Country Legends: Lefty Frizzell

Another country singer who was to have a profound influence on the future of country music was Lefty Frizzell. Born William Orville Frizzell in 1928, ‘Lefty’ as he became known, was a great proponent of the Honky Tonk sound.

His wonderfully relaxed style of singing was a big influence on a number of future country legends such as Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, John Fogerty, Merle Haggard and George Jones.

Originally called ‘Sonny’ by his family, Frizzell got the nickname ‘Lefty’ at age 14 after a schoolyard scrap, although his record company later tried to falsely suggest he had won a Golden Gloves boxing match!

By the time he was 19 Lefty had his own half hour show on a small Texas radio station. He got his big break around the same time when Don Law, a record producer at Columbia Records, heard him sing live at a club. Within weeks he had a number of hits in country music’s top ten – with some going on to reach number one.

Following an invitation to appear at the Grand Ole Opry in 1950, Lefty went on to appear at the Louisiana Hayride in ’51 and then after teaming up with his close friend ‘Cowboy’ Ralph Spicer, they went on tour with the legendary Hank Williams.

As a brilliant songwriter in his own right, Lefty achieved a rare feat in 1951 by having four songs in the country top ten at the same time – something that wouldn’t be beaten in any chart until The Beatles in 1964.

With the advent of Rock ‘n’ Roll towards the end of the 1950’s, Lefty and his fellow country artists found their sales dropping off. A number of them tried to record ‘crossover’ songs to reach the new audience with mixed results. Lefty’s 1959 hit ‘Long Black Veil’ was a good example and gained widespread appreciation. Later, in 1964, he released ‘Saginaw, Michigan’ which topped the country charts and also broke into the mainstream charts at the same time.

The early 1970’s saw Lefty Frizzell move to Bakersfield, California, and join a different record label where he recorded several more country hits and even played at the Hollywood Bowl, before his love of alcohol got the better of him.

In 1972, Frizzell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his song ‘If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time’ earned him a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

Success and money only added to Frizzell's alcohol addiction, and on July 19, 1975, at age 47 he died after a massive stroke. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. In October 1982, Lefty Frizzell was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

For your own taste of Lefty Frizzell’s music just enter his name in the search box to the right or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com

Country Legends: Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton was born in Sevierville, Tennessee on January 19^th 1946, and with 25 number one singles and 41 top ten country albums to her name, she can rightly be called “The Queen of Country Music”.

In addition to her talents as a country singer she is also a very competent song writer, author, actress and philanthropist and if that were not enough, she can also play several musical instruments – although not at the same time. I just knew there had to be a flaw somewhere.

The fourth of twelve children born to Robert Lee Parton and Avie Lee Parton her family was, as she herself described them, ‘dirt poor’. This lack of money was inspirational in a number of her early songs, most notably “Coat of Many Colors” and “In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)”.

Dolly Parton always loved singing and by the age of nine she was appearing on The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. By the time she was thirteen she was recording on a small Louisiana label called Goldband Records, and even appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee!

It was at the Opry she first met Johnny Cash who encouraged her to go where her heart took her, and ‘not to care what others thought’. The day after she graduated from high school in 1964, Dolly moved to Nashville taking many traditional elements of folklore and popular music from East Tennessee with her.

On her first day in Nashville Dolly visited the ‘Wishy-Washy Laundromat’ where she met her future husband Carl Dean. His first words to her were: "Y'all gonna get sunburnt out there, little lady." They were married two years later and have been together ever since.

Following some minor success’s in song writing and harmony singing Dolly released her first country single, "Dumb Blonde" (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but did not write), reaching number twenty-four on the country-music charts in 1967, followed the same year with "Something Fishy," which went to number seventeen. The two songs anchored her first full-length album, ‘Hello, I'm Dolly’.

In 1967, country entertainer Porter Wagoner invited Dolly Parton to join his organization, offering her a regular spot on his weekly syndicated television program ‘The Porter Wagoner Show’, as well as in his road show.

