Issue No 13 | March 2022www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukEXPRESSCOUNTRY MUSICAlso Inside:Bill MonroeWaylon HanelBy Jim NewcombeStars & Their GuitarsCountry Round-upTools Of The TradeAnd So Much More...HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAYLORETTA LYNNApril 14th 2022Also Featuring:JIM THOMPSONSongwriter,Entrepreneur,Inventor
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 02COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSIssue No 13 | Mar 2022In This Edition06 Country Round-up Jane Shields10 The Legendary.... Bill Monroe14 7522 Hit MakerRadio Gethesmane On TV16 Bakersfield SoundJane Shields20 Jim Thompson Songwriter .....22 Spotlight OnCasey Donahew24 Tools Of The TradeJane Shields26 Bob Stetson Empty House27Stars & Their GuitarsPaul George28 Magical Mystery CruiseCarlow Counrty Radio30 BSM - Geoff WilliamsBSM - Bailie Perrie32 Ones To WatchWrite Away Ad34 Loretta Lynn By Rick Cornett Happy Birthday to The Queen Of Country.44 BSM - Gene B FishBSM - Vanessa Bourne46 Mark Taylor Acoustic I’m Down48 WoodystockBlues Festival50 Cosmic American Derelicts52 Tim KellyIndie Country Radio54 BSM - Clayton SaundersBSM - Glenn Levi56 MFWPR - Love Will... Jimmie Allen 58 Country Music PodcastAnthony Resta60 Locash Beach Boys62 Reflections By Paul Gethsemaine Radio64 Clayton Saunders By Vanessa Bourne66 Andrea Vasquez Made Me Cry68 Eric Paslay The Driver70 Sunday Morning CountryContentsON THE COVER*Photo Credit Earl Dormer*Celebrating Loretta Lynn’s 90th Birthday
03 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukContentsPage 46Page 26Page 2003 |Bob Stetson
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 04It’s no doubt that we have a very special edition of Country Music Express this month. The main reason being our cover story, the celebration of Loretta Lynn’s 90th birthday. Yes, the Country Legend is 90 years young and still looking amazing. All of us here wish Loretta the very best wishes and may there be many more to come.Also on the cover this month is songwriter, entrepreneur and inventor, Jim Thompson. Jane also has a great tribute on the legendary Bill Munroe and also the Bakersville sound.I have had a good month with ‘Stars and their Guitars’ featuring one of my influences and favourite guitarists, the very excellent Ry Cooder. Ok, I hear you all saying “He’s not strictly Country”, well, he’s not strictly blues either. I kind of see him as someone who sits in the middle playing blues slide in a country, or even a western style. But it’s his wacky guitars that really interest me, the machine that give that distinctive tremelo infused relaxed sound. Believe it or not, it’s only when I wrote this piece that I learnt that his stratocaster had a bigsby tremelo system. That probably doesn’t mean too much to non playing folk but to us string-heads, we gasp in disbelief. Anyway enough about that.Also in this months issue, Jane continues her ‘Tools of the Trade’ with a great feature on the Dobro guitar. There is a ‘Spotlight on Casey Donahue and features on Bob Stetson, Mark Taylor, Cosmic American, Andrea Vasquez and plenty more including all of our regular features.So let’s celebrate with this issue but we also ask you to give a moments thought for those suffering in Ukraine and those forced to become refugees by this terrible war currently being raged. Take care all and keep safe until next month. Paul xEditors NotesSUBSCRIBE TODAYGetCOUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSdelivered to your inbox every month completely free.CLICK HERE OR GO TO WWW.COUNTRYMUSICEXPRESS.CO.UKCOUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSMonthly MagazineEditorsPaul GeorgeJane ShieldsRegular ContributorsStephen Wade CrounseJim NewcombeFrank WestcotteClare SteffenShane O FearghailRadio Platform Supplied By:Tim KellyKIRC Indie Country Radiohttps://www.kicrindiecountryradio.com/Contact CME:Email: [email protected]: www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukCopyright © 2021 Country Music ExpressAll rights reserved. This publication or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.Produced by ShapeMag Media, UK.www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk
05 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukThe Country ChartsOfficial Country Charts 18th - 24th March010204050607080910Ten Year PlanShireYoutube linksBloor StreetKiefer SutherlandYoutube linkAll The Good TimesWelch & RawlingsYoutube linkThe official Country Top 10 compiled by www.officialcharts.com during week of magazine production. Weekends Look A Little DifferentBrett YoungYoutube linkNever WillAshley McBrideYoutube link29 Written In StoneCarly PearceYoutube linkFearlessTaylor SwiftYoutube linkStarcrossedKacey MusgravesYoutube linkRun Rose RunDolly PartonYoutube linkWhat You See Is What You GetLuke CombsYoutube link03
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 06Forbert is “Moving Through America” February 18, 2022 - Folk/roots rock singer Steve Forbert will release “Moving Through America” on May 13 on Blue Rose Records. Forbert will be touring extensively for the album, including UK dates Forbert offer glimpses into the everyday lives of his characters: a dog running from the sky’s thunderclaps; ...Nelson cancels 10 shows, cites COVID concerns February 18, 2022 - Willie Nelson is canceling 10 concerts in March and April due to COVID concerns, according to Billboard. “We are canceling our indoor headline shows until the COVID situation improves, as the safety of the audience and Willie and his touring personnel are of the utmost importance,”...The Sadies’ Dallas Good passes away February 20, 2022 - Dallas Good, guitarist for long-running Canadian country band The Sadies died on Thursday at 48. Good formed the band, which combined country with rock, along with his brother Travis, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky. “It’s with unfathomable sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dallas on February 17th ...ACM radio winners announced February 21, 2022 - The The Academy of Country Music revealed today Radio Award winners for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, including The Bud And Broadway Show for National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year. The main show will be held March 7 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The two-hour show will stream live ...Hunt’s wife files for divorce againFebruary 23, 2022 - Sam Hunt’s pregnant wife has filed for divorce again. Hannah Lee Fowler filed last week in Davidson County, but withdrew the paperwork because she had filed in the wrong Tennessee County. She refiled the divorce papers in adjacent Williamson County. Hunt and Fowler had not previously said she wa pregnant, ...Cooke exits Runaway June ebruary 24, 2022 - Runaway June has lost another original member. Lead singer Naomi Cooke said via Instagram that she was going solo and leaving the trio, the second band member to leave in two years. Hannah Mulholland left the fold in 2020. The band apparently will continue. “I am incredibly excited ...Kat & Alex “Want It All” February 25, 2022 - Country-Latin duo Kat & Alex debuted their new song “I Want It All” today along with the accompanying music video. “’I Want It All’ is a song about promising someone who has had their heart broken that you’re going to be there for them no matter how hard life gets. Loving someone isn’t just about all ...Pardi “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” on tour February 25, 2022 - Jon Pardi announced today his “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” tour named after his song of the same name. The tour kicks off in Irving, Texas on July 14 and runs through Oct. 1 with a headlining show at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater. Lainey Wilson and Hailey Whitters will open the shows. ...Green offers up “Good Ol’ Man”February 25, 2022 - Drew Green released the autobiographical track, “Good Ol’ Man,” the singer/songwriter’s first release of 2022. The song was penned by Green, Josh Miller, Lee Star and producer of the track, Mark Trussell. “We wrote this song when I was new at being a father,” said Green. “When we came up with the line “good ol’ boy, trying to be a good ol’ man,” it really stood out. ...Allen goes “Down Home” Monday, February 28, 2022 – Jimmie Allen’s new single “Down Home” arrives March 8 via Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group. “Down Home” is the lead single from Allen’s forthcoming third album.co-written by Allen, Cameron Bedell, Rian Ball abd Tate Howell, “Down Home” takes shape as a letter to his late father James, who passed away in 2019 ...country music country music ‘round-up’‘round-up’of the past monthof the past month
07 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukThe Chicks return to the road February 28, 2022 - The Chicks announced their return to the road with The Chicks Tour, set for this summer 2022. The 27-city tour kicks off on June 14 in St. Louis with stops across North America including Chicago, Toronto, Boston and two nights in Los Angeles before wrapping up in George, Wash. at The Gorge on Aug. 13. ...Brooks & Dunn reboots Monday, February 28, 2022 – Brooks & Dunn are returning to arenas with their REBOOT 2022 TOUR, it was announced today. Kicking off in Evansville, Ind. May 5, the tour will see the duo hit some cities and venues for the first time in over a decade, and some in over 20 years. Openers include Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Riley Green, Walker Hayes and Jon Pardi ...Pearce, Brown set to join Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Monday, February 28, 2022 – Carly Pearce will lead a group to be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Grand Ole Opry background vocalist Norah Lee Allen, Steel Guitar Hall of Famer Tommy White, “I’m From the Country” hit songwriter Marty Brown and posthumously, Bluegrass songwriter Pete Goble and master guitarist and producer Paul Yandell also will join the 16-track album features collaborations with Eric hall ...Dean goes for “Greenbroke” February 28, 2022 - Maryland artist Jackson Dean makes his debut with “Greenbroke” March 11 on Big Machine, the label announced today. Dean helped write all 10 songs on the disc, which was produced by Luke Dick. Dean considered four labels before going with 57th ACM Awards on Monday. Brown co-wrote Big Machine. “I don’t know what I thought it would be,” he said. ...Strings extends tour March 1, 2022 - Billy Strings will continue his headline tour through this summer with newly confirmed shows in New York, Baltimore and Minneapolis. The ace bluegrass guitarist is nominated in two categories at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Best Bluegrass Album (Renewal) and Best American Roots Performance (“Love and Regret”) . ...King, Lambert receive surprise of Platinum plaques March 2, 2022 - Elle King and Miranda Lambert were surprised with RIAA Platinum Certification plaques for their Top 10 smash hit “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” on Monday in Nashville while King was in town on Monday for a concert at the Ryman. The show featured surprise performances from Dierks Bentley, ...Church announces stadium gig in Minneapolis March 2, 2022 - Eric Church announced his second headlining stadium show this summer, with “One Hell of a Night in Minneapolis” set for June 11 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Morgan Wallen and ERNEST will open the show. Church broke the news to his Church Choir fan club last night,. The update follows Church’s recent news ...Marlowe shows his “Steady Heart” March 3, 2022 - Kameron Marlowe released a music video for his ballad “Steady Heart.” Directed by Jeff Johnson, the video was inspired in part by his parents’ 30-plus-year marriage. “We wanted to do something different with this video and dig a little deeper into what this song could mean to others,” said Marlowe. ...Janson says he’s “All In” come late April March 3, 2022 - Chris Janson said today that his fourth studio album, “All In,” will be out onApril 29. The Church and Travis Tritt, as well as co-writes with Church, Ashley Gorley, David Lee Murphy, Rhett Akins, Casey Beathard and Dallas Davidson. ...Brown shows love for “Leave You Alone” March 4, 2022 - Kane Brown released a new song “Leave You Alone,” and is set to perform it on the “Leave You Alone” with Jordan Minton and Jordan Schmidt, and Dann Huff produced. The song is presumably from a forthcoming album....Rhett contemplates “Death Row”March 4, 2022 - Thomas Rhett dropped a new song today, “Death Row,” from his forthcoming album “Where We Started. The song features Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Russell Dickerson. Rhett writes of visiting prisoners on death row and what we can learn from them....Tenpenny enjoys “The Low Light Sessions”March 4, 2022 - Mitchell Tenpenny announced today that he would release “The Low Light Sessions EP” on April 15. The EP’s first track “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades” is available today. Tenpenny wrote Country Music Round-Up
