Country’s Family Reunion
NEWS
October 2020
Waylon Jennings’ Arrest
Kitty Wells’ House Hall of Fame Inductees Bobby Goldsboro’s Art
Patti Page Heart of Texas Museum Charlie Daniels Update Brad Paisley October 2020
… and more
1
Country’s Family Reunion
NEWS
What’s inside? Eddie Stubbs, p. 3 Feek: Columbia, p. 4 Hall of Fame Inductees, p. 6 Waylon Jennings, p. 8 Nadine, p. 12 Charlie Daniels Brand, p. 13 Heart of Texas Museum, p. 14 Kitty Wells’ Home, p. 16 Diner Chat, p. 17 Bobby Goldsboro Paintings, p. 18 Patti Page, p. 22 Chicken & Wild Rice Recipe, p. 24 Brad Paisley, p. 25
CFR News is published monthly by Country Road Management, 710 N. Main St., Suite B Columbia, TN 38401 Larry Black, Publisher Paula Underwood Winters, Editor, Print Layout & Design Claudia Johnson, Writer, Online Layout & Design Annual Print Subscriptions $29.95; renewals $24.95 To subscribe or renew call 1-800-8 20-5405 or mail payment to P.O. Box 610 Price, UT 84501 Online Subscriptions October 2020$15 per year http://countrysfamilyreunionnews.com/
2
Coming up on Thurs. 7 p.m. & Sat. 10 p.m. (Central)
Buddy Jewell, Oct. 1 & 3
The Martins, Oct. 22 & 24 McCrary Sisters, Oct. 8 & 10
October 2020
Tim Atwood, Oct. 15 & 17
Don McClean, Oct. 29 & 31
3
storyteller Rory Feek Fosters Country Tradition in Muletown
From there, Feek’s team has been working on a number of original television productions like "Muletown In The Round," a weekly series featuring some of the best songs, songwriters and stories in Country music; "Wynn’s Feed & Seed," a scripted television series starring local favorite Wynn Varble By Claudia Johnson and a cast of characters; and “More Than A Meal,” a Rory Feek has been capturing and telling stories new cooking show with two sisters with sister at his southern Middle Tennessee farm for more restaurants, who are based in the Columbia area. Some new Gaither Productions’ projects and the than a decade. “Larry’s Country Diner” series are being filmed on “Whether through records, music videos and television specials or filming and delivering our own the Red King soundstage, and Feek is working on weekly television series in our barn/soundstage/ some farm-to-table projects as well. “All that, and I have my own weekly television concert hall, we have the ability here to make just series, “This Life I Live,” that is filmed and shot in about anything, and it’s been amazing,” Feek said. However, last fall Feek took the chief creative real time, mostly at our farm,” Feek said. “And lastly, there’s the one-room schoolhouse farm school that officer position at RFD-TV, and his plans expanded. “I decided to invest creatively in more than just Indy [his 6-year-old-daughter with late wife Joey] our little farm and the area around it,” Feek said. just graduated kindergarten from on our farm. It is “So my sister, Candy, and I opened Marcy Jo’s a lot when I stop and start to think about it, but I Muletown [restaurant] in November just north of have some wonderful, talented people surrounding the square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee.” me that are helping bring all of these things to life.” At the same time, he started building a television Granted, Feek could invest his time and money soundstage and studio offices for his Red King Productions just behind the restaurant in a large anywhere on earth, so why did he choose Columbia old building that was a Packard car dealership 70 and Maury County, Tennessee? years ago. October 2020
4
Marcy Jo’s “This is the community, town and county I live in,” he said simply. “It’s where my family lives and most of my friends are. For me, it’s important to not just invest time, money and passion into your dreams but also into the people and place that can be blessed if you’re blessed.” Feek believes that soundstage and studio facilities in downtown Columbia offer more than just a place to film TV shows and other content.
Hardison Mill School “It’s always a place where that excitement and movement can “splash” on to other businesses nearby,” Feek said with conviction. “And where we can not only tell our story but other stories in the area and the story of the town where we’re doing it. I love that when people come to a “Larry’s Country Diner” taping, or a “Muletown in The Round” writer’s taping, they will shop in the other stores and restaurants and get to experience our little town in a way that probably wouldn’t have happened if those shows weren’t being filmed here.” T h e 5 5 - y e a r- o l d s i n g e rsongwriter who’s penned singles for Clay Walker, Blake Shelton and Tracy Byrd said he no longer sees himself as a musician or even someone in the music business. October 2020
“ I a m m o r e o f a v i s u a l s to r y te l l e r w h o sometimes uses music and words to tell stories,” Feek said. “I love Country music and always have, mostly because of the stories that Country music tells. I’d like to see the Country songs, actually all music, tell more stories these days.” Feek’s plans for the future are all about faith. “As far as our team goes, we’re just going to keep doing our best to pay attention to the doors God opens and the ones He’s closing,” Feek said. “We’re excited about all that’s taken place in the last 10 months and hopeful that it’s not just leading to some of the places we have in mind but also to places and opportunities that we couldn’t have imagined in a million years.” •
With daughter Indy in downtown Columbia
Photos courtesy of Rory Feek 5
Stuart, Williams and Dillon Join Hall of Fame
Stuart
Williams
By Claudia Johnson Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame is Country music's highest honor. The three inductees for 2020 are Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and Dean Dillion. T h e C o u n t r y m u s i c i n d u s t r y 's t r a d e organization, the Country Music Association (CMA), created the accolade to recognize significant contributions to the advancement of Country music by individuals in both the creative and business communities. The first Country Music Hall of Fame members, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams, were inducted in 1961. Williams’ son, Hank Jr., began his career at age eight and had his first charting single, a cover of his father’s “Long Gone Lonesome Blues,” at age 14. Over the next five decades, he would chart more than 100 times, with10 of those records reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country singles chart. October 2020
Dillon
“Hank Williams Jr. has bridged generations by mastering time-honored styles as well as embracing rock and blues,” the Hall of Fame stated in its inductee announcement. Only Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Ray Price and George Strait – all Hall of Fame members – have logged more charting hits than Hank Jr. Marty Stuart also began his music career as a pre-teen, playing mandolin at revivals, festivals and campaign rallies before joining Lester Flatt’s band at a ge 13. He remained until Flatt disbanded the group in 1978 and soon landed a spot in Johnny Cash’s band in 1980. Stuart left Cash in 1985 to focus on a solo career, amassing four Gold albums and six Top 10 singles during the 1990s, his commercial peak as a recording artist. The Hall of Fame stated that Stuart has become a “revered musician and singer but also a songwriter, producer, archivist, photographer, television host and spokesman for the history and traditions of the music that he holds so dear.” 6
