had a hit on “Rockin’ Years.” The radio folks mentioned that Dolly had recorded that song with George Jones. Is that true?

ANSWER: George and Dolly’s duet on  “Rockin’ Years” is in his new  “GEORGE JONES - BURN YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN” album, to be released on Bandit Records in August.

QUESTION:      I’m searching for information about the Moe Bandy recording’ Hank Williams Wrote My Life” in some kind of Hall Of Fame.” Do you have any info?

ANSWER: Paul Craft , who wrote “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life,” has been nominated for induction into the Nashville  Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

=  =  =  =

PRINT   AND  AUDIO  VERSIONS  OF “STORY BEHIND THE SONG”  NOW AVAILABLE

WHILE THEY LAST: Get our “STORIES BEHIND THE SONG” book, which contains all the “Story Behind The Song” features from our newsletters from 1998 thru 2006…PLUS  the FOUR  CD  “Story Behind The Song” audio package…for  $75……postpaid.

You get all the “Story Behind The Song” newsletter features from 1998 thru 2006 in book form and in audio form for $75….postpaid.

This offer is good thru Pay Pal —or by check or Money Order.

Email your PayPal information to: Classcs@countrymusicclassics.com or send check or money order to:

Doug Davis-Country Music Classics-3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503.

=  =  =  =

QUESTION:      I heard the radio guys talking about one of Merle Haggard’s ex-wives recording an album of his songs. Do you have any details?

ANSWER: “ Leona Williams Sings Merle Haggard,” is currently available at Ernest Tubb Record Shops. In the late 70’s Williams teamed up with Haggard to record “The Bull and the Beaver”; the song became a top ten hit  so they followed it up with an album titled “Heart to Heart.” They married a few years later and  divorced in 1984.

QUESTION:       My neighbor mentioned the guy who had something to do with Tammy Wynette’s records going into the hall of fame. Do you have any information?

ANSWER:          Billy Sherrill, who co-wrote Tammy Wynette’s hit “Stand By Your Man” will be  inducted year into the Musicians Hall of Fame in October in Nashville, Tennessee.

QUESTION:       Do you have any information about Vince Gill and some new golf program?

ANSWER: Vince Gill and Amy Grant will serve as  the Family Golf Month spokes-family for the second consecutive year.  Family Golf Month, held during July at participating facilities nationwide, offers family golf clinics and play days for a nominal fee and provides a structured, yet casual opportunity for families to learn the game of golf together.

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COUNTRY  MUSIC  HITS THIS DAY IN:

1944
Straighten Up and Fly Right - King Cole Trio

1952
That Heart Belongs to Me - Webb Pierce

1960
Please Help Me, I’m Falling - Hank Lockin

1968

D-I-V-O-R-C-E - Tammy Wynette

1976
All These Things - Joe Stampley

1984
I Can Tell by the Way You Dance (You’re Gonna Love Me Tonight) -
Vern Gosdin

^^^^^^^^^

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

compiled by Bill Morrison

Gil Wright “Anita Kerr Singers” born Nashville, TN 1929.

Johnny Lee, born “Johnny Lee Ham” Texas City, TX 1946.

Johnny Cash honorably discharged from the U. S. Air Force, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1954.

Scotty Moore called Elvis and asked if he would like to audition for Sam Phillips at Sun Records 1954.

Johnny Cash recorded “Luther Played The Boogie” 1955.

Aaron Tippin born Pensacola, FL 1958.

Trigger, Roy Rogers’ horse died at age 33, 1965.

John Maddox, age 52, of “Maddox Brothers & Rose” died 1968.

Tom T. Hall recorded “Homecoming/Shoeshine Man” 1969.

Buck Owens & Susan Raye recorded “The Great White Horse”

Bill Monroe and Tommy Jarrell were awarded National Heritage Fellowships 1982.

Allison Krauss became the first bluegrass artist, to join the Grand Ole Opry, in twenty-nine years in 1993.

George Strait’s soundtrack album “Pure Country,” went to #1 1993.

Roy Nichols, age 68, 22-year member of Haggard’s “Strangers,” died Bakersfield, CA 2001.