country music country music ‘round-up’‘round-up’of the past monthof the past month| 08www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukor co-wrote all eight songs ...McCollum, Wilson win ACM new artist honors March 4, 2022 - Parker McCollum and Lainey Wilson were crowned this year’s Academy of Country Music’s New Male and New Female Artist of the Year respectively today. Each will also perform at this year’s ceremony on Monday night in Las Vegas. Miranda Lambert told Wilson the news via a video chat ...Parton runs with new release March 4, 2022 - Dolly Parton, released her latest album, “Run, Rose, Run.” The album serves as a companion to the original novel, “Run, Rose, Run,” co-authored by James Patterson and Parton, due March 7. The disc is broken into A and B sides of six songs each. Bluegrass band Cedar Hill is out with “New Chapter” on Mountain Fever. ...Bush goes for “52” at 52 March 6, 2022 - Kristian Bush of Sugarland will go the solo route again. Turning 52 on March 14 , Bush will offer a 52-song, release , “52,” in four volumes. The first collection, “52 - ATL X BNA,” highlights Nashville’s country storytelling coupled with Atlanta’s R&B recording methods and will be available March 25 ...Songwriter Jimbeau Hinson passes away March 6, 2022 - Singer-songwriter Jimbeau Hinson, who wrote songs for The Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee and others, passed away Friday at 70. In July 2021, ye underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and suffered a stroke as a result ...Morris announces tour March 7, 2022 - Maren Morris will launch her U.S. headline in June with stops at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Morris will tour behind her upcoming release, “Humble Quest,” which drops March 25 on Sony Music Nashville’s ...Carpenter slates summer tour, dates with Emmylou March 7, 2022 - Mary Chapin Carpenter will embark on a headline tour this summer with shows in San Francisco, Denver, Boston and Nashville. Carpenter will also perform select co-headline dates with Emmylou Harris this summer including stops at Charlottesville, Va.’s Sprint Pavilion, Vienna ...ACM awards: Lambert wins Entertainer of the Year March 7, 2022 - Miranda Lambert won the biggest honor at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday - Entertainer of the Year. Lambert wasn’t in the house at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas because she was in London for shows. “Oh my gosh,” said Lambert. “I cannot believe I’m not there to celebrate. ...McCalla is “Breaking the Thermometer” March 7, 2022 - Leyla McCalla’s upcoming album “Breaking The Thermometer,” will be out May 8 on Anti-. The album explores the legacy of Radio Haiti—Haiti’s first radio station to report the news in Haitian Creole plus the journalists who risked and lost their lives to broadcast it for nearly 50 years. ...Allen goes “Down Home” everywhere March 8, 2022 - Jimmie Allen’s new single “Down Home” is out now via Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group. “Down Home” is the lead single from Allen’s forthcoming third album. Allen performed the song for the first time at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards last night, which streamed live globally on Prime Video. ...For Townes, it’s all about “Masquerades” March 9, 2022 - Tenille Townes will release a new EP, “Masquerades,” on April 22 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. The Canadian singer also announced a United Kingdome/European tour, set to kick off in October. The six-date run, some of which is part of UK Country Music ...
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk09 |Country Music Round-UpPraise the Lord, BRELAND releases new song March 9, 2022 - BRELAND’s new song, “Praise the Lord,” which he unveiled at the Academy of Country Music awards on Monday with Thomas Rhett, is out now. “I knew when I wrote this song that Thomas Rhett had to be on it, and I wouldn’t put it out until I had him,” said BRELAND. ...Lambert rides “Palomino” March 10, 2022 - Fresh off her win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert announced today she would release “Palomino,” on April 29. The collection contains 15 songs, 14 of which Lambert helped write. The song “Strange” is already out. Co-producer Luke Dick hand a hand in nine of the songs, ...Bobbie Nelson, Willie’s pianist and sister, passes away March 10, 2022 - Bobbie Nelson, Willie Nelson’s sister and pianist, passed away this morning at 91. Nelson passed away “peacefully and surrounded by family,” according to a publicist. No cause of death was given. Her elegance, grace, beauty and talent made this world a better place. ...McCollum plays it Strait March 11, 2022 - Parker McCollum, the newly awarded ACM New Male Artist of the Year, is releasing a cover of the George Strait classic, “Carrying Your Love With Me.” McCollum, a Texas native, has cited Strait as a big influence. “Impossible to truly do this song justice but when I got the opportunity to ...Eli Young Band announces “Love Talking” March 11, 2022 - Eli Young Band will release “Love Talking” (The Valory Music Co.) on June 3. The title track already has been released with “Break Up In A Bar” now out as well. EYB also will launch the 52-city Love Talking Tour with dates through late August. “We really wanted to find the positivity in what we got ...ERNEST, White, Ivey, Dean release new soundsMarch 11, 2022 - Ernest Keith Smith, better known as ERNEST, is out with “Flower Shop (The Album).” The title track was recorded as a single with Morgan Wallen. Ernest, a Nashville native, has penned songs for Chris Lane and Jake Owen, which led to a deal with their label, Big Loud. voices have pushed the genre forward with little He later wrote the hits ...Sheryl doc yields CD March 11, 2022 - On March 11, a full-length documentary film directed by Amy Scott, “Sheryl,” Sheryl Crow’s life and career, will premiere at SXSW, ahead of a spring premiere on SHOWTIME. In conjunction, UMe/Big Machine Records will release a new album, “Sheryl: Music From The Feature Documentary,” digitally and on two CDs on May 6. ...Houser sends out “Note to Self” March 11, 2022 - Randy Houser delivers the first taste of new music since 2019’s “Magnolia” with the release of “Note To Self” on his new Magnolia record label. “We spent a lot of time writing over the last couple of years, and this is one of the first songs that we cut,” said Houser. “I knew it was special as it came ...Chesney goes to video with “Everyone She Knows” March 11, 2022 - Kenny Chesney is out with a video for “Everyone She Knows.” The song is the current single – the fifth – off his 2020 release “Here And Now.” Working with longtime creative collaborator Shaun Silva of Tacklebox Films, the pair crafted a mini-movie that follows a single ...Jackson puts out Last Call March 14, 2022 - Alan Jackson will tour starting this summer with the “Last Call: One More For The Road Tour” set to hit 16 cities. The tour starts June 24 in Mississippi and and concludes in Pittsburgh on Oct. 8. “I’ve always admired my heroes like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and ...Brad Martin dies at 48 March 14, 2022 - Brad Martin, who had a top 15 hit in 2002 with “Before I Knew Better,” died on Friday at 48. Martin released one album, “Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel,” that same year. No cause of death was indicated. John Ramey, who played music with Martin later in his career, posted on Facebook, ...Amazon unveils doc on Black country artists March 16, 2022 - “For Love & Country,” an Amazon Music documentary about Black artists in country music, will be released April 7. “The genre not only owes part of its origin story to Black musicians, but through its history, prominent Black recognition
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 10William Smith Monroe; September 13 1911, – September 9, 1996) was an American mandolinist, singer, and songwriter, who created the bluegrass music genre. Because of this, he is often called the “Father of Bluegrass”.The genre takes its name from his band, the Blue Grass Boys, who named their group for the bluegrass of Monroe’s home state of Kentucky. Monroe’s performing career spanned 69 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader.Monroe was born on his family’s farm near Rosine, Kentucky, United States, the youngest of eight children of James Buchanan “Buck” and Malissa (Vandiver) Monroe. His mother and her brother, Pendleton “Pen” Vandiver, were both musically talented, and Monroe and his family grew up playing and singing at home. Bill was of Scottish and English heritage. Because his older brothers Birch and Charlie already played the fiddle and guitar, Bill was resigned to playing the less desirable mandolin. He recalled that his brothers insisted that he remove four of the mandolin’s eight strings so he would not play too loudly.Monroe’s mother died when he was ten, and his father died six years later. By and by his brothers and sisters moved away, leaving Monroe to bounce between uncles and aunts until finally settling in with his disabled uncle Pendleton Vandiver, whom he often accompanied when Vandiver played the fiddle at dances. This experience inspired one of Monroe’s most famous compositions, “Uncle Pen”, recorded in 1950, and the 1972 album Bill Monroe’s Uncle Pen. On that album, Monroe recorded a number of traditional fiddle tunes he had often heard performed by Vandiver. Vandiver has been credited with giving Monroe “a repertoire of tunes that sank into Bill’s aurally trained memory and a sense of rhythm that seeped into his bones.” Also significant in Monroe’s musical life was Arnold Shultz, an influential fiddler and guitarist who introduced Monroe to the blues.In 1929, Monroe moved to Indiana to work at an oil refinery with his brothers Birch and Charlie, and childhood friend and guitarist William “Old Hickory” Hardin. Together with a friend Larry Moore, they formed the “Monroe Brothers”, to play at local dances and house parties.Birch and Moore soon left the group, and Bill and Charlie carried on as a duo, eventually winning spots performing live on radio stations, first in Indiana and then, sponsored by Texas Crystals, on several radio broadcasts in Shenandoah, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and North Carolina from 1934 to 1936. RCA Victor signed the Monroe Brothers to a recording contract in 1936. They scored an immediate hit single with the gospel song “What Would You Give in Exchange For Your Soul?” and ultimately recorded 60 tracks for Victor’s Bluebird label between 1936 and 1938.After the Monroe Brothers disbanded in 1938, Bill Monroe formed The Kentuckians in Little Rock, Arkansas, but the group only lasted for three months. Monroe then left Little Rock for Atlanta, Georgia, to form the first edition of the Blue Grass Boys, with singer/guitarist Cleo Davis, fiddler Art Wooten, and bassist Amos Garren. Bill had wanted William Hardin to become one of the original members of his Blue Grass Boys, however he had to decline.In October 1939, Monroe successfully auditioned for a regular spot on the Grand Ole Opry, impressing Opry founder George D. Hay with his energetic performance of Jimmie Rodgers’s “Mule Skinner Blues”. Monroe recorded that song, along with seven others, at his first solo recording session for RCA Victor in 1940; by this time, the Blue Grass Boys consisted of singer/guitarist Clyde Moody, fiddler Tommy Magness, and bassist Bill Wesbrooks.While the fast tempos and instrumental virtuosity characteristic of bluegrass music are apparent even on these early tracks, Monroe was still experimenting with the sound of his group. He seldom sang lead vocals on his Victor recordings, often preferring to contribute high tenor harmonies as he had in the Monroe Brothers. A 1945 session for Columbia Records featured an accordion, soon dropped from the band. Most importantly, Monroe added banjo player David “Stringbean” Akeman to the Blue Grass Boys in 1942. Akeman played the instrument in a relatively primitive style and was rarely featured in instrumental solos. Monroe’s pre-1946 recordings represent a transitional style between the string-band tradition from which he came and the musical innovation to follow.Key developments occurred in Monroe’s music with the addition of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs to the Blue Grass Boys in December 1945. Flatt played a solid rhythm guitar style that would help to set the course for bluegrass timing. Scruggs played the banjo with a distinctive three-finger picking style that immediately caused a sensation among Opry audiences. Flatt and Scruggs joined a highly accomplished group that included fiddler Howdy Forrester and bassist Joe Forrester and would soon include fiddler Chubby Wise and bassist Howard Watts, who often performed under the name “Cedric Rainwater”. In retrospect, this line-up of the Blue Grass Boys has been dubbed the “Original Bluegrass Band”, as the music finally included all the elements that characterize bluegrass music, including breakneck tempos, sophisticated vocal harmony Country Music LegendCountry Music LegendBill MonroeBill Monroe
