The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 3:11 pm**

Is it still important for country singers to remain in the closet in order to keep there fan base ?

Its interesting that in the rock,pop, jazz and classical scene nobody cares at all anymore. I'm not sure about the hip hop scene.

If you found out that a country singer was gay would it affect how how much you like there music ?

Bob

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 3:18 pm**

I suppose it would depend on how gay they are. Or..

Gay from What? -You Know who you Are-

If getting really drunk and forgetting what happened counts I'd venture to say that there are a long list of 'em already.

Least that's what I've been told.

Me?

One Crazy summer in Cub Scouts 40 years ago hardly qualifies.

If I have to "come out" I'm going to be dragging a lot of people with me. -Anonymous Country Star-

Why would a person wonder that anyhow Bob?

(Just kidding)

Eric "Damn Sure I Ain't" West.

And it's NOT a Silly Topic.[This message was edited by Eric West on 07 January 2004 at 03:24 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 3:31 pm**

To "keep" their fan base?
No.

To "maximize" their fan base?
Yes.

Country, or otherwise.

Everything we do (even just talking, and expressing our personal views here on the "Forum"), has it's price. (Even if it's giving away money!) If you do something, anything, publicly...someone else will be upset. That's not just "human nature", that's "Nature", period.

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 3:56 pm**

Look at what happened to K.D.Lang when she got to Nashevil. She went home and never came back. Charlie Pride survived being black. I love what Charlie said on an awards show once. He was applauding his producer for not being disuaded by, as he put it: The pigmentation situation.

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 4:12 pm**

As per Charlie.......a news story back when he first achieved "stardom", was that his managers were so anxious about whether a black country singer would be accepted, that they declined any personal appearances for Charlie until his first hit was way up in the charts! Things have sure changed since those early days!
www.genejones.com

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 4:26 pm**

Interesting aside on the "black thing" Charlie Pride came up the HARD WAY in the Lead Smelter in East Helena, and fought people daily that flat out hated him. Word was, he seldom lost. If his skin was nothing else, it was/is THICK.

Ray Charles did as well as he wanted to. The Pointer Sisters made a good run at it with "Walking out the Door" ( or whatever it was) in the late 70s.

I'm waiting for a black, possibly gay, female to walk in and "Clean House". I'd LOVE to see it.

It's been a LONG time coming, but the backlash on the "Old Nashville Machine" is going to get bigger, the longer it takes.

Falls right in with one of my "listed hobbies"...

BTW Dolly dod a GREAT Co-Interview with Melissa Ethridge on one of the channels and did a concert with her. Sexuality WAS discussed, and it was a little "uneasy". I thought Dolly did just fine while Melissa tried to conceal her drooling..

I was wondering how somebody that sings as well as Dolly could stand to be in the same room let alone stage with somebody that sings more like a Frog.

That was all I marvelled at.

Money, I guess....

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 07 January 2004 at 06:27 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 4:37 pm**

Nope. Style.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 07 January 2004 at 04:38 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 5:55 pm**

People these days who are gay are more and more accepted. I've known a few.

I suppose somewhere there may be a gay cowboy singer.

But he ain't invited to my campfire.

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 6:59 pm**

Charlie Pride is an interesting guy -- not only did he overcome the "racial" issue, but he has also overcome bi-polar disorder (a.k.a. manic depression).

Moreover, music was more or less a "fallback" career for him. Before finally deciding to pursue music full time, and aside from a two-year stint in the Army, he had devoted nearly his entire life to becoming a major league baseball player by playing on various farm teams from about the age of 14. [This message was edited by Tom Olson on 07 January 2004 at 07:00 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 7:41 pm**

My gut tells me that country fans want their male singers manly and their girl singers strong and assertive, yet girly.
Still, given the climate we live in, a "coming out of the closet" announcement probably wouldn't shock the young, liberal music buyers all that much and thus hurt an artists career.
They've seen too much to be shocked now.
Personally, I've purchased CD's by artist X and artist Y but only because I liked some of the selections.
I'd would have preferred to NOT know that Ms. X might be a rug muncher and Mr. Y might go both ways because it does color my opinion of them.
If I knew beforehand that an artist was gay and I knew that by buying their CD's I was funding a militant gay agenda or legislation that they were sponsoring, I would definitely AVOID purchasing their product.[This message was edited by David Cobb on 07 January 2004 at 07:49 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 8:05 pm**

charlie also overcame theawfulless issue. i like randy travis[This message was edited by ebb on 07 January 2004 at 08:07 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 8:50 pm**

Damn I Miss Jimmy Day. I can only imagine what he'd have to say.

I know it's definitely Off Topic, but does anybody else miss his chronic unfettered "heretical" sense of humor?

Well behaved decorum is a trifle over rated. (So is hypersensitive, unsolicited advocacy.)

Jimmy I miss you, though meeting you only once, I hardly knew ye, as they say.....

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 07 January 2004 at 10:14 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 9:15 pm**

Purchasing music from people who are gay is funding militant gay agenda?????? Not invited to my campfire? Jiminy.... well people are certainly entitled to opinions no matter how hateful and ignorant they may be I suppose. Personally I think there's enough anger and hate in the world as it is to discourage adding any more. Especially since we (musicians) are already on a small enough team, why be even more divisive? But to each his own. And just what does sexual orientation have to do with creating music, or anything, for that matter? is that fact that one may be heterosexual become the overriding factor and meaning in everything one does? And if not then why a double standard? I know this rubs against the grain of many people but please just try to consider the rewards of acceptance and diversity and, yes, peace and love.

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 9:36 pm**

Who cares about the artist's personal life? (As long as there is no abusive behavior like rape of child molestation involved.)