Sometimes referred to as “the last of the troubadours” songwriter Dean Dillon has written hits for Country acts from Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius to Kenny Chesney, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith and Keith Whitley. His contributions to George Strait’s body of work, from co-writing Strait’s first charting single, “Unwound,” to Strait’s signature songs “The Chair,” “Marina Del Rey” and “Ocean Front Property,” helped define the careers of both Dillon and Strait. Dillon's “Tennessee Whiskey,” co-written with Linda Hargrove, charted for David Allan Coe, George Jones and Chris Stapleton. “Dillon has written with and for masters until he became a master himself,” stated the Hall of Fame. Through an agreement with the CMA, the role of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is to exhibit the bronze likenesses of the members of the Hall of Fame in a space and fashion befitting the honor. Election to the Hall of Fame is solely the prerogative of the CMA. New members, elected annually by a panel of industry executives chosen by the CMA, are inducted formally during the Medallion Ceremony, which is part of the annual reunion of Country Music Hall of Fame members hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. On that celebrated and private occasion, members of that august body join the members-elect, their families, friends, and business associates to welcome the new class of honorees into their midst. Each new member-elect is inducted by a fellow Hall of Fame member, who presents them with a commemorative October 2020
medallion to be worn at each subsequent reunion of the membership. The Hall of Fame is currently closed in an effort to curtail the spread of Covid-19, and no date for the induction ceremony has been set •
7
Country Music Mayhem The Time Waylon Jennings Almost Went to Prison By Claudia Johnson Waylon Jennings came very close to spending 15 years in prison in 1977 when he was arrested for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine by federal narcotics a gents at WRJ Productions Studio on Nashville’s Music Row. In AP and UPI stories picked up by newspapers around the world, Bernard Redd, the special agent in charge of the Nashville office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was quoted as saying that the arrest came after a private courier service attempted to ship 23 grams of cocaine from New York directly to Jennings’ studio in Nashville. “We had information that there was going to be some cocaine received at the studio, Redd said. “A package was delivered. The warrants were obtained before the package ever arrived. We discovered what was in the package at the shipping location in New York.” Jennings, 40, was nominated for five major Country Music Association awards just a week before his Aug. 24, 1977, arrest. Also arrested was his personal secretary, Lori Evans, 21, who, unknowingly followed by DEA agents, had picked up the package at the airport and delivered it to Jennings at the studio. According to the DEA, the arrests stemmed from a DEA investigation in both Nashville and New York. Agents said that when the package was received by World Courier Inc. in New York, the night manager, Danny Byriter, became suspicious and contacted the DEA. A field test of the powder revealed that it was cocaine. The DEA removed 22 grams of cocaine from the package, which was marked “Personal: Attention Waylon Jennings,” and shipped only one gram to Nashville. Jennings and Evans appeared before a federal magistrate immediately after their arrest and were soon released on their own recognizance. Jennings told the waiting reporters that he was “hanging in there.” October 2020
Performing after arrest
Later that night Jennings showed up at a Willie Nelson concert, where Jennings performed several songs. “I didn’t do it,” he yelled to a cheering audience that was demanding that he sing “Cocaine Blues.” He stood under the Texas Lone Star flag and sang the words to one of his hits, “They say I am living too fast and I can’t keep it up much longer, but I don’t give a damn.” On Sept. 1, 1977, Jennings, in keeping with his “Outlaw” image, appeared at a probable cause hearing in federal court in Nashville. UPI reported that he was wearing black boots, jeans, a leather vest and a shirt unbuttoned to his stomach. 8
The charges against Lori Evans were dropped, but Mark Rothbaum of Danbury, Connecticut, identified as an assistant to Jennings’ business manager, appeared alongside Jennings as a new defendant, also facing conspiracy and possession charges. T h e p r o s e c u t i o n co n te n d e d t h a t i t w a s Rothbaum who delivered the cocaine to World Courier Inc. in New York for shipment to Jennings. U.S Magistrate Kent Sandridge III ordered Jennings and Rothbaum to be held pending grand jury deliberations on the charges, but the pair were later freed on $7,500 non-surety bonds. “They [prosecutors] don’t have enough to convict, but they have enough for probable cause,” Aldridge told Elliot Sa ger, one of Jennings’ attorneys. William C. Tucker of Nashville’s DEA office testified that an agent observed another man at the studio during the raid look at Jennings and gesture with his thumb to the bathroom where two “soaking wet” plastic bags containing traces of cocaine were subsequently found. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Whitley contended that the gesture and the fact that Rothbaum marked the package in longhand to “Waylon Jennings” indicated the singer had knowledge of the cocaine shipment. Sanger argued that his client did not personally receive the shipment. “There is no proof whatsoever that his addressee asked that this package in this form be sent to him,” October 2020
Sanger said, alleging that Jennings’ fame had influenced the prosecutors. “if this is what established probable cause, then this acts as a special precedent for someone who is a public figure.” By the first week of October 1977 all charges against Jennings were dropped without prejudice (meaning they could be brought up again), but another of Jennings’ attorneys, Dale Quillen, said he feared the dismissal was a ploy “to get around the Speedy Trial Act. The charges were never reinstated, and Jennings no longer had to worry about what could have at that time been a $30,000 fine and a 15-year prison sentence. Jennings did not, however, cease his drug use. According to his son, Terry Jennings’s book, Waylon: Tales of My Outlaw Dad, “Dad did $1,500 of coke per day. And it wasn’t that way for a short period of time, either.” Te r r y Je n n i n g s wrote that on the day of the cocaine arrest his father had taken the opportunity while DEA agents were correcting flawed search warrants to hide all the drugs they had on themselves and at the studio. Allegedly they emptied vials and pill bottles, and Jennings’ drummer, Richie Albright, dropped a bag of cocaine though a crack in the wall. “Then with Dad creating a distraction, Richie was somehow able to sneak the second bag into the bathroom and flush it down the commode,” Terry writes.
