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FLORIDA
COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS
August
9, 2001
This edition's major story is about my friend Ernie Ashworth. The
Country
Legends Association announced this week that the Opry star has been
inducted
into The Country Legends Association Hall of Fame. Ernie has
written songs
for Little Jimmy Dickens, Carl Smith, Johnny Horton, Wilma Lee Cooper,
and
even Paul Anka. On August 2nd, it was announced that Ernie
currently holds
the Number One spot as the most played country artist in Europe. Make
some
noise for my friend. I pulled the ol' cat's tail.
Clay Daniels is emceeing this Sunday's FLORIDA COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION
(Orlando Chapter) Chapter Showcase. This will be their first
showcase in
several years. President Bob Daugherty assures me the chapter has
some dandy
talent. Bob's band, "Boots & Barstools" will be the
host band. The location
is the Four Towns Moose Lodge, Benson Junction Road, off US 17-92 in
Debary.
On Sunday, August 19th, the Broward County Chapter of the FCMA will have
their guitar to guitar composition. Their Chapter Showcase is at
Davie
Junction, 6311 S.W. 45th Street, Davie.
I just threw a log onto www.daviejunction.com. What a nice
site. Davie
Junction is one of the premier Country Music clubs in the state. Junction
has special nights weekly, like classes to learn to country dance.
The club
rotate their for more variety in their picking. Their site will
give the
band for a particular week. They also have western style food.
Winners of the chapter showcases will advance to the FCMA State
Showcase on
October 7th. This year's composition will be at the Moose in Cape
Coral.
Ashley West melted the ice inside of Tampa's Ice Palace as she sang
outside
the Palace for stations Q105 and WQYK last weekend. Country biggys,
Tim
McGraw and Kenny Chesney worked inside the arena. Betcha Ashley
received
more response. WQYK-Tampa is celebrating thirty years of playing
country.
That's a while!
This item should make Will Campbell "Crack A Can" or go into
orbit. George
Jones and Garth Brooks recorded together this past week. The
single from
their CD is "Beer Run".
Gordon Lightfoot and Gary Buck have been chosen to be inducted into the
Canadian Country Music Association's Hall of Fame. Their induction
takes
place on September 7-10 in Calgary.
Bob Ferguson, who I believe was the first A&R man for RCA-Victor
Records died
July 22nd. He was said to be the first to produced a recording on
Chet
Atkins. To refresh your memory, Ferguson penned "Wings Of A Dove". Bob was
72.
Nashville News Today, a cyber magazine says that music is asking for
special
prayers for Skeeter Davis. The Opry star has had a long term
battle with
cancer.
Insiders say, it's a pretty sure bet that Ralph Emery will be on Fox
Television in the fall. He will definitely be on local TV in Nashville
in the
fall.
I understand that Leona Williams is feeling better following
surgery for
breast cancer.
She has been released from the hospital in Branson. Leona was once
wed to
Merle Haggard.
Up and coming country songtress, Tammy Cochran will appear on Jerry
Lewis'
MDA Telethon, September 2nd.
Don't you love, admire and cherish Leann Womack? I do. Especially,
since
she won $125,000 on the celebrity "Who Wants To Become A
Millionaire". The
NEWS helped you become a star. Plus, I have sang all your hits in
the
shower. Ah honey, baby, you did what? "I played for my
elementary school in
Texas.", said Leann.
Perhaps, you knew the following, I had forgotten it or my Alzheimers
kicked
in again. Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires brought country comic
Mike Snider
to Nashville. Mike didn't say whether Gordon was instrumental in
getting him
on the Opry. Snider is doing more picking now than comedy. He
said that
this ole boy came home and found a man in bed with his wife.
He jumped
from the upstairs window and the husband threw a refrigerator out after
him.
But the cord became entangled around the husband's feet, jerking
him through
the window. St. Peter was waiting for them at the Golden Gates.
