The Bitter Inn: Not The Bitter End
James E. Akenson Life can bring some unexpected experiences. The passing of a former neighbor resulted in my learning something new about the history of our small city and its connection to Country Music. After the passing of former neighbor Stan Huff, the family wanted to have a social event to honor Stan’s memory with […]
Doing Time For Patsy Cline: Or Arty Prep Perhaps
James E. Akenson You never know. Events and relationships combine to make twists and turns that couldn’t be anticipated when they first occur. My friend and fellow educator Jerry Barthelemy…a.k.a. Jerry B… retired from teaching. His side gig was Your Rockabilly DJ From Algood, Tennessee. It also meant that he collected thousands…yes, literally thousands….of records. I […]
Country Isn’t Dead Yet: Cullen McAlpin Proves It
James E. Akenson Over the years there has been a Hee Haw like despair regarding Country Music. It’s past was golden. The current state worthy of despair. The future could only be traumatic. Thus…”gloom, despair, agony on me. Deep dark depression excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all.” […]
Using Science to Explain Dolly Parton’s Appeal
Judy Eaton Dolly Parton is one of those rare celebrities who is almost universally loved and respected. How can we explain this enduring popularity, from her early days as the “girl singer” on Porter Wagoner’s show to her more recent foray into Covid vaccines and rock and roll? Obviously there is no one thing that […]
Linnell Gentry: A Country Music Encyclopedic Mind
James E. Akenson What if you compiled one of the first Country Music encyclopedias that today isn’t known to lots of scholars, journalists, and serious fans? Even in the afterlife you would probably want your hard work to be remembered and frequently referenced. Just how many scholars and fans of Country Music recognize the […]
Gordon Lightfoot
Andrew Smith Canadian Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023) not only was a performer in his own right, but he also influenced other recognised country music artists like Mac Wiseman and George Hamilton IV, both of whom recorded whole albums dedicated to his music. Bear Family have done Lightfoot justice by releasing this album, which should appeal […]
Dolly Parton: Independent Study!?
James Akenson Being a professor ain’t always easy. People think we’re lazy and couldn’t hold a ‘real’ job if our life depended on it. It ‘don’t matter ‘one eye-oh-tuh’ what you think. I try to work hard. I want folks to think “I done good.” For all my years at Tennessee Tech University www.tntech.edu […]
Carl and Pearl Butler
Andrew Smith Crying My Heart Out Over You This CD was released by Bear Family in 1993, and I’ve had it since then, but after listening to it again, I decided it warrants a review, especially since Bear is now selling it at a bargain price. For hardcore, intense honky-tonk country music, Carl (1927-1992) and […]
Phoebe White: Country Music Through and Through
James Akenson Folks are always looking for The Next Big Thing in Country Music. Some folks are looking to SAVE Country Music. Despair and anxiety about the state of Country Music is not at all new. The despair over Bro Country with the likes of Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line, the lack of […]
The Hank Williams Connection
Andrew Smith This single, 33-track CD comprises versions of Hank Williams songs by other artists, ranging from hard-core country to rockabilly and popular (including big-band) music. Its release in late 2023 marked the centenary of Hank’s birth (on September 17, 1923) and, arguably, close to the anniversary of his death, purportedly on January 1, 1953. […]