Waylon during court hearing
9
Jennings’ widow, Jesse Colter, wrote in her autobiography, An Outlaw and a Lady, that Jennings had called her and asked that she find and flush down the toilet “anything that “even looks suspicious” in their home. When she informed her husband that she found nothing, he elected to stay away to protect her from the publicity. In 1978 Waylon Jennings penned a single titled “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand,” which gives an account of what happened at his arrest.
The song was a Top 5 hit. Six years later he finally became clean and sober, crediting his and Colter’s young son, Shooter Jennings, who was born in 1979, as his motivation to remain so. However, after years of excessive drinking, smoking and drug addiction, Jennings’ health was destroyed. He had bypass surgery, diabetes that resulted in amputation of his foot and impaired mobility that ended his live performances. He died in his sleep on Feb. 13, 2002, at age 64. At his memorial, Colter, his wife of 33 years, sang, “Storms Never Last,” which she had written about their relationship. •
Lori Evans Recalls Arrest with Waylon Jennings in Exclusive Interview with “CFR News” By Claudia Johnson August 24, 1977, began as a normal day for Lori Evans. At age 20, she had a job managing the Music Row office of Waylon Jennings. Known as one of the Country “outlaws,” Jennings had 16 Top 10 solo albums to his credit. He’d also had a No. 1 double Platinum collaboration 1976 album, “Wanted! The Outlaws,” with Tompall Glaser and Jennings’s wife Jessie Colter. In 1976 “Waylon Live” was a No.1 Country album that was certified Gold along with two other Gold studio albums, “Are You Ready for the Country” in 1976 and the 1975 “Dreaming My Dreams” His 1977 album, “Ol' Waylon,” went Platinum. Jennings was busy and successful, and that’s why Evans was hired. She took care of things for the entertainer, and one of those was going to the Nashville airport to pick up packages in the days before UPS and Uber deliveries. That sweltering August day is one Evans says she’ll never forget – but she’d like to. It’s the one and only time she’s ever been arrested, and none of it was her fault. Evans, now 64, who has never spoken publicly about the day she and Jennings were arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine by federal narcotics agents, agreed to share her memories with Country’s Family Reunion News in an exclusive interview. Evans observed that the news wires like AP and UPI as well as Nashville’s local papers, The Tennessean and The Banner, could not have known exactly what transpired after she and roommate Robin Kaye, who also worked for Waylon, picked up a package that unbeknownst to them contained cocaine. The package, which had been shipped through World Courier Inc. from New York by Mark Rothbaum, an assistant to Jennings’ business manager, was addressed to Jennings’ office, but the label specifically stated that someone named Lori would be picking it up. “When Mark sent the package, he kept calling the carrier, and that alerted them that something was wrong,” Evans said, explaining why the courier service’s night attendant became suspicious enough to alert the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Lori as a young woman
October 2020
10
“When I got back, I went over to the studio and just put it on the couch,” Evans said, adding that Jennings’ office was next door to the studio he was renting, so she went back to work. That’s when the DEA agents showed up trying to find Jennings. “I told them I had to use the bathroom,” said Evans, securing a moment away from the agents. “I to l d Wa y l o n’s b o o k i n g a g e n t , George Laibe, to tell all the crew in the office to clean house. I then went over to the studio escorted by the DEA, TBI and police.” That gave the guys in the studio enough time to get rid of anything incriminating. “They had figured it out when they opened the package and there was only one gram and not the two ounces they were expecting,” Evans said. What transpired is recounted in the companion story, “The Time Waylon Jennings Almost Went to Prison,” in this issue, but Evans added a few details. “The agents did not have the right warrants, so while they were waiting, Richie [Albright – Jennings’ drummer and right-hand man] flushed what was in the package,” Evans said. “When the DEA entered the studio, Waylon was in the recording booth. Richie pushed the sound button so Waylon could hear what was going on, and he was able to stuff what he had on him between the walls of the booth. They never found anything.” Meanwhile, Evans was placed under arrest and taken to be arraigned and fingerprinted. It was soon clear that she had not been a part of the conspiracy or had even known what was in the package, but she was not safe from prosecution. “They said that I would be a ‘target’ witness and would have to testify against Waylon before the
Office & Studio
Grand Jury,” Evans said. “I had immunity but they made it clear that I could be re-arrested.” The case was never prosecuted, but Evans did have to answer questions under oath, many of which yielded her replying that she did not know or could not remember. “They said that for an office manager I sure didn’t have a good memory,” Evans said. “I told them, ‘Well, it’s not hard to answer a telephone.’” She did know that Jennings had completely switched from pills to cocaine after the death of Elvis Presley only a few weeks before, but she did not personally witness his drug use. Surprisingly, he did not drink. “He hated drinking and hated to be around anyone who drank,” she said. Evans, who was not involved in drug use in any manner, worked for Jennings for three years. She said she witnessed his generosity and compassion toward others and was the recipient of it herself, once paying $500 to her dentist so that she could get relief from a serious dental issue. “He had a heart of gold,” she said. •
Like Country’s Family Reunion News on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/countrysfamilyreunionnews October 2020
11