Wagoner also convinced RCA Victor to sign Dolly Parton for their label. RCA decided to protect their investment by releasing her first single as a duet with Wagoner. That song, a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind," released in late 1967, reached the country top ten in January 1968, launching a six-year streak of virtually uninterrupted top ten singles for the pair.

In February 1971, Dolly released her first number-one single, "Joshua", and for the next two years she had a number of solo hits – including her signature song "Coat of Many Colors".

In 1974, she wrote perhaps her most famous song, "I Will Always Love You," written about her professional break from Wagoner, and it went straight to number one on the country music charts. Since its release the song has been covered by a number of top singers such as Whitney Houston, LeeAnn Rimes and the opera singer Katherine Jenkins.

From 1974 to 1980, she consistently charted in the country Top 10, with no fewer than eight singles reaching number one. Dolly had her own syndicated-television variety show, Dolly! (1976–1977), and during this period a number of singers, including Rose Maddox, Kitty Wells, Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, covered her songs. Praise indeed.

In 1994 Dolly collaborated in the album “Honky Tonk Angels” with both Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. It was certified as a Gold Album by the Recording Industry Association of America and helped revive both Wynette's and Lynn's careers.

Dolly Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, and in 1986 into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1999 she received country music's highest honour - an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In total so far she has received eight Grammy Awards and a total of 45 Grammy Award nominations.

Dolly, when asked about her looks repeatedly jokes about her physical image and surgeries by saying, "If I see something sagging, bagging, and dragging, I’m going to nip it, suck it and tuck it. Why should I look like an old barn yard dog if I don't have to?" and "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap."

To get your own slice of Dolly Parton music just go to the search box on the right and type her name in. If you don’t fancy that why not go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com and look there instead.

Country Legends: Jean Shepard

Jean Shepard

Born Ollie Imogene Shepard in 1933, but better known as Jean Shepard, she became the first post-WW2 woman in country music to sell more than a million records. It was her very first hit and in a duet with Ferlin Huskey “A Dear John Letter” soared to the top of the charts in 1953 and became a smash hit worldwide.

In total Jean Shepard had 44 charted hits between 1953 and 1978 and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years where she still performs regularly.

   

Her music career began when she played bass as part of the Melody Ranch Girls, an all-female band formed in 1948.

Following on from “A Dear John Letter” she recorded “Forgive Me John”, also with Ferle Huskey, and this too became a major hit across the charts. As she was still only 20, and considered a minor, her parents had to sign her rights over to Huskey so she could go on tour and do promotions.

She recorded her first studio album “Songs of a Love Affair” , written by her, in 1955 and also had her first solo top ten single “A Satisfied Mind” in the same year. Later that year she also released a double sided hit with “Beautiful Lies and I thought of You”.

Her streak of hit singles led to an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1958 as one of its few female stars; Kitty Wells and Minnie Pearl being the only others.

1960 saw Jean Shepard marry fellow Opry star Hawshaw Hawkins. Sadly he was to die three years later in the plane crash that also killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. She later married country music musician and singer Benny Birchfield and they remain married.

With the release of “Then He Touched Me” in 1969, followed by further top charting songs in the early 70’s  such as “Another Lonely Night”  her popularity seemed assured, but following “With His Hand in Mine” in 1971 her singles began to drop out of the top 40.

Jean Shepard did not record again until 1981, when she released a final studio album under the label Laselight titled, “Dear John”, which included remakes of her hits, including "A Dear John Letter" and "Slippin' Away", but also included a new song, "Too Many Rivers".

In 2005, Jean Shepard celebrated 50 years as a member of the Opry and is the longest-living female member of the Opry to date.In 2011 JeanShepard was

inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

To get your hands on some classic Jean Shepard music just put her name in the search box to the right or if you prefer go to my website dedicated to her songs at www.jeanshepardcountryclassics.com

Country Legends: Buck Owens

Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006), known to everyone as Buck Owens, was a founder of what became ‘The Bakersfield Sound’, and with his band the Buckeroos had 21 number one hits on the Billboard country music charts.

