Taking Country Music Back!!!

Kenny Burford · From: Independence, Missouri USA

After reading many of the fine comments about Mr. Spider Wilson and the overall direction country music has taken in the past couple of decades I would like to bring up a couple of points.

I believe that traditional country is in better condition than ever, believe it or not. My youngest son, who is 27, has Johnny Cash's song "Ring of Fire," for the ring tone on his cell phone and he and all of his friends think Cash, Hag and Jones are great.

In my opinion the glass is half-full for traditional country artists. Not many great recording being made by the major recording industry and all of the promoters are out chasing the flavor of the day.

You want to hear some great country music being recorded right now listen to what Bobby Flores is doing on Yellow Rose Records, or Dale Watson and Billy Joe Shaver those guys are kickin’. As for Branson, Nashville and the main stream music industry they are doing us a favor by steering away from traditional country music, we need to concentrate our efforts on developing our own listeners again.

Some of our favorite songs never sold over 50,000 copies the year they were on the radio and that is not an unobtainable amount of sales. I have an acquaintance who owns an Indie label on the west coast and he has one project, which he has sold over 235,000 copies of over the past 30 years. It is my understanding the Ricky Skaggs’ Indie album Bluegrass Rules sold over 200,000 units in its first one or two years.

I think we would all be in better shape to look around at the talent around us and say how can I turn this into an advantage?

OK, now I have opened the door, so you are free to take your shots at me.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Kenny,your right about some of the kids[I'm 67 so anyone under 30 is a kid to me]these days loving the classic country music.I toured last year with a young guy [25] we played every thing from Jimmy Rodgers,Hank Sr,Webb,Faron,Earnest,[with a heavy rock-a-billy style,]He has a great new CD out thats getting a lot of airplay on the alt.stations.It's all orignal stuff,the CD is called [50 Years To Late]I'm on one cut,also Johnny Hiland,Andy Gibson,Shelton Williams[Hank the Third]You can check him out if you care to at wwwjoeyallcorn.com,Anyway back to the young folks,We played mostly rock,or punk rock clubs in maybe 6 or 7 states last year,and they LOVED it.Being an old geezer it freaked me out to have these kids with spiked green hair,with nose,lip,and ear rings going nuts over Hank Sr.,Webb,Faron,Johnny Cash,we also did some Wayne Hancock and Robbie Fulks and they loved it.Sometimes we would get e-mails from these kids saying after they saw us,they went and bought CD's by Cash,Webb,or Hank.The thing of it is they need to be exposed to this music at live shows by guys like Joey,Dale Watson [which IMO]is the absolute best we have today,Robbie Fulks,and Wayne Hancock,That's the only way the younger crowd will hear it,They sure as hell won't here it on GAC[Great American Crap] or on FM radio.

Kenny Burford · From: Independence, Missouri USA

I experienced the same thing a couple of years ago when I was playing with some younger guys. It was blast and they really got into the classic country stuff, which suited me just fine.

I probably stated this on the Form before, but 5 or 6 years ago I met a young trio doing Christain music that sold 10,000 CDs in three months. Lets face it that is a decent amount of sales for one recording project if you are an Indie artist.

[This message was edited by Kenny Burford on 27 December 2006 at 09:25 PM.]

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

We're in an interesting time where the internet is changing the way we find out about music and the way we get it. We no longer have to wait on GAC, CMT or your local mainstream country radio station to play something you like. Chances are, you can find something you like right away and download it.

Even XM radio is feeding their customers a steady diet of music much like your local radio station but they have access to a wider variety of song titles but a lot of titles dosen't excatly mean a lot of great music, tons of music played on XM and the such is not highly researched...but again, sometimes you have to wait to get to something you really like.

Enter the internet...a great way to find out about new music and classics. You can download only the songs you like into your computer or an iPod type device then listen whenever you have time. You get to control your choices in place of someone or something telling you when you can.

There are more and more new indy labels opening that can move much quicker than the standard Nashville major label. Some artist have opened their own labels including Neal McCoy, Toby Keith, Tracy lawrence, Tim McGraw and I'm sure there are more wanting to do the same thing. it's good business for those with a fan base. These indy labels also are more internet driven trying to get the music out to the consumer as quickly as their able.

So, we are entering an aera where we don't have to be force fed music at all, we can do our own research and discover tunes and artist we like...no matter what type of music each person is wanting.

Look at "Steel On The Web" on the forum, I'm amazed everyday at some of the postings, not only the music but video as well. Of course, you have to make an effort to search for websites you like that have the music you want but your time is rewarded with whatever you decide "great music". One man's lemon is another man's lemonade...It's your choice.

I've only touched the surface on a couple of items and this is strictly my view and I don't know if it's right or wrong...this is only to offer a viewpoint for friendly discussions.

Ron Sodos · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

When the older country radio station here in Albuquerque went off the air last year I wentr out and bought XMradio. They have 2 different stations that play nothing but real country. Bobby Flores to Ernest Tubb and everything else that is real country. I am in country heaven now. I am happy never having to hear Keith Urban or Rascall Flatts ever again. Give me Heather Myles Dale Watson, Justin Trevino or Darrell MCoy anytime......

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

My thanks to all of you who keep performing and supporting your favorete music.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Thank YOU Janice for your support of the steelguitar!!!

Jody Cameron · From: Angleton, TX,, USA

How refreshing to see a positive comment like this about a subject that usually fosters negative thoughts and reactions among steelers.

Thanks for posting this comment, and I agree that there is and always will be a market share for traditional music. My 16 yr. old daughter loves Loretta Lynn, but she also likes The Killers as well!

JC

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

Speaking of Classic Country I just found out that that the live 365 station I support RAM RADIO is number 1 in the classic country genre

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