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November 27, 2006 Having previously professed his total innocence and saying he welcomed the opportunity for a trial, TROY GENTRY predictably did an about-face, pleading guilty November 27th to a misdemeanor charge of falsely registering a captive bear as being killed in the wild. Gentry would never have served the prison time he was facing for violating the Lacey Act, had he not agreed to the plea bargain, but the slap on the wrist he received (Troy will pay a $15,000 fine, return the bear’s hide and bow he shot Cubby with, and be banned from hunting, fishing and trapping in Minnesota for five years), that relieves Gentry of the stigma of being a convicted felon, was too good to pass up.
After nearly two years as GRETCHEN WILSON’s bandleader and guitarist, DEAN HALL has made it official: Hall quietly exited Wilson’s employ in October (as has been clear since Dean’s absence from Gretchen’s early November national TV appearances), amid an otherwise unsubstantiated tabloid report of an extramarital affair TOM T. HALL's son allegedly had with his employer, leading to the separation of Dean and middle-school sweetheart, CAROL.
TOM GRANT and TOMMIE LEWIS, names well-known to veteran Nashville TV viewers, due to Tom's and Tommie's association with RALPH EMERY and WSM(V)-TV at a November 28th funeral service for reluctant Channel 4 and TNN cable TV star NORM(AN) “KILLER” FRASER who died November 25th. You won’t recognize the names of Killer’s pallbearers- those closest to him- but the list of honorary pallbearers for the Columbia, Tennessee memorial, reading like a screen or script of Channel 4, TNN and/or WSM Radio credits, includes Emery, JOE ADAIR, KEITH BILBREY, NORM RAY, BILL TURNER, BOB MORRISON, BENNY KIRBY, “MR. (JERRY) WHITEHURST.” BILLY LINNEMAN, JIMMY “SPIDER” WILSON, FRED FREDRICK, SHARON PUCKETT and others. On an unrelated note, it would be interesting to know what clearances, if any, Emery sought and received prior to the release of a collection of 46 CDs of interviews along with two DVDs (one each featuring the work of MINNIE PEARL and JOHNNY CASH). After all, Emery is hawking these audio and video “memories,” payable in “4 easy payments of $37.50 plus $9.95 S&H.” That comes to almost $160 a pop, but, sport that Ralphie is, if you’ll send him “a one time payment of $149.95” (sic) “the S&H is FREE!”
Column’s congratulations to BEVERLY KEEL for her excellent scoop on JAMES “SPIDER” WILSON’s courageous decision to be truthful about his reasons for quitting the GRAND OLE OPRY! I wish BETTIE and BILLY WALKER had lived to see it happen.
Thanksgiving, usually a joyous occasion for BRENDA LEE, lost some of its joy this year, following, as it did, the loss of Brenda’s mother, GRAYCE. (Are you aware of Brenda’s Thanksgiving tradition of opening her home to singles, that they might spend the family-oriented holiday with Brenda and her hubby, RONNIE SHACKLETT?)
BEAU TUCKER’s Thanksgiving Day death brought to mind an interview I did with TANYA TUCKER for a January, 1979 Country Song Roundup cover story. The interview marked one of my first dealings with a publicist based out of Nashville. Tanya had only recently begun working with HARRIET STERNBERG and the interview also marked one of the first instances, if not the first instance, of someone trying to tell me what to write. It was also Tucker’s forum to clarify earlier public statements she had made about marijuana and premarital sex. (“I haven’t even tried marijuana” and “I wouldn’t have sex with a man before I married him.”) I remembered the world “virgin” being edited from the article, because one of CSR’s editors was uncomfortable with it, but the interview didn’t cross my mind again until the publication of GLEN CAMPBELL's book Rhinestone Cowboy. Campbell gave me a handwritten promise that he would not write an autobiography- I still have the card he mailed me in response to an offer to ghostwrite such a book. While I was already a published author, Glen was not the first country-music star- nor has he been the last- to betray me in that regard. RONNIE MILSAP holds that distinction. But, as TRACI PEEL told me, that behavior was consistent with a lack of consideration Traci received, having briefly sung backup for Ronnie. (Let me be clear: Milsap never lied to me about plans for a book. He did give me an interview for Country Song Roundup, asking that I keep what turned out to be the most interesting information confidential. I respected that confidence only to see all of the revelations surface in Ronnie’s ghosted autobiography Almost Like a Song, as though TOM CARTER were the first to unearth them.) By the time Campbell’s book, Rhinestone Cowboy was published, Tanya, feeling trashed by Glen in his book, decided she wanted to do her own. That’s when I called Beau, whom I had interviewed years before for the CSR article, and offered my services. Beau, who was calling the shots for Tanya at that time, as he had earlier in her career, told me through his son, DON that he didn’t remember the article. I sent him a copy. That was a mistake. Apparently Beau didn’t like my asking 19-year-old Tanya for her take on another writer’s observation that “At times Tanya gives the impression she says things she wants her father to see in print.” Or, Beau may have blamed me for seeking clarification of what had been unclear, volunteered declarations about sex and marijuana several years before. Then again, Beau may have chafed at seeing his own words- clearly for the record- in print, whether he was bragging about a schedule so tight that, on at least one occasion, he found Tanya “asleep with a phone receiver dangling rom her hand” or telling me what to write as we were attempting to arrange the interview that, once Beau was fired, Sternberg coordinated: “Write that Tanya is a woman now. She’s outgrown that child-star stuff.” I didn’t have to. All I had to do was quote Tucker, which I did. Who would have known that accommodating Beau just short of letting him put words in my mouth would kill my chance to be Tanya’s biographer years later?
