"This is the future of traditional country music"

[Bob Carlucci]

in NY state...
I said these words to my wife when I brought her to a gig at the Cortland Country music park in cortland NY.. I play there with a traditional country band now several times a month.. Nothing but pure white heads anywhere you look.. lots of folks well up into their 80's.. Average age?.. probably about 70... VERY few young folks.. Once in a blue moon, you might see a 40 year old.. The tongue in cheek point I was making to her was that when these folks were gone, country music was finished in my neck of the woods.. I give kudos to the country music park and museum.. it is non profit,meticulously maintained, strictly wholesome and family oriented, run 100% by volunteers, and upholds traditional family values, as well as the traditional country music format.. We played this past thursday there at a "50's country hit parade" dinner/show for hundreds of seniors bussed in from all over NY.. SO well run.. Dancing allowed the first hour, as we played "regular" danceable classic country, then 1 1/2 hour dinner time, and then we donned our suits and played old stuff from 1950 to 1959.. No dancing allowed during our show.. Songs Like "I'll sail my ship alone/Slowly/ Shotgun Boogie/ I don't care/El Paso etc.. done in chronological order, and a brief bio f song ,artist, year, and what was going on in the world at the time.. Those seniors LOVED it.. All day long the old timers were shaking y hand telling me how good it was to once again see a steel guitar being used prominently.. As we greeted them outside after the show, as they headed home on the day tour charter busses, I was MOBBED by well wishing folks that simply adored my steel ... They were thrilled.. SO many of them knew exactly what it was I was playing, and how it was so needed... I was thrilled and humbled, and almost came to tears a few times.. It was SO wonderful to be appreciated again, after SO many years.. So yeah, that the future of what I do I guess.. 70 to 80, and fading.. However, when they go so do I.. Meanwhile, as of right now, I have a gig where people once again love and appreciate what i am doing.. Just yesterday [sunday] after I sang and played 6 string on "Act Naturally" and old timer pointed at me, as he was leaving the dance floor with his lovely wife and said "way to go Buck". No big money, but people love what I am doing again as a musician... Just like they did 35 years ago..

So I am old so what, who cares... I really don't miss the rock clubs, or the young folks, not even a little.. They never even KNEW what the instrument I was playing was called.. on the 3 songs i played it on... Now I get to rip into the opening riff of "Under Your spell again" several times a week!.. Can you imagine? Back to my roots where I belong.. So if the old country has no future, neither do I..... bob

[David Mills]

Hey Bob Im new to the forum and a buddy of mine told me to look you up and here I see this post ha ha. I couldnt agree more country music is changing in a bad way and has been for awhile! Im 24 and love the older music all of it and just recently picked up the pedal steel(been playin 6 string for about 12 years). But I saw this and wanted to say hey and Introduce myself, Im playin in a group with Rod Kithcart and he told me he used to play with ya out there and to look ya up and say hey for him!

[Brett Lanier]

Sturgill Simpson "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music"
He'll be on Letterman tonight.

[Bob Carlucci]

thanks David.. enjoyed your reply very much! Yes my dear old buddy Rod was a great friend, but was always a crappy bass player, lousy singer, and his wife always liked me better than him... Tell him I miss him and cherish
all the great years we had together in Silverado... Also tell him I still gig with Dean several times a year!... bob

[Jack Hanson]

Just yesterday [sunday] after I sang and played 6 string on "Act Naturally" and old timer pointed at me, as he was leaving the dance floor with his lovely wife and said "way to go Buck".

In about ten years it'll probably be "way to go Ringo." And there will be no steel guitar.

Thanks for the story, Bob. Sounds like a gig many of us would love to have.

[David Mills]

Ha Ha Ha will do Bob glad i saw this and got in touch I know he will be too ha ha. And in response to Brett that is one GREAT album Im actually sittin here right now at my steel tryin to learn some of those tunes!!! Good to hear a few new guys out there still doin the good music. Also check out Whitey Morgan and the 78s, I believe his steel player Brett is a forum member here, Im goin to see em here in Lake Elsinore where i live next month! They do some good ole style country too! There out there just not "mainstream" unfortunately though they should be!!!

[Chris Templeton]

Bob, That's great you found a situation to play the music you love, with instruments you love too.