Nadine’s Corner Well, it’s been a rough week. You know when you're feeling down and some crazy family member or friend comes up and says, “Suck it up!” - I gotta tell you, I just get the urge to break their legs and say, “Walk it off, bud!” Our neighbor is a cattle farmer, and he called Homer over the other day to help him deliver a calf. They were just working like crazy and the farmer looked around and there was his grandson watching by the fence. He told Homer, “Oh me, now I'm gonna have to explain all this to him” and Homer said, “Naw, just let him ask you questions.” After they delivered the calf, the farmer went over, and he and his grandson were walking up to the house when the boy looked at his grandpa and said, “Pops, just how fast was that calf going when he hit that cow?” He's the same guy that told Homer that his wife converted him over to the church ‘cause he never believed in hell till he married her. Our preacher was out here the other day and was talking to him about cutting hay on Sunday. Pastor told him God made the world in six days and He rested on the seventh. Tom said, “I know that, but He got done and I didn't!” Poor ole Tom's wife went missing a few years ago, and she had been gone for a few weeks when the police came by and told him that he needed to prepare for the worst. So he called Homer and asked him if he would go down to Goodwill with him to get her clothes back! I have to admit, he was a few fries short of a happy meal. Church sign: Some people create their own storms and then get upset when it rains.
. Love y'all, Nadine
Country’s Family Reunion Fridays 7 p.m. Central Saturdays 11 p.m. Central
October 2020
12
On Feb. 22, 2021, the music world will come together to honor Daniels at the 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels. The star-studded concert will be held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels is being produced by Outback Presents in association with David Corlew and Associates and Conway Entertainment Group. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com and the Bridgestone Arena box office. Charlie Daniels Jr., son of the late Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Daniels, has announced a new direction for his father’s legacy. Daniels’ longtime company, CDB, Inc., transitioned into Charlie Daniels Brand, Inc. The venture will focus on product branding and licensing, various Charlie Daniels legacy projects, as well as official CDB merchandise. "My mom and I were devastated over the passing of my father," Daniels Jr. explains. "As the dust settles, we want to keep his legacy alive and extend it for future generations. So, we have established a new company to do just that. We’re excited for what the future holds." "I was blessed to have been a small part of an incredible journey that lasted almost 50 years," notes Daniels' longtime manager David Corlew. "I'm glad to see that Hazel and Charlie Jr. are committed to extending the legacy of my friend, patriot and gifted artist, Charlie Daniels." Charlie Daniels Brand, Inc.’s first major licensing venture will be announced in the coming days with additional historical Charlie Daniels projects in the works. “We are keeping some of the original management staff in place and will continue to search for opportunities to operate together again as a full team,” Daniels Jr. adds. “We will always be a family. Dad left a beautiful flame behind him, and to honor his legacy, we want it to shine brightly for many years to come." October 2020
The Jam will feature performances by ALABAMA, Ricky Skaggs, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Marshall Tucker Band, Junior Brown, CeCe Winans, Chris Janson, Charley Pride, Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, Delbert McClinton, Keb' Mo', The Outlaws, 38 Special, The Allman Betts Band, Cedric Burnside, Jenny Tolman, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Travis Denning, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Rhett Akins, Scooter Brown Band, The SteelDrivers, Pure Prairie League and comedian Dusty Slay. Daniels' band, The Charlie Daniels Band, will also perform to honor their legendary frontman.
Contact Charlie Daniels Jr. Charlie Daniels Brand 615-443-2112 cdjr@charliedaniels.com.
13
Heart of Texas Museum is Gift to Country Fans by Claudia Johnson More than 100 Country artists are represented in the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum in Brady, Texas. Stage costumes, musical instruments, autographs, posters and other memorabilia highlight Country Music's colorful past. KNEL disc jockey Tracy Pitcox began collecting various stage costumes from several entertainers in the industry, and the collection soon outgrew the storage area in his office. Brady businessman Billy Jackson donated a lot on South Bridge Street in Brady in memory of his wife, Peg gy. Donations poured in and soon construction began. Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright broke ground on the museum. The entire 1,200-square-foot white limestone structure was built debt free over the next two years and officially opened on Aug. 5, 2000. Leona Williams, Darrell McCall, Dave Kirby, Big Bill Lister, Frankie Miller, Johnny Moore, Al Dean, David McCormick, Justin Trevino and Ron Williams participated in the ribbon cutting. The museum contains hundreds of authentic pieces of Country music memorabilia. About 80 October 2020
percent of the collection was donated by the artists themselves or the artists’ family. Several pieces have been purchased out of estates from entertainers, including Jim Reeves, Minnie Pearl, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Dottie West, Roy Acuff, the Wilburn Brothers, Ernest Tubb, Speck Rhodes and Grandpa Jones among others. Of special interest are costumes designed by some of the greatest tailors in the business including Nudie, Harvey Krantz and Nathan Turk among others. In fact, the idea for the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum began with a Rose Maddox gold and rhinestone dress made by Nathan Turk. “This dress was worn by Rose Maddox in the 1950s and was designed by Nathan Turk Rodeo Tailor,” Maddox stated in the letter with the dress, adding, “It is the last one that I have."