11 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukBill MonroePhotographerBrayln Kellyarrangements, and impressive instrumental proficiency demonstrated in solos or “breaks” on the mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. By this time, Monroe had acquired the 1923 Gibson F5 model “Lloyd Loar” mandolin, which became his Hide”. Carter Stanley joined the Blue Grass Boys as guitarist trademark instrument for the remainder of his career.The 28 songs recorded by this version of the Blue Grass Boys for Columbia Records in 1946 and 1947 soon became classics of the genre, including “Toy Heart”, “Blue Grass Breakdown Molly and Tenbrooks”, “”, “Wicked Path of Sin My Rose of Old Kentucky”, “”, “Little Cabin Home on the Hill”, and Monroe’s most famous song “Blue Moon of Kentucky”. The last-named was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1954, appearing as the B-side of his first single for Sun Records. Monroe gave his blessing to Presley’s rock and roll cover of the song, originally a slow ballad in waltz time, and re-recorded it himself with a faster arrangement after Presley’s version became a hit.Several gospel-themed numbers are credited to the “Blue Grass Quartet”, which featured four-part vocal arrangements accompanied solely by mandolin and guitar – Monroe’s usual practice when performing “sacred” songs.Both Flatt and Scruggs left Monroe’s band in early 1948, soon forming their own group, the Foggy Mountain Boys. In 1949, after signing with Decca Records, Monroe entered what has been called the “golden age” of his career with what many consider the classic “high lonesome” version of the Blue Grass Boys, featuring the lead vocals and rhythm guitar of Jimmy Martin, the banjo of Rudy Lyle (replacing Don Reno), and fiddlers such as Merle “Red” Taylor, Charlie Cline, Bobby Hicks, William Hicks and Vassar Clements. This band recorded a number of bluegrass classics, including “My Little Georgia Rose”, “On and On”, “Memories of Mother and Dad”, and “Uncle Pen”, as well as instrumentals such as “Roanoke”, “Big Mon”, “Stoney Lonesome”, “Get Up John”, and the mandolin feature “Raw for a short time in 1951 during a period when The Stanley Brothers had temporarily disbanded.On January 16, 1953, Monroe was critically injured in a two-car wreck. He and “Bluegrass Boys” bass player, Bessie Lee Mauldin, were returning home from a fox hunt north of Nashville. On highway 31-W, near White House, their car was struck by a drunken driver. Monroe, who had suffered injuries to his back, left arm and nose, was rushed to General Hospital in Nashville. It took him almost four months to recover and resume touring. In the meantime Charlie Cline and Jimmy Martin kept the band together.By the late 1950s, however, Monroe’s commercial fortunes had begun to slip. The rise of rock-and-roll and the development of the “Nashville sound” in mainstream country music both represented threats to the viability of bluegrass. While still a mainstay on the Grand Ole Opry, Monroe found diminishing success on the singles charts, and struggled to keep his band together in the face of declining demand for live performances.Monroe’s fortunes began to improve during the American folk music revival of the early 1960s. Many college students and other young people were beginning to discover Monroe, associating his style more with traditional folk music than with the country-and-western genre with which it had previously been identified.The word “bluegrass” first appeared around this time to describe the sound of Monroe and similar artists such as Flatt and Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, Reno and Smiley, Jim and Jesse, and the Osborne Brothers. While Flatt and Scruggs immediately recognized the potential for a lucrative new audience in cities and on college campuses in the North, Monroe was slower to respond. Under the influence of Ralph Rinzler, a young musician and folklorist from New Jersey who briefly became Monroe’s manager in 1963, Monroe gradually expanded his geographic reach beyond the traditional southern country music circuit. Rinzler was also responsible for a lengthy profile and interview in the influential folk music magazine Sing Out! that first publicly referred to Monroe as the “father” of bluegrass. Accordingly, at the first bluegrass festival organized by Carlton Haney at Roanoke, Virginia in 1965, Bill Monroe was the central figure.In 1964, before the Grateful Dead got together, Jerry Garcia caravanned across the country from California to tag along with Monroe.The growing national popularity of Monroe’s music during the 1960s was also apparent in the increasingly diverse background of musicians recruited into his band. Non-southerners who served as Blue Grass Boys during this
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 12period included banjo player Bill Keith and singer/guitarist Peter Rowan from Massachusetts, fiddler Gene Lowinger from New Jersey, banjo player Lamar Grier from Maryland, banjo player Steve Arkin from New York, and singer/guitarist Roland White and fiddler Richard Greene from California.Even after the folk revival faded in the mid-1960s, it left a loyal audience for bluegrass music. Bluegrass festivals became common, with fans often traveling long distances to see a number of different acts over several days of performances.In 1967, Monroe himself founded an annual bluegrass festival at Bean Blossom in southern Indiana, a park he had purchased in 1951, which routinely attracted a crowd of thousands; a double LP from the festival featuring Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Lester Flatt, and Jim and Jesse was released in 1973. The annual Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival is now the world’s oldest continuously running annual bluegrass festival.Monroe’s compositions during his later period were largely instrumentals, including “Jerusalem Ridge”, “Old Dangerfield” (originally spelled Daingerfield after the town in East Texas), and “My Last Days on Earth”; he settled into a new role as a musical patriarch who continued to influence younger generations of musicians. Monroe recorded two albums of duets in the 1980s; the first featured collaborations with country stars such as Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, and The Oak Ridge Boys, while the second paired him with other prominent bluegrass musicians. A 1989 live album celebrated his 50th year on the Grand Ole Opry. Monroe also kept a hectic touring schedule. On April 7, 1990, Monroe performed for Farm Aid IV in Indianapolis, Indiana along with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and with many other artists.Monroe’s last performance occurred on March 15, 1996. He ended his touring and playing career in April, following a stroke. Monroe died on September 9, 1996, in Springfield, Tennessee, four days before his 85th birthday.Bill Monroe was made an honorary Kentucky Colonel in 1966. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an “early influence”) in 1997. Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Hank Williams Sr., and Johnny Cash are the only other performers honored in all three. As the “father of bluegrass”, he was also an inaugural inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1991. Monroe was a recipient of a 1982 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. That year’s fellowships were the first bestowed by the NEA. In 1993, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1995. His well-known song “Blue Moon of Kentucky” has been covered not only by bluegrass but also rock and country artists, most notably Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and Patsy Cline. In 2003, CMT had Bill Monroe ranked No. 16 on CMT 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.Artists that claimed to be influenced by or to be playing the bluegrass genre were often bullied by Bill Monroe. He always considered himself the father and caretaker of bluegrass. He would often say of new bands that did not perform to his standards, “That ain’t no part of nothin’.” Even those who question the scope of bluegrass refer to Monroe as a “musical giant” and recognize that “there would be no bluegrass without Bill Monroe.”More than 150 musicians played in the Blue Grass Boys over the nearly 60 years of Monroe’s performing career. Monroe tended to recruit promising young musicians who served an apprenticeship with him before becoming accomplished artists in their own right. Some of Monroe’s band members who went on to greater prominence include singer/guitarists Clyde Moody, Lester Flatt, Jack Cook, Mac Wiseman, Jimmy Martin, Carter Stanley, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Roland White, Roland Dunn and Doug Green; banjo players Earl Scruggs, Buck Trent, Don Reno, Stringbean, Sonny Osborne, and Bill Keith; and fiddlers Tommy Magness, Chubby Wise, Vassar Clements, Byron Berline, Kenny Baker, Bobby Hicks, Gordon Terry, Randall Franks and Glen Duncan. Monroe also regularly performed with flat-picking guitar virtuoso Doc Watson.Modern bluegrass singer and mandolin player Ricky Skaggs was influenced by Monroe. Skaggs was only six years old, in 1960, when he first got to perform on stage with Monroe and his band at the high school in Martha, Kentucky. He stated, “I think Bill Monroe’s importance to American music is as important as someone like Robert Johnson was to blues, or Louis Armstrong. He was so influential: I think he’s probably the only musician that had a whole style of music named after his band.”In 1999, the portion of Indiana State Road 135 running from Morgantown through to Nashville, Indiana was dedicated to Bill Monroe and is known as the Bill Monroe Memorial Highway.Country Music LegendCountry Music LegendBill MonroeBill Monroe
13 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukw w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.ukBill Monroe
13 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukBluegrass RootsEXCLUSIVE TV APPEARANCE OFFERFOR OUR READERS COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSTEAM WITH GETHSEMANE ON TVGethsemane On TV’ has been Nominated for a prestigious Antenna Award. Our Show airs every Sunday, Monday, Thursday & Saturday in Australia, America and around the World. This half hour show will feature just ONE Guest Artist each week as I want to give the Guest Artist maximum time in the Spotlight.Your Appearance will include 2 songs plus a reasonable introduction of you introducing yourself to the show (about 2-3 minutes) or possibly an interview. I’ll need 3 High Quality Videos in Widescreen format (Landscape). 1 would involve your introduction and the other 2 would involve your singing (performing) - for example, in front of the mike at home or on stage (lip-syncing to your own song is ok too), but please NO Youtube promo/movie style clips). The idea is as though you’re appearing live in the Gethsemane on TV studio and thereby exclusive to the show.Feel free to perform Country, Gospel, Rock n Roll, Reggae, Originals, etc and promote your merchandise, CD’s, gigs, contact and anything you fancy. I’ll need the videos asap – basically the earlier I get them the quicker you can be featured. Season 1 is already full-up.*Note* Please don’t forget to mention the Show and the Host in your introduction. For example: “Great to be on The ‘Gethsemane On TV’ Show – Blah Blah Blah (except without the blah blah)” Looking forward to hearing from you. Email”[email protected] Ring 0404875 647 if you have any queries.
