My brother asked me recently, ‘Are you living in the past?’ I often do find myself lingering within my memories. As time passes, I think it is easy to place more emphasis on what has gone by in your life than what is ahead.
That is probably especially so for someone who spends a great deal of time writing. You depend on your memories of experiences, people, places to bring your writing to life, add color, excitement and depth.
A illuminating part of my early career was participating in the Country Music Association’s Country Music Fan Fair in Nashville, Tenn.
I will never forget the years that Mickey Gilley’s booth was next to Grand Ole Opry stars Jim and Jesse. Jim and Jesse’s booth is where I started meeting fans before I earned one of my own.
A sound synonymous with country radio when I was coming up is that of three brothers Larry, Steve and Rudy, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers have been dazzling audiences for 60 years and they are bringing that sound to audiences celebrating the milestone. It all began in 1955, when Larry was six, Steve was four, and Rudy was two. Their music has taken them around the world endearing millions of fans,
I have had the honor to know the talented Lee Greenwood for much of my country music career.
He has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards, a GRAMMY for Top Male Vocal Performance on “I.O.U,” in 1985, and seven No. 1 hits, and thirty-eight singles including songs like “Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands,” “Dixie Road,” and “Somebody’s Gonna Love You.”
One of country music’s greatest singers was the late Ray Price. Even now, over a year after his passing in 2013, his music continues to receive accolades through his 2014 CD “Beauty Is…” Price fought pancreatic cancer to complete his final album project with legendary producer and longtime friend Fred Foster. Beauty Is … the final sessions was released in April 2014.
I was recently pleased to discover that my former television home NBC is to partner with my longtime friend and former movie co-star Dolly Parton.
The network signed a development deal with the American icon for a series of films.
With each passing year, I look around and find fewer of my musical heroes still contributing to the great America music legacy.
I am honored to call Dr. Ralph Stanley a friend and to have produced and recorded with him.
It is not often that I become enthused by the release of a new music CD, but ever since I heard that my long-time friend Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown will have a new project, I have looked forward to it.
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The year ends, the New Year begins and then like an avalanche of snow in winter, there they come – numbers.
All kinds of numbers begin covering me from head to toe. At least that is the way it seems to feel. Slowly, paperwork trickles in over the month of January telling me what I must report to the government and the state. Piles of receipts must now be sorted, itemized, added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided.
A love for critters of all shapes and sizes is one of the traits that audiences came to know about “Elly Mae Clampett.” That attribute combines along with her ability to whip Jethro or anything else that came her way that needing whipping.
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