The only important thing is whether or not the music is worthwhile.

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 9:50 pm**

My Point exactly.

<:0)

EJL

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 9:52 pm**

Eric M. -- I see your point. But, I don't think it's really a matter of hate and/or anger. I think it's more a matter of nature. For example, it's natural that most people would be completely revolted at the thought of eating one's own excrement. Similarly, it's natural that many, if not most, people are completely revolted by homosexuality. I don't think it matters if one claims that eating his own excrement (or being a homosexual) is genetically engrained -- it's still naturally revolting to a great many people.

IMHO, the artists themselves are the ones who generally choose to make an issue of his/her own homosexuality, or bi-sexuality when they could choose to simply not talk about it. At least I believe that's been the case regarding all of the handful of artists that I have heard who are homosexual/bi-sexual.

If, as you've mentioned, sexual orientation is not important to the music, and given the fact that the issue is known to be so controversial, then why would an artis want to bring it up? The only reason I can think of is that they want to use it to bring attention to themselves and that just makes it doubly revolting. [This message was edited by Tom Olson on 07 January 2004 at 09:53 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 10:11 pm**

Looks like it's time for a "Who's Gay Here" topic in the Steel Players section.

I've got my suspicions..

Maybe "Steel Players Who Eat Things Twice"....

Hmm.

Now where did I put that sandwich...

EJL

ROTFLMMFAO SIJCD

I'm sure.[This message was edited by Eric West on 07 January 2004 at 10:22 PM.]

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 10:32 pm**

I want to amend my post because after doing some BS'ing down at the local watering hole we came up with a bunch of mainstream pop culture guys that are in the closet. Heck, Sigfried and Roy say they are straight. I guess its because of there fan base.

Bob

Posted: **7 Jan 2004 11:38 pm**

Well I guess the Stone Age Can't Last Forever.

Anybody got any "Announcements" to make?

Hmmm?

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 08 January 2004 at 12:14 AM.]

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 1:15 am**

it's the Musik that counts for me
what some one choses to live is on him
ain't none of my biz.....ness
unless he starts stickin'it in my face

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 08 January 2004 at 02:21 AM.]

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 2:18 am**

The Pointer Sisters made a good run at it with "Walking out the Door" ( or whatever it was) in the late 70s.

Killer of a song! It's called Fairy Tales
I recorded the Oprah interview with Dolly, Shania, Melissa (re-run)last week. Dolly and Shania - Incredible! Dolly and Melissa? They sounded ok. But watching them on stage -just the two of them- well, can't explain it. But my dog, Brandi and I sat in the big recliner, both looking like the RCA Dog tilting our heads from side to side. Really weird.

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 2:29 am**

Donna, Many things I can get the grasp of. Bill Hankey lead me halfway through "Quantum Physics", I went through "Origin of The Species" without a glitch, and Occaisonally I read upside down for a new perspective on things.

For the LIFE OF ME I can't understand why , to a dog EVERY one of them tilts their head sideways when they don't understand something.

Does it make it look different so they see a "key" or something? Maybe a different "pattern". Why do they ALL do it? They don't talk. They didn't ALL see tht RCA label.

(..... tilts head sideways.....)

OH! I Get it!..

Like I said it's about time for a black woman to come on the scene and make it happen. Maybe even a black woman steel player that sings and plays SHUFFLES like Bobbe Seymore!

Who knows..

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 08 January 2004 at 02:31 AM.]

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 2:30 am**

I don't know about the "who's gay?" topic. I'd rather see something like:
Steel players and their dogs; what does THAT say about them? And do they resemble their pets?
Example:
Randy Beaver has a chocolate lab. That didn't surprise me.

But, imagine my big burley husband Tommy with a Yorki in his lap? There's a gentle giant in him.

How about John Floyd? I imagine him with a "hunting dog" named Old Blue.

Tony Davis? How about a mischievous Golden Retriever who brings all kinds of samplings back to the house after an afternoon run.

Jim Cohen - A Border Collie. He rounds people up - brings them together. Never bites, but gives the "evil eye" and intimidates through crossword puzzles.
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_2_22.gif' border=0></a>
Just a thought.
[This message was edited by Donna Dodd on 08 January 2004 at 02:37 AM.]

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 2:52 am**

Well, Dog Number 2 Shadow

Dog Number 12

William Tecumseh Sherman ( I know Steve..)

Plus a black Lab and a Little black Pom.

Hard to say how many more.

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 08 January 2004 at 02:54 AM.]

Posted: **8 Jan 2004 3:20 am**

Gay artists : at this point : don't give a flying fig leaf what they do or say.
So they are out, so what.
It is not the fall of civilization IMHO.

I admire anyone who can be honest with themselves and the world in spite of forcefull and agressive aprobation from some out there.

Is it an agenda not to want to be persecuted daily for being who you are?

Charlie Pride never had a choice of pigmentaion, but some people think all gays do have a choice. In some cases it was a choice of a preference and in many others choice wasn't even an issue.

If you don't want to be other than normal fine,
if you are already other than normal, why be forced to lie about it if you don't want to.

I will buy an artists work if it is good and for no other reason. I suspect we buy a lot of stuff from people in the closet, and don't care because it isn't any issue.
But make it an issue and some get bent out of shape.
If as a business decision and aritist stays in the closet that is also valid. But not as honest.

I have worked in several fields of endevour; music, video, theater, performance art and others,
with both in and out people.
All treated me with respect ad visa versa, and all were people I trusted not to cause me any grief.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 08 January 2004 at 03:41 AM.]

The Steel Guitar Forum

gay country singers ?

gay country singers ?