[Bud Angelotti]

It's interesting how this works, or doesn't work.
Here in NJ, old country means the 80's or 90's. Whats pretty big is "old time & bluegrass music". There are "jams" & such, don't interest me much, but it's fun once in awhile. I think it's fairly popular, at least around here because, well, it's fairly easy to learn a guitar or banjo and play that sort of acoustic music. Then there are pockets. Way down south jersey, which is actually below the Mason Dixon line, there is more "old fashioned country music", borrowed heavily from the 50's & 60's. There is an actual rodeo down there. Geographics play a hugh part in this. If you look at a map, the east end of the PA Tpk crosses the Delaware river & picks up the NJ Tpk. There is a major truckstop there, in Bordentown NJ. Used to be a bunch a "real" country clubs, cheap motels and such, largely gone. That truckstop is about the only place in NJ you can get actual biscuits & gravy. I did not get really exposed to "real" country music until I lived in Colorado some years ago. Things change. people come & go. Thats life. Keep pickin'.

[Bob Carlucci]

Bud.. I know your area well.. I lived there for 37 years! My entire family still lives there, and I have a sister thats your neighbor[well almost] in east Windsor.. NJ used to be really good with a LOT of country music and a lot of venues to play it.. For many years I was a country rock guy playing New Riders/Dead/PPL/Poco etc, and we worked a LOT.. Every night of the week at times.. Even long after the country rock faded I worked 4 times sometimes 5 times a week, doing a mix of commercial country, and classic country stuff and some country rock.. In the late 80's things started to change rapidly.. Clubs and venues simply died a fast and tragic death in NJ, and from what they tell me, live music is dead for all practical purposes.. I did well there for many years... Played northern and central NJ, the shore and well into southern NJ, NY city and Eastern Pa as well.. Gigs were not a problem.. I guess they are now... Jersey demographics have REALLY changed.. I barely even recognize my home state anymore... bob

[Joseph Napolitano]

Decent amount of gigs at the Jersey Shore for duos and trios but you can't play all country. Not that many for full bands.I remember back in the 70s and early 80s when bands like Cowtown, Kinderhook, Southern Cross were working almost every night, but that was a long time ago.

[Bud Angelotti]

Hey Bob - Didja ever play at the Red Carpet lounge in Trenton? Faron Young among others played there. It was a real dive but boy, they had the country acts that came thru the northeast.
I played bass there once, backing up an "Elvis" guy who was fantastic, even though he musta weighed about 400 lbs. No kidding. This guy sat in a folding chair and nailed it. That place is long gone as is the White Horse bowling Academy/Frontier room in bordentown. They all played there, but I was too young. Check this out >> http://www.johnny-cash-infocenter.com/c ... 1964-05-29
I heard a story a few years ago. See, there was this family about 2 blocks away, the Yakaleviches. They were like the wild bunch. The kids where wild, you know what I mean. So the story goes, Mr.Yakaleviches, the father was a regular at the Frontier Room. Now the groups back then would travel with a bunch of artists & pick up part of their band in the town they happened to be in. One night, or rather morning, Mr.Yakalevich brought the whole band entourage back to the house on Smithfield Ave., 3 blocks over from us. Jerome, one of the kids, told me they brought out the barbecue grill & partied. These where the days before vans. They had camper trailers & pickups with caps & station wagons. So, according to jerome, Willy N. passed out on the back porch, Patsy was there and a bunch of others. I have this picture in my minds eye of a semi-fictional story that takes place in the Yakaleviches backyard, where the old country stars show up at like 3 in the AM & just keep going, talking about life & stuff. Anyway i'm rambling. cheers!

[Richard Lester]

Hi Bob,
I can relate to what you are saying as I,too, entertain for senior audiences.
They are so appreciative and love the old songs we do. I recently played at an outdoor event where we had a mixed crowd, ages ranged from 30-75+ and they all loved the old songs we played. Everyone was so appreciative and the compliments were many. Reminds me of the early days,[60s era], when I began playing for audiences. I'll continue to play as long as I'm able and have an audience to play for. Remember the old saying, "the older the violin, the sweeter the music".

[Bob Carlucci]

Hi Bob,
I can relate to what you are saying as I,too, entertain for senior audiences.
They are so appreciative and love the old songs we do. I recently played at an outdoor event where we had a mixed crowd, ages ranged from 30-75+ and they all loved the old songs we played. Everyone was so appreciative and the compliments were many. Reminds me of the early days,[60s era], when I began playing for audiences. I'll continue to play as long as I'm able and have an audience to play for. Remember the old saying, "the older the violin, the sweeter the music".

Richard.. the key word we both used is "appreciative"., and yes it did remind me of the old days as well.. I had simply forgotten.. I have played for hundreds of young crowds that loved the bands I was in, and loved the music , but that was more of a rock band type thing when I played almost no steel at all, just guitar through screaming overdriven tube amps... Its been a while since anyone shook my hand and told me how much they loved the steel... It was really nice...