Johnny Russell, age 61, died 2001. Member Grand Ole Opry.

Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html

Tim Russert was an important unreplacable voice in American journalism. I watched him hold our politicians feet to the fire on many Sunday mornings. He was always a strong voice for honesty and accountability in American government .. but beyond that he was a lovely presence, a good father, husband, and good guy. He was a regular at many E Street Band shows and I’m going to miss looking down and seeing that big smiling face in the crowd.

“We send this out all the way back to the states tonight for his son Luke, his wife Maureen, his dad Big Russ , and all the Russert family.

“Tim , God Bless You, We will miss you…”

C O U N T R Y    M U S I C    C L A S S I C S

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to:  Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

Monday  June 30th, 2008

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY   BEHIND  THE  SONG

A lot of hit songs were written in just a few minutes and according to Sonny Throckmorton, Merle Haggards’s 1980 hit, “The Way I Am”

Sonny commented, “I can’t blame that song on anybody but myself. That was one of those songs  that came in about twenty minutes …as quick as I could find a piece of paper and write it down….it was done. I wrote that song  between Nashville and my home in Lebanon, Tennessee. I was on the freeway and I was just drivin’ along and the song just started coming to me . That song was so easy and so personal  that I really didn’t think that it would be a commercial song. I just didn’t think anybody would want to know “The Way I Am.” But it was something I was really feeling at that time and I had to write it!”

Haggards’ Capitol, records single, “The Way I Am” entered the country music charts March 15^th, 1980 and peaked at # 2, where it stayed for two weeks.

It was his 61^st charted song and was on the charts for 14 weeks.

QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

QUESTION:   Do you know anything about some highway just being named “Rock n’ Roll Road?” My son says he heard it on the radio.

ANSWER: The Tennessee portion of U.S. 45  has been named  “Rockabilly Highway.”
The U.S. highway runs through Presley’s hometown of Tupelo, Miss., and Perkins’ home of Jackson. The entire span of road goes from just north of Mobile, Ala., to Ontonagon, Mich., which is on the shores of Lake Superior. Only the nearly 55-mile section of road from the Mississippi/Tennessee state line to Interstate 40 was named Rockabilly Highway.

QUESTION:     I heard part of  a mention of Darrell McCall and Tony Booth appearing at some sort of benefit concert.  Do you have any information?

ANSWER: Darrell and Mona McCall, Tony Booth, Justin Trevino, Fiddlin’ Frenchie Burke, Heather Myles,  and Curtis Potter will perform at The Heart of Texas Country Music Association’s  benefit show and dance for Kelly Spinks and Miles of Texas on Saturday, July 5, at the Ed Davenport Civic Center in Brady. The event will be staged from 4:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Admission is a suggested $15.00 donation. All proceeds will be given to Kelly Spinks and the Miles of Texas band to help with expenses while the group recovers from injuries sustained in a recent auto accident. For more information about the benefit, log on to www.heartoftexascountry.com.

QUESTION:   Our TV news had a thing about radio stations now paying singers for the use of their recordings. When did that happen?

ANSWER: A U.S. House panel approved legislation Thursday that would require radio station owners such as Clear Channel Communications Inc. to pay singers, other artists and music labels when their songs are played on air. The measure, opposed by traditional broadcasters who would pay the new royalty, needs to win Senate approval and at least two more votes in the House to clear Congress. Thursday it succeeded by a voice vote in the subcommittee on courts, the Internet and intellectual property. The legislation is part of an effort by artists and record labels to find new sources of revenue as CD sales decline. Congress has exempted free radio stations from paying royalties to performers or labels, while songwriters and publishers are paid the fees. Satellite and Internet radio companies pay royalties to performers, labels, publishers and songwriters.
“The current system is not fair and must be changed,” Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee to which the bill now advances, said at Thursday’s subcommittee meeting. “The whole idea is to get some justice for recording artists, musicians and performers.”
A new performance royalty could cost the radio industry as much as $1.7 billion a year, according to an estimate by Wachovia Capital Markets analyst Marci Ryvicker. The legislation contains fee limits for radio stations with annual gross revenues of less than $1.25 million.