Buck Owens

His signature style was based on simple storylines, infectious choruses, a twangy electric guitar, an insistent rhythm supplied by a drum track placed forward in the mix, and high two-part harmonies featuring Owens and his guitarist Don Rich.

In the early 60’s, with the ‘Nashville Sound’ becoming ever more popular, Buck Owen and the Buckaroos decided to do their own thing and began mixing a honky-tonk hillbilly sound with a Mexican polka sound he’d heard on border radio stations as a kid. The ‘Bakersfield Sound’ was born.

Recorded in 1963, "Act Naturally" became Buck Owens and the Buckaroos' first No. 1 hit. The Beatles later recorded a cover of it in 1965, with Ringo Starr as lead singer. Ringo Starr later re-recorded the song as a duet with Owens in 1988.

The album ‘Carnegie Hall Concert’, released in 1966, was a smash hit and proved that Owens and his band were a lot more than just another honk-tonk country band. Ray Charles released cover versions of two Owens songs, also in 1966, ‘Crying Time’ and ‘Together Again’ that both became pop hits.

Owens’ musical career took a severe jolt in July ’74 when his best friend and Buckaroos guitarist Don Rich was killed in motorcycle accident. Although he carried on, he admitted in the late 1990’s that the death of his friend had a profound effect on him “He was like a brother, a son and a best friend…. but I think my music life ended when he did. Oh yeah, I carried on and I existed, but the real joy and love, the real lightning and thunder is gone forever."

Buck Owens died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on March 25, 2006, only hours after having his favourite chicken-fried steak meal and performing at his Crystal Palace restaurant, club and museum in Bakersfield. Not feeling well, Owens had decided not to go on stage that night, but on hearing that some fans had travelled many miles to see him, he changed his mind.

Buckaroos keyboard player Jim Shaw recalled Owens telling the audience, "If somebody's come all that way, I'm gonna do the show and give it my best shot. I might groan and squeak, but I'll see what I can do."

Shaw added, "So, he had his favourite meal, played a show and died in his sleep. We thought, that's not too bad."

To find the music of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos just go to the search box on the right and enter his name or go to my website and look there by going to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com – the choice is yours!

Country Legends: Kitty Wells

Born Ellen Muriel Deason in Nashville on August 30 1919, Kitty Wells was the first female country singer to be dubbed ‘Queen of Country’.

Kitty Wells

In 1952 her recording of ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’ took her to the top of the country charts and turned her into the first female country star. She inspired many of the female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960’s, including Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker and Tammy Wynette.

 Having one of the longest celebrity marriages known (they married in 1937), Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright had three offspring Ruby, Carol Sue and Bobby.

All three children tried to follow their mother into country music with varying success. Kitty and Carol Sue released a duet ‘How Far is Heaven’ in the mid 50’s which reached No. 11, and although both Ruby and Bobby released separate albums, they never really had much success. Ruby died in 2009 at age 70.

Kitty’s success during the 50’s and 60’s turned her into the sixth most successful female artist of the Billboard Country Charts history, and was instrumental in her being awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976 and at the time of writing is currently  its oldest member at the age of 91 (2011).

If you want to find the music of Kitty Wells, or any of your favourite country singers just enter their name in the search box on the right, or go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com   

Country Legends: Bill Monroe

William Smith Monroe (September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was the creator of ‘bluegrass’ music, and known throughout music circles as ‘The Father of Bluegrass’.

Bill Monroe

The name ‘bluegrass’ comes from the band he formed called the ‘Bluegrass Boys’ in 1938 and although the sound they produced was different from anything else at the time, it didn’t achieve it’s full ‘bluegrass’ style until banjo prodigy Earl Scruggs joined in 1945.

Scruggs played the instrument with a distinctive three-finger picking style that immediately caused a sensation among Opry audiences. Scruggs joined a highly accomplished group that included singer/guitarist Lester Flatt, fiddler Chubby Wise, and bassist Howard Watts, who often performed under the name "Cedric Rainwater."