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 18Bakersville SoundBakersville SoundThe Bakersfield sound is a sub-genre of country music developed in the mid-to-late 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield was the first subgenre of country music significantly influenced by rock and roll, relying heavily on electric instrumentation and a strongly defined backbeat It was also a reaction against the slickly produced, orchestra-laden Nashville sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s. The Bakersfield sound became one of the most popular and influential country genres of the 1960s, initiating a revival of honky-tonk music and influencing later country rock and outlaw country musicians.Wynn Stewart pioneered the Bakersfield sound, while performing artists Buck Owens and Merle Haggard became two of the most successful artists of the original Bakersfield era while performing with The Buckaroos and The Strangers respectively. Other major Bakersfield country artists include Jean Shepard and Susan Raye.The Bakersfield sound was developed at honky-tonk bars such as The Blackboard, and on local television stations in Bakersfield and throughout California in the 1950s and 1960s. The town, known mainly for agriculture and oil production, was the destination for many Dust Bowl migrants and others from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and parts of the Midwest. The mass migration of “Okies” to California also meant their music would follow and thrive, finding an audience in California’s Central Valley.Bakersfield country was a reaction to the slickly produced, string orchestra-laden Nashville sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s. One of the first groups to make it big on the West Coast was the Maddox Brothers and Rose, who were the first to wear outlandish costumes and make a “show” out of their performances. Artists such as Wynn Stewart used electric instruments and added a backbeat, as well as other stylistic elements borrowed from rock and roll. Important influences were Depression-era country music superstar Jimmie Rodgers, early 1950s honky tonk singer Lefty Frizzell, and 1940s Western swing musician Bob Wills.In 1954, MGM recording artist Bud Hobbs recorded “Louisiana Swing” with Buck Owens on lead guitar, Bill Woods on piano, and the dual fiddles of Oscar Whittington and Jelly Sanders. “Louisiana Swing” was the first song recorded in the style known today as the “Bakersfield sound”. In the early 1960s, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, among others, brought the Bakersfield sound to
19 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukBakersville Soundmainstream audiences, and it soon became one of the most popular sounds in country music, helping spawn country rock and influencing later country stars such as Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, The Mavericks, and The Derailers. Jean Shepard, one of country music’s first significant female artists, began her recording career on the West Coast in the 1950s. its history. In 1996, Owens opened Buck Owens Through Capitol Records, Shepard’s “A Dear John Letter”, was the first major country hit single to use entirely Bakersfield musicians. Many of her early recording sessions featured prominent members of the Bakersfield movement, including Lewis Talley and Speedy West. Susan Raye was also a major figure 2006.in the Bakersfield sound, particularly in the 1970s, with hits such as “L.A. International Airport”. She was also a member of Buck Owens’ road show and recorded several hit duets with him. Other women to emerge from the West Coast country movement include Bonnie Owens, Kay Adams, and Rosie Flores.Two important British Invasion-era rock bands displayed some Bakersfield influences. The Beatles recorded a popular version of Owens’ “Act Naturally”. Years later, the Rolling Stones made their connection explicit in the lyrics of the very Bakersfield-sounding “Far Away Eyes”, which begins: “I was driving home early Sunday morning, through Bakersfield”.The Bakersfield sound has such a large influence on the West Coast music scene that many small guitar companies set up shop in Bakersfield in the 1960s. The most significant[citation needed was the Mosrite guitar company that still influences rock, country, and jazz music to this day. The famed Mosrite company was located in Bakersfield until the death of the company’s founder, Oildale resident Semie Moseley, in 1992.Buck Owens and the Buckaroos developed it further, incorporating different styles of music to fit Owens’ musical tastes. The music style features a raw set of twin Fender Telecasters with a picking style (as opposed to strumming), a big drum beat, and fiddle, with an occasional “in your face” pedal steel guitar. The Fender Telecaster was originally developed for country musicians to fit in with the Texas/Western swing style of music that was popular in the Western US following World War II. The music, like Owens, was rebellious for its time and is dependent on a musician’s individual talents, as opposed to the elaborate orchestral production common with Nashville-style country music.Buck Owens not only aided in the development of the Bakersfield sound, he also helped preserve Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, which served as both a nightclub for country music performers and as a museum of the history and sound of country music, including the Bakersfield sound. Owens regularly performed at the Crystal Palace until his death in In an interview, Dwight Yoakam defined the term “Bakersfield sound”:
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 18Bakersville SoundBakersville Sound“Bakersfield’ really is not exclusively limited to the town itself but encompasses the larger California country sound of the ‘40s, ‘50s and on into the ‘60s, and even the ‘70s, with the music of Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, the Burrito Brothers and the Eagles -- they are all an extension of the ‘Bakersfield sound’ and a byproduct of it. I’ve got a poster of Buck Owens performing at the Fillmore West in 1968 in Haight-Ashbury! What went on there led to there being a musical incarnation called country rock. I don’t know if there would have been a John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival had there not been the California country music that’s come to be known as the ‘Bakersfield sound’.The magazines No Depression and Blue Suede News regularly feature Bakersfield sound enthusiasts, while Corp. Retrieved 2019-02-11.podcasts such as Radio Free Bakersfield carry on the tradition online.External linksAmericana Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Podcast ShowsUpdated information on Bakersfield roots musicians in Bakersfield and elsewhereReferencesMcNutt, Randy (2002). Guitar towns : a journey to the crossroads of rock ‘n’ roll. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press. pp. 152–168. ISBN 978-0-253-34058-0.“Bakersfield Sound Genre Overview”. AllMusic. Rovi McNutt, Randy (2002). Guitar towns : a journey to the crossroads of rock ‘n’ roll. Bloomington, Ind.:
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www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 20jim thompsonSongwriter, Entrepreneur, InventorI was born in a steel mill town (Coatesville) in South East Pennsylvania. Four generations of my family held employment at the Mill going back to the early 1800’s. I spent one summer grinding steel plates during college. Recently we located family historical information from the 1800’s that recorded large family gatherings where individuals would share personal poems and writings, which may explain my desire to write songs. Through a DNA site I have located a first cousin and found that she is a great writer of poetry and art creator. Growing up outside of Philadelphia I was exposed to a variety of music on the radio - from Philly soul to rock and roll. Summers were spent along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay in a working - class hamlet of cottages. I loved the doo wop songs of this era and wrote a doo wop song last year- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoSAHJa2-EwAt night I would sneak out to hear acoustic guitars and banjos playing on the neighbor’s front porch.My first introduction to live folk and country music. In the 1960’s the Vietnam war devastated the country - my sister’s fiancé was killed at 21 in 1969 and I. wrote the song Vietnam to honor him and our veterans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9REmJwSnL08I attended Bloomsburg University in the North East mountains of Pennsylvania. I lived at a fraternity house that resembled the one in the movie - Animal House! Many of the members were gifted with musical talent, I enjoyed walking the halls to hear live music from various rooms. We had a drummer, guitar pickers, bass players and at least six who played regularly in local bands. At the time I did not play or sing. Country rock was a local favorite genre with groups Poco and Eagles most prominent. I was drawn towards more obscure singer songwriters played on Philly rock station WMMR. In December of 1972 I returned home forChristmas, a friend called to invite me to a Christmas party at a farmhouse whe re she was babysitting. She said this guy called Jim can really play guitar and sing ... I declined - the man was Jim Croce! I wrote this song as a tribute.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QkUics2FdcAfter college I spent 20 years in hospital management directing support departments including a total of 7 years in Saudi Arabia. My first tour was in 1983 at a military facility - I was astonished to find there was no TV or radio! Fortunately, there were bootleg cassette stores selling home made music from around the world. I took up reading a book a week and continued that habit to present day. I believe reading has helped my songwriting. I returned at the start of the first Gulf war and aside from the falling scud missiles, we did have armed forces radio that played current songs. In the 1990’s I began to listen to New Age and Modern Jazz music - I wrote a jazz style song called ”In a while” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCxbUeE0KdoI wrote a song called ”Maybe” as a salute to rock songs from that era - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYtXzra_AH8In 2000 I left healthcare to open a franchise restaurant called Tropical Smoothie Café - the first one in South Florida! I went on to become an area developer and open 25 stores. I created over a dozen national menu items and the slogan - ‘Eat Better - Feel Better’! I received awards as the top franchisee and developer in the company. My recipes brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the company. In late 2014 I was pushed/bought out and began flipping houses! After a few years and 20 houses later, the market dried up. I had free time and purchased a good Taylor guitar.I was fortunate to find a great recording studio near me called Raincat Recording Studio owned by two young musicians - Bryon Lamar and Jeff Coulter https://www.raincatrecordings.com They helped complete my songs by adding percussion, bass and electric guitars-They have been touring musicians with record deals.They have great contacts to add fiddle, sax and vocals!I have 20 songs with videos now on YouTube! My newest song is called “I don’t know - America!” It’s a commentary on how the USA has fallen during the last two years... a Nashville recording artist called it a mix of Johnny Cash meets Tom Petty!In addition to songwriting, I am awaiting patent approval for a safety device to assist people during tornadoes! ‘Forever’ Postcard’ I was callin’ Bless our way’ Don’t be , ‘, ‘, ‘ ‘unkind - All are songs worthy of a listenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo6GeLbAJAQ&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/channelUCxQ8kZrBE0cBgyLZCywJ5vwhttps://www.facebook.com/jim.thompson.14418
