Country singer Jason Aldean barely concealed his bigotry with the “Try That In A Small Town” single. It’s reassuring to know that these violently evil views are not the norm. Not in music, not in country music, not anywhere.
Johnny Cash, “The Man in Black” who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” and “A Boy Named Sue,” died Friday. He was 71. “Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure,” Cash’s manager, Lou Robin, said in a statement issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. “I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time,” Robin said. Cash had been released… Read more »
Showing his deep admiration for Ryan Adams, Sir Elton John addressed the young rock and roller as “fabulous one” during a taping Tuesday night for “CMT Crossroads.” In Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, John told an invited audience how Adams’ 2000 solo debut, Heartbreaker, prompted him to reassess his own approach to recording. “If I hadn’t heard Heartbreaker, I’d probably be lost in overproduction somewhere,” John said during a question-and-answer segment of the show, which explores the common country music roots of artists from diverse backgrounds. “I was completely and utterly floored by the simplicity… Read more »
Country music songwriter Harlan Howard, who co-wrote the Patsy Cline classic “I Fall to Pieces,” died on Sunday at age 74, according to industry publicist Tina Wright. He had been in ill health for several years. Howard, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, had more than 100 “Top Ten” hits during his career, which was kicked off in 1958 with “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down.” His works were recorded not only by such country greats as George Jones, Buck Owens, Glen Campbell, Ray Price and Conway Twitty but also by more mainstream music stars such… Read more »
Influential guitarist Chet Atkins, who helped modernize country music in the 1960s, paving the way for the massive commercial force that it is today, died in Nashville Saturday. He was 77. In 1973 and in 1997, Atkins had fought both colon cancer and brain cancer, surviving a number of surgeries. Atkins, enjoyed a multi-faceted career: as a sought-after session musician for the likes of Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers; as a prolific recording artist in his own right; and as a veteran Nashville talent scout. His discoveries included Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings. Atkins was one of the most… Read more »
