Sunday, November 27, 2011

100 Country Stars n Legends For Easy Ridin'

When Victor Koo of FOYers Bloggers' Group wanted to meet me on the afternoon before National Day (8.8.2011) I thought he wanted to celebrate the occasion together. We did actually and had coffee n cake at a quaint roadside cafe near the Novena Church. But he also brought along a book (image) as a gift. In fact, this same gentleman introduced my blog to yesterday.sg and helped establish it somewhat. Thank you very much, Victor, for your kindness and friendship.

I learned much reading it and realized how the spurts of information, glossy photographs, sidebars, precious *nuggets about each star and a greatest-hits list make the book mighty informative but easy ridin'. Like reading a great blog on an iPad.

Legends of Country by Liz Mechem and Chris Carroll introduces the CW hit list of pop singers that helped put this genre of "music on the map and keep it there." From Roy Acuff, Bill Carlisle, Defore Bailey, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Thompson (I honestly haven't heard of them before) to familiar ones like Alabama, Chet Atkins, Gene Autry, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Barbara Mandrell, Jim Reeves, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Shania Twain and Elvis!

There are 100 mostly known names, all covering 160 pages of pioneers, storytellers, and musicians who had, "left their imprint on this unique art form." And like how the Introduction explained, "Country's all about using small stories to represent big themes, and using big themes to illuminate small moments", this huge publication tells a lot.

So much for the **book. Now the authors. Liz Mechem is a freelance writer and editor teaching fiction writing in New York City. Chris Carroll, her husband is a photographer whose work has appeared in many national magazines.

And this ain't no old dusty document! It's 4 years young and published by Dalmatian Press (Dalmatian Publishing Group, Atlanta, Georgia 30329), Copyright 2007. And I'm still browsing through.

Nuggets
1. "Barbara Mandrell was known as the Princess of Steel for her prowess on the steel guitar." 

2. "Sonny James became the first country artist in 1971 to record a program for a moon flight." 

3. Did you know that Floyd Tillman recorded, G. I. Blues before Elvis in 1941? Ah, but is it the same song? Interesting facts.

Again, thanks Victor for your present. More book-gift postings for Chun See, Yusnor Ef, Larry Lai, etc. in later weeks.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

11 comments:

Victor said...

Glad you like the book, Andy. Honestly, I only managed to browse through it and didn't actually read its contents. My immediate thought was that it would make a perfect gift for you.

Thanks for the wonderful coffee, both the treat at the coffee stall as well as for the bottle still in my larder. I don't think I have finished as much of it as you have finished the book though. Got a lot of catching up to do, with both the drinking of the coffee and with you. :p

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you Victor. We must all meet again somehow for another cuppa.

I have learnt much more about CW music and their singing stars after reading the book.

Like I remarked on the posting, I am still at it.

Lam Chun See said...

Andy. Due to our age gap, some of the songs and articles are not familiar to me; and possibly other readers. That's why we do not comment. But that doesn't mean we do not read what you post. Keep it up.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Chun See. Like I always say, you're one great supporter of my blog and others too.

I guess 10 years make a lot of difference right? Hey, but Victor is younger and he connects with all our blogs.

Hope you like Country and Western.

Anonymous said...

From Private email Joey Yeo:

Thank you Andy,
Actually, Russ and his songs were more my Dad's favourites rather than mine.

I just got to listen to them when he turned on his radio then. Anyway
thanks for all those good memories.
Cheerz.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

A reminder Joey that great music and singers never fade away and like our memories, just linger on.

Thanks for visiting.

Anonymous said...

From amazon.com
'Chrijeff' (Scranton PA)edited:

I personally think there are at least one or two glaring omissions (where is Dave Dudley, with his trademark growl and repertoire of truckin' songs? or Jerry Reed, with his 'hot licks'?).

But if you've just become hooked on country and want a basic overview of the best of its artists, or are just curious to painlessly learn more about your favorites, this book should be just your speed.

yesterday.sg said...

28th Nov 11
Irene Yap: 'Songbird of yesteryear'
Posted by noelbynature under Lifestyle, people
(0) Comment • (97) Reads • Permalink

Remember Irene Yap? Her singing career started in 1966 when she was only just 11 and had a professional singing career while she was still in school - a career that lasted for 15 years.

Andy from the 'Singapore 60s music' blog remembers the musical career of Irene Yap, who was so young when she started she required a license to perform.

Anonymous said...

From email, Wilf Lim:

WHO SAYS COUNTRY ..... MUSIC IS BORING?

Hi guys,
You like country music?
So do.... Ay, yah yah yah!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Watch Rodney Carrinton on You Tube singing, 'Show Them To Me.'

This lady from the audience showed them to him. Sexy!

IreneYap said...

Ooooh...Andy, your penmanship is mighty...to be caught on so quickly...

It's nice to know there's so much past kept alive. So interesting that it's yesterday once more.