Coal Miners And Country Gentlemen

Today, we have a guest columnist- Steve from the Geezer Music Club- who shares a little history and musical treat about coal mining music.

“At one time, several members of my extended family were involved in coal mining at some level, and that’s probably true of many of us with rural roots. Along with farming (something my family also knew a little about), mining was one of the most common jobs around in those days. In some cases — especially during tough times — working men did both, working a shift in the mine while keeping up a farm too. But the two professions have another similarity — both have been the inspiration for a lot of America’s music.

A while back, I wrote about a song that was on the “B” side of “Sixteen Tons,” but I also paid tribute to the hit song itself, a classic Tennessee Ernie Ford salute to coal miners. This time around, I thought I’d continue to dig into that vein (groan — sorry), and revisit the link between music and mining by focusing on a different song.

Most of us can probably think of a few songs about mining (or coal miners’ daughters), but one of my favorites is a piece written by the same guy who wrote “Sixteen Tons,” Merle Travis. The legendary Travis had a big impact as a talented performer himself, but as a songwriter he had few peers.

The song is “Dark As A Dungeon,” and one of the best at performing it was Charlie Waller, the leader of the bluegrass group known as the Country Gentlemen. Beginning in 1957 and continuing almost nonstop (with occasional personnel changes) until Charlie’s death in 2004, the group was one of the most respected around. Their popularity even crossed genre lines because of their ties to the folk music community, along with their ability to perform the music of contemporary artists like Bob Dylan.

A miner’s song performed by a group called The Country Gentlemen — sounds like a natural fit to me.”

Willie Nelson To Release American Classic on August 25

Willie Nelson has a brand new album of classic American covers aptly titled 'American Classic’ set for release on August 25. The disc will feature special guest appearances from Norah Jones and Diana Krall

Over the years, Willie has experimented with many different musical styles from country to jazz to reggae. This new album will see him backed by an orchestra and will have a decidedly Sinatra/Anka type of feel. Blue Note Records will be releasing the album and it will also include a new version of Willie's Grammy-winning 'Always on My Mind.'

TNS Video- Eric Church Kicks Off CMA Musical Festival

Eric Church performing Love Your Love The Most at the Sommet Center kicking off CMA Fest 2009...

Zac Brown Band Puts In A Full May

The Zac Brown Band put together a fun and interesting little video of the 'crap they did in May'. Check out ZBB with Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Willie Nelson, The Pirates, The Hawks, Hawaii, Green Bay and more! (Go Pirates!)

Alabama Reuniting (Almost) This Weekend

Randy Owens, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook of the supergroup Alabama haven’t forgotten about their home. As in recent years, the group is (almost) reuniting together on stage at Northeast Alabama Community College with the approach of the June Jam Songwriter’s Showcase.

Featured songwriters that will also appear include Brice Long, best known for “Anywhere But Here” and “Nothing On but the Radio,” Jim Weatherly, known for “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither One of Us (wants to be the first to say goodbye),” Monty Powell, who works closely with Keith Urban and Diamond Rio and Wynn Varble, known for “Waiting on a Woman” and “I Just Came Back from a War.”

Randy, Teddy and Jeff are expected to close the show with some Alabama favorites and the stories behind them. Jeff will be doing a show earlier with his Jeff Cook & His All-Star Band earlier in the Showcase. They’ll share the stories behind all the songs, as well as the songwriters themselves performing them in their acoustic form. All of the proceeds from the showcase go to John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranch that helps provide a home for children in need.

Tickets are still available for the event for $50 and can be purchased by calling 845-1646 or (800) 557-8223.

New Music From Big Kenny From Big & Rich

Shannon over at Nashville Gab found some new music from Big Kenny of Big & Rich. You can watch and listen to "Long After I'm Gone" below or by clicking here...

Up & Coming New Nashville- Huckleberry Blue (With Exclusive Interview)

If you prefer your county a little rough around the edges with a cold beer and a shot of whiskey, then a little Huckleberry Blue might be in your future.

Huckleberry Blue, a six-piece band from Columbia City, Indiana, clearly prefer the traditional side of country music. They call their music “honky grass“- old-style honky-tonk with a side of bluegrass for good measure. They cite Johnny Cash, John Prine, Merle Haggard, Sugarland, Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and the three Hanks as influences. Songs about drinkin’, lovin’ and fightin’ are usually at the top of their play list.

The band consists of Josh Copp on lead and acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle and vocals; Anna Copp (Anna and Josh are married) on bass, mandolin and vocals; Sarah Marshall on keys and vocals; Brandon Marshall (also, married) on drums; Doug King on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; and the mysterious & bearded Johnny Morton (aka, Morty) on harmonica, bass and vocals.

Though together just over two years, Huckleberry Blue exude confidence and depth usually reserved for older bands (everyone but King is in their mid- to late-20s). With the exception of Anna Copp, each member of Huckleberry Blue has spent time in previous bands.