During 1946 and 1947 this ‘new’ band produced no less than 28 recordings that would be classics of their time. The most notable of these were ‘Toy Heart’, ‘Blue Grass Breakdown’, ‘My Rose of Old Kentucky’ and Bill Monroe’s most famous song ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’.

‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ was actually recorded by Elvis Presley in 1954, appearing as the B-side of his first single for Sun Records. Monroe gave his blessing to Presley's rock-and-roll cover of the song (originally a slow ballad in waltz time), and in fact re-recorded it himself with a faster arrangement after Presley’s version became a hit.

Following a serious car accident in 1953, Monroe was unable to play and it took over four months to recover. In the meantime Charlie Cline and Jimmy Martin kept the band together.

With the rise of rock-and-roll and the introduction of the new ‘Nashville Sound’ becoming ever more popular, bluegrass took a back seat and Bill Monroe’s commercial fortunes began to diminish. Live performances began to get fewer and fewer and he struggled to keep the band together.

In order to keep the ‘bluegrass’ sound alive Monroe founded a bluegrass festival at Bean Blossom, Indiana in 1967. This ultimately became known as the ‘Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival’ and subsequently the world’s oldest continuously running annual bluegrass festival.

Made an honorary Kentucky colonel in 1966, Bill Monroe was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an "early influence") in 1997.

Bill Monroe died in September 1996 following a stroke in April of that year, and only four days before his 85^th birthday. Emmylou Harris said of Monroe after his death:

“……We all knew that if he ever got to the point that he couldn't perform that he wasn't going to make it. Music was his life…….”

To find Bill Monroe and Bluegrass music just go to the search box on the right and enter his name or go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com

Country Legends: Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb; April 14, 1932) became known as "The First Lady of Country Music" and one of the most successful country vocalists of all time.

Loretta Lynn

She became a part of the country music scene in Nashville in the 1960s, and by 1967 charted her first of 16 number 1 hits, including "Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", "You Ain't Woman Enough", "Fist City", and "Coal Miner's Daughter".

By the end of 1962, it was clear that Loretta Lynn was on her way to becoming a major country star. Although Kitty Wells had become the first major female country vocalist during the 1950s, by the time Lynn recorded her first record, only three other women - Patsy Cline, Skeeter Davis, and Jean Shepard - had become top stars. Lynn credits Patsy Cline as her mentor and best friend during those early years, and would follow her as the most popular country vocalist of the early 1960s and 1970s.

Beginning with 1966's Number 2 hit, "You Ain't Woman Enough", Lynn began writing songs with a feminist viewpoint, which was unheard of in country music at the time. Her album, “Don't Come Home A-Drinkin” went to number one and became one of the first albums by a female country artist to reach sales of 500,000 copies.

As a songwriter, Loretta Lynn addressed issues in the lives of many women which made her stand out among female country vocalists - she believed no topic was off limits as long as it spoke to other women. Loretta Lynn was enormously successful on country radio in the 60’s and 70’s, but when a more pop-flavoured type of country music began in the early 80’s her popularity declined.

Married at the tender age of 13 to Oliver Lynn (Doolittle “Doo” Lynn), they went on to have 4 children before she was 19, and a set of twins (Peggy and Patsy) in the early 60’s. To honour her friend she named Patsy after Patsy Cline, and in 1998 the twins went on to start their own country duo (The Lynns).  

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999, Loretta Lynn was also the recipient of Kennedy Centre Honours in 2003. She is also ranked 65th on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

To listen to Loretta Lynn country music or any other of your favourite country stars, just search in the search box on the right or go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com  - what are you waiting for!

Country Legends: The Carter Family

The Carter Family are often called the most influential group in country music history, and with good reason.

The Carter Family

Formed in the 1920’s and made up of AP Carter, his wife Sara and sister-in-law Maybelle, the Carter Family began recording folk/country music in 1927 and quickly became the first ‘country music stars’.

The style of music they used was to have a profound impact on bluegrass, country, gospel, pop and rock musicians, as well as the folk revival that took place in the1960’s.

In addition to the many songs they wrote, and just as important to the future influence they achieved, was Maybelle’s guitar playing. It was to become known as ‘Carter Picking’ or ‘Carter Scratch’ and she developed the method that has been used by most guitar players ever since.  

