Over the last few days, rumors have been swirling that Randy Travis has contracted pneumonia while in a Dallas-area rehab facility, recovering from a recent stroke he had while being treated for a heart condition. The primary source of that information appears to be fellow traditional country music star and Randy Travis friend Sammy Kershaw.
For the first time in the last half decade, the Grand Ole Opry is poised to induct a traditionally-leaning country music act into its distinct and coveted roster of permanent members. Opry member Marty Stuart surprised Old Crow Medicine Show on the Opry stage tonight (8-16) with an invitation to join the storied institution during Old Crow’s scheduled performance.
The Environmental Protection Agency has just given an increasingly-rare form of American musician known as the steel guitar player the ominous distinction of being an endangered species. The EPA defines an endangered species as “one facing a very high risk of extinction.” The ruling comes as the number of steel guitar players continues to decline to alarmingly low levels.
Fans of Outlaw country music are about to get a big wish granted, as plans have been announced to form an Outlaw Country Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will be located in Lynchburg, TN, with Jack Daniels coming on as a primary sponsor. A space for the upcoming Hall of Fame has been acquired in Lynchburg and an architect is currently working on design plans.
Tompall Glaser, one of country music’s original Outlaws, is dead at 79 after fighting a prolonged illness according to his family. He died at his home in Nashville. Tompall got his start in country music with his two brothers Chuck and Jim in Tompall & The Glaser Brothers who were members of the Grand Ole Opry. The family band released 10 albums and had 9 charting singles before breaking up in 1975.
James L. Payne, aka Jody Payne, electric guitarist for Willie Nelson for 35 years, has passed away. He died this morning (8-10) in Stapleton, AL due to cardiac arrest according to his wife Vicki. Payne had been suffering from heart problems for years prior. Throughout the 60’s Payne played bass for Ray Price, and also played with Merle Haggard among others before eventually joining Willie in 1973.
ountry Music Hall of Famer, legendary producer, songwriter, and cosmic music man “Cowboy” Jack Clement has died according to the Nashville newspaper The Tennessean. He was 82. Jack Clement was just inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year. He got his start working at Sun Studios in Memphis under Sam Phillips, arranging such hits as Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”
Yesterday the big story was that Tom Petty had said some disparaging things about the direction of country music to the Rolling Stone. Though Petty’s comments did not mention pop country band Florida Georgia Line or anyone else specifically, it is probably safe to conclude that the duo was included. earlier today on Twitter, Florida Georgia Line responded with, “U think we care?”
If it seems like Saving Country Music is running a story every other day about an artist speaking out on the state of country music, it is because we are, and it’s because they are more and more frequently as modern pop country strives to set a lower standard for itself seemingly every day. Tom Petty is the latest. Following up on an anti modern country rant Petty delivered from the stage of the Beacon Theater in New York City…
Mercury recording artist and #1 hit songwriter Nick Nixon has passed away, according to sources close to his family. He passed away around 4 PM Tuesday afternoon (7-30-13) after battling a lung disease. He leaves behind his wife Kim, and five children. The St. Louis, MO native penned the million-selling hit “The Teddy Bear Song” that became a #1 for Barbara Fairchild in March of 1973.
Hank Williams III will release his new country album “Brothers of the 4X4” on October 1st. The release will be a double album of 16 total tracks, and will be accompanied by a punk album release called “A Fiendish Threat.” “The king of hellbilly, Mr. HANK3 himself, is pleased to announce a triple-threat of new releases, hitting stores October 1, 2013. HANK3 will release a brand new DOUBLE country album…”
Country music throwback Joey Allcorn, known for his classic style and appreciation for traditional country, is putting together a benefit album for the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, AL. Also slated to appear on the album are the Queen of Underground Country, Rachel Brooke, Jake Penrod, David Church, Arty Hill, Andy Norman, and Bobby Tomberlin.
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, Unknown Hinson, aka the King of Country and Western Troubadours, aka the voice of Early on the Cartoon Network’s Squidbillies, is back, and is embarking on a big tour this fall. On November 15th of 2012, Unknown Hinson’s internet peeps posted that he had played his last tour dates in public, “period.” But apparently the hillbilly vampire has been hit yet again with the traveling Jones.
For many up-and-coming country artists, simply getting to meet their country heroes is thrill enough. Getting the honor of portraying them in a big theatrical production? That is the thrill of a lifetime. Adam Lee of Kansas City’s Adam Lee & The Dead Horse Sound Company is getting that very chance by apprising the role of Johnny Cash in the musical “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Signs that good, independent country music is beginning to poke through to the public consciousness are all over the place, and during tonight’s MLB All-Star Game, we got yet another big one when St. Louis Cardinals All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter chose the Turnpike Troubadours’ song “Long Hot Summer Day” for the walk-up music during his plate appearance in the 6th inning.
Legendary North Mississippi Blues great “T Model Ford” has passed away, according to his booking agent the Bucket City Agency. One of the original Mississippi blues greats that made up the Fat Possum Records roster, T-Model passed away after a long illness at home in Greenville, Mississippi, this morning surrounding by his loving wife and family.
Grammy Award winning Country/Americana artist Rodney Crowell took to his social network feeds late last week to voice his displeasure at the current state of mainstream country music. “Pop culture is a disposable culture, therefore it stands to reason that those who want the big bucks and the power are inclined to produce slick and disposable music.”
Country Music singer Randy Travis is in critical condition in a Texas hospital, according to his publicist. Travis was admitted the the hospital on Sunday for complications with viral cardiomyopathy that he acquired recently. Nothing else is known at this time. Please check back to Saving Country Music as we continue to update this developing story.
David Allan Coe is back performing, and on the 4th of July made the trek to Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth to participate in Willie Nelson’s 40th Annual 4th of July Picnic—an event that Coe has been a mainstay at for years. It was one of his first shows since an auto accident landed him in the hospital. Coe also penned a personal letter to all of his fans who supported him through the incident.
After parting ways with his record label Sony on June 8th, 2012, Ronnie Dunn’s been making bold moves in the music business, accompanied by inspired, breathy statements on his Facebook page that many times decry the current structure of the country music business, especially radio and distribution. Yesterday (7-2-13), Dunn took to Facebook to announce he has formed a record label, “Little Will-E Records.”
One of the last man to see country music legend Hank Williams alive, is now dead. Charles Carr, the young driver hired to take Hank Williams from Montgomery, AL to a show in Canton, OH, died after a brief illness at his home in Montgomery. He was 79-years-old. Hank’s daughter Jett Williams has since clarified the famed last ride story, saying that Charles Carr was not the only one in the Hank’s Cadillac when he died.
Alt rocking band The Weather Bells from Indiana have done something that up to this point is unprecedented in the burgeoning world of music crowd funding: they have set up one crowd funding campaign to help pay for the setup costs for another crowd funding campaign. They are using Indiegogo to fund the setup costs of their Kickstarter campaign.
Today, 86-year-old bluegrass maestro Ralph Stanley announced that he will be embarking on an 80-show farewell tour beginning October 16th entitled the Man Of Constant Sorrow Tour: The Dr.’s Farewell. At 86-years-old, the frail Stanley’s best performance days are probably in the past, but if you’re wondering if it is worth seeing Ralph Stanley on his last go round, I couldn’t encourage it more deeply.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, that is a picture of Hank Williams performing live on The Grand Ole Opry with the word “DUMMY” emboldened in all caps across his chest from the CMT Awards. Later in the week, Lenny Kravitz chided the crowd for “not being able to get with love” before, ironically, exited the stage while flipping double birds with his back turned to the crowd.