=  =  =  =

PRINT   AND  AUDIO  VERSIONS  OF “STORY BEHIND THE SONG”  NOW AVAILABLE

WHILE THEY LAST: Get our “STORIES BEHIND THE SONG” book, which contains all the “Story Behind The Song” features from our newsletters from 1998 thru 2006…PLUS  the FOUR  CD  “Story Behind The Song” audio package…for  $75……postpaid.

You get all the “Story Behind The Song” newsletter features from 1998 thru 2006 in book form and in audio form for $75….postpaid.

This offer is good thru Pay Pal —or by check or Money Order.

Email your PayPal information to: Classcs@countrymusicclassics.com or send check or money order to:

Doug Davis-Country Music Classics-3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503.

=  =  =  =

QUESTION:  Did a member of Bill Anderson’s band pass away? My sister says she heard something about it on radio.

ANSWER: Len “Snuffy” Miller was the drummer in Bill Anderson’s original  Po’ Boys band for six years.  He later played drums for Dottie West and Nat Stuckey, and became a bus driver for the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team.

QUESTION:     I have heard that Merle Haggard is doing a concert at the old Ryman Auditorium. Do you know when?

ANSWER: Merle Haggard played a 75 minute concert  to a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on June 25^th.

QUESTION:   Do you know anything about Waylon Jennings band getting together?
Answer: Former members of Waylon Jennings’ touring band have formed a tribute band, “Waymore’s Outlaws,” featuring singer Tommy Townsend, bass player-tour manager Jerry “Jigger” Bridges, drummer Richie Albright, steel guitarist Fred Newell and guitarist Eugene Moles. The band will make its debut on July 4 in Franklin, Tennessee.

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COUNTRY  MUSIC  HITS THIS DAY IN:

1949
One Kiss Too Many - Eddy Arnold

1957
Four Walls - Jim Reeves

1965
Before You Go - Buck Owens

1973
Don’t Fight the Feelings of Love - Charley Pride

1981
Blessed are the Believers - Anne Murray

1989
I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party - Roseanne Cash

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to:  Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY   BEHIND  THE  SONG

A lot of hit songs came from old sayings, and according to Hank Cochran, Loretta Lynn’s 1977 hit, “Why Can’t He Be You,” was one of those tunes!

Hank commented,  “Loretta Lynn recorded an album, “ I Remember Patsy” and cut that song for that album. And that was Loretta’s second single released off that album. I had written the song as something else and it was right after Patsy had finished a recording session so she wasn’t going to record for awhile.”

“In the meantime Elvis recorded a song that was real close to what I had originally written on that so I re-did what I had from “He’s Not You” to “Why Can’t He Be You.” And the original idea came from that old saying I’ve heard  about somebody saying like, “Yeah he’s a good ole boy—but he’s not you.” But that’s where that idea came from.”

Loretta Lynn’s  Deca Rcord single, “Why Can’t He Be You” entered the country music charts August 6^th, 1977 and peaked at # 7.

Why Can’t He Be You

it was her 50^th charted song and was on the charts for 13 weeks.

QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

QUESTION:  I heard on the radio that one of the Alabama boys was writing a book. Do you have any info?

ANSWER: Alabama’s Randy Owen is writing his autobiography, “Born Country,” to be in bookstores on November 11th to coincide with the release of his first solo album, “One on One”. Owen is co-writing the book with Los Angeles-based author Allen Rucker and the book details Owen’s life as the son of sharecroppers in northern Alabama and his involvement in the formation of Wild Country, the band that was later renamed Alabama. He also discusses the rise of the band’s success and its induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

QUESTION:    Do you know the title of Willie Nelson’s first hit record?

ANSWER:       Willie’s first charted single was “Willingly,” with Shirley Collie, which peaked at # 10 in 1962.

QUESTION:     There was a record on the radio back in the 60’s by a guy singing about “my baby’s on the other side of the washed out bridge and I can’t swim.” It was quite popular at the time. Do you know who had that record?

ANSWER:        “The Bridge Washed Out” was a 1965 # one for Warner McPherson, but the name on the record was “Warner Mack.”