Although the original Carter Family group disbanded in 1936 after AP and Sara’s marriage dissolved, the name lived on through Maybelle. With her daughters Anita, June and Helen, and billed as "Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters”, they continued recording right into the 1970s.

The Carter Family’s recordings of such songs as "Wabash Cannonball", "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", "Wildwood Flower" and "Keep on the Sunny Side" made them country standards. Many of their songs were later covered by other artists with great success.

For example, on her early Vanguard albums, folk performer Joan Baez sang "Wildwood Flower", "Little Moses", "Engine 143", "Little Darling, Pal of Mine", and "Gospel Ship", and a young Bob Dylan took their ‘Wayworn Traveller’ song, wrote his own words to their melody, changed the time signature to ¾ and created ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’.

 Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, The Carters were given the nickname "The First Family of Country Music". In 1988, they were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and received its Award for the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".

To search for The Carter Family music, or any of your favourite country stars, just enter their name in the search box to the right or go to my website at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com 

Country Legends: Jimmie Rodgers

Known as ‘The Father of Country Music’, Jimmie Rodgers was to become a legend as country moved from the early mountain/folk music to a more recognisable country sound.

Jimmie Rodgers

James Charles Rodgers (1897-1933), known to all as ‘Jimmie’ Rodgers was among the first country music ‘superstars’ and was known mostly for his rhythmic yodelling. It was because of his particular style of singing, and the fact that he began his working life on the railroad, that Jimmie was also known as ‘The Blue Yodeller’ and ‘The Singing Brakeman’.

In 1924 Rodger’s career on the railroad stopped when he contracted TB, but he carried on touring and singing. He returned to the railroad for a while but had to quit in 1927 as his illness got worse.

The same year saw the ‘Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers’ form and they secured a weekly slot on WWNC, a radio station in Asheville, N Carolina. Following a row with his fellow band members over a recording contract in July 1927, Jimmie went on to record songs on his own, culminating in the release of ‘Blue Yodel’ or ‘T for Texas’, which catapulted him to stardom.

Following extensive touring Jimmie Rodgers also found time to do a short movie for Columbia Pictures called ‘The Singing Brakeman’ as well as numerous recordings for the Victor label. On July 16, 1930, he recorded "Blue Yodel No. 9" with jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, whose wife, Lillian, played piano on the recording.

Jimmie Rodgers’ last recording session was in New York in May, 1933. Suffering badly with TB he had to rest on a cot between each song. Two days after finishing the session he died of lung complications while staying at the Taft Hotel.

During his short 6 year career, Jimmie Rodgers recorded over 100 songs and cemented himself into country music history.

When the Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1961, Rodgers was one of the first three (the others were Fred Rose and Hank Williams) to be inducted.

Jimmie Rodgers was also elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 and, as an early influence, he was also elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. His recording of "Blue Yodel No. 9" was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's ‘500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll’.

The early ‘blues’ sound that Jimmie Rodgers used has been cited as a major influence on many later artists such as Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Tommy Duncan. Early material recorded by Gene Autry was heavily influenced by Rodgers’ blues records.

The 1982 film Honkytonk Man, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood was very loosely based on Rodgers' life.

To search for music by Jimmie Rodgers or any of your favourite country stars, just enter their name in the search box on the right hand side or visit www.countrysongscountrysingers.com to find out more.

Country Legends: Tammy Wynette

Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998), was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of country music's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists.

Tammy Wynette

Many of Tammy Wynette's hits dealt with classic themes of loneliness, divorce and the difficulties of male-female relationships. Her best-known song, "Stand by Your Man", was one of the biggest selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. She is quoted as saying that the song took 15 minutes to write and the rest of her life to defend!

During the late 60’s and early 70’s, she dominated the country charts, scoring 17 number one hits, and along with Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, she defined the role of female country vocalists in the 1970s.

