"Loretta Lynn Lives!"
How many reading my article know the great legend, whom I might add, is STILL alive, and performing today, Loretta Lynn?
She still performs at the "OPRY". Even though many people do not know she performs at the "OPRY" today she draws a huge crowd and recieves a "standing ovation" every time!
OH! She also has a great Museum at Hurricane Mills, and from the new Country Music Hall of Fame, take a 70 mile trip west on I-40 to Hurricane Mills and visit her beautiful Museum! I personally guarentee you won't be disappointed for gang these are the true country music buildings where the HEART and SOUL of COUNTRY live, and will continue to live on, even after Loretta Lynn lieves Town forever!
She's alive folks! She hasn't gone from our Country Town yet! Johnny Cash is gone, and we miss him! Don't keep ignoring our legends of Country Music gang! Don't keep giving them NO RESPECT while they are alive and kicking! And then when they do Die, you try to show Country Fans everywhere you now have suddenly found honor, but, out of obligation tords this old singer and say a few kind words in their behalf, and then play some of their older songs, then your conscience won't bother you for ignoring them when they were alive, right? I'm speaking directly to you, Radio! To you "The BIG BOSSES" of COUNTRY operations of this 21fst Century! You know who you are! You really can't hide from true country music lovers like me! Yes it maybe true that our members of the "OPRY" don't speak up as I do, and you know why they don't, even though they would love to!
I agree with the following statement from another professional country music person and many others agree with this observation to;
"since when did record companies start running the Opry? From everything we see, it looks like they will have us believe that no one wants legendary performers anymore. They film young girls smirking and looking somewhat indulgent as Loretta Lynn is performing. I don't believe these are the real fans. I think the record companies put these "plants" in the audience for filming purposes. Loretta got a STANDING OVATION at the end of her show. They filmed the audience from the waist up so you couldn't really see it. Yes, I think certain record companies get special treatment, and I think they have the ability to work very closely with the film crew and stage hands."
Does truth hurt? It sure does! And the sad thing is, the young country radio personalities follow the leaders and are afraid to complain to the "BOSSES" for the same reason our "OPRY" members are afraid!
It's going to take all the country music fans, young, and older, to cause an organized "class action" complaint that the "BIG BOSSES" can stop! They would have to change, or else! And I will lieve the else part to the fans imagination!
I will guarentee this, that if the majority of the country music fans, Nation-wide, would do what I stated above, that's when all the members of the "OPRY" would chime in and finally express their indignation against those who do not show them honor for their many faithful years in this country music business! And that my friend would make professionals like me, finally cry with joy! That would be the vindication they are well over due!
Now let's get back to reality, for this won't happen! The country music lovers are to busy with their own lives than worry about old stars of country music. And that sad.
Sometimes I feel I am wasting my time complaining. However, my honor and respect for ones like Loretta Lynn, who is still with the living, moves me to stay in the face of those who just don't care! Those who want the old people to just die, and lieve them alone so they could manage their selfish and greedly empires, with using and abusing young people in this generation of follows! It's like the story of the "Pide-piper" and following such is not for the good of our COUNTRY!
So I'm left wondering how many threats and hate e-mails I'll get after this article? That is, if Bill Hennes will Publish it or not? Of course Bill doesn't seem to be worried like the "OPRY" Stars and Radio Personalities are, for he has that quate at the onset; "The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily that of AllAboutCountry.com", and that's ok! It must be that way, or then he would not publish my article, why you might ask? Well, for the same reason as the "OPRY" members have for not saying what they'd like to!
Me! I'm not afraid to say the truth about the state of our COUNTRY! And yes! I will continue until I die, or saying it like many prefer I do, until I lieve this Town forever!
OH! almost forgot! I want to wish all of you, and yours, a happy, healthy, successful, safe and secure life now, and for many, many years to come, and this is first directed to the high honored lady of COUNTRY, Loretta Lynn!
Til next time gang!
Yours truely,
Jimmy Stix
jwhitejr@nycap.rr.com
http://www.jimstix.com
P O Box 84
sand Lake, New York 12153-0084
USA
End of Article
Jimmy Stix PERMALINK
October 7, 2008 8:18 PM
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“What makes a unique country star?”
What make’s for a unique country star? A star that country fans will remember long after the star leave’s town.
No junior, I don’t mean just moving out of your town Nashville! I mean leaving town like one of the greatest unique country stars ever, Johnny cash! Now do you get the point?
It’s an important question, because someone like the late Johnny cash will live on in our country, no matter how much corporate country of today wants to continue to disrepect and not give true honor to the unigue country stars of yesterday. True country music lovers everywhere will always make sure the unique stars continue to live on in our heritage!
Being said that, as a new country music star, do you know the importants of being a unique star that will live on? Or don’t you care? You could be a corporate country music star who are just country in a physical sense only, making a killing in this business of country, and then moving on to other means for selfish gain only. Oh yes……. having a great number of fans does make you rich and you will seem happy for a while……. but is that really all it takes to feel happy, satisfied, healthy, and succeessful in life?
The Grand Ole Oprey was built on a physical and spiritual experience that would live on forever! That was it’s aim, however, I must admit, corporate country is doing a good job destroying it’s foundation with the support of many in the world of country today. Sad it may be, our country is truly under attack by selfish, greedy and powerful men and women, who feel no attachment to our country music heritage, except trying to cash in on it’s unique history built by the very legendary stars that they want to retire before their time! Much hard work and sacrafice to build our country heritage.