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www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 22Casey Donahew (born April 21, 1977 in Burleson, Texas) is an American Texas country music singer. His last four albums charted on the Billboard US Country for years live before finally recording it in the studio.top 10. The 2016 album All Night Party reached #3 on the Billboard Country chart, his highest chart position to date. On July 26, 2019, his album One Light Town was released and made its debut at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart.Donahew began writing songs in high school, and credits past relationships as inspiration behind much of his early work, stating:“Once you get your heart broken for the first time, you’ve got a lot to say, I guess.“Eventually, he broke into the world of Texas Country, which was gaining popularity with Pat Green, Robert Earl Lost Days - Released 15 August 2006 - Self ReleasedKeen and Randy Rogers. Casey’s approach to songwriting is different from typical country music artists, as he often writes about heartbreak with a unique twist on the subject, as well as his experiences in different locations across the state, most notably the Stockyards of Fort Worth.Donahew began playing professionally in 2002 by booking mostly bar gigs and building a dedicated fanbase among younger crowds. He gained notoriety online and on airwaves throughout Texas, and reached the Top 30 on Almost Country Enertainment - US Country Albums #10 the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with the album Moving On, released in 2009.On October 24, 2011, the Casey Donahew Band released their fourth studio album titled Double-Wide Dream exclusively on iTunes. The album was officially released on CD, available at retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Hastings on October 25, 2011. From this album, their single, “One Star Flag”, held the number one spot on Texas Music Chart.In 2013, the album Standoff was released. It reached No. 7 on Top Country Albums, selling 13,000 on its debut week.All Night Party was released on August 19, 2016. It debuted at No. 3, selling 11,000 copies in its first week. It is their highest charting album on Top Country Albums.On October 7, 2017, Donahew released 15 Years:The Wild Ride, 15 updated recordings of Donahew’s most popular songs from the first part of his career, as well as a recording of Matchbox 20’s “3AM,” a song Casey played On March 29, 2019, Casey announced a new project, “One Light Town.” Released on July 26, 2019, and produced by Josh Leo, “One Light Town” features 15 new songs, 7 of which were released digitally to fans when the album was announced. Donahew wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 15 songs and recorded songs by songwriters including Tim Nichols, Jimmy Yeary, Brad Tursi, Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy, Josh Leo, Matt Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Jeff Hyde, Jon Randall, Rodney Clawson, Michael Lotten, Wynn Varble, Jeff Outlaw, and Steve Stone.Discography:Casey Donahew Band - Released 20 December 2006 - Self ReleasedMoving On - Released 1 September 2009 - Almost Country Entertainment - US Country Albums #28 - Billboard 200 #126 - Heatseekers #3 - Independent Albums #19Double-Wide Dream - Released 25 October 2011 - - Billboard 200 - #32 - Independent Albums #8Stand Off - Released 16 April 2013 - Almost Country Entertainment - US Country Albums #7 - Billboard 200 #32 - Independent Albums #7All Night Party - Released 19 August 2016 - Almost Country Entertainment - US Country Albums #3 - Billboard 200 #40 - Independent Albums #315 Years The Wild Ride - Released 6 October 2017 - Almost Country Entertainment - US Country Albums #8 - Billboard 200 #39 - Independent Albums #7One Light Town - Released 26 June 2019 - Almost Country EntertainmentLost My Brothers Goal - Released 19 July 2020 - Almost Country Entertainment Spotlight OnCasey DonahewC asey Do n a hew
23 | www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukCasey Donahew
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 24Tools Of The Trade...Country MusicDobro GuitarDobro is an American brand of resonator guitars, currently owned by Gibson and manufactured by its subsidiary Epiphone. The term “dobro” is also used as a generic term for any wood-bodied, single-cone resonator guitar.The Dobro was originally a guitar manufacturing company founded by the Dopyera brothers with the name “Dobro Manufacturing Company”. Their guitar design, with a single outward-facing resonator cone, was introduced to compete with the patented inward-facing tricone and biscuit designs produced by the National String Instrument Corporation. The Dobro name appeared on other instruments, notably electric lap steel guitars and solid body electric guitars and on other resonator instruments such as Safari resonator mandolins.The roots of Dobro story can be traced to the 1920s when Slovak immigrant and instrument repairman/inventor John Dopyera and musician George Beauchamp were searching for more volume for his guitars. Dopyera built an ampliphonic (or “resonator”) for Beauchamp, which was patented in December 1929. In mid-1929, Dopyera left the National company to start the “Dobro Manufacturing Company” along with his brothers Rudy and Ed, and Vic Smith. National continued operating under Beauchamp, Barth et al. Dobro is both a contraction of “Dopyera brothers” and a word meaning ‘good’ in their native Slovak, but also in many Slavic languages. An early company motto was “Dobro means good in any language.” In 1930, the Dobro company name was changed to the “Dobro Corporation, Ltd.”, with additional capital provided by Louis and Robert Dopyera. Dobro was, during this period, a competitor of NationThe Dobro was the third resonator guitar design by John Dopyera, the inventor of the resonator guitar, but the second to enter production. Unlike his earlier tricone design, which had three ganged inward-facing resonator cones, the Dobro had a single outward-facing cone, with its concave surface facing up. The DOBROSTYLETENORGUITAR1934
25 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukTools Of The TradeDobro company described this as a bowl shaped resonator.The Dobro was louder than the tricone and cheaper to produce. In Dopyera’s opinion, the cost of manufacture had priced the resonator guitar beyond the reach of many players. His failure to convince his fellow directors at the National String Instrument Corporation to produce a single-cone version was a motivating factor for leaving.Since National had applied for a patent on an inward-facing single cone (U.S. Patent 1,808,756), Dopyera developed a design that reversed its direction: Rather than having the guitar’s bridge rest on the apex of the cone as the National design did, it rested on an eight legged cast aluminum spider sitting on the perimeter of the cone.In the following years both Dobro and National built a wide variety of metal- and wood-bodied single-cone guitars, while National also continued with the Tricone for a time. Both companies sourced many components from National director Adolph Rickenbacher, and John Dopyera remained a major shareholder in National. By 1932 the Dopyera brothers had gained control of both National and Dobro, which they merged to form the “National-Dobro Company”. By the 1940s, National-Dobro had been purchased by Valco. Valco ceased production of Dobro-branded guitars after World War II; however, the Dopyera brothers continued to manufacture resonator guitars under various other brand names.In 1964, the Dopyera brothers revived the Dobro brand name. They sold the name to Semie Moseley in 1966. In 1970, the Dopyeras’ Original Musical Instrument Company (OMI) yet again reacquired the Dobro name.The Gibson Guitar Corporation acquired OMI in 1993, along with the Dobro name. The company became Gibson’s Original Acoustic Instruments division, and production was moved to Nashville in 2000. Dobros are currently manufactured by Gibson subsidiary Epiphone.The Dobro was first introduced to country music by Bashful Brother Oswald, who played dobro with Roy Acuff starting in January 1939.The first and second prototypes of the Dobro created by the brothers reside at the invention’s birthplace of Taft, California, in a museum about the town’s oil production history.On June 20, 2019, a 1933 Dobro Resonator Guitar Model 27, owned by David Gilmour was sold at auction for a record $112,500.Epiphone DobrosCurrent and past models of resonator guitars manufactured by the Gibson Company are::Hound DogRound neckDeluxe round neckDeluxe square neckM-14 metal bodyGibson’s Phil Leadbetter resonator seriesSPIDERSHAPERESONATORDETAIL
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 26BOB STETSONBOB STETSONEmpty HouseBob Stetson - Empty HouseReflecting on happier times when life and a past home was filled with joy and love, Bob Stetson sings of an empty house now cold.The simplicity of the lyrics paints a stark image of sorrow that remains along with the memories of love left behind in “Empty House.”This is the 3rd track on Bob Stetson’s debut album rich with steel guitar and traditional country sounds.Album Name: Bob Stetson“Empty House” Written and Performed by Bob StetsonRelease Date October 1 2021Bob Stetson is a Nashville traditional country artist originally from Quebec Canada. His influences are Buck Owen and Merle Haggard, and his musical writing style comes from bare emotions telling stories of love’s lost, and reflections about life with a unique view on family and humor. His voice is smooth and expressive in the melodies, with an old school country charm.FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/BobStetsonMusicREVERBNATION https://www.reverbnation.com/BobStetsonYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5UjckoArWjQzSOzM7yihGQ HEAR NOW https://bobstetson.hearnow.com/SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GcoYr77j5xO8iYsTTv8VZAMAZON MUSIC https://music.amazon.com/artists/B09DGQ33PF/bob-stetsonAPPLE MUSIChttps://music.apple.com/us/artist/1582653295 DEEZER https://www.deezer.com/us/album/254224772 ‘Bob Stetson” 12 SONG FULL ALBUM DOWNLOADhttps://we.tl/t-jFYtDNZ22U
27www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukSTARS & THEIR GUITARSStars & Their GuitarsRy Cooder’s iconic 1967 Fender Stratocaster is without doubt, our most exciting guitar yet. With its many modifications, the Coodercaster is one of the most distinctive electric guitars in music history.Over the years, Cooder has truly made the instrument its own. The term Coodercaster is now a byword for a heavily modded Strat built to Cooder-esque specs. Given that he played in mostly open tunings, the top-mounted Bigsby was modified to help keep the guitar stable. “I had a repair guy take out the wang bar springs and put a wood block in there to hold down the intonation every time I changed tunings,“ says Cooder on the listing. “Now, years later, I wouldn’t have done that, but what did I know.“ The Coodercaster comes fitted with an original Bigsby 8-string steel pickup at the bridge and Guyatone pick-up at the neck. These are hooked up to a control circuit that has a four-way switch and two Tele-style knobs for volume and tone. “I started experimenting with electronics, trying for a thicker sound,“ continues Cooder. “P90s came and went. I had the bright idea to install an Oahu lap steel bridge pick up. It was the thing to do to help the bottle neck sound relax and it stopped the headaches.“ Other mods included a reverse jack cup, Got-oh-made Rotomatic-style tuners, and [Dunlop] Straploks. And the original tremolo was replaced by a top-mounted Bigsby and solid Bigsby aluminum bridge saddle. Stock appointments include a rose-wood ‘board and matching painted headstock. ”That’s an original Bigsby pickup in there, and yes it’s somewhat microphonic, like early Bigsbys are sometimes, and it takes a little getting used to, like when you put that ‘53 Cad motor in the Model A, but you can learn to handle it. Or try some idea of your own.” Cooder’s slow, relaxed slide style and ‘weird’ looking guitars have placed him firmly in the higher eche-lons of top guitarists in the world, not to mention one of my inspirations. What more is there to say...CoodercasterOriginalThis is one of those months when I have to confess to a guilty pleasure when it comes to guitarists I have come to admire. This months artist crosses the boundaries of Blues and Country with a strong hint of outback western thrown in for good measure. I am, of course talking about the slide king himself, Ry Cooder and his Coodercaster. Read on, dear friends...