The name ‘Tammy’ came about because her record producer Bill Sherrill suggested she had a ‘stage’ name and thought she reminded him of Debbie Reynolds in the film ‘Tammy and the Bachelor’.

In 1968 she had three number one hits -

"Take Me to Your World,"

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and

"Stand by Your Man"

In 1969 she followed those up with another two number ones –

"Singing My Song" and

"The Ways to Love a Man"  

Her marriage to country singer George Jones in 1969 (ending in divorce in 1975) created a country music "couple" and together they recorded a series of duet albums and singles, which charted throughout the 1970s.

Tammy Wynette died while sleeping on her couch on April 6, 1998, at age 55. Despite her persistent illnesses, Tammy continued to perform until shortly before her death. Her funeral was held on April 9, 1998, and although controversy still surrounds the timing and nature of her death, the fact remains the music industry lost one of its finest performers that day.

Following Tammy Wynette's demise, she was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the highest honours of her career.

A special CD collection titled ‘Tammy Wynette: Collector's Edition’ was released in 1998, including her signature song "Stand by Your Man", charting outside the Top 40 on the Country charts that same year.

Along with Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Dottie West, and Lynn Anderson, Tammy helped redefine the role and place of female country singers.

To grab your own copies of Tammy Wynette’s music just enter her name in the search box on the right or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com and search there.

Country Legends: Hank Williams

Perhaps the most talked about and sang about country singer of all time, Hiram King (Hank) Williams was the bench mark for country music singers and songwriters for generations to come.

Hank Williams

Regarded by many as one of the most important country music artists of all time, Hank Williams’ recording career lasted only 5 years, but in that short period from 1947 until his death, at 29 in 1953, he recorded 35 singles (five of which were released after his death) that would place him in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including eleven that ranked number one.

After recording "Never Again" and "Honky Tonkin" with Sterling Records, he signed for MGM in 1948 and released "Move it on Over" which became a hit that same year. In 1949, he recorded "Lovesick Blues”, one of the few songs Hank didn’t write himself, which not only carried him into the mainstream of music, but ultimately became his signature tune.

Although suffering from Spina Bifida since birth and not able to read or write music to any significant degree, Hank Williams wrote and sang songs that are considered classics and still sung today. He had 11 number one songs between 1948 and 1953, including "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Hey Good Lookin',"  "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and “Cold Cold Heart”.

With the constant touring and concerts taking a toll on his poor health, Hank took to drink and drugs to help him get through, and it was believed to be a cocktail of these that eventually caused him to die so young. He was being driven by the teenage son of a friend of his to a concert date on New Years Day 1953 when he died in his sleep on the back seat of his Cadillac.

 He may have only had a short musical career, but his impact on country music is legendary. It is believed that over 700 songs have now been written about Hank Williams since his death, and if that isn’t making your mark on the world then I’d like to know what is!

To find Hank Williams music for yourself just enter his name in the search box to the right or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com and search there.

Country Legends: Patsy Cline

During her short packed life Patsy Cline became one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20^th century.

Best known for her rich tone and emotionally expressive bold contralto voice, Patsy has been cited as an inspiration by many vocalists of various music genres. Her life and career has been the subject of numerous books, movies, documentaries, articles and stage plays.

With hits like ‘Walking After Midnight’, ‘I Fall to Pieces’, ‘She’s Got You’, ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Crazy’ Patsy Cline became one of the first successful ‘crossover’ singers, reaching the country music charts and mainstream pop charts at the same time.

Perhaps her most famous hit is ‘Crazy’, a song written by Willie Nelson, and one that Patsy didn’t particularly like at first. She found the recording of the song very difficult to do in the style that Willie Nelson used in the demo, and couldn’t reach the high notes due to the injured ribs she’d received in a serious car crash that nearly killed her. The next day she came back to the studio and sang it again in her own style in one take and the rest, as they say, is history.

Tragically Patsy Cline was killed in a light plane crash in March 1963 while on her way home from a concert in Kansas City. Since her death she has been given numerous awards, which have given her an iconic status with fans similar to that of legends Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Ten years after her death, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

One of the most listened to country music albums of all time, ‘Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits’ has sold over 10 million copies worldwide since its 1967 release. That same year, the album was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for staying on the music charts the longest of any female artist of any music genre in history.