14
Among the other costumes on display are Ray Price’s Nudie-designed suit with rhinestone feather designs; Lefty Frizzell’s Nudie Musical Note Suit used on the “Lefty Frizzell Greatest Hits” album; Ernie Ashworth’s “Lip Suit” honoring his biggest hit “Talk Back Trembling Lips;” custom black, white, yel low and red boots and a white cowboy hat from Carl Smith; George Jones’ Nudie suit; and Hank Williams Jr.’s Nudie-designed musical shirt along with his custom made monogrammed boots (pictured left). Some of the other items are: • Kitty Wells’ gingham dress and Johnny Wright’s Nudie suit • Webb Pierce's "Wondering Acres" guitar shaped mail box •Barbara Mandrell’s rhinestone encrusted belt from her stage dress and her personal home jukebox filled with records from her career • Johnny Cash’s Desert Storm fatigues • June Carters Cash's gold lamé dress • Buck Owens’ red, white and blue guitar • George Strait's Resistol Straw Hat • “The Tall Texan” Billy Walker’s 1965 Martin and 12 string Vox guitars with his Manuel stage suit and pants
Hollywood Walk of Fame award and his 1975 Cadillac Limo. The Hank Snow collection includes his Gay custom inlayed guitar, Harvey Krantz suit used in his 80th birthday portrait, musical note suit, Leddy boots and his desk name plate. The “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn has donated se veral items to the museum, including stage dresses, shoes and even jewelry. Located at Bill Anderson 1701 South Bridge Street in Brady, Texas, the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum is run by the 1,000 member Heart of Texas Country Music Association. Volunteers keep the museum open, and admission is always free. Group and bus tours are welcome. The museum can also be seen by making an appointment during times it is not scheduled to be open. For more information and to confirm hours of operation or schedule group or special tours visit www.hillbillyhits.com, call (325) 597-1895 or email tracy@hillbillyhits.com. •
Texas native Jim Reeves is honored in a display containing two of his suits, a record award, a Grammy nomination plaque., a suit and his Baby Martin guitar. The museum acquired Reeves’ 1956 Flxible Touring Bus, “Big Blue,” which has been refurbished, is now parked beside the museum and o p e n f o r to u r s . A f te r Re e v e s ’ d e a t h , " B i g B l u e " w a s u s e d b y Wi l m a B u r g e s s a n d The Wilburn Brothers. Ferlin Husky’s extensive display includes his tailored tux, first guitar, rhinestone guitar strap, October 2020
15
Homes of the Legends: Kitty wells & Johnnie Wright by Renae Johnson
Sweetheart couple Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright lived at 1302 Saunders Av e . , Madison, Tennessee.. The land was purchased for this sprawling one-story h o m e i n Ja n u a r y 1960. It sits on 1.5 acres with a fenced back yard at the end of the street. It had 11 rooms, including four bathrooms, four bedrooms, a fireplace and a finished basement. The total living space was 3,236 square feet. There is a pool in the back and carport with two parking spaces. Kitty and Jo h n n i e b o t h h a d v e r y successful countr y music careers. Kitty was known as the Queen of Country Music. Her 1952 hit, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” is a Country classic. Johnnie had a singing career October 2020
performing with Jack Anglin. Their first single, “Poison Love,” was a hit in 1951, and several o t h e r s f o l l o we d i n c l u d i n g , “G o o d n i g h t , Sweetheart, Goodnight.” After Anglin was killed in an automobile accident he joined Kitty as part of her stage show. Two of their children, Bobby and Ruby, also had recording careers. Ruby sang for a while as Nita, Rita and Ruby with Anita Carter and Rita Robbins. B o b b y a c te d i n t h e 1 9 6 0 ’s T V s e r i e s “McHale’s Navy” as Willy Moss. Both country music legends lived in this home until their deaths. Johnnie passed away on September 27, 2011, at the age of 97. Kitty passed away on July 16, 2012, at the age of 92. • 16
Happy Birthday to my husband Phil Johnson who has a birthday on October 27th. Phil always goes to Arizona in October for a deer hunt on his birthday. His brother, Lynn and my brother, Myron meets him for a week of roughing it by renting a house with, internet, cable, a kitchen and soft beds! No tents and sleeping bags for them!! I guess there are advantages to getting older…. lol. If you have every spent time in Arizona then you understand there are no tree stands to watch deer come to you. Hunting in Arizona is climbing mountain ridges and valleys while using binoculars and walkie-talkies. And if you are lucky enough to get a buck, then you have to haul it on your back to a road after gutting it. So I guess a little luxury is well deserved. And the deer meat is a great reward for their days of hunting. Some of Phil’s fondest memories are hunting with our son, Justin. Happy Birthday to all of the country music legends with October birthdays!! Gene Watson, Oct. 11, Lacy J Dalton, Oct. 13, Dean Miller, Oct. 15, Alan Jackson, Oct. 17, Jeannie C. Riley, Oct. 19, Dwight Yoakam, Oct. 23, Charlie Daniels, Oct. 27, Lee Greenwood, Oct. 27, Brad Paisley, Oct .28, T. Graham Brown, Oct. 30, Darryl Worley, Oct. 31.
Happy Halloween The holidays are upon us! It’s kind of a strange Halloween this year with everyone already wearing masks every day. I bought Rio and Sedona some funny face masks to wear to school so they think it’s Halloween every day. And they also expect to get a treat when I see them!