BARBRA STREISAND hasn’t informed me of how she spent her Thanksgiving, but I suspect giving thanks was a small part of her celebration. If what I read in CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON’s Streisand biography, Barbra: The Way She Is is true (Anderson is not one of the more credible celebrity biographers), the dour diva would pass if invited to the 2007 CMA Music Festival, just as Fan Fair would never have been Barbra’s thing. Anderson observes that once Streisand “achieved the stardom she had always craved, she bemoaned her lack of anonymity… and was thrown into a panic by the ‘crazies’ who waited for her, autograph books in hand, by the stage door. “‘Out of my way!’ she announced. “Don’t you people have anything better to do? Jesus!” Of course, for all of Barbara’s lack of diplomacy, there’s an element of truth in her analysis. Consider another of Anderson’s examples of Streisand’s being upset by starstruck strangers: When a Columbia Records secretary professed her love, the singer shot back “You don’t love me. You don’t even know me.” Then there’s the time when, as Barbra hailed a cab during a pouring rain, a fan threw his raincoat down over a puddle, so that Streisand might avoid stepping in it. Barbra supposedly screamed at him, “Don’t do that for me! Please, please pick up your coat… You shouldn’t do that for anyone.” Then again, your favorite country star likely empathizes with some other Streisand moments: When dining at New York City’s Mama Leone’s restaurant, Barbra was approached by a fan saying “Listen, I hate to bother you, but may I have your autograph?” Barbra’s response? “’I hate to bother you?’ Then, why do you? If you really hated to bother me, then you wouldn’t.” Later reflecting on the “pure rudeness of it, the lack of any consideration, especially when you’re trying to eat, “ Streisand complained “They even come up when your hands are dripping with barbecue sauce. Do they really want an autograph covered in barbecue sauce? Do they?” And if you’re a celeb catching one of Barbara’s stage shows, please don’t go backstage. Streisand is uncomfortable with your presence, too: “I hate it. I just hate it. I don’t know what to say to these people. Suddenly, like I’m a star and they’re stars and we’re all supposed to have something in common, but what?” November 22, 2006 Thanks to JERRY CUPIT, Jerry’s staff and roster of Cupit Music Artists for sending me Thanksgiving greetings. Thanks also to those of you who are kind enough to financially support this column- whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed- through my advertisers.
What do TOM T. HALL and LEAPY LEE have in common, besides, to hear Tom tell it, a stolen melody? The same distinction (assuming “Tom Hall” refers to TTH) each shares with (other) living (JAMES BONAMY, HENSON CARGILL, HIGHWAY 101, DON HENRY, RAY KENNEDY, CHARLY McCLAIN, JIMMY C. NEWMAN, HERB PEDERSON, SANDY POSEY, RICHOCHET, JEANNIE C. RILEY, SOUTH SIXTY FIVE, BILLLY SWAN and FREDDY WELLER), dead (JOSH GRAVES, GOLDIE HILL, GRANDPA JONES, MICKEY NEWBURY, GRAM PARSONS, DON RENO, SAMMI SMITH, DON WALSER, KEITH WHITLEY, BOB WILLS and SHEB WOOLEY), the misspelled (“JEANNIE” PRUETT and FRED “KNOBLOCK”) and non-existent (C.W. McCALL) artists: BILL FRIES and each of the others (or, in the instances of the deceased, their heirs) are among a long list of recording artists who have until December 15th to register claims for digital music royalties due them.
The entire list is available through SoundExchange.
Thanks to TRACIE LYNN TUCKER for sending me a copy of JARRET KEENE’s new 144-page paperback, THE KILLERS: Destiny is Calling Me (The Untold Story of America's Hottest Rock Band).
Published by Manic D Press, this breezy read documents rockers’ rise from “their humble beginnings as a house band for a local transsexual dive bar” to guest appearances with JAY LENO and DAVID LETTERMAN and being voted the 2005 MTV Video Awards' Best New Band.