The good
saint asked, "I know what happened the first two of you. But
what happened
to Joe?" Joe declared. "All I know, I was hiding in this
lady's
refrigerator."
How many times have you heard Ernest Tubb say. "Ah, Billy
Byrd?" The lead
guitar-ist with "The Texas Troubadours" from 1949 to 1959 died
on August 8th.
Born in Nashville, one of the most recognized musicians in Country
Music,
was still wet be- hind the ears when he started with his brother
on
WLAC-Nashville in 1935. He resumed his career after discharged
from the Navy
with Wally Fowler and His Georgia Clodhoppers. In the fall of '49,
Billy
joined Ernest, succeeding Tommy "Butterball" Page as
lead guitarist on the
single "Tennessee Border No. 2". In '59, he collaborated
with Hank Garland
in the design of the Byrdland guitars for Gibson. Of course, Billy
has
played on sessions for Tex Ritter, Webb Pierce, Burl Ives, Cowboy Copas,
Little Jimmy Dickens and Eddy Arnold, and shuttled between Tubb's and
Red
Foley's bands.
Jett Williams, ya know, Hank's girl has a new venture,
www.countryvinture.com. The idea began when Jett's husband, and
her best
friend, Don Furmanik first talked about cleaning and enhancing the
treasured
Hank Williams' Mother's Best radio shows. Well, they
constructed the site.
The site will be available on November 4th. You can download old
songs and
traditional stars. All for a fee, of course. Why can't
someone on the I-net
promote something or someone just for the enjoyment of giving it to
someone
else?
Then, we have upon the cyber highway, Dick Shuey's www.twangtownusa.com
with
FREE Country Music. I think some of his music goes back the days
of George
Washington. I can nearly hear Martha, "George, there you are
pattin' your
foot to hillbilly music. You're suppose to be the father of
our country.
Get off the porch and run for President."
I may not be editing much longer. I'm collecting a ransom.
Believe I know
the whereabouts of Chranda Levy. It came to me in a....well, it
came to me.
After the congressman heard her singing in the shower, songs like;
"Cowboy's
Sweetheart", "Blue Kentucky Girl", "Walking After
Midnight", "DIVORCE",
"Blue" and more trad- itional country songs, he said,
"Darling, you should go
to Nashville, Tennessee, and become a traditional country singer. And,
remember to buy yourself a cowgirl's outfit....with a big western
hat." We
know what happens to traditional country sing-ers in Nashville in 2001.
They
become lost forever.
I know. I'm terrible. After ninety days any news story
is fair game to
those of us with off-center minds. The story brings the following
to mind.
A few years after be- ginning the NEWS, I had a friend who just had to
try
his luck in Nashville. As a singer, he may have gotten a C-plus.
He knew
that the word STAR was written all over him. It has been nearly
forty
years....and still no word from ol' John.
Kenny Rogers is a STAR who cares. It seems Kenny played a sold out
concert
in Sikeston, Missouri, and the ticket sales which totaled $75,000,
benefited
the Kenny Rogers Children's Center in Sikeston. Lion's
International matched
the funds he raised with an additional $75,000 grant.
Say, Billy Helms, isn't that nearly your take for a night of picking?
Oh,
just a little less. Billy is having knee replacement surgery,
August 20th.
I wish him my dog-gone best. Should you take a turn for the nurse,
call me
and I'll hold her. A knee replacement. I am looking for a
body replacement.
Don't want some old damn bod with more dents and pings than a
'52 DeSoto.
I want all parts upright.
Remember, the Grand Ole Opry moves to Country Music Television CMT,
August
19th.
I want to add that the July/August edition of the NEWS celebrates its
42nd
Anniversary. Send your mailing address, should you like a copy.
Thanks for the read.
J. Randall Collier
Editor
121 N.E.47th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
954/771--6479 Fax 954-771-7106
E-Mail: JCountrylad@aol.com Web Site: http://amjon.com/florida
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