Paying a Visit to Marty Robbins
If there was ever a “most interesting man in country music,” Marty Robbins would make a great candidate. The career of Marty Robbins really was quite incredible.
History
50 Years Ago: The Wild Death of Gram Parsons
The life of Gram Parsons came to a crashing end 50 years ago today, September 19th, 1973, in Room 8 at the Joshua Tree Inn in Joshua Tree, California. Gram had just finished up recording what would be his final album.
The Time Charlie Robison Excoriated a Nashville Label Head
Along with recalling the great songs and the fond memories, it seems fitting for remember that Charlie Robison was also a fierce titan for independent country music and artists controlling their own destiny.
50 Years Ago: Jerry Jeff Walker Records “Viva Terlingua”
There was country music before ‘Viva Terlingua,’ and then there was country music after it. It’s legacy is so rich, deep, and stratified across a host of important and influential lines, it’s like its own institution.
50 Years Ago: Lynyrd Skynyrd Releases “Free Bird,” Debut Album
It may not have formed the subgenre officially, but Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut album (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) released 50 years ago this week sent Southern rock into the stratosphere.
Time Proves Vince Gill’s ‘Go Rest High On That Mountain’ as Platinum
Chart placements, annual sales and streaming numbers, and glowing reviews aren’t the true testament to the importance of a piece of music. Time is. Over time, the fortitude of a song or album is tested rigorously.
30 Years Ago: Vince Gill Toasts George Jones in #1 Song
One of Vince Gill’s #1 songs saw the nexus between quality writing, reverence for country’s past, and widespread appeal. Released 30 years ago today (July 26th, 1993), “One More Last Chance” was not only Vince Gill’s signature hit
Country Music’s Oldest Living Links and Legends (2.0)
Every so often, it is important to stop down, pay tribute, and appreciate all of the living legends we still have around in country and roots music. These are the contributors who you can sometimes trace back to the very formations of country.
50 Years Ago: Everly Brothers Tumultuously Break Up On Stage
All great things must come to an end, and that’s what happened 50 years ago today, July 14th, 1973 in a rather spectacularly catastrophic fashion. It was the culmination of years of turmoil and conflict between brothers Don and Phil Everly.
100 Years Ago: Country Music’s Most Iconic Instrument is Born
There are many iconic instruments that just like their players, have gone on to define the very meaning of country music. But if there was a crown jewel of the Hall of Fame’s “Precious Jewels” collection, it would arguably be this Gibson F-5 mandolin.
30 Years Ago: Patty Loveless Takes Crazy Long Chorus to #1
There are many country music songs. But there is only one “Blame It On Your Heart.” It is one of the most unique country songs in history, and certainly one of the most unusual to hit #1.
10 Years Ago: The Independent Country Revolution Begins in Earnest
It’s rather remarkable reflecting back 10 years at just how far independent country, roots music, and Americana have come in finding a seat at the table with their mainstream country counterparts.
30 Years Ago: Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn Share Final Moment
30 years ago today, Conway Twitty passed away. In a strange twist of fate, chance brought Loretta Lynn to the side of her legendary duet partner to be there for his final moments.
Country Music is Not to Blame for Tina Turner’s Lost Country Legacy
No, “country music” did not work to exclude Tina Turner or her country music, despite the claims of some. The explanation is much more simple, and verifiable.
50 Years Ago: Waylon Jennings & Grateful Dead’s Legendary Stadium Show
It’s always a big moment when a big artist plays their first stadium gig. That’s what Waylon Jennings had the honor of doing 50 years ago today, thanks to The Grateful Dead.
Tina Turner’s Southern Soul and Country Contributions
Yes Tina Turner sang country music. Her first solo album was country, she recorded country songs throughout her career, and she even inspired one of the most iconic country songs of all time.
20 Years Ago: The Career of Randy Travis is Born Again with a #1 Song
20 years ago today, Randy Travis hit #1 with the song “Three Wooden Crosses,” revitalizing his career at a time when Nashville had put him out to pasture.
30 Years Ago: The Women of Country Make History
It might have been one of the most important moments for women in country music in the genre’s history, and maybe one of the most important moments in country history, period. But you rarely hear mention of it.
Why Charley Pride Took So Long to Become a Grand Ole Opry Member
30 years ago today—May 1st 1993—Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special.
30 Years Ago Today: Sammy Kershaw Lands His Only #1 Hit
In the simple language that only the greatest country songs can, “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” tells a story that so many people can relate to. But when the song was released on February 9th, 1993 as the first single from Kershaw’s album Haunted Heart, it was an entirely novel approach to a country song.
10 Years Ago Today: George Jones Plays His Final Concert
It’s something that most of us mere mortals can’t comprehend. But for our country legends, they would have it no other way. Willie Nelson has regularly said that he wants to die on stage. And as morbid as a prognosis as that might be, it speaks to how important music and performance is to these legends.
50 Years Ago: Conway Twitty Records Country’s Ultimate Creeper Song
Oh how people love to regard classic country music as coming from this pure and idyllic era, full of traditional American values and virtue, while regarding today’s country music as full of filth. That may be somewhat fair on the whole, but there are certainly some exceptions to that rule.
Yes, Eddie Rabbit Cut The First Country Rap Protest Song
Not only does Eddie Rabbitt (of all people) deserve credit for cutting one of the first country rap songs, he probably deserves credit for the very first country rap song protesting rap, drum machines, and other things in music, with Paul Franklin playing steel guitar, Brent Mason playing lead…
25 Years Ago: Johnny Cash Flips the Bird at Nashville Establishment
Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve likely seen the iconic image of Johnny Cash aggressively flipping the bird from back in the day. In fact, you’ve probably seen it all over the place, perhaps to where you may be tired of seeing it at this point. But few remember how it came into the world.