Fans will love this biography/photo-filled book, released in tandem with its Sam’s Town. (The group’s debut album, Hot Fuss, sold over two million copies.)
JIMMY DEAN's frustration with the sausage company that bears his name retaining rights to the singer’s name in its advertising and promotion, despite Dean’s falling out with the company and subsequent litigation, has been almost enough to make a vegetarian out of Jimmy!
As if company commercials running simultaneously across the TV dial aren’t ulcer-provoking enough, imagine how Dean feels about the sausage company’s newest ad blitz: full-page newspaper copy reading “Jimmy Dean presents the happy breakfast tour… Jimmy Dean is cooking you breakfast.”
Then again, if Jimmy speaks out about the latest means of sticking it to him, the multi-millionaire will be branded an ingrate. Dean's only consolation?: “For every person who enjoys a Happy Breakfast at each stop, Jimmy Dean will donate $1 to America's Second Harvest." November 20, 2006 Thanks to DEVON O’DAY, HCT Media and the Ohanna Music Group for invitations to two BROOKE MORTON showcases. With a single, music video and full CD set to launch (not to mention an upcoming duet with JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY), look for Brooke on November 20th, 6 p.m. at 12th & Porter and at the same time the following evening at Douglas Corner. BTW, you might know Brooke’s cousins: PHIL and DON EVERLY. Country Music Association cheerleader JON BREAM advised StarTribune readers shortly before the 2006 CMA Awards that “Experts say Monday’s [telecast] will draw more viewers than the Grammy show.” Unless Bream refers to the 2007 Grammy telecast, his unnamed “experts” were wrong. Don’t wait with baited breath for Jon to identify those “experts,” let alone for them to come forward. Here’s a personal invitation to BRIAN PHILIPS to confess. He’s the only possible source mentioned in Bream’s love letter to the CMA. Country-music fans are often as fascinated as industry types by copyright infringement lawsuits. A country song is about the only type not figuring into former PROCOL HARUM keyboardist MATTHEW CHARLES FISHER’s London lawsuit. Matthew is suing GARY BROOKER and Onward Music Limited in the High Court over the group’s 1967 hit, A Whiter Shade of Pale. Fisher claims he created the song’s distinctive organ chords and that (therefore?) he has unfairly been denied credit (and royalties) as one of the composition’s composers. While there seems to be no dispute that the cryptic song’s arrangement evokes memories of JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH’s Images Awake cantata, the signature sounds of BUDDY HOLLY and even the TEDDY BEARS, Brooker contends “A Whiter Shade of Pale. was written by KEITH REID and me before Matthew even joined the band.” (If Fisher prevails, what’s next? MARSHALL GRANT and the LUTHER PERKINS estate suing JOHNNY CASH’s estate over boom-chicka-boom?) November 14, 2006 JOHNNY COUNTERFIT was released from Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi November 14th after an extended stay. The comedian-impressionist had been on the way to appear at an annual bluegrass festival in Columbia, MS when his appendix perforated. Doctors at Wesley Medical Center operated on Johnny and removed his appendix and generally assisted in his fast recovery and subsequent release. Johnny will be coming home by a private motor coach furnished by JOHNNIE and PEGGIE STRINGER, the folks who host the annual show in Columbia. Johnny's wife, KAREN, who was with Counterfit during his ordeal, went home to prepare their spacious home for Johnny, BILL CLINTON, JACK BENNY, GEORGE BURNS, JOHNNY CASH, JOHN WAYNE, ARCHIE and EDITH BUNKER, GEORGE W. BUSH, JIMMY STEWART and over 150 other voice impressions. November 13, 2006 Thanks to TRICIA WHITEHEAD for the invitation to attend the Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2006 Induction Ceremony at Nashville’s Richland Country Club November 14th. The evening begins with a media reception at 6:30. A sit-down dinner will be followed by the 8 p.m. induction of JOHN T. BENSON, III, The HINSONS, DOUG OLDHAM and RICHARD SMALLWOOD. Hosted by former (2001) Country Music Association Media Achievement Award-winner, HARRY CHAPMAN, awards presenter and performers will include: BILL & GLORIA GAITHER, the MIKE BOWLING GROUP and MARK LOWRY. Is TOM T. HALL buying a housewarming gift? Tom’s next-door neighbor, SUSAN MARLOW, is auctioning her Grandview property at 2179 South Berry’s Chapel Road in Franklin and you'll never guess who’s invited me to the November 14th (5 p.m.) auction. Not sure I can afford the “10% deposit with a minimum deposit of $100,000 in guaranteed funds,” let alone pay the property taxes on the 5,995 square-foot (nearly 12 acres) estate, most recently appraised at $1,228,700. ICEBERG- FAQ #21 is scratching icicles about a couple of affronts: First, the 'Berg wonders "if the