Hqppy B'day, Hank Sr.

[Ridgegrass]

The great Hank Williams would be 101 today. Get out that vinyl if you've got it and enjoy his music. "Cuz, If You Mind Your Business , Then You Won't Be Mindin' Mine" J.O'.

[Gtrclktr-351]

The original outlaw. Hiram King "Hank" Wiliams was a generational talent, lost much too soon. In his short career, he laid the foundation on which much of country music was built. His influence has, sadly' diminished with the advent of "Bro Country". Tom Petty correctly classified today's country as "called today's country as "bad rock with a fiddle". Tom went on to say, "I don't really see a George Jones or a Buck Owens or any anything that fresh coming up. I'm sure there must be somebody doing it, but most of that music reminds me of rock in the middle 80s where it became incredibly generic and relied on videos." Thank goodness Willie, and a few others are "keeping it real".

[Ridgegrass]

There are some pretty good "Country" bands playing the road but Nashville is still pumping out the pop stuff. Ricky and Emmylou did a lot to revive it in the 80's, also Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Marty Stewart, Vince Gill and now the Malpas brothers a bit, but, its mo0stly "sleeping" again. I always do a couple Hank songs when I play solo shows and they get good response. Older crowds. Good music is "evergreen". O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

Hank Williams is timeless. So is Jimmie Rodgers. I think you could do their music for almost any audience and get good response. They may or may not know the artist, but they know the songs.

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

Ken, You're right. I also chuck in a couple "Blue Yodels" now and then. Maybe you know that Rodgers recorded with New York orchestras before he died and that music is really special. Another great loss at 35 years old. The good die young. (What's that say for us old fogies?! ) Merle haggard did a great tribute album to Jimmy called "Same Train, Different Time". O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

J.O., I have several albums (vinyl) and numerous CDs of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams. Also some old 78 RPM records of Jimmie Rodgers, Vernon Dalhart, Carson Robison, and the Carters, that once belonged to my grandfather. (Also have his old hand-cranked Victrola). Those were the true pioneers of country music.

When I was in my early 20s there was a dancehall in Dallas called The Western Place. After work a few days a week a few co-workers and I went there for happy hour. There was an older woman there who played piano and sang during happy hour. Her repertoire was near-infinite, especially the “old standards”. There was absolutely nothing from the aforementioned artists she couldn’t sing. There typically weren’t many customers at that time of day so I used to sit at a table nearest her piano. She would ask me what to play and was continually amazed someone my age knew those songs. (Thanks to my grandfather).

BTW the place was very popular especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Willie Nelson and Family played there regularly in the early 70s.

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

I was at Ft. Hood in '67 and we used to go to Dallas some. Wished I'd known about the place. We used to go to Austin a lot too. Can't remember the name of the music strip but there were quite a few bars, mostly psychedelic rock. There was a place right on the beach on Galveston that was pretty wild called the "Grass Menagerie". Loved Texas, great folks and great times back then. When I hear Glenn Campbell's, "Galveston" , my thoughts drift back there. I swear it's like it was written for me when I was 20. "I clean my gun, and dream of Galveston". J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

I was at Ft. Hood in '67 and we used to go to Dallas some. Wished I'd known about the place. We used to go to Austin a lot too. Can't remember the name of the music strip but there were quite a few bars, mostly psychedelic rock. There was a place right on the beach on Galveston that was pretty wild called the "Grass Menagerie". Loved Texas, great folks and great times back then. When I hear Glenn Campbell's, "Galveston" , my thoughts drift back there. I swear it's like it was written for me when I was 20. "I clean my gun, and dream of Galveston". J.O'.