Jan Howard’s Estate Sale Grand Ole Opry Member Jan Howard’s Estate Sell was hosted by Emyjo Bilbrey (Keith’s wife). Items of Jan’s included: Stage Clothing, Jewelry, Shoes, Boots, Accessories, etc, Glassware, Silver, Original Art, Country Music Photographs, Top Hits, etc, Travel souvenirs, Ladies Golf Attire/Accessories, Books, Cookbooks, Furniture, Guitars, Precious Moments Collection. Proceeds from the two-day sell went to the Overwatch Alliance Veteran’s Foundation. October 2020
17
Bobby Goldsboro: Writer, Singer, Producer, Painter by Claudia Johnson
Bobby Goldsboro is a true Renaissance man. At age 79 he’s enjoyed a long career as an entertainer, composer, producer and publisher. In addition he has become a respected oil painter. “I never dreamed I would be a painter,” Goldsboro said in a recent interview with Country’s Family Reunion News. “I wanted to play major league baseball!” However, the musically gifted Florida native began his entertainment career in the early 1960s playing guitar for Roy Orbison. Having toured internationally with Orbison and even playing with the Beatles, after three years Goldsboro launched a solo career. Goldsboro opened for the Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tour. He opened for The Four Seasons and The Beachboys. Beginning in 1964 he began recording what would become a string of sixteen Top 40 hits with "See the Funny Little Clown." He hit the Billboard charts with 29 consecutive singles. His music appeared consistently in both the United States and Canada on the Country, Pop and Adult Contemporary charts. In 1968 his recording of "Honey" was certified gold in only four weeks and was the fastest-selling record in the history of United Artists. "Honey" soon became the largest-selling record in the world, selling over 5 million copies and topping the mighty, "Hey, Jude" by The Beatles. It was a No. 1 U.S. Country, POP and Adult Contemporary hit and was No. 1 in Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. October 2020
"Watching Scotty Grow" was 1971's No. 1 Soft Rock and Adult Contemporary hit and a No. 7 Country hit in the U.S. and Canada. His recordings of "Little Green Apples" and "With Pen in Hand" have also become classics. The singer said that his personal favorite, which he deemed his “best recording,” is his 1973 Top 20 hit, “Summer the First Time,” which he cowrote. By 1973 Goldsboro had his own nationally syndicated television show, which ran for three successful seasons and became the highest rated variety show in syndication in the '70s. 18
He then formed House of Gold Music, which became one of the most successful music publishing companies in Nashville, publishing such songs as "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Behind Closed Doors." Goldsboro’s musical involvement on television and in film includes performing "These Are the Best Times" for the 1973 Disney movie, "Super Dad," writing and performing "For a Little While" for Burt Reynold's 1976 movie, "Gator," and writing and performing a new song each week for Reynolds’ 1993 television show, “Evening Shade.” At the close of the '93 season the six-time Grammy nominee was awarded a B.M.I. Songwriter Award, and his theme song for "Evening Shade" was voted "Television's Best Theme Song.”
As a songwriter Goldsboro has received 27 B.M.I. awards. His compositions have been recorded by such diverse artists as Aretha Franklin, John Denver, Paul Anka, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Dr. John, Conway Twitty and Bette Midler. His compositions, "With Pen in Hand" and "Autumn of My Life" are members of B.M.I.'s exclusive "Million-airs Club," which contains only those songs that have been played on the air over one million times. October 2020
His classic composition, "Summer, the First Time," was voted the greatest summer song ever in England. “Song writing is a God given gift,” Goldsboro said in an interview with Gary James on classicbands.com. “You can teach somebody to write a song, that doesn't make them a good songwriter.” He wrote, orchestrated and performed the music for several best-selling audio books, among them William Peter Blatty's classic, "The Exorcist." His musical contributions were honored when he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1999 alongside Wilson Pickett and The Temptations. Goldsboro’s work on children’s projects have brought him recognition in yet another area of entertainment. He created a timeless animated Easter special, "Easter Egg Mornin’," for The Disney Channel and has a dozen videos and 10 best-selling children's books on the market. “The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon," is a 52episode series carried on PBS and other channels for which Goldsboro wrote the scripts, wrote and arranged all the music, played all the instruments and even did all the character voices. He also produced a live “Swamp Critters” show Jazzland Theme Park in New Orleans, Silver Springs Attraction in Florida and the South Florida Fair. In recent years Goldsboro has pursued his passion for art that began when he was in 10th grade when he nabbed his brother’s drawing pad and started creating. His first works were a portrait of Jesus and a still life of a bowl of fruit. With all his other creative endeavors, visual arts were forgotten until he and his wife began visiting museums and galleries. 19
“I said ‘I’d really like to do that’, so the day I turned 65 I bought a camera, brushes and oil paint,” Goldsboro said. “Like with music, I just started doing it and had no training. It’s a lot of trial and error, and I have learned from each one. In June I completed my 200th oil painting, and I learned as much from painting it as I did from the first 199.” Goldsboro’s wife, Dianne, was first to recognize that her husband’s paintings were not only beautiful, they were marketable. “When I first started, I would have three or four paintings going at a time,” Goldsboro said. “Dianne started researching sizes and pricing. The first four paintings we offered for sale on the website sold in less than 48 hours. We’ve been doing this for 15 years now, and Dianne frames every painting.”