Country Radio Broadcasters can't find someone who actually has something relevant to say about country-music radio, other than scheduled keynote speaker JON BON JOVI.... Puhleese, people, gag me!" ( I think Jon is kinda cute, Ice. But, alas, like many of the pretty boys, a little to young to be the object of my fantasies...) Perhaps redneck radio’s BILL O'REILLY was busy? It doesn’t matter, because the irascible Ice has bigger fish to fry: You may have heard about the ‘Berg’s new country-music Web site. And then again, maybe not, because Iceberg hasn’t had time to publicize it, what with having to pursue ad sales and the like. The ‘Berg wanted Staples to share in the Web site’s successful launch, but the family-friendly Internet page was refused: “When I inquired as to the reason, I received this polite, yet ignorant letter. It implies that country-music folk don't buy Staples products. ”This is interesting. since I had been shopping at Staples new Mount Juliet store...and later in the week ordered supplies online. I had no idea that country-music industry folks and fans don't purchase printers, papers, computers, etc. etc. etc. ”Here's a copy of the Staples e-mail: “Dear -. : Thank you for your interest… Our declination… is not a reflection upon your web-site. In fact, we think your web-site would be… fitting… for music advertisers, country western clothing advertisers [sic], or musical instrument advertisers. ”We partner with office supply web-sites, business-to-business web-sites, or school supplies web-sites, among others. These… make the most sense for us as an advertiser… Advertisements on these sites convert to sales better… We will gladly [reconsider] should your web-site content change or you launch a new, more topically-relevant web-site for us. ”We appreciate your business at Staples.com. We wish you the best of luck….Warm regards, Staples Affiliate Services Team." Note the lack of a signature and, therefore, someone at Staples ready to take responsibility for the 21st century equivalent of what a book editor once told my agent, during the last century, when rejecting what the editor otherwise admitted was a wonderful country-music book manuscript: “People who listen to country-music don’t buy books.”As if it weren’t enough, in 2006, to have produced the lowest-rated televised Country Music Association awards show in CMA Awards show history, when events like this don’t spur Mississippi Girl TAMMY GENOVESE into action, you have a pretty good idea of what Genovese is not doing to earn her six-figure salary. Why is WYNONNA spending more time these day with MARTIN LUTHER KING III (whose list of country-music favorities, as he listed them to me, didn't include Wynonna nor NAOMI JUDD) than with OPRAH WINFREY? November 8, 2006 Thanks to BENNETT TARLETON for the invitation to my choice of media night (November 30-December 2) performances of JACOB MARLEY’s Christmas Carol at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's ANDREW JOHNSON Theatre. The production runs November 30- December 16th. Performance times and ticket prices (ranging from $10 -$40) are available at Ticketmaster by calling (615) 255-ARTS (2787).
Thanks also to SHAUNA MOSLEY for the invitation to join LINDA DAVIS at Christmas Village ’s Positively Pink booth (Building 5, Booth 5-37) on November 11th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to the booth (Christmas Village runs November 10-12th) will be able to purchase jams and jellies from the Loveless Cafe, handcrafted Swarovski crystal jewelry, Gardens of Babylon plants, soaps and holiday music. Sales from all of the above will benefit the MINNIE PEARL Cancer Foundation's efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer and to provide funding for breast cancer research.
November 7, 2006 Re: FAITH HILL, I want to see the “B-roll, ” if any. Beyond that, a fair appraisal would totally discount a publicist’s prepared statement and the speculative spin. Instead, a fair person will await Faith’s personal explanation, which you know is coming. That explanation should include where Hill was when the camera caught her. Faith appears to me to have been backstage, rather than in the audience. If that’s the case- camera angles can be deceptive and the camera cut from Hill too soon to make a definitive judgment- there’s no way to know to what or whom Faith was reacting. Backstage feeds and relays do not always allow for an unimpeded view or audible audio, so, until we have the facts, let’s not rush to judgment. If you’re wondering how the Country Music Association spends its members’ money, if the following is representative, I have a clue: On September 1, 2006 I received the latest in a series of threatening letters from R. HORTON FRANK III. (The CMA’s favorite litigator appears to enjoy writing threatening letters on the organization’s behalf in September, though the last one I received from him, prior to the latest bit of