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.
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.
When looking at the historical timeline of country music, many times it is big events that set the wheels of change in motion, for the good and the bad. Whether it is intrusion of pop or rap into country, or the ill-treatment of country music greats, here are some of the most embarrassing moments in country music history.
Just when we thought the American public was finally getting wise to the fact that country rap is a Cancer of Western Civilization, needing to be cut out and radiated like the grapefruit-sized, puss-filled tumor it is, here it comes roaring back like a raging case of bleeding hemorrhoids. It’s the audio equivalent of sneaking out of your mom’s house to smoke pot behind a Pizza Hut.
Bob Everhart, a traditional country musician, and the President of the National Traditional Country Music Association since 1976, along with Maggie Penn at the Traditional Music Foundation have banded together with other organizations and individuals to launch an initiative to attempt to remove Blake Shelton from the Grand Ole Opry, and get more traditional country played on the radio.
Nashville was lucky. During the early 20th Century, many cities could have ended up with the “Music City” moniker. Tulsa had a bustling music scene, with Bob Wills playing weekly at Cain’s ballroom. Bakersfield, CA had the best recording studios west of the Mississippi and was a magnet for the Southern talent that had migrated […]
If you’re anything like me, if I want to hear some new music, you sure aren’t going to find me sniffing around CMT or burying your nose in the latest Rolling Stone. No, I’m likely going to be looking to the past, not the future. And man, what a thrill it is when you find […]
He’d Tell ‘Em All To Suck His Dick That line comes from the first song on Damn Right, Rebel Proud , due out Oct. 21st, ‘The Grand Ole Opry’: (if you haven’t heard or seen it before) So who was Jimmy Martin? Well, if you want to read a full bio you can click here […]
This is Big Wayne: Big Wayne likes beer. He also likes Hank Williams and Hank Williams III. But Big Wayne is confused. He doesn’t understand why Hank Williams is not a member of the Grand Ole Opry, even though they use his image, likeness, and songs to promote themselves. He doesn’t understand why a man […]
This weekend many devoted hellibillies will be showing their support for the Reinstate Hank movement at the CMA Fan Fair, including Cathy and Wayne who’ve been great supporters for Free Hank III also. Since I live some 1,500 miles away I can’t attend, but I wanted to show my support. I could let down my […]
On Memorial Day, I thought I’d pay tribute to a song by a fallen oldtimer. One of the things I like about Shelton Hank III, and one of the things I’m sure you like is his open rebellion against pop country music. When you hear songs like ‘Trashville,’ Dick in Dixie,’ and ‘Not Everybody Likes […]
There’s a great new article featuring Shelton Hank III at Cashville411.com about the Reinstate Hank Sr. movement, with lots of info about how and why he started it, and what his plans are with it. That cashville411.com site is a cool site too, esp. if you’re a Nashville resident. I’ve found myself reading stuff there […]
While poking around the Waylon Jennings MySpace page last night, I found this bad-ass picture, with a comment under it reading simply, ‘Let’s go save country music.’ So what I say to all of you is, let’s go save country music. I’ve gotten a few messages wondering why we are not targeting Curb’s other MySpace […]