Ken Burns' "Country Music" on PBS

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Last night the long anticipated Ken Burns' multi part special  "Country Music Episode 1' premiered on Public Television

It was in a word outstanding

Last night concentrated on the years 1923 with special emphasis to the beginnings of the "Grand Ol Opry" on WSM in Nashville, and how the country music recording business first started with an innovative exec at RCA Victor Records, who had the foresight and good business sense to go to Bristol, Tennessee, and record primarily The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Much of the first two hours was spent on the impact the Carters and Rodgers had, and everything that has followed since is attributable to them.

Tonight Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys will be covered, and I hope Bob is given the same amount of in depth coverage.

Burns has knocked another one out of the part. I highly recommend the show to all here. Even if you don't like country, you are in for a hell of a history lesson

[deadwoodgultch]

Thanks, Chuck.

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Hope you all are enjoying the Burns' film so far.

Tomorrow night we will see Patsy Cline. I remember seeing Patsy when she sang with Jimmy Dean and the Texas Wildcats when the played Turner's Arena in DC. They were also on a morning TV show on WTOP in DC, and I would watch them before going off to school. That of course was before either of them became famous. Turners was a few blocks from the school Chris Brown and  I both attended (at different times) in DC before moving to Maryland, and we would sometimes go there after school to watch them practice. I was kicked out. I think Chris graduated.

Good to see country music historian Eddie Stubbs as well. He has a DC connection as well.

One disappointing aspect of their presentation on Wills on Monday, was they nearly completely glossed over the contribution that Texicans made to Western Swing. They gave a nod to the barrio but not much more. Spanish Two Step and San Antonio Rose dip into the Texas/Mexican culture deeply, and while they are not two of Wills' most well known "La Goldendrina", and "Little Star of Heaven" are direct lifts from the Mexican-American culture of south Texas.

Bob Wills is still the King

[dave]

Eddie Stubbs still emces the Opry. Sue and I have been a couple of times in the last few years and he does the Ernest Tubb and Porter Wagoner wave for applause for all acts. When I first saw the Opry in 1967, Martha White Flower was the main sponsor and Hank "The Singing Ranger" was the big star! "I'm Moving On" was his greatest hit and a really good song.

My greatest thrill at an Opry Show was seeing and hearing Kathy Mattea sing "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" but "Where've You Been" is very poignant and good. Sue's favorite is Josh Turner but I don't know why?

Been very pleased with the 2 episodes so far and looking foward to the rest
Regards
Dave