bombast, was dated September 17, 1998.) These mind games do tend to mess up minds on the receiving end- whether Horton hear a who, a what or a where, I have no idea. But if TAMMY GENOVESE is an honest person- and having never spoken more to her than a few words over a period of decades (I did write Tammy a letter of congratulations when she became CMA’s titular head honcho), I have no reason to doubt her honesty- she’ll not only admit to authorizing this latest bit of unprovoked harassment, but will do whatever is necessary to make amends. All of this is background to ICEBERG- FAQ #21, ironically having no knowledge of Genovese’s and Frank’s tête-à-tête, suprising me with an invitation to join the ‘Berg at the November 6th afternoon dress rehearsal for the evening’s CMA Awards. I was appreciative of the invitation, declining not because my mind was consciously messed up, but because, as I expressed when sending my regrets, I anticipated a conflict with funeral services for BUDDY KILLEN. Not knowing Buddy personally, Ice didn’t realize that the double whammy of a full moon and Mercury’s retrograde motion- Mercury is the planet of communication and communications are typically garbled when Mercury is in retrograde motion- led me to conclude that Killen’s funeral service was the same day. Fortunately, just as I was about to head out to the Ryman, I double-checked and remembered the correct date for the memorial was November 7th. At the risk of receiving yet another threatening letter from Dick Frank’s son, I will pose the rhetorical question so foreign to Nashville’s sexist Music Row: Why all of the contrasts between MARIJOHN WILKIN's passing and Buddy Killen’s death? (A good question with the funerals being 8 days apart.) Buddy got more newspaper and TV news coverage, Buddy was mentioned on the November 6th CMA Awards, Buddy’s funeral was at the bigger venue and Buddy’s funeral attracted scores more mourners. I can think of a couple of other reasons, but because Marijohn and Buddy ran in some of the same circles- as evidenced by the fact that BART HERBISON was one of the industry notables who attended both services- those reasons are sad commentaries and really excuses. In any event, Buddy’s service was more entertaining. But how could it not be with JOHN JAY HOOKER, JR. as “emcee?” (No, John Jay, didn’t pay me to say this, though his daughter, DARA, is my neighbor. And, I admit to being thoroughly charmed when, as I reached to shake Hooker’s hand, running into him as I was leaving, he took mine and began kissing it in his typically grandiose style.) I didn’t know Buddy and John Jay even knew each other (though they share the reputation of knowing everyone, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised). As MIRANDA COHEN and I took our seats in the balcony media section, I glanced at the program, mistaking the list of honorary pallbearers for additional speakers, wondered not only how and why the loquacious Hooker was tapped to preside over the morning service, but also if the mourners should have snuck in lunch and dinner snacks, there being 23 honorary pallbearers, including BILLY SHERRILL, KELSO HURSTON, CURLY PUTMAN (whose surname was misspelled- though not for the first time- on the four-page program), JACK NORMAN, JR., BOBBY BRADDOCK, GARY SMITH, MARIO FERRARI, BILL O’BRIEN, BILL ANDERSON, GORDON INMAN, MIKE CURB, HERB RICH, KEVIN KENDRICK, CHRISTY DiNAPOLI, TONY BROWN, T.G. SHEPPARD, RONNIE McDOWELL, KAL HELOU, PAUL FENELON, and BILLY RAY HEARN, each of whom I thought would be speaking! The fear was especially strong when the service began, not with John Jay at the podium, but rather one of Killen’s honorary pallbearers, BOBBY GOLDSBORO. Bobby was one of my many celebrity crushes when I was 13 and when I happened to meet him many years later (I wrote a feature on Goldsboro for Country Song Roundup ), it was nice to learn, though it no longer mattered, that Bobby was just as friendly and down-to-earth as I might have imagined (despite the fact that he was stressed out over being in the middle of a headline-generating, acrimonious divorce that to this day may find Goldsboro feeling a kinship with SARA EVANS). Bobby introduced a multimedia, biographical tribute to Buddy narrated by another of the mourners- and another one of the most genuine people in the entertainment world, oddly more off-mic and off-camera than on- CHARLIE CHASE. (I can tell you from personal experience that both Miranda and Charlie, rather than kicking people when they are down or pretending not to notice such abuse, instinctively show their support.) The slide show/video presentation featured photos from Buddy’s family album and photos of him with just about every political and show business celebrity he’d ever met. The one of Buddy posing with his fellow Alabamian GEORGE WALLACE, that otherwise would have made this Yankee/Tennessean transplant cringe, reminded me instead of