Goldsboro’s work has been featured at one-man art shows in galleries around the country, and he is considered one of the premier wildlife artists in America, with his paintings hanging in places like the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, which now houses one of his hummingbird paintings and The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, which commissioned two pieces. October 2020
Goldsboro said that he and Dianne spend a great deal of time in Wyoming, where they photograph wildlife for future paintings. Camera in hand, they are willing to go were the animals live, waiting for hours to get just the right shot. “I’ve been in the middle of a heard of bison with them scraping my car,” he said. “That’s the way I can see every detail. I’ve now painted every major animal in Jackson Hole.” In addition to original creations, the artist does commissioned work. Ray Stevens secured Goldsboro to create an 8’ x 4’ oil painting of Stevens on stage, pictured above, for the main entrance of the state-ofthe-art CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tennessee. 20
When the Hubble Telescope turned 25 years old, Goldsboro was commissioned to create a series of large oil paintings based on photos returned to earth from the telescope. A Florida bank acquired 28 paintings for use in its facilities. The Goldsboros regularly donate paintings and giclée prints to charities for fund-raisers, one of which recently raised $25,000. A martini glass he designed and painted for the Celebrity Martini Glass Auction in Naples, Florida, sold at auction for $14,000. On bobbygoldsboro.com galleries of his paintings may be viewed and purchased, and there’s contact information for commissioning work by Goldsboro. Before Covid 19 closed down many performance venues, Goldsboro had announced that he was taking a break from performing in 2020 due to his art commitments and says that because of how he works, quarantine has not changed his daily schedule. “I walk over to my studio and paint in my bathrobe all day,” he said, perfectly content with the company of his oils and brushes. To view galleries or purchase prints, visit bobbygoldsboro.com. •
October 2020
21
Memories of Music Row Welcome back to my Memories of Music Row as I share stories and day-to-day happenings through my personal interviews with the “architects of music row” – record producers, songwriters, artists, studio musicians and recording engineers. by Areeda Schneider Stampley
The Singing Rage, Miss Patti Page Patti Page was born Clara Ann Fowler on Nov. 8, 1927, in Claremont, Oklahoma. Her father, B. A. Fowler, worked on the MKT Railroad. Patti’s mother, Margaret, and older sisters picked cotton. In 1945, while in high school, she became the featured performer on a 15-minute radio program on KTUL, Tulsa. Page Milk Company sponsored the program and referred to their performer as “Patti Page.” After graduation, she kept her new name and toured with local pop bands, eventually ending up in Chicago where she joined a band led by popular orchestra leader Benny Goodman. The association with Goodman led to Patti Page signing her first recording contract with Mercury Records. As she became a topcharting vocalist and bestselling female artist of the 1950s, she was often referred to as “The Singing Rage, Miss Patti Page,” selling over 100 million records during a six-decade long career. Her signature song, “Tennessee Waltz,” written in 1946 by Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart, was one o f t h e b i g g e s t- s e l l i n g singles of the 20th century. It is recognized today as one of the official songs of the state of Tennessee. It spent 13 weeks atop Billboard magazine’s Best-Sellers List in 1950-51. Patti Page’s career produced top-of-the chart hits such as “Doggie in the Window,” “Old Cape Cod,”
Patti Page
October 2020
“Allegheny Moon,” “A Poor Man’s Roses (or a Rich Man’s Gold),” “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte,” “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” “You Belong to Me” and “Tennessee Waltz.” Because of her love for Country music, Page blended Country styles into many of her songs. As a result of this crossover appeal, many of her singles were appearing on the Billboard Country Chart. It was a personal dream come true for me to interview Patti Page when she was in Nashville filming a “Country Family Reunion” show. That inperson meeting afforded me the opportunity to see first-hand that Patti Page was truly the queen of humble graciousness and sophistication. During that interview with Patti Page, she shed some light on just how she happened to move from pop to country: “ Te n n e s s e e Wa l t z , produced by Mercury’s A&R guy Shelby Singleton, was my first crossover song that went from pop to Country and vice-versa,” she explained. “From then on, most of the things I had were either written by Country writers or they were in the Country field, along with the pop field. Shelby is strictly Country, and that’s where I should have b e e n a l l a l o n g . My r u r a l upbringing was Country. However, my older sisters had big band records, and I leaned in that direction. When I switched to Columbia Records, producer Bob Johnston said we should go to Nashville to record.”
Patti & Elvis
22
“It was 1965 that I recorded “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte” in the Quonset Hut,” she recalled. “What I remember most about recording here in Nashville was how fun it was because you didn’t have time limits put on your sessions. Other studios’ musicians have a 10-minute break every hour. That’s Union, and although I believe in Unions, I just think you can carry it a little too far sometimes. You never have that problem here in Nashville.” In asking what she thought of “the Nashville Sound” her reply was, “Well, I miss some of the original sound because now it’s just a combination of pop and everything together. I think there should be a difference between Country and pop, and there isn’t that much of a difference unless you get a traditional singer like Randy Travis or George Jones, who is a great example of country music. “The musicians are great here in Nashville,” she said. “On my sessions, I normally like to have Charlie McCoy, the Jordanaires, Jerry Kennedy on guitar, drummer Buddy Harmon, Bob Moore on bass, Harold Bradley on guitar and Pig Robbins on piano.” In my later interview with Charlie McCoy, he commented on the session when Patti recorded “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte,” saying, “I don’t know how Bob (Johnston) procured that song with the movie coming out, but the timing was magic, just right, and of course it was a huge hit! I don’t think