To look for Patsy Cline’s music just go to the search box on the right and enter her name or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com and search there too.

Country Legends: George Jones

George Jones has made as many headlines off stage as he has on stage, but in the 50 years or more since he began singing George has lived up to the billing of ‘The Greatest Living Country Singer of All Time’.

George Jones is much more than a consummate country singer. He is the model from which any true country artist must be made. He is the result of a life filled with heartaches, hard living and hard loving. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing so many performances he earned the nickname "No Show Jones."

With all the drinking and drug taking during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s his relationships also took a heavy toll. Once famously married to another country legend Tammy Wynette, this too ended in divorce although they did perform a number of duets together in later years.

Georges wedding to Nancy Sepulvado in 1983 was to eventually lead to his recovery, but not until a near fatal car crash in 1999 caused him to realize his heavy drink and drugs lifestyle would kill him. With Nancy’s help he has stayed sober ever since.

With more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other singers, and with over 60 albums to his name, George Jones is truly part of country music’s history. Throughout his career, George has never forgotten his country roots, even with the more popular ‘country’ sounds we hear now from today's artists.

His greatest hit ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ (1980) was very nearly not recorded at all as George thought it too morbid and was convinced that nobody would buy it. The song has subsequently been nominated as one of the greatest country songs ever written. So what does he know then eh?!

To find George Jones songs and albums just put George Jones in the search box to the right or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com  go on I dare you!

Western Swing Music

Western Swing music is understood to have originated in the west and south of America in and around the 1920’s. It is also believed to be a mixture of rural, cowboy, polka, folk, blues and Dixieland jazz all merged with a little bit of swing!

Western Swing (which later became the ‘western’ part of country & western) was up tempo dance music very popular in Texas, Oklahoma and California during the 1930’s and 1940’s, and although it became known as ‘Texas swing’, ‘Novelty Hot Dance’ and ‘Western Dance Music’, the term ‘Western Swing’ was adopted by most people.

The first professional band known to use Western Swing was Light Crust Doughboys, formed in the early 1930’s by Bob Wills and Milton Brown. Bob Dunn, then playing with Milton Brown’s ‘Musical Brownies’ electrified an acoustic guitar (the first known time this had been done) and by doing so gave the music a very distinctive sound.

A US government ‘Night Club Tax’, which imposed a tax of 30% on public dance halls (later reduced to 20%) was introduced in 1944 which all but banned public dancing, effectively sealing the fate of Western Swing music, and it gradually declined in popularity for a number of years.

Like a lot of early country genres, Western Swing was to have a profound influence in creating other styles too such as rockabilly and rock and roll. One of the most famous early rock and roll artists was Bill Haley and His Comets, but in 1948 his band was actually known as Bill Haley and The 4Aces of Western Swing.

Although not as popular following the Night Club Tax debacle, Western Swing was still played at many country events, and artists such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Asleep at the Wheel turned Austin, Texas into a major centre for Western Swing music in the 1970’s, which still continues.    

 To search out Western Swing music or any other style that you like just visit www.countrysongscountrysingers.com or click on the link to the right.

Traditional Country

Up until the 1940’s ‘country’ music was mostly confined to old time mountain music derived from many strains of folk passed down through immigrants from UK, Europe and Africa. As new generations came along they began changing the styles of the music played, and started to blend and merge the different sounds into a style we now call ‘Traditional Country’.

When we talk of Traditional Country we think of the stars of the day such as Bill Anderson, Don Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner and Roy Clark to name just a few.

With their huge following and the Grand Ole Oprey flourishing in Nashville, country music had never been so popular. Up and coming country artists became household names but along with the fame and fortune it was inevitable that not far behind would stalk tragedy too.

Early country/country-rock artist Buddy Holly (who began his recording career in Nashville), along with Richie Valens and JP Richardson (Big Bopper) met an untimely death in a light plane crash in ’59 and it was only by chance (he gave his seat to Richardson) that future country star Waylon Jennings wasn’t on the aircraft.