QUESTION:     The radio guys were talking about Ricky Skaggs making bluegrass record out of his old hit songs. What is that about?

ANSWER: Ricky Skaggs has recorded bluegrass versions of his best-known country hits for  “The High Notes,” a new album to be sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Country Stores.  The 12 tracks on The High Notes include 10 of the No. 1 hits he first recorded for Epic Records. Among the titles are “Crying My Heart Out Over You,” “Heartbroke,” “Highway 40 Blues,” “I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could,” “Cajun Moon” and “Country Boy.” The new CD will be available on July 1.

=  =  =  =

PRINT   AND  AUDIO  VERSIONS  OF “STORY BEHIND THE SONG”  NOW AVAILABLE

WHILE THEY LAST: Get our “STORIES BEHIND THE SONG” book, which contains all the “Story Behind The Song” features from our newsletters from 1998 thru 2006…PLUS  the FOUR  CD  “Story Behind The Song” audio package…for  $75……postpaid.

You get all the “Story Behind The Song” newsletter features from 1998 thru 2006 in book form and in audio form for $75….postpaid.

This offer is good thru Pay Pal —or by check or Money Order.

Email your PayPal information to: Classcs@countrymusicclassics.com or send check or money order to:

Doug Davis-Country Music Classics-3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503.

=  =  =  =

QUESTION:   I have heard that Willie Nelson is tearing down his Texas truck-stop. Is that true?

ANSWER: Willie Nelson will be holding a press conference on July 3rd at Willie’s Place at Carl’s Corner, which is 40 miles north of Waco in central Texas. Nelson will discuss rebuilding and expanding the landmark Carl’s Corner truckstop into a roadside oasis and entertainment complex for 21st Century trucking and travel. The new complex will boast the largest fueling station in the nation pumping BioWillie premium biodiesel. It will also include an entertainment complex,  restaurant and clean restrooms and showers for truckers, and wireless Internet service. The facility will also allow for overnight parking for trucks, cars, busses, and Rvs. The event will feature music on three stages with concerts by Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Nelson.

QUESTION:      My sister in law talks about a Tom T. Hall song about a monkey being president. I think I’ve heard all of Tom T.’s songs and I’ve never heard that one. Have you?

ANSWER:      “The Monkey That Became President” scored a # 11 hit for Tom T. Hall in 1972

QUESTION:     One of my old uncles says he remembers working with Webb Pierce in a Sear  store in Louisiana many years ago. Did Pierce ever work in such a store?

ANSWER:        Before placing 96 songs on the country music charts, Webb Pierce worked in a Sears Roebuck store in Shreveport, Louisiana.

COUNTRY  MUSIC  HITS THIS DAY IN:

1946
New Spanish Two Step - Bob Wills

1954
I Don’t Hurt Anymore - Hank Snow

1962
She Thinks I Still Care - George Jones

1970
Hello Darlin’ - Conway Twitty

1978
I’ll Be True to You - The Oak Ridge Boys

1986
Mama’s Never Seen Those Eyes - The Forester Sisters

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

compiled by Bill Morrison

Sarah Ogan Gunning, of the singing Ogan clan, born 1910.

George Morgan born Waverly, TN 1924.

The WWVA Jamboree debuted 1940.

The “Grand Ole Opry” movie, premiered in Nashville, 1940.

Ava Barber born Knoxville, TN 1954.

Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens married 1965.

Merle Haggard recorded “The Bottle Let Me Down,” 1966.

Marty Robbins’ “El Paso City,” went to #1 in 1976.

Rodney Crowell’s single “Ashes By Now” debuted on Billboard’s Top 40 chart 1980.

Edna “Sarie” Wilson died 1994.

Bear Family released Don Gibson’s “Singer Songwriter, 1961-1966″ 1994.

The Country Radio Broadcasters awarded Buck Owens their Career Achievement Award in 2001. Brad Paisley made the presentation.

Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/ Editor/Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer
Email to:  Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY   BEHIND  THE  SONG

Several hit songs were written on airplanes and according to Bill Anderson, Connie Smith’s 1970 hit, “I Never Once Stopped Loving You” was one of those tunes!