a happy memory of a photo taken of Wallace with TAMMY WYNETTE, when Buddy chartered a bus for me and my media pals to join Killen and his wife, CAROLYN on a press junket in celebration of Buddy’s 1985 induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. . We were wined and dined in true Killen fashion, just as we were back in 1979 when, as luncheon guests of Buddy’s at the grand opening of the Stock-Yards, we were urged to order the most expensive items on the menu! (Steak knives were presented to all of Killen’s guests, as were pink rubber balls Buddy had signed and dated. The rubber balls represented Buddy’s bouncing back from adversity- I still have that rubber ball.) Hooker, minus his trademark stove-pipe hat, was the perfect combination of preacher and emcee, beginning his impromptu remarks comparing Buddy with himself: “One of the things we had in common was we loved the sound of our own voices.” The soul-bearing continued as John Jay, who, it turned out knew Buddy for about as long as I did (“30 years”) considered himself “more of a fan than a friend” of Killen’s. Hooker insisted Bobby Goldsboro was one of Killen’s real friends, since Bobby and DIANE (Goldsboro’s wife of the last 20 years) were the ones who left their Florida home to care for Buddy at Killen’s Nashville home so Buddy wouldn’t have to spend his dying days in a hospital/hospice care. John Jay occasionally got off on tangents- egotistical and otherwise. (Did mourners need to hear Hooker brag, yet once again, of being- at least in his own mind- among BOBBY KENNEDY’s and MUHAMMED ALI's best friends?) At one point, Hooker detailed a fairly recent luncheon he and Buddy attended with suburban Nashville newspaper publisher GARY CUNNINGHAM and Belle Meade blueblood NEIL PARRISH (two of Buddy’s pallbearers). When there was either a quizzical, or perhaps no, reaction to Hooker’s description of Parrish as “born behind the shield,” John Jay offered a history lesson: Born behind the shield, he explained, referred to the National Life Insurance Company and the derivation of WSM's call letters. The other mourners may have known, as I did, that WSM's call letters came from the insurance company’s slogan, “We Shield Millions,” but perhaps not even EDDIE STUBBS shared Hooker’s knowledge that “born behind the shield” is a euphemism describing the progeny of National Life’s EDWIN CRAIG, who “were born with silver spoons in their mouths.” Back on track, John Jay praised Buddy for his work for Easter Seals (off-camera, as well as on), as a man who knew how to love both himself and others and who received just as much joy from others’ success as his own. Hooker closed his remarks by noting that Carolyn overrode Buddy’s wishes not to have his funeral at the Ryman. John Jay says Buddy was afraid the vacant pews would outnumber the mourners. (Perhaps Killen had a premonition it would be yet another rainy day in Music City.) ”Thank all of you for proving Buddy wrong,” John Jay added. I saw AUDREY WINTERS’ name on the guestbook and was really sorry I didn’t get to speak with her. I was glad to have the chance to chat with Ronnie, Bart, Charlie, GORDIE COLLINS, AMY WATSON, BETTY HOFER, MARTY RAYBON, BARBARA ANN BROWN, DOBIE GRAY (whom, I also didn’t recognize, Dobie’s having joined the shaved head set), ED BENSON, SAM LOVULLO, RUTH WARADY and to see BILL DENNY, MICHAEL KOSSER, BOB CLEMENT, DAN KEEN, MARTY STUART, STEVE CROPPER, STONEWALL JACKSON and EDDY ARNOLD (accompanied by his wife, SALLY, who is struggling with Alzheimer’s). Killen’s music punctuated a ceremony that closed with Buddy’s rendition one of my two favorite inspirational song, I Believe (the other being What A Wonderful World). It was a subtle reminder, if one was needed, that Buddy had a beautiful singing voice; one more pleasing to the trained ear than several of the “stylists”’ recordings whose songs Killen co-wrote, published and/or produced.
November 6, 2006 I guess the suggestion is that the show must go on. Nonetheless, I find it humorous that there is no byline to be found in a report in the November 6th edition of the Huron (Michigan) Daily Tribune advising readers that “TOMMY CASH will star in place of JOHNNY COUNTERFIT Saturday at the Tuscola County Sheriff Posse ‘Annual Country Music Show.’” (Of course, I may be the only one who finds its funny that the CMA - whose only Hispanic members, assuming they haven’t dropped their memberships like I did- may be RICK TERVINO and JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ- has formed an Hispanic task force, to create a Hispanic country-music fan base, under the “leadership” of Aussie JEFF WALJER!) Counterfit remains “hospitalized for complications arising from appendicitis” and is making steady progress. Stabilized, Johnny will have quite a story- or maybe it’s a backstory- to tell upon his release from Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s Wesley Medical Center.