Huckleberry Blue, in their present form, first got together when Josh, who attends church with Brandon and Sarah, called Brandon to sit in on the drums at a gig that day. After that, things gelled and Huckleberry Blue was born.

Listen to Huckleberry Blue for yourself HERE.

I sat down and spoke with Josh Copp- he is the founder and starting force with the band.

That Nashville Sound- What brought you to music in the first place?

Josh Copp- For me my mom and dad. My mom played when I was real young, and I just kinda took it on myself and learning what i could with music. Now the same goes for Brandon (drums, vocals) and Sarah Marshall (keyboard, vocals,) Brandon's dad Roger was a up and coming music performer as was Sarah's. Our parents for at least 3 of us are really our way of loving music.TNS- Describe your music, it crosses lots of lines & genres- what's the mission behind the music?

JC- Our music plain and simply word for word - Real True Non Commercialized Music.

TNS- What are a couple of your career highlights so far?

JC- Honestly every show is a highlight. It just humbles and amazes me to see while we are up on stage playing all the people. And age range of our following, seeing 21 year olds excited to spend there first legal night at a bar listenin’ to us play Cash, Haggard, and Jones. Then seeing right beside them the 50's, 60 year old range that just enjoys hearing the music they enjoy. Now that’s a highlight every time.

TNS- What kind of music are you listening to?

JC- Talk Radio (as he laughs) but no I’m actually right now I'm really into some Jerry Reed.

TNS- What inspires the band currently?

JC- Well there’s so many especially if you've been to a show. A few we enjoy Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Conway Twitty. Some of the modern day guys we enjoy are to name a few Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Old Crow Medicine Show.

TNS- What's next for you?

JC- Well honestly, just to keep playing and doing what we are doing. God gave us all a little talent to go up on stage and play our kind of music, and sing our songs, and we all love it." Where do you hope to be career wise a couple years from now? "Well obviously if we can grow fan wise and venue wise that’s a plus. But if we are still doin’ what we do now two years from now we will still be happy. To us its all about our families, and music wise getting up on stage and havin’ fun with our fans with whom we appreciate greatly. But we will take what every the Good Lord has in mind and go with it.

TNS- Which do you like best? Big Stage or dive bar?

JC- "DIVE BAR if that was diva bar we still prefer dive bars. (laughing)

TNS- Record stores or downloads?

JC- Record stores. Hell I aint even got a computer. (laughing again)

TNS- Fine dining or southern cooking?

JC- Aww yeah southern cooking!

TNS- Baseball or fishing?

JC- Fishing.

TNS- Nickname for your guitar's?

JC- Well, none of our guitars have names but "Morty" (harmonica, vocals, slide, bass and electric guitars) calls his harmonica "BAZOOKA'S."

TNS History- #1’s On This Day In History

Today, we’re highlighting three #1’s on this date in history:
1953- Hank Williams’ “Take These Chains From My Heart”
1961- Faron Young’s “Hello Walls”
1985- Merle Haggard’s “Natural High”

Listen to them all below…

CD Reviews- Sarah Darling- Every Monday Morning

The Background
From the moment Black River first saw 25-year-old Sarah in a showcase, the label knew it had discovered someone special. Jimmy Nichols' experience as an A-list studio keyboardist (and Faith Hill's band leader) gave him a unique perspective on talent. But more importantly, signing with the label was like coming home for Sarah. "Black River seemed like family to me right away, and I'd never felt that before in Nashville," she explains. "Then when Jimmy and I went into the studio to start recording my album, it was almost magical. He has such an amazing ear, and I learned so much working with him. Jimmy pushed me to the next level as an artist, and showed me it's not how pretty you can sing, it's what you feel inside when you sing. And how you make other people feel when they listen to you. He truly brought out the best in each of the songs. The whole process was unbelievable for me." Sarah's debut CD, titled Every Monday Morning, comes from Sarah's regular rain-or-shine Monday morning writing sessions with Jeff Dayton, and each of the songs reflects a very personal side of her life.

The Review
You may not have heard Sarah Darling’s music, but you definitely recognize her. Anyone semi-familiar with the Big & Rich music video “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” surely remember the mannequin that shares a back seat of a convertible Cadillac with Big Kenny that shocks everyone by coming “alive” at the end of the song. That mannequin was Sarah Darling. With her big blue eyes, she has won over several music video producers and been in several videos that have appeared across the CMT and GAC airwaves. It has given this artist a good insight into the country music business and made Darling fairly well-connected this early in her career. Darling will invariably be compared to Taylor Swift with her similar singing voice style and the fact that she’s a young female in Nashville doing her own songwriting. The fact that those songs often focuses on relationships only deepen that comparison. It’s not an unfair comparison, nor is it one with any real particular negative connotations. The music is a little more stripped down than some of the Swift orchestrations. The first single off the album, “Jack of Hearts” was written by Nashville songwriting stars Marc Beeson and Don Pfrimmer. It’s one of the more upbeat singles from the album. “Don’t Love Me,” written by Darling, is a smoky and bluesy tune that smolders with a funky groove that backs up a rock-solid vocal. My favorite tune off the album, however, is “Blue Guitar.” Utilizing an effective bass guitar, trailing steel guitar and stripped down percussion, this song tells about how an old guitar heals the wounds of broken loves. It recalls classic Opry torch ballads of yesterday while staying modern the entire time. My only complaint is that Every Monday Morning may not have an obvious hit single on it. And while that may be an unfortunate thing to say about an album (because there’s lots of highly ranked & critically successful albums that never have a hit), hearing additional songs from this talented artist may require some chart time for this little indie label. It’s a beautiful album that deserves some good karma and good publicity. It’s getting both from That Nashville Sound.