In 1963 Patsy Cline, who was among the biggest names in country music at the time, also became a victim of a light plane crash along with other Oprey stars of the day Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas. As a measure of her status in country circles, Patsy Cline’s music is still selling today nearly 50 years after her tragic death.

As early country sounds were being established, and the music industry as well as artists themselves were looking to ‘pigeonhole’ the different styles to give them names, a lot of country acts performed in two or three ‘styles’, such as honky tonk, hillbilly, traditional or the Nashville Sound until they found a style they were comfortable with.  

Perhaps one of the best known solo performers of all time, Elvis Presley, began his musical days singing country. Known as the ‘Hillbilly Cat’ Elvis regularly sang on the radio program ‘Louisiana Hayride’ before his rock and roll career took off.

To boost their singing careers many of the more traditional country artists started to record ‘commercial’ or ‘crossover’ songs in an attempt to join the mainstream ‘pop’ world, with varying degrees of success. Tammy Wynette had a huge hit with 'Stand By Your Man' and Loretta Lynn managed it with ‘Coalminers Daughter’. Dolly Parton has had several ‘crossover’ hits such as ‘Jolene’, ‘Here You Come Again’ and ‘9 – 5’, but it was a difficult thing to do for a lot of singers.

To search for all your favourite country stars from Loretta Lynn to Lady Antebellum just go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com or click on the panel to the right.

Country Rock

Country-Rock was arguably one of the most influential genres in country music.

Not so much for the music it produced within the style itself, though that was impressive enough, but more for the influence it had over a wide range of different styles, bands and individuals throughout the music industry.

Since the mid 1950’s when the Nashville Sound became all the rage changing country music forever, artists and bands had messed about with various styles, trying to recreate a country ‘feel’ they felt had almost disappeared.

In the late 60’s and early 70’s many rock groups started dabbling with their own country roots and came up with a sound almost more country than country. This new fusion of rock and country became known as country-rock and yet another genre of country music was born.

Early users of this new style in any serious capacity were Bob Dylan, The Byrds and The Eagles although both The Beatles ‘Baby in Black’ (1964) and The Rolling Stones ‘High and Dry’ (1966) had flirted with it and had achieved a great sound.

As more rock bands began to experiment, they started to include more country themes, vocal styles and instruments normally associated with country bands, most notably the use of pedal steel guitars.

The first true country-rock album is believed to be ‘Safe at Home’ by the International Submarine Band in 1968, although the finest and most influential album is probably The Byrds ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ also released in 1968.

It’s no coincidence that the legendary Gram Parsons was involved with both ‘Safe at Home’ and ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’, being associated with both bands before going off to form The Flying Burrito Brothers.

Country-Rock’s greatest significance has been it’s influence on other artists, with many having released recordings with a definite ‘country’ feel ranging from The Rolling Stones to Elvis Costello’s  ‘Almost Blue’ in 1981.

For all the hits from country-rock stars just go to my Classic Country Music Store at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com  and put the names in the search box.

Contemporary or 'New' Country

Following the Urban Cowboy era of the 80’s (see below), country music took another turn towards ‘crossover’ with the emergence of contemporary or ‘new’ country in the mid to late 90’s.

The main protagonist of this move was Garth Brooks, who up until this time had been considered more of a traditionalist country artist. So successful was he at the time that when he decided to ‘go pop’ he took a lot of the country scene with him.

Garth Brooks

This ‘new’ country sound he produced was so different that it was considered closer to rock/pop than traditional country.

Seeing the success Garth Brooks was having with this new style, many established country artists, as well as newcomers, decided to do the same. Getting into the mainstream pop charts became a ‘must do’ for many, but it did seem to a lot of diehards to be at the expense of the loyal country music listening audience.

Other artists who had great success using this formula during this period were Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood (the future Mrs Brooks), Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift.

To search for any artist in any genre just click on the search box in my store, or go to www.countrysongscountrysingers.com  and browse – it’ll be worth it!