Thanks to KIRT WEBSTER, and to my fellow Vandy alumna, EBIE McFARLAND, for extending me press credentials for two November 5th invitation-only events. The first was the noon Rhinestones & Roses salute to MANUEL at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. Since I had a schedule conflict, and because that event has been given extensive coverage elsewhere, let me focus on the backstage doin’s at the evening’s Cracker Barrel Songs of the Year concert. The event marked my first visit to the beautiful, new multimillion-dollar (KENNETH) SCHERMERHORN Symphony Center. With Mercury still in retrograde motion and there being a full moon to boot, the red carpet and various other events leading up to the concert were behind schedule, causing the concert taping to run way behind as well. (I wonder if any of this will be reflected in GAC's November 21st telecast of its Songs of the Year documentary.) My press packet included a press room lanyard and a ticket for the show. But given the impracticality of running back-and-forth from backstage to the concert hall (where rules are strict about entering and leaving during a performance, as well they should be, out of consideration to the performers and ticket-holders alike, whose every whisper and movement is virtually heard throughout the hall, thanks to the sensitivity of state-of-the-art acoustics) I opted to remain in the catered media room. That may have been a mistake, since not all of the featured performers (i.e., all of those I named in my previous reporting about the Songs of the Year CD plus program host JAMES DENTON) visited the press room. Yet, I had no regrets, since it was fun to chat with colleagues representing news organizations from all over the world, while several other artists did deign to do quick interviews. Because of the relaxed atmosphere of these backstage events (where alcohol is served and some know how to deal with the temptation better than others), what goes on in the press room generally stays in the press room. With so much going on there, though, that need not be much of an unwritten restriction. For instance, I no sooner arrived than I saw AARON TIPPIN amiably chatting with a group of reporters I did not recognized and did not interrupt. (There were five from Ireland alone on the approved media room list: RICHIE TAYLOR from The Eveniing Herald, COLM O’HARE (representing Hot Press, the Sunday World's EDDIE ROWLEY, VALERIE VETTER [from Irish Independent] and The Irish Daily Mirror’s ROGER RYAN.) TV Guide's JOSEPH HUDACK was also on the media list. If we had been introduced, I would have asked Hudack to give my regards to DICK FRIEDMAN (a bit of an inside joke). BLAKE SHELTON made a brief appearance (too many flies on the wall, I suppose), while JANIE FRICKE made it a point of walking over to re-introduce herself. (I’ve interviewed Janie several times, most notably, years ago, for Country Song Roundup, when she revealed how much she enjoys housework- especially ironing!) JETT WILLIAMS was another of the entertainers deep in a conversation I did not want to interrupt and, while I didn’t also missed a chance to speak with RONNIE MILSAP, I had wonderful conversations with Ronnie’s fashion stylist, LINDA HILL and his friend, singer SHAWN BLAKE. MICHAEL McDONALD and HEART (ANN & NANCY WILSON) made an appearance, but, once again, I was too busy hugging FLETCHER FOSTER and catching up with CYNTHIA GRIMSON and my former ABC Radio colleague, NEIL HAISLOP (though unfortunately did not have the opportunity to meet- our “replacement“?- HUNTER KELLY to make a mad dash with my microphone. I did have a chance to meet and speak with JACK INGRAM and Jack’s manager, GEORGE COURI and was very impressed with their approachability and professionalism. (Jack appears very grounded and George very knowledgeable about the business side of the country-music ledger). And, I realized my goal of meeting MIKE STRAKA, but am not sure I was any more successful in “deprogramming” him than I was RICHARD SCHLESINGER, as regards how big media, usually in lockstep, are told to cover Music Row. I rolled my eyes and more-or-less gave up sharing my nearly 35 years’ worth of information gleaned covering Music Row, when the Washington Post's JOSH du LAC informed me that his report for the Beltway bunch would be an expansion of what he’d read in the November 5th Tennessean's country-music industry coverage. I felt somewhat vindicated, however, watching BBC Radio's JEAN OTALOR’s attempt to complete a pre-scheduled interview with HANK WILLIAMS, JR., I’m not sure that Josh witnessed the exchange, but Jean, after replaying the tape, confirmed her impressions to du lac and me. While I saw bits and pieces of the concert on the closed-circuit monitor, most of the time the volume was turned down. So, like most of you, I’ll be seeing the complete show for the first time on GAC on January 27th at 9 p.m.
No comment from STEVE BUCHANAN, PETE FISHER nor JESSIE SCHMIDT, but, nearly three months after PORTER WAGONER underwent surgery for an abdominal aneurism, all Wagoner’s handlers’ talk about Porter’s imminent return to the Grand Ole Opry remains just that. What’s more, that talk may be more than just wishful thinkingm following a couple of Opry members’ telling friends that Porter recently suffered a stroke!
B. JENKINS of Chico, California took out a personal ad in The Tennessean to say “Thank You” and “God bless you all” to RASCAL FLATTS “and gang.” Jenkins received the recording artists’ “understanding and help” when, on October 16, the parent of three sons “faxed (4) copies to of “My Story” to RANDY GOODMAN and Lyric Stree Records in an effort to “Help to Save My Home.” The outcome? “We will have to move, but [are] doing so as a family. Losing your home is nothing when you have love as my 3 boys and I have.