Patti & Brenda Lee there’s any finer singer in the world than Patti Page! One of my very favorite records of all time is her record of “Old Cape Cod.” Patti Page was the pioneer artist to “overdub their own voice.” She explained to me how that came to be. “I was recording in Chicago in 1948 during a musicians strike and no back-up singers for harmony,” she said. “We thought through the idea and discovered we could record the whole master and then make a copy of it. As we’re making the copy, I sang the harmony parts. Then that tape became the master. It created the effect of an echo. That’s the first time it had ever been done in a recording.” In 1980 Patti Page was honored with the prestigious Pioneer Award f r o m t h e Ac a d e m y o f Country Music. She is on the Hol l ywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1983. She was posthumously honored with the Lifetime Ac h i e v e m e n t G r a m m y Award in 2013. •
Patti singing “Tennessee Waltz” on “Country’s Family Reunion” October 2020
23
Areeda’s southern cooking by Areeda Schneider Stampley
Chicken Wild Rice Casserole A family favorite casserole. So easy and delicious! 1 6-oz package Uncle Ben’s Original Long Grain and Wild Rice ½ c. butter ½ c. onion, chopped ½ .c all-purpose flour 8 oz. can button mushrooms, drained 1 c. chicken broth, 14 oz. 1 ¼ c. half and half cream 3 c. chicken, cooked, diced 2 T. snipped fresh parsley ¼ c. diced pimiento, drained ¼ t. pepper 1 ½ t. salt ½ c. slivered or sliced almonds Prepare rice according to package directions. In large pot, cook onion in butter until slightly tender. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Add chicken broth gradually to flour mixture. Add half & half. Slowly cook and stir until thick. Add remaining ingredients, except almonds. Place in 2-quart shallow casserole dish. Sprinkle with almonds and bake at 350° for 40-45 min. (60 min. if casserole has been refrigerated.) Yield: 8-10 To purchase Areeda’s Southern Cooking, a collection of oldfashioned recipes send $24.45 check (no credit cards) and mailing address to Areeda’s Southern Cooking P. O. Box 202, Brentwood, TN 37024. Order online at www.areedasoutherncooking.com. Credit cards accepted online. Email Areeda at areedaschneider@bellsouth.net
October 2020
24
Singer/Songwriter Brad Paisley By Sasha Dunavant Brad Paisley believes that singer–songwriters must push themselves to the limit when it comes to writing songs. In a 2014 “Taste of Country” interview the singer suggested, “I’m just saying that we as writers can do better.” Growing tired of repetition the star insisted, “There are phrases that are totally cliché that we as songwriters owe it to ourselves to not use again.” During his career, the Glen Dale, West Virginia, native, has written countless songs for himself and other singers, and many of them his fans know by heart. Though he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Belmont University, he still found time to pursue his passion for songwriting and singing. In his early career, Paisley opened for Ricky Skaggs, George Jones and The Judds. His debut single, “Who Needs Pictures,” earned him an invitation to the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1999. He co-wrote his number one hit, “He Didn’t Have To Be,” with Kelley Lovelace, who discussed her collaboration experience with Paisley in a 2015 interview with “Song-Writer Universe.” “Brad and I…we’ve been friends since 1994,” she said. “We got to be buddies before we started working together. We have very alike personalities. Whenever he’s in the studio, whenever he’s writing and recording, I’m pretty much doing that. I’m trying to come up with ideas, feed him ideas and feed him songs and be as much a part of that process as possible. It’s a huge blessing to have that kind of relationship with any artist, much less one as successful as Brad has been over the years. That’s my first priority when he’s recording.” Further songwriting in 2000 resulted in Top 20 hit “Me Neither” and Paisley’s second No. 1 single, “We Danced.” In 2001 Paisley reached all-star status when his album went platinum and the Country Music Association handed him the Horizon Award. The same year at age 28 he became the youngest member ever to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He was also given the Best New Male Vocalist Trophy from the Academy of Country Music. Paisley co-wrote several songs with Chely Wright. One of the songs, “Hard To Be A Husband, Hard To Be A Wife,” was written for a PBS special that was nominated for the Country Music Association’s Vocal Event of the Year award. Paisley continued to co-write, sing and play guitar on Wright’s 2001 album, “Never Love You Enough.” In 2002 Paisley won CMA’s Video of the Year for, “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song).” His part two album remained on charts for 70 weeks and produced his co-written Top 10 hits, “Two People Fell In Love,” “Wrapped Around” and “I Wish You’d Stay.” Paisley’s two-time platinum 2003 album, “Mud on The Tires” produced “Whiskey Lullaby,” “Celebrity,” “Mud on The Tires” and “Little Moments.” All three singles made the top three on country charts. “Whiskey Lullaby,” Paisley’s duet with country and bluegrass star Allison Krauss, won 2005’s Country Music Association Award for Song of The Year. Paisley’s 2005 album,
October 2020
“Time Well Wasted,” won the Country Music Association Award for Best Album and was named 2006’s Album of Year by the Academy of Country Music. His self-written single, “Alcohol” reached number four on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and was nominated for two Grammys. Paisley continued his songwriting and recording success with his fifth album, “5th Gear.” The album produced another four No. 1 singles, including “Ticks,” “Letter To Me,” “I’m Still a Guy” and “Online.” On Feb. 10, 2008, Paisley won the Grammy for the Best Country Instrumental for his song, “Throttleneck.” Paisley wrote “Then” in 2009 for his album, “American Saturday Night.” He performed the song on American Idol the same year. Paisley also performed for President and Mrs. Barack Obama at the White House in 2009. His song, “Old Alabama,” is from Paisley’s tenth album, “This Is Country Music.” The number one hit is about a man spending Saturday night with the woman of his dreams. Paisley co-wrote 2011’s “Remind Me” with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois. The song became a hit duet with Country music sweetheart, Carrie Underwood. Paisley joined forces again with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois while writing the 2012-2013 hit singles, “Southern Comfort,” “Beat This Summer,” “I Can’t Change The World” and “Mona Lisa.” The star teamed up with Hip-Hop artist, LL Cool J in 2013. Together they wrote “Accidental Racist.” The song discusses Southern Pride in a whole new light and discourages racism. Paisley has won multiple awards, including three Grammys, 14 CMA Awards, two American Music Awards and 14 Academy of Country Music Awards. He continues writing, singing, playing guitar and touring across America. He married former “Nashville” star Kimberly Williams in 2003 with whom he has two sons, Huck and Jasper. This year the couple opened The Store, a year-round free grocery store allowing people to shop for their basic needs. There is no charge to those referred or to the people and agencies that send them. For more information visit The Store.
25
October 2020
26