"as long as I'm able and have an audience to play for" Yep, I can dig that.. Inevitability visits each of us musicians one day, but for now we're still playing, still relevant in what we are doing on a local level and lets hope its a good long run..
I wish the same for all steel players everywhere.. Just a situation that works for them and that brings a smile to the face of the listeners.. bob

[Jack Stanton]

Bud,
I played the Red Carpet many times, as well as the White Horse Lounge not far down the road in Trenton.
The White Horse had a lot of name acts, including Waylon & Willie on the Outlaw tour, who never got off the bus. Was that Elvis guy Charlie Harmer?
Bob, your assessment of the NJ, NY, PA, etc. music scene is right on the money. You could play 5-6 nights a week and not travel more than an hour. Now a days it's barely every weekend.

[Bud Angelotti]

Charlie Harmer - Might've been his name. It was about 1981 so I just don't remember.

[Joe Casey]

Country Music can only die when nobody cares. This quote to me from the late Bill Carlilse at home party in the late eighties.

[John De Maille]

Hey Bob,
You're absolutely right about the music scene. I played the Cortland country music park in June and they were all very senior citizens. But, they loved the music. In fact, they must have a big affection for steel guitar because I got the same response from them.
The band played at Hardyston, NJ after that and the scene was the same. They were all very appreciative senior folk and happy to hear a country band. It seems that way in all the places we play. They're all senior citizens, just like me. In reality, I don't really care. As long as I can keep playing and entertain folks is good enough for me. I know someday it'll all come to an end, but, I'm going to enjoy this for as long as it lasts.

[Doug Beaumier]

John, I have the same experience nowadays. I play mostly for older audiences, social clubs, town concerts, etc., and they love the Classic Country that we play. It's all early gigs: 7pm - 10, 6pm -8. I haven't played a 9 to 1 bar gig in years! We did that 7 nights a week back in the day.
It funny that back in the 80's a lot of us were rejecting classic (50s and 60s) country and going for "new country" (new at that time). And now it's come full circle... back to Hank, Johnny, Ray, and Patsy, and the people love it.

[Barry Blackwood]

And to think tinnitus almost sent you into early retirement not all that long ago.. You are the poster child for perseverance. Good on you, Bob!

[Alan Brookes]

No musical style ever dies. Styles just go into and out of favor. Every musical style that has ever existed is still played by someone somewhere. Country music will never die.

[Damir Besic]

Bob, 15 years ago I moved to US from across the ocean, to play some real country music, I thought I was tired of the European knock off country bands, but now I wish I haven't done that, I played more real country music around Europe, than I ever did here... I have never played more rock songs until I started playing around Honky Tonks in US .... I have not played a live gig in 6 or 7 years, I'd rather drive a bus or work at a Kroger, than having drums and electric guitars blasting into my ears the whole night long... the last gig I had down town Nashville on Broadway, was at Tootsies , with the "Third Wheel" "country" band, after 4 hours of musical abuse, and sitting between a drummer and lead guitarist, I got a real headache, after the gig they told me, they didn't need me any longer because they were looking to hire a fiddle player, but they said, I could come and sit in any time I want, I said "thanks, but no thanks", packed my $hit, and went home, haven't played down town ever since...and don't care if I never play there again... I just went down town couple of weeks ago with a buddy of mine, and we were at "Honky Tonk Central" on Broadway, I have not heard anything worth even talking about, from the band that was playing that night... ridiculous ... I think I had enough o Nashville's "country music" for the next 7 years...

[Bob Carlucci]

And to think tinnitus almost sent you into early retirement not all that long ago.. You are the poster child for perseverance. Good on you, Bob!

Its as loud as ever Barry.. maybe louder.. However after a while, {a LONG while, its been 3 years], you start to adjust.. I use ear plugs now to prevent any further damage.. If I weren't such a damn blockhead, I would have used the plugs BEFORE I came down with screaming loud tinnitus, not after.. Thanks kindly for the supportive words,... bob

[Larry Behm]

My story is the same, VFW full of 75-90 year olds who love old country and dance their butts off. Buck and Merle and Ray Price songs fill the set list along with some old WWII ballads. Got to love it while we still can, in ten more years it will be Kenney and Keith.

Jesus come and get me, I think I have had enough.

[Barry Blackwood]

Buck and Merle and Ray Price songs fill the set list along with some old WWII ballads.

Wow - what would those be? I'd love this gig.

[Robert Harper]

I have attend serval Blugrass shows. Many usually a majority are also gray or is that grayish blue