My fellow columnist and Citizens Police Academy classmate and alumna, PAULA UNDERWOOD WINTERS, recently revealed to her Westview readers that COLLIN RAYE’s Little Rock video was filmed at Paula’s home. (“My best friend was also friends with the director of the video and she asked if I could think of any place that would work. They needed a large greatroom with a fireplace and plenty of room for the camera to move about. I suggested my place.”) Trouble was, “Collin is extremely allergic to cats (I have three) and even though they were locked up in one of the back bedrooms, there was still a lot of cat hair and dander around. Collin turned bright red and the makeup people had quite a time covering all his splotches.” November 2, 2006 Thanks to Campbell-Ewald Senior Corporate Communications Specialist JOSEPH HERRGARD for sending me a copy of Chevy's 2007 Year in Country Music Calendar. 2007 marks the third annual edition of this calendar, shot by photographer RON STRONG. Country-music stars and Chevy vehicle pairings (photographed at 12 Nashville landmarks ranging from the ERNEST TUBB Record Shop to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) include: January/GRETCHEN WILSON/ Silverado, February/JOE NICHOLS/ Impala SS, March/LITTLE BIG TOWN/Silverado, April/JASON ALDEAN/Cobalt SS Supercharged, May /KEITH ANDERSON/Avalanche, June/PAT GREEN/Tahoe, July/ LOST TRAILERS/Corvette Z06, August/ERIC CHURCH/Silverado, September/MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Corvette Convertible, October/CHARLIE DANIELS/Vintage Chevy truck, November/VAN ZANT/Colorado, December/MuzikMafia/Suburban..
Column’s condolences to PORTER WAGONER, Porter’s son, two daughters and grandchildren following the October 31st passing of Porter’s second wife (first, if, like Porter, you don’t count his first marriage, which was annulled), RUTH, at age 82. The Wagoners were long-separated (I believe Porter told me back in the early ‘70s that they had actually divorced), due to the strain on their union brought about by Porter’s famous wandering eye. But back when one of the singers with whom Wagoner strayed after he “discovered” her, NORMA JEAN, gave him an ultimatum, Porter refused to divorce Ruth.
If your name is KRIS KRISTOFFERSON and/or you are a part of Music Row’s “old Nashville” contingent and were not present at either MARIJOHN WILKIN's visitation or funeral, shame on you! (The Music Row of today bears little resemblance to its glory years and even those of us who were only in on the tail end need to continue to honor those with whom we walked.) I expected to see Kris and a former employee of Marijohn’s. Under the circumstances, Kristofferson had plenty of time to get from his Hawaiian home, or from wherever he was October 30th, to Carnegie Hall and Wilkin’s former employee had no further to come than from her home in Donelson. ICEBERG- FAQ #21 says BOB TUBERT, BUZZ CASON, DIANNE SHERRILL, DIANE JORDAN, JOE BABCOCK, HAL and REBECCA BYNUM, LYNN WILLIAMS, and LEE STOLLER and CHRISTY LANE were among those extending sympathy to BUCKY WILKIN during the visitation. I missed the visitation, but the ‘Berg says Kris was a no show. If someone tells me otherwise and Kristofferson somehow snuck in and out before Ice arrived, I’ll be happy to set the record straight. I did arrive in time for the service where SHIRLEY HUTCHINS and Bucky delivered eulogies. Buck surveyed familiar faces belonging to LIZ and CASEY ANDERSON, MARTHA MOORE, HUGH X. LEWIS, BART HERBISON, BILL LITTLETON, CHARLIE MONK and others, concluding that he would keep his tribute short: Anyone displeased could read everything about his mother, “good and bad, on the Internet.” (Wilkin said he and his mother shared a tight bond, even though they butted heads occasionally, of the nature perhaps best understood by those like him who are “the only child of an only child.”) JEAN STOKER and MARILYN WALKER looked on approvingly, as their husbands, GORDON STOKER and RAY WALKER, paid tribute in song. Ray and Gordon recast the JORDANAIRES on this occasion only, with LOUIS NUNLEY and female friend of Marijohn’s. Because Marijohn had been ill for some time, she was able to orchestrate most of the details and arrangements leading up to and including her own funeral. This included the writing, otherwise credited to ROBERT OERMANN, of her lengthy obituary as it appeared in the Tennessean’s October 29th issue. (This explains the choice of Oermann as writer and the failure to include the names of two of Wilkin’s four husbands. It does not explain an accompanying photo, identified as Kristofferson and Marijohn as they appeared in 1970, that actually is of Kris and someone else, let alone the failure of the newspaper to issue a correction!)
I’ll have more to say about BUDDY KILLEN in the coming days, but I am appalled at how the AP seemed to be on death watch. (I know news organizations keep morgues. That’s not my point.) Buddy’s family and closest friends learned Killen’s death was imminent a month before it occurred. The “rumors” took about two weeks to reach me, but any reporting following verification of the sad prognosis would have been tasteless, as Killen’s wish was for privacy. (I’ll always answer readers’ questions, when I have the answers, but in such instances that call for discretion I do not volunteer, nor do I publish, such information.) As it was, I had to break the news to SARA DUNN, who had just invited me to a party (since cancelled) to be held November 2nd at the Countr Music Hall of Fame celebrating the publication of A Country Music Christmas, a book Buddy co-wrote with ELVIS PRESLEY's cousin, EDIE HAND.
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