But, if you want to be a unique country star, now, and forever, don’t let corporate country mold you into a country star whom will pass with time! You see, our country will survive! We will survive! Corporate country will never survive! For the physical business without the spiritual factor is doomed to never last!
So, where will that put you as a star? Not in a good possition I’m afraid. So how can you be a star that will live on even after you leave town? Let’s examine it in short.
I know that senior members of our country will agree with me on what makes for a very unique country star, as follows;
“Never say never!” Here’s one of those phrases people of today like to believe, yes? That’s what our corporate country wants you to believe! I’m going to give some nevers that makes for a country star who’s unique!
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Never have disrespect for your heritage of country music!
Never try to retire a country star before he or she is ready!
Never stop supporting the legendary stars who do not want to retire from recording music!
If you are an owner of a country music radio station, and you are a country music star as well, especially here in USA, never, stop playing all the latest country music of a legendary star who are still alive!
Hows that for not, never saying never?
___________________________________________________________________________________
If you have a unique voice in country music, you’ll be a unique star in our country. If you sing songs that make country people happy! You will become a unique star that will always be remembered! If you try hard to keep corporate country in check, by finding ways to prevent them from ignoring your legendary stars, and cutting off their lifeline to media attention, knowing that all stars need this lifeline to survive in our country! You then will be a true country star that is unique and you will survive in country long after corporate country is gone from our scene!
Maybe corporate country will survive too, but, only if they come to realize that the operation they seem to love can not last if they are only a physical entity! Country stars need to educate corporate, instead of corporate educating and controling our country! Remember what this country was built on folks, “We the people!” …….. not, “We the corporations!”
That’s what this is all about, no?
So if you want to be truly a unique country music star, then work at it, it doesn’t come easy! If it does, than beware! My father always told me, that; “If something is worth fighting for, than what are you waiting for?” Good advise isn’t it?
Yes, it’s true, those stars with the most fans right now today could be a physically rich country music star, but without being unique! However, what if you were a physically rich, and a spiritually rich unique country music star? Then you’d have everything you need to be totally happy and satisfied in our country, yes? It’s something to think about isn’t it? Make the right choice, and live forever! Be a unique country music star, and reap the fantastic benefits in every way, do it for your family, friends, fans and for yourself………..
Sincerely,
Jimmy Stix
http://www.jimstix.com
http://www.stixmix.us
http://www.stixmix.org
jimstix@nycap.rr.com
end of article: 7-13-08
__________________________________________________end of article
ONE FINE PARTY.
Misty and I often did shows with Jerry Reed, Roy Clark, Grandpa Jones, and Archie Campbell.
One of those shows was a week long booking at Atlanta's Chastain Park Amphitheater,
an outdoor venue.
It was Boots Randolph's show, and he always treated the artists, musicians, and staff as honored guests,
with long tables of food and drink backstage,
and a party feeling that carried over to the audiences.
Before the first show, Roy stepped out of his bus carrying a glass of unknown iced beverage.
Misty said "How're ya doin', Roy?"
Roy smiled and said "Gettin' well, honey."
The drinks never caused any real problems,
although a couple of times the emcee mistakenly tried to take acts off stage before they were done.
They were innocent mistakes, and kinda funny.
We were all friends.
Like most amphitheaters, it was bowl shaped,
and the bands were pretty much protected from the weather,
but the act out at the front of the stage could get a little wet if it rained.
This can be a thrill if you are hooked up to electrical equipment.
We had just finished our show and were walking off,
when Archie Campbell was heading out to do his act.
I said "It's pretty windy out there, Arch."
Archie ran his hand suavely over his hair and said this:
"I don't have to worry. I bought the casual style."
He was always funny... on or off stage.
The crowds were huge and Saturday night was our closing show.
We all met back at the hotel where Boots and his manager X. Cosse had us staying.
They had the hotel dining room set up like a king's banquet...
tons of food and anything you want to drink.
It was a party for everybody in the show, including roadies and friends of friends.
For the first hour everybody was there having a good time,
except Jerry Reed, who was conspicuous in his absence.
He bounced into the room at about 11:30, said quick hellos to the gang,
grabbed a take out box, went through the food table like a lawnmower,
and was gone with the wind and his doggy box of food.
Jerry was on Fast Forward, and his whole appearance lasted about seven minutes.
He had more energy than crazed squirrel.
Misty went into his bus and got his autograph when we worked together at the Citrus Bowl.
We loved Jerry Reed, and he was also my favorite guitar player.
Then, later in the party, there was some excitement going on at the ballroom door
when some medics rushed in with a stretcher.
We wondered what was up.
Roy Clark grinned, raised his glass, and said goodbye to everybody.
Then he made himself comfortable on the stretcher, and was carried out to the ambulance.
He was late and had a plane to catch.
I've tried to reproduce the week's events exactly as they happened,
down to the finest detail, but remember, I may have had a beer or two myself.
The music business used to be more fun than it is now,
and we miss all our old friends a lot,
but we're so lucky to have been part of that wonderful era.
Jack Blanchard
© 2011.
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan... Home page: http://jackandmisty.com CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jackmisty Videos: http://youtube.com/jackandmisty Restoration and mastering studio: 407 330 1611.
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