Bill commented, “We were flying home from Asheville, North Carolina. A fraternity brother of mine from college had a private plane and this was back in the days when Conway Twitty still lived in Oklahoma City and he was traveling in a private plane. We ended this tour in Asheville, North Carolina and we were coming back to Nashville and Conway was going home to Oklahoma City. I had this lyric idea and I took out my guitar and started strumming it. And Jan Howard started coming up with the melody. And we looked out the window and we were flying really close to Conway’s plane. So I called him on the radio and told him we  were over here writing a song, and to listen to it and see if he thought  it was any good. So Jan Howard sang Conway that song on the radio from our airplane to his airplane. And when we got thru he said he was gonna record that. And he did record it but before he did, Connie Smith cut it and had a big hit on it. But the first time that song was sung, it was about 20,000 feet over the Smokie Mountains.”

Connie Smith’s RCA Victor single, “I Never Once Stopped Loving You” entered the country music charts May 16^th, 1970 and peaked at # 5.

It was her 19^th charted song and was on the charts for 16 weeks.

QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

QUESTION:   Are you familiar with a singer named Wayne Kemp? My new neighbor is a big fan of his and I never heard of the guy.

ANSWER:       In addition to writing hit songs for other artists, Wayne Kemp placed 24 songs on the country charts between 1969 and 1986, the biggest hit being “Honky Tonk Wine,” in 1973.

QUESTION:   I heard that Ed Bruce was performing at some type of benefit. Do you have any information?

ANSWER: Amy Grant, Ed Bruce, performed  at the recent Terry and Carmen Thompson Benefit at The Factory at Franklin, Tennessee. The benefit was to help the Thompsons’ get into a wheelchair accessible home, because Carman suffered extensive spinal injuries last year.

QUESTION:   The radio folks were talking about the home of Johnny Cash’s parents being for sale. Where is that?

ANSWER: The home where Johnny Cash’s parents used to live is for sale on eBay. The current owner is asking about 1.4 million dollars for the four bedroom, three bath home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. Included in the sale are some Cash memorabilia: Cash’s Guitar, a one of a kind Gold Record of “I Walk the Line,” a life-size Bronze Bust of Cash, a gold locket that opens to reveal pictures of Cash and wife June Carter Cash, a gift from Johnny to his mother. Each of the items comes with a notarized certificate of authenticity by Johnny Cash’s brother Tommy Cash. Cash’s parents’ home sits across the street from the site of the mansion where Johnny and June Carter Cash lived. Their mansion burned down in 2007.

=  =  =  =

PRINT   AND  AUDIO  VERSIONS  OF “STORY BEHIND THE SONG”  NOW AVAILABLE

WHILE THEY LAST: Get our “STORIES BEHIND THE SONG” book, which contains all the “Story Behind The Song” features from our newsletters from 1998 thru 2006…PLUS  the FOUR  CD  “Story Behind The Song” audio package…for  $75……postpaid.

You get all the “Story Behind The Song” newsletter features from 1998 thru 2006 in book form and in audio form for $75….postpaid.

This offer is good thru Pay Pal —or by check or Money Order.

Email your PayPal information to: Classcs@countrymusicclassics.com or send check or money order to:

Doug Davis-Country Music Classics-3702 Pleasant Grove Road-Texarkana, Texas 75503.

QUESTION:     Whatever happened to the deal where some psychic guy was trying to buy one of Elvis Presley’s homes?

ANSWER:        Psychic Uri Geller  lost a federal lawsuit over Elvis Presley’s first house in Memphis. Geller and two partners claimed the former owners breached an eBay contract to sell the home. Geller’s group had the top bid at just over $905,000. But when his group changed the real estate contract to give the owners 60 days to move, the owners took a better deal from Nashville record producer Mike Curb. He bought the house for a million dollars. A federal judge says the eBay auction wasn’t binding. Curb plans to let Rhodes College use the building for a music institute. Presley bought the four-bedroom house in 1956 with his early song royalties. He lived there with his parents and grandmother for 13 months before throngs of fans forced them to move to more secluded Graceland in 1957..

QUESTION:    Do you