Sounds Like
A Cross Between Sarah McLachlan & Lee Ann Womack

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Jack of Hearts
Blue Guitar
I Never Do What I Should
Til’ The Truth Comes In
All You’ve Got

The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five

TNS History- #1’s On This Day In History

Today, we’re highlighting three #1’s on this date in history:
1952- Hank Thompson’s “The Wild Side Of Life”
1973- Johnny Rodriguez’s “You Always Come Back”
1976- Johnny Cash’s “One Piece At A Time”

Listen to them all below…

The Judds Open Up Temporary Museum

The Judds, one of country music's most awarded and beloved duos of our time, are the perfect example. Wynonna and Naomi Judd will pay homage to their fans and their illustrious career by transforming a vacant building - formerly occupied by Gray's Drug Store at 332 Main St in historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee - into a museum highlighting the 25th Anniversary of their career in music.

Opening Thursday, June 11th, through Sunday, June 14th, the museum hours will coincide with the CMA Music Fest (formerly known as "Fan Fair") which officially kicks off Wednesday. The museum will be open from 9am - 6pm on June 11 - 13 and noon - 4pm on June 14. Wynonna and Naomi will make a special appearance together to sign autographs from 1 - 3pm on Saturday, June 13th. Wristbands will be issued June 11th and 12th to secure a position in the autograph line Saturday afternoon.

The museum exhibits will include never-before-seen photographs, costumes, tour memorabilia, a unique fan photograph tribute and more. It will re-create The Judd's meteoric rise to stardom including their highly successful touring career and their cross- generational recording history for their fans.

New Roy Orbison Covers Album Includes Country's Own Carter Twins

A rock and roll pioneer with an unforgettable dynamic voice, Roy Orbison is being honored by some 35 new signed and unsigned artists who have recorded their rendition of Orbison classics and other songs on a brand new album- Roy Orbison- Under The Covers. In this way they carry forward his pioneering spirit and the indelible mark his five decades of music have made. From “Only The Lonely” and “Pretty Woman,” to “You Got It” and Roy’s Traveling Wilburys “You’re Not Alone Anymore,” Orbison’s songwriting was matched by his soulful and unique 5 octaveoperatic voice.

Country’s own new brotherly duo, The Carter Twins have contributed an acoustic version of “Claudette” that is currently the best-selling iTunes single off the album. Listen to the new single HERE…

Jamie O'Neal Releases New Single To Radio Today

Multiple Grammy nominee Jamie O'Neal will release "Soldier Comin' Home" to country radio today- Monday, June 8. The new single, penned by O'Neal, Roxie Dean and Patricia Ann Murphy and produced by husband Rodney Good (Phil Vassar, Joe Nichols, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings), is a soulful and compelling song that delivers the notion of living and loving like there's no tomorrow. A chance encounter with a military couple in an airport reminds the listener to cherish the one they love and the time they have been given to spend together. "In this unpredictable life, you never know what's going to happen," says O'Neal, "so grab the one you love, and hold on tight. That's what 'Soldier Comin' Home' means to me." "Soldier Comin' Home" comes on the heels of O'Neal's recent Top 40 hit, "Like a Woman," a song that resonated with women (and men) from all walks of life. The accompanying music video also became a fan-favorite, rapidly becoming a Top 5 video on "GAC Top 20 Country Countdown" and holding its own for seven consecutive weeks.

David Nail Gets Hitched

David Nail, whose new single "Red Light" is still churning up the radio charts, married fiancée Catherine Werne in Tennessee on Saturday.

He traveled to Werne's hometown of Memphis with her last fall to secretly ask her parents' permission.

"I think they both knew," Nail said. "(When Catherine left), I told them, 'I have no clue how or when I'm going to do this, I just know I'm old enough to know when something significant comes along, and I think your daughter is significant.' "

TNS Happy Birthday Wishes To Dean Martin

TNS wishes crooner Dean Martin a posthumous birthday wish. He would have been 92 today. While he is most celebrated for his pop music with the rest of the Rat Pack, he recorded two albums of country music on the Reprise label in the early 60’s and sang with Ricky Nelson in the John Wayne classic Rio Bravo in 1969. See that performance below…

Kate & Kacey's Video For Dreaming Love