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www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 32One’s To WatchONE’S TO WATCHJamesThompson
THE LYRIC WRITERS MAGAZINE31 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukThe No: 1 Magazine for Lyric Writers WorldwideFeaturing The Very Best In Up And Coming Talent Around The Globe Every MonthIssue No 39 OUT NOW!Web:www.writeawaymag.co.ukEmail:[email protected] ONLINE
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 34LORETTA LYNN ~ The Queen still Reigns By Rick CornettThe Queen of Country Music is turning 90 years old! Without question Loretta Lynn holds the longest reign in Country Music history with an amazing 62 year career. She went from Coal Miner’s Daughter to becoming a world-wide music icon releasing 60 studio albums, the first prolific female songwriter in Country Music, The Most Awarded Lady in Country Music History, The first woman in Country Music to build an Enterprise, best-selling book author, First female headliner in Country Music, and the First living entertainer to have a major motion picture made of their life. Here is a look back through the decades of Loretta Lynn’s amazing life and career;1930’S & 1940’S She was born, Loretta Webb on, April 14,1932, in a depression era cabin that her parents, Ted & Clara, built in Butcher Holler, exchange for Loretta and Mooney’s labor they were provided Kentucky. The cabin still stands today in the remote hills of the bluegrass state. She was named after Hollywood movie actress, Loretta Young, and was not given a middle name. Loretta is the second oldest of eight children which include Melvin Jr. (1929-1993), Loretta (1932-), Herman (1934-2018), Willie Lee (1937-1996), Donald Ray (1941-2017), Peggy Sue (1943-), Betty Ruth (1946-), and Brenda Gail better known as Crystal Gayle (1951-).All of her brothers are now deceased and all her sisters are still living. Three of her siblings have held major label recording contracts following in her footsteps. Loretta attended School through the sixth grade in a one-room schoolhouse that also served as the Church on Sundays. Education was not a priority back then as children were needed to help with household chores, farming, and tending to younger siblings during the bleak depression years. When Loretta was eight years old her father bought a larger house in Butcher Holler that consisted of a living room, master bedroom, kitchen and a upper loft for the children to sleep. To the Webb family this was a mansion compared to the one-room cabin she was born in although it had no indoor plumbing or electricity. Loretta’s family owned this house and didn’t have to reside in a shack owned by the Consolidation Coal Company in Van Lear, Kentucky. The house still stands today as a tourist attraction for the millions of fans of the Coal Miner’s Daughter. Loretta grew up fast and her teenage years were cut short when she met and married, Oliver Vanetta Lynn Jr., in 1948. He was fresh out of the army and six years older than Loretta. They courted for one month and were married on, January 10, 1948, in a courthouse in Painstville, Kentucky, she was only 15 years old. Her husband is commonly refered to as Mooney, a nickname given to him when he used to sell moonshine. Loretta always called him Doo, a shortened version of Doolittle, another nickname given to him as a child. Mooney had no interest in following in the footsteps of other men in that region and becoming a coal miner. He moved out to the state of Washington by himself looking for work and a new home, leaving his pregnant child-bride behind. When he saved up enough money he sent for Loretta who boarded a train by herself to join her husband. In quick succession Loretta and Mooney produced four children: Betty Sue (1948-2013), Jack Benny (1949-1984), Ernest Rey (1951-), and Clara Marie (1952-). Life was hard for Loretta becoming a mother so young and now living so far from her family and friends. 1950’S By the early 1950’s Loretta Lynn had her hands full with a new husband, four babies, and managing a household. To make ends meet Loretta would take in laundry, pick strawberries, and cook for ranch hands. The Lynn family was living on a farm owned by the Green Brothers in Custer, Washington. In a house to live with limited pay. During this time Loretta was learning to become a good country cook and mastered the art of canning fruits and vegetables for her family. In 1956 Loretta entered her canned goods at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden, Washington. To her delight and surprise Loretta won 17 blue ribbons and was proclaimed Champion Canner of the Year. The local newspaper took her picture and it appeared in the local newspaper, thus her first appearance in a newspaper before her singing career. Ted Webb died in 1959 just before Loretta started her career. He never got to see her sing in public or the huge star she became. She always regretted that he never experienced the song, book, and movie Coal Miner’s Daughter honoring him.As a pastime Loretta would sing around the house and sing her children to sleep. Mooney soon took notice to her singing talents and set out to do something with her God given
at 90 !
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 36LORETTA LYNN ~ The QuBy Rick Ctalent. He had given her a $17 guitar and encouraged her to learn how to play. In time Loretta stated writing songs with her guitar and Mooney decided they could make some extra money with her musical talents. By the late 1950’s Loretta stated playing small honky tonk bars. It was her husband that set up her first public appearance at the Delta Grange Hall with The Westerners and her debuting with “There He Goes.” Soon Loretta was singing on a weekly radio show and formed her first band Loretta Lynn & The Trailblazers. It was in 1959 that Loretta was discovered by executives of a tiny record label named Zero Records of Vancouver, Canada. They spotted her at a Sunday jam session in a large chicken coop that was converted into a dance hall. Don Grashey, President of Zero Records, and his partner, Chuck Williams, soon signed Loretta to a recording contract on, February 1,1960, and sent her to Los Angelas, California to record her first recordings with funds provided by, Norn Burley, and other investors. 1960’SIn early 1960 Loretta and her husband received a shipment of 45 rpm records printed on the Zero Records label. It was her debut record “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl” written by Loretta. While the label paid for the recording session they had no money for promotion so Loretta & Mooney set out to promote the record themselves. Mooney took a photo of Loretta and sent that out with a letter and the record to DJ’s across the nation. They then jumped into the car and went on a promotional tour hitting every country radio station they could find. By the summer of 1960 the record had peaked at #14 in the Billboard charts and in September of that year Loretta made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. She was so popular that she was invited back for 17 consecutive appearances, an unheard of feat by a new artist on an obscure record label. The nations DJ’s ranked Loretta as the 4th Most Promising Country Female Vocalist for 1960 and a fan club had been formed for her growing number of fans. By 1961 Loretta and her family had relocated to Nashville. She was released from her Zero Records contract after releasing three singles with them. By this time Loretta was working under the guidance of The Wilburn Brothers who secured her a recording contract with Decca Records and producer, Owen Bradely. During this time Loretta met and befriended country star Patsy Cline. Together they developed a close and personal friendship that had a life long impression on Loretta and her career. In 1962 Loretta was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and her records were starting to slowly take off. By 1963 she was the featured girl singer on The Wilburn Brothers TV Show giving her national exposure. Her debut album, Loretta Lynn Sings, was released in December of 1963. It soon went #1 in the Cash Box charts making her the first woman in Country Music to achieve #1 album. Soon the legendary Ernest Tubb had taken her under his wing and they were recording albums together. In August of 1964 Loretta completed her family when she gave birth to twin girls, Patsy and Peggy. Patsy was named after the late Patsy Cline who had died sixteen months earlier. Loretta had established as the first prolific female songwriter in Nashville and her records consistently placed in the top ten. In 1966 her smash hit “You Ain’t Woman Enough” went #1 making her the first country female recording artist to write a #1 hit. She followed that up with “Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’” and that went #1 as well. The album by the same title was certified gold by the RIAA making Loretta the first woman in country music to receive a certified gold album award. In 1965 The Loretta Lynn Long Horn Rodeo was formed at the Lynn family farm in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Loretta would make personal appearances to help make her husbands new venture a success across the nation. By 1966 Loretta had become the first woman in country music to headline her own shows with her own band and tour bus. In 1967 Loretta was the first woman to win a CMA award at their 1st annual awards show. The Lynn family brought the tiny town of Hurricane Mills, TN and relocated there in 1967. The town included a general store, grist mill, school, church and post office. The centerpiece to the vast estate is the white antebellum mansion that sits hilltop. Today the property serves as the Loretta Lynn Ranch open for camping, horseback riding, trail rides, fishing, live concerts and tours of Loretta’s home & museum. 1969 she became the first female country artist with an endorsement deal as she promoted, Hyer Boots. That same year the Loretta Lynn Westen Wear store chair was established. By the end of the 1960’s Loretta Lynn had established herself as the leading female vocalist overtaking the great, Kitty Wells. She had released 16 albums and scored more hit records than any other female artist for the decade. 1970’S 1960 - Loretta aunches her career with her debut single “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl” on Zero Records.
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk37 |ueen Still Reigns at 90 !CornettThe dawn of the 1970’s saw Loretta’s fame exploded and she became an international superstar far beyond the country circuit without ever having a cross over hit record. In 1970 she released the autobiographical song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and it forever changed her life. The single went #1, the album was certified gold and Loretta gained a signature song that became an anthem. The song would also inspired a best selling book and an Academy award winning motion picture. In 1971 Loretta was the first solo female country singer to sing at the White House for a setting President, Richard Nixon. 1971 also saw her join forces with the great Conway Twitty. Together they scored five #1 singles in a row, released 11 studio albums and became the most successful and awarded male/female duo in country music history sweeping all the major industry awards for duo including a Grammy award. Loretta’s popularity reached an all-time high when she was listed in a Gallup Poll of the 20 Most Admired Women in the World in 1971. In 1972 she swept the CMA awards and became the first woman to be nominated and win the prestigious Entertainer of the Year award. 1973 saw her gracing the cover of international newsmagazine, Newsweek, an honor normally reserved for world leaders, Presidents, and renowned works of science and artistic culture. In 1973 she became the first woman to chart three #1 album in one year. For her outgoing, bubbly, and witty personality Loretta became a TV favorite throughout the 1970’s. She made an endless string of appearances on award shows, game shows, network specials, talk shows and radio programs. Her face appeared on scores of national magazine covers making her a household name throughout America. When Loretta Lynn Enterprise, Inc was formed in 1971 she became the first female country artist to establish an enterprise in their name that featured three publishing companies, a talent agency, Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch, Loretta Lynn Rodeo, Loretta Lynn Road Show, Loretta Lynn Western Wear Franchise, etc. All of this combined with record royalties made her the first female millionaire in country music. Throughout the decade Loretta did over 200 tour dates a year with her band and it often took its toll on her health, marriage, and lack of family time. She was hospitalized several times but always bounced back and returned to the road to entertain her legion of loyal fans. Her fan base was so large and loyal during this time that she had the largest fan club in country music. Her willingness to come out and meet her fans & sign autographs after each show made her a fan favorite and endured her to millions that still follow her today. Her fans voted her the Favorite Female Vocalist for twelve consecutive years at the Music City News Awards 1967-1978, a feat that has never been beat. So popular was the Loretta Lynn story that she wrote and released her autobiography, Coal Miner’s Daughter, in 1976. It soon became a runway hit making her the first country artist to make the New York Times bestseller list. By 1977 she was the first female country artist with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 1979 saw her join forces with mega brand, Proctor & Gamble, to endorse Crisco Oil in national TV commercials and print ads. This endorsement lasted a full decade and made her the first country artist with a multimillion-dollar product endorsement deal. By the end of the 1970’s no female had achieved greater success or appeal than Loretta Lynn. She charted more hit records, won more major awards, and broke more records than anyone else so it was only fitting that the Academy of Country Music crowned her the Artist of the Decade for the 1970’s. No other woman has won this prestigious honor in the 6 decades of the awards show. 1980’S Clara Webb died on Thanksgiving Day in 1981 at the age of 69. Loretta was grateful that she lived long enough to attend the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter premier and present her with the Artist of the Decade award in 1980.Hollywood came knocking on Loretta Lynn’s door in 1980 with the release of the film, Coal Miner’s Daughter. Within a week it had become the #1 box office hit in America and was later released world-wide. Loretta Lynn was only 47 years old when this film was released and she became the first living entertainer to have a major motion picture made of their life. The film was one of the biggest money makers of the year and received 7 Academy award nominations including Best Picture. Sissy Spacek would sweep all the major awards for Best Actress that year including the Academy award. The success of the film took Rick Cornett AndLoretta Lynn
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 38w w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.ukwww.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 38LORETTA LYNN ~ The QuBy Rick CLoretta from superstar to living legend at a very young age and demands for her in concert increased more than ever. The hit records continued into the 1980’s and by 1983 she became the first woman in American music history to chart 50 top ten singles in any genre of music. Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton are the only other women in country music to reach this milestone. In 1983 she was the first woman inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for her incredible body of songwriting. Tragedy struck in 1984 when Loretta’s oldest son, Jack Benny, drowned while trying to cross a river on horseback. Somehow she found the strength to continue touring, recording, writing songs, and making TV appearances.More industry awards and honors continued for Loretta including the American Music Award of Merit, Music City News Living Legend award, the Golden Plate Award presented at the White House and ,ore gold albums. Sadley the recording partnership of Loretta & Conway came to an end in 1988 with the release of the, Making Believe, album. Although they were no longer releasing albums together they continued to do join tours. 1988 saw Loretta Lynn receiving country music’s highest honor when she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Loretta parted ways with MCA Records in 1989 after 28 years and 56 studio albums for them. 1990’SThe decade of the 1990’s was mixed with success and sadness for Loretta Lynn. The music industry had changed and it seemed traditional country music was out of fashion. For the first time in decades artists of Loretta’s stature found themselves without major record labels. Country radio didn’t play there records like they used to but there fan bases remained loyal as ever.In 1993 Loretta joined forces with friends and fellow country legends Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton for the, Honky Tonk Angeles, album. The album contained classic country songs they selected together. They debuted the project on the CMA awards broadcast to a world-wide audience. The album was a top ten success and was certified gold in the United States & Canada. Loretta didn’t let the current trends phase her and continued on with her hard core country spirit. She was still doing over 200 tour dates a year and added a second bus to the Loretta Lynn Road Show. In 1994 Loretta released the independent album and video, We Need To Make More Memories, it was a loving and sentimental tribute to her husband, Mooney, who was ailing at the time with health issues including diabetes. At this time Loretta cut back her road dates and took up residence in Branson, MO with a home and her own theater so she could be home every day with her husband.Loretta suffered great losses in the 1990’s with the passing of friends and family. In 1993 her beloved friend, business partner & duet partner, Conway Twitty died. Her oldest brother Melvin passed in 1993 as well. The hardest hit was in 1996 with the passing of her beloved husband of 48 years and her brother Jay Lee. 1998 she lost her closest girlfriend in country music, Tammy Wynette, and then her longtime music producer, Owen Bradley.And endless stream of awards and honors continued her way in the 1990’s including a Highway named in her honor in Kentucky, Academy of Country Music pioneer award, Grammy Song Hall of Fame, and induction into the Country Gospel Hall of Fame.’2000’S Loretta was still going strong with the dawn of the new century. Vibrant and beautiful as ever she was still touring in her 70s to the delight of her fans with a brand new purple and pink tour bus. 2000 saw Loretta release the album, Still Country, on Audium
39 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukwww.countrymusicexpress.co.ukw w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.uk39 |ueen Still Reigns at 90 !CornettRecords. When the lead single from the album, Still Country, entered the Billboard charts Loretta Lynn became the first woman to chart records in six consecutive decades. In 2001 the Loretta Lynn Ranch hosted the grand opening of her Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum. This beautiful 18,000 square foot museum houses all her awards and gold records, stage outfits, and memorabilia from her famous friends in the entertainment industry. In 2001 Loretta Lynn carried the Olympic Torch for the Winter Olympics, the first country artist to do so. Musically Loretta bounced back big time in 2004 with the release of the, Van Lear Rose, album. She teamed with rock superstar, Jack, White, to produce the project resulting in a landmark album in her legendary career. Loretta wrote all the songs for this album and gained notice from a younger generation of fans. The album was praised by music critics world wide, played on Collage Radio, and the video, Portland Oregon, was played on MTV. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard country album chart and #24 on the Billboard 200 all music genre chart. It was awarded two Grammy awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Showered with more awards Loretta would receive The Kennedy Center Honors award, be inducted into the National Songwriters Hall of Fame, Germany Country Music Hall of Fame and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, BMI Icon award, Berklee College Honorary Doctorate in Music.2010’S & 2020’S 2010 marked Loretta’s 50th anniversary in country music and she was still as active as ever touring, recording, writing music and pleasing her fans. To make the half-century occasion Sony Music released a tribute album, Coal Miner’s Daughter A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. The CD featured a mixture of contemporary artists singing Loretta’s biggest hits. A re-release of ,Coal Miner’s Daughter, as a single and video was put out featuring Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow. Together they debuted this on the CMA awards show.2012 Loretta marked 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. For this milestone GAC TV presented a special show recorded at the Grand Ole Opry. In 2013 Loretta signed a five album deal with Sony Music at age 82, an unprecedented feat for a recording artist. Over the next five years Loretta would write and record these albums known as the Cash Cabin Recording Sessions. Johnny Cashe’s son, John Carter Cash and Loretta’s daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell, serve as co-producers for this series of recordings. The first album released was, Full Circle, in 2016. The album was a top ten best seller and received a Grammy Nomination for Best Country Album. That same year the, White Christmas Blue, album was released. It was Loretta’s second holiday album in her career. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Holiday album chart.Loretta suffered another personal loss in 2013 with the death of her oldest daughter, Betty Sue. In 2017 Loretta suffered a stroke at her home in Tennessee ansix months later she fell and broke her hip. Although these health scares have slowed her down and ended her days of touring it hasn’t broken her spirit or commitment to country music and her legion of loyal fans. Since the stroke she has continued to make appearances at award shows, her ranch, parades, and social media. She is also still releasing albums and writing music. In 2019 she attended a high profile, all-star 87th Birthday Bash, in Nashville, with the biggest stars in country music honoring her. At the end the event she took center stage to sing her signature song Coal Miner’s Daughter.Sony Music released the album, Wouldn’t It Be Great, in 2018 and it was again a top ten hit for Loretta. Three singles were released from the album including, Ain’t No Time to Go, that was made into a music video. Lifetime TV network released the film, Patsy & Loretta, in 2019 giving fans an inside look into her friendship with the late, Patsy Cline. Her creative energy and writing skills continue when she wrote and released the book, Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust, in 2020. The book was co-written with her daughter, Patsy, and is a personal and touching account of her friendship with Patsy Cline. The album, Still Woman Enough, was released last year and it marked Loretta’s 60th studio album. It proved to be a top ten best seller proving that the “Queen of Country Music” is still relevant 62 years into her career.Come September of this year Loretta will celebrate 60 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She is only the second woman to ever reach this milestone, the late Jean Sheppard, was the first.The world of country music hasn’t heard the last from this living legend. She still has much to say and more music to release. From Coal Miner’s Daughter to undisputed “Queen of Country Music” we salute LORETTA LYNN with a Happy 90th Birthday ! (Note from Editor, Jane Shields - I’d like to thank Rick Cornett for this tremendous article and also his exclusive images of Loretta Lynn. Here’s wishing Loretta many more birthdays to celebrate her illutrious career. xx)Rick Cornett is a freelance writer from the United States. He is an avid fan, collector, historian, and friend of Loretta Lynn. He can be reached at [email protected]
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 40LORETTA LYNN ~ The QuBy Rick C
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk41 |ueen Still Reigns at 90 !Cornett
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 42w w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.ukwww.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 42LORETTA LYNN ~ TheBy RLoretta Lynn - The Most AwarCOUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATIONEntertainer of the Year:1972(First woman to be nominated and win)Female Vocalist of the Year:1967, 1972, 1973Vocal Duet of the Year with Conway Twitty1972, 1973, 1974, 1975* * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSICEntertainer of the Year: (First woman to win) 1975Female Vocalist of the Year:1971, 1973, 1974, 1975Top Vocal Group: with Conway Twitty 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976Album of the Year: “Feelings” with Conway Twitty1975Artist of the Decade: (First and only woman to ever win)1980Pioneer Award:1995Crystal Milestone Award:2015Poets Award for Songwriting:2021* * * ** * * ** * * * * * * ** * * *MUSIC CITY NEWS (Fan voted awards)Female Artist of the Year:1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 (More wins than anyone)Favorite Vocal Duo: with Conway Twitttty1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982(More wins than any duo)Album of the Year: “When the Tingle Becomes a Chill” (Only woman to win this category) 1976Best Touring Road Show: Loretta Lynn, The Coal Miner’s, Kenny Starr 1974Band of the Year: The Coal Miners1975, 1976, 1977Living Legend Award:1986* * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * *AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDSFavorite Female Artist:1977, 1978Favorite Duo, Band or Group: with Conway Twitty 1975, 1977, 1978Award of Merit: (First female country artist to win) 1985* * * * * * * ** * * * * * * ** * * *GRAMMY AWARDSBest Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: “After the Fire is Gone” with Conway Twitty 1971Best Country Album: “Van Lear Rose”2004Best Country Collaboration with Vocals: “Miss Being Mrs.” with Jack White 2004Lifetime Achievement Award: 2010Recording Academy’s Presidents Merit Award:2010Grammy Song Hall of Fame: “Coal Miner’s Daughter” 1998* * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *GOLD ALBUMS1970Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (First woman incountry music to receive a gold album)1972Loretta Lynn’s Greatest Hits1979All My Best (Canada)1980 Coal Miner’s Daughter1981 Loretta Lynn’s Greatest Hits Vol 2
02 |www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk43 |w w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.ukwww.countrymusicexpress.co.uk Queen Still Reigns at 90 !Rick Cornett43 |1981Lead Me On with Conway Twitty1988The Very Best of Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty1988 We Only Make Believe with Conway Twitty1993 Honky Tonk Angeles with Tammy Wynette & Dolly Parton1993Honky Tonk Angeles with Tammy Wynette & Dolly Parton (Canada)* * * ** * * * * * * * * * * ** * * *HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS (More Hall of Fame Inductions than any woman) Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame: 1983 (First female recording artist inducted) Country Music Hall of Fame: 1988Women In Music Hall of Fame: 1996Grammy Song Hall of Fame: “Coal Miner’s Daughter” 1998Country Gospel Hall of Fame: 1998Kentucky Music Hall of Fame:2002Germany Country Music Association Hall of Fame: 2002 National Songwriters Hall of Fame: 2008Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame: 2009George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame: 2009Independent Superstars Songwriter Hall of Fame: 2013Austin City Limits Hall of Fame: 2015Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame: 2017Branson Music Hall of Fame:2019Motorcycle Hall of Fame: 2021 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *rded Woman In Country History
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 46w w w.count r ym usicexpress.co.ukmark taylorAcoustic ‘I’m Down’
www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk47 |NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. – Rising country artist Mark Taylor drops an acoustic version of his chart-topping single I’m Down. This acoustic release offers a newly-intimate listening experience while capturing the warmth and familiar sound of his. I’m Down – Acoustic as well as the original version is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.In the new acoustic version of I’m Down, which showcases a different side of Mark, the raw vocals shine with the new instrumentation that Leland Grant (Chris Young, Rachel Bradshaw) produced. “Mark is a new artist with vocal chops of a veteran songwriter,” says Leland. “His energy and excitement year with over 70+ dates in the east coast which are infectious. If you haven’t seen him live, you should do that now before you have to pay $75 through Ticketmaster.”Written by Mark, he released the full production to I’m Down last year and it quickly became a fan favorite. The song climbed all the way to #11 on the country charts and achieved success on Spotify’s curated Fresh Finds playlist. Carrying an intriguing melody, and now prestigious stripped-down instrumentation, Mark’s style fuses the storytelling of country with a contemporary influence while putting About Mark Taylor: With a contemplative soul his own modern country spin on his songs.“I’m Down – Acoustic is an answer to the fans,” says Mark. “You have supported this song immensely and many eras of his life. With opening for famed artists I wanted to give you a more raw and unplugged version of this song.”This tune references remembering the good times, missing the company of a past ex and suggesting getting back together. Putting the past behind, and focusing on the good memories, Mark smoothly sings his clever and easy-to-follow lyrics “If you’re up for coming over then you know I’m down.” Mark is continuing to reveal a fresh new side to his music with each release and I’m Down - Acoustic does just that.With numerous press and radio interviews under his belt, Mark released his full-length album, One, just last year. He is also continuously on the road performing and wrapped up a successful tour last included spots in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. His production credits extend across many genres, but most notably produced for platinum selling artist Lacy J. Dalton.For more information on Mark Taylor, visit his website and follow along with him on Facebook and Instagram.and a charming and down-to-earth personality, Mark Taylor has always seen music as a constant companion that continuously evolves through the including ACM and CMA winner Big & Rich, Matt Dylan, and rapper Wiz Khalifa already under his belt, Mark is one to watch for as he takes the country music scene by storm. Raised in a musical family in the suburb of Baltimore and drawing inspiration from The Allman Brothers Band, the Eagles, and Thomas Rhett, Mark combines the sound of modern country and classic rock for his own unique art. He has played over a thousand shows and completed five tours so far, showing his endless dedication and passion for music. With his sights set on the rest of this year, national touring and releasing new music, it is only a matter of time before Mark Taylor becomes a household name.Mark Taylor
| 48www.countrymusicexpress.co.ukWoodystockWoodystockBlues FestivalBlues FestivalWoodystock Blues Festival: 2 Days of Great Blues Music, Hotel/Casino Overnight Option, By The Colorado RiverSaturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 - Doors Open 10AM Each Day - Tickets $60. For 2 DaysFriday, April 8: Woodystock Blues Festival “Kickoff Party” atRiver Rick’s Saloon in The New Pioneer Hotel and Gaming HallBULLHEAD CITY AZ) - It’s the Return of Woodystock Blues player extraordinaire, Jimmy Carpenter, perfoming with his Festival, with performances by some of today’s top blues acts and giving Festival-goers the option of booking overnight Hotel Stays at some of Laughlin’s best Casino/Hotels, Sat-urday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. All Ages Event. Doors Open 10AM each day, Music until 9:30pm each day. No Ice Chests Allowed. Davis Camp Park, South Beach Pavilion (across from the Colorado River near Casino Row in Laugh-lin). Tickets: $60. (covers both Saturday and Sunday). Kids 16 and Under free with Paid Adult. Veterans United Arizona members and all other Veterans $10.00 off with Military ID. $5.00 Discount for Las Vegas Blues Society and Los Angeles Blues Society members with Valid ID. Each day features a chance to win a Gretsch Guitar (via Raffle; must be present to win). Discount rooms available with our Hotel Partners, Aquarius Casino Resort and The New Pioneer Hotel Gam-bling Hall. Food, Drink, and Crafts Vendors, and more! All Ages. Tickets/Info: (760) 963-4994 or visit woodystock.info. The night before, Friday, April 8, the Woodystock Blues Festival Kick-Off Party takes place at River Rick’s Saloon in the New Pioneer Hotel Gambling Hall, “The Friendliest House on the River,” overlooking the majestic Colorado River. 8pm-Till? Special Guest Artist performing that night to be announced.What makes the Woodystock Blues Festival so special besides a great lineup? Location, location, location. “I was in negotia-tions with the Mojave County Fairgrounds when I met Gary Watkins, Head of Maintenance for Davis Camp Park, who suggested I check out the Pavilion there,” Woodystock Pro-moter John Woodard Jr. told The Los Angeles Beat. “Once we got there, it was like, ‘Wow,’ it was so beautiful that the puzzle pieces just seem to fit. This is a fantastic location.” Woodys-tock and Davis Camp Park Pavilion are a few short blocks from the still-majestic Colorado River, it’s inviting Palm Trees and Beaches, and, of course, a host of big-name Casino/Ho-tels in Laughlin, Nevada, adjacent to Bullhead City, in close proximity to the Festival.Carefully curated by John and Katy Woodard with some help from his publicist, Woodystock Blues Festival’s eclec-tic two-day lineup definitely brings it. Festival Headliner is Multi-Blues and Grammy Award Winner, and saxophone Band. Besides being an award-winning musician, Carpenter is involved with the Big Blues Bender, and is President of the Las Vegas Blues Society. Jimmy’s most recent album is “Soul Doctor,” on Gulf Coast Records. Guitar lovers won’t want to miss either Tommy Marsh and his well-traveled Crooked Eye Tommy, returning to Woodystock all the way from Nashville, Tennessee; or electrifying, genre-crossing guitarist and vocal-ist, Jay Gordon & Blues Venom, who perform both Saturday and Sunday. Other artists include 2022 Regional IBC Winner from Southern California, the Sandy Haley Band, fronted by powerful vocalist, Sandy Haley; eclectic Las Vegas faves, The Good Hurt; LA/High Desert staples and popular Woodystock attraction, Delta Shade; Arizona by way of San Francisco and bringing their Blues on the edge, Catbone; entertaining blues duo, The Reverend & The Doctor; SoCal/High Desert main-stay, The Blue Henrys, featuring guitarist, Henry Meranda; and the return of Stone Stanley, an Americana grunge band and the musical project of Jason Trembley. Singing The Star Spangled Banner again this year to kick off Woodystock Blues Festival is Miss Tiffany Lynn. Woodystock Blues Festival Emcee is Sandy Haley.facebook.com/Woodystock.infoinstagram.com/explore/tags/woodystockbluesfestivalJohn Woodard, Woodystock Blues Festival: (760) 963-4994 [email protected]. Sponsorships Available. LOS ANGELES BEAT: WOODYSTOCK BLUES FESTIVAL/LAUGHLIN FEATUREJoin us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter Send us an Email
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www.countrymusicexpress.co.uk| 50OSMIC AMERICAN DERELICTS: New Album‘The Twain Shall Meet’Released 6th May 2021 (Soundkeeper Recordings)CD & DL http://www.soundkeeperrecordings.com/Videos:Cosmic American Derelicts at Sellersville Theater Pennsylvania 2020https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXUejqL9ZgCosmic American Derelicts at the Cutting Room NYC 2020https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFye7gP6blUCutting Room NYC, 2017 Terry Reid & Graham Nash Cosmic American Derelictshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3FwD6Z-rYQCosmic American Derelicts have been performing throughout the northeast of the United States, and all over the UK, for over 24 years ( 2008 and 2014 with Terry Reid and then again in 2016),playing their own earthy mix are all very proud of it!.of rock and roll, combining a bit of rhythm, a whole lotta blues, a few drams of honky-tonk/country western, mixed with a pinch of bluegrass and a dab of acid/psychedelia, these elements make up the key ingredients of the Cosmic American Derelict’s 100% proof sound.Cosmic American Derelicts have recorded 4 albums and their fifth, ’The Twain Shall Meet’has just been wrapped and completed with a release date of May 2022. The recording is an all-acoustic roots/mountain music album which was produced by audio mastering legend Barry Diament ( Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Stevie Nicks, Bad Company, Robert Palmer, Pete Townsend and countless others) for SoundKeeper Recordings. It features 10 original songs which touch upon country, bluegrass, swampy blues, and folk music. The sound is pure like a mountain stream and full of vibe and soul. The band are in a very happy place, right now. Over to founder member, George Kapitanelis: “ It took me 25 years but I finally got us signed, and to a label that is all about the music, nobullshxt, or high falutin’ nonsense. I think the album is top notch and we
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