Gone Country

GONE COUNTRY

Country Music at Home in New England

By Bryanna Fucci

“After half a century of condescension, neglect and even ridicule, country in all its guises— bluegrass, heart songs, western ballads, rural blues, delta white soul, Memphis honky‐tonk and of course the familiar pop hybrid known as the Nashville Sound—is in the midst of an astronomic growth and gives no signs of stopping.”

‐Time Magazine

The music blasts out of the speakers, the volume still up from his ride to work. There is a little static coming through the speakers. He plays with the tuner on the after market, self installed stereo to get it just right. The station is tuned to CAT Country 98.1, WCTK.

“Best music in Rhode Island,” says Lee. “I’ve lived in this state for three years and haven’t listened to anything else.” The music starts to come in clear. Sitting halfway on the front seat of his car, he perks up with a slight grin on his face as he recognizes the song and turns it up.

“The devil went down to Georgia

He was lookin' for a soul to steal

He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind

And he was willin' to make a deal,” 1

After a few lines he begins to sing along:

“When he came across this young man

Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.

And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump

And said, boy, let me tell you what”

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Charlie Daniels,” he says. “I used to sing this song every time it came on the radio when I was in the car with my mom. I remember screaming it at the top of my lungs because it was the only time she would let me cuss.”

“Johnny you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.

'Cos hells broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals it hard.

And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold.

But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.”

1 http://www.charliedaniels.com/lyrics/devil.html

It’s a Friday night at Ruby Tuesday in Middletown, RI and Everette Lee McIntire III, a slender, 6 foot tall, thirty- three year-old man takes a few more puffs of his Marlboro Red before he heads back inside to clean the beer bottles and plates from a couple who just left the bar. It’s a brisk night in late September and one can feel the fall air moving in.

“This New England weather, it’s crazy,” says Lee. “To think it was 70 degrees out today.” He takes one more puff of the cigarette and puts it out on the cool cement. He heads inside whistling the song he had just heard.

The glasses on his face – held together by duct taped – suit his personality along with his boyish gelled-up haircut. His uniform is all black; black shirt, black pants, black belt and black shoes, not a color that seems to fit the happy, outgoing bartender. He continues to whistle, interrupted only by the entrance of a new guest to the bar.

“Hello Darlin’, how are you tonight? My name is Lee. What can I get for you?” He says with a slight southern drawl.

The bar at Ruby Tuesday is a good size. On the right, there are booths lining the walls and the bar opposite them with about 15 yellow leather bar stools waiting to be filled. Lee, as everyone calls him, has been working at

Ruby Tuesday for nine months as a server and a bartender.

Born in Marietta, Ga., Everette Lee McIntyre is a true southern boy. The son of a naval officer, he moved around a lot as a child.

“Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina: name a southern state and I’ve probably lived in it.”

THE COUNTRYSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND

Country music in New England has had its struggles. The North has always thought it was better, smarter and stronger then the south. That has been true in some historical aspects, however, the stigma attached to country music which does root itself in the south, has slowly but surely been overcome in the north. It is no longer just the image of cowboy boots and cowboy hats. It is a phenomenon loved by young and old, the most fashion forward and the most successful business man. Whether New Englanders want to admit it or not, country music has become a

4 favorite music genre, almost as popular in the north as it is in the south. Today’s Country music is not your grandfather’s country anymore.

"The image that people had of a country performer until not too long ago was like Porter Wagoner -- a guy in his 60s who wears spangles and a highly tailored cowboy outfit. But country fans and even non-country fans have discovered that country performers look just like them." says Lloyd Werner, former head of sales and marketing for

Group W in an interview with Time Magazine2. Group W, the satellite communication company, was the first to acquire Country Music Television, or CMT in the early 90’s, which today has ultimately done for country music, was MTV did for pop.

One band from Western Massachusetts has been bringing Nashville to New England for over 17 years. It has taken time for the small four piece group to grow into the nationally known band “Cottonwood”. Throughout the last seventeen years, Cottonwood has performed from New England to Nashville and has shared the stage with

“Numerous Nashville Folks” from the great Willie Nelson to Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, LBT, Trisha Yearwood, Big

& Rich, Blackhawk and many more3. One of their most popular songs “I Think I’ll Let Nashville Come to Me” says a lot about New England and country music; you don’t need to be from the south to love it.

“Well I’ve never been to Nashville or sang on the Grand Ole Opry stage,

This voice has never left New England, but country keeps running through my veins.

Who says you gotta be from the south or pick on a porch in Tennessee?

This northern voice is just as happy, playing my guitar up here for all to see.

Cause I’m a city boy with no country roots. I couldn’t find Branson with a map.

I’m happy to be where I am; I think I’ll let Nashville come to me.”4

…………

2 Timemagazine.com

3 Cottonwoodfans.com

4 Cottonwodfans.com

The popularity of country music is continuously growing all over the country and there are numbers to prove it. Country music listening nationwide has remained steady for almost a decade. Over 77.3 million Americans listen to some form of country radio every week, a total of 42 percent of all radio listeners, according to the radio- ratings agency Arbitron, Inc.5 There are 2,642 radio stations that broadcast country music’s latest hits making it the most dominant form of radio in the United States. Country radio reaches 20 million more people a week than its closest competitor, adult contemporary. By 1993, country music radio had become the top rated format in fifty-five of the nation’s top 100 cities, including Baltimore, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Seattle, San Diego, and Washington D.C.

New York’s WYNY is the words largest country music radio station, reaches over 1 million listeners a day.6

Country music in New England alone is consistently gaining popularity and new fans. CAT Country 98.1 WCTK, located in Providence RI is one of New England’s top country radio stations. Bob Walker is the new program director of the station and sees the love for country music in New England through his listener’s everyday.

“In September '09, I joined Cat Country 98.1 as Program director,” explains Walker. “I am excited to be joining Hall Communications - a true broadcasting company - and to be back home in New England where there is a heavy concentration of country music listeners in the area.” 7

When WCTK came onto the airwaves in 1989, the reception was a little more than pessimistic. Most thought that country music in the Providence, RI area would never work. But 20 years later and ranked as the number one station in their market twice this decade, CAT country is holding its own proving New England loves country music.

“What makes country music work in New England are the fans,” says Walker. “They are passionate.”

Cat Country is a locally owned station in the Providence media market, which includes the entire state of

Rhode Island and Bristol County Mass from North Attleboro, to Taunton to Fall River and New Bedford and is dedicated to delivering the best in new and classic country music. They offer their listeners and country music fans

5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music#cite_note-3

6 Gone Country

7 Bob Walker interview Nov 6, 2009

6 live events and chances to meet their favorite artists. They base their playlist on listener requests and feedback, so it’s never repeated or unwanted music.

“I know that the songs played on the morning drive could either make or break a radio station,” says

Walker. “I also figure out that what plays between the songs is what separates the winners from the losers.” And

CAT Country has defiantly become a winner in New England.

“We –Cat Country- are usually top five [in our market],” explains Walker. We ride the Waves. When everything tanks, classic rock usually goes up. But not for long, it’s just a matter of time before something sexy in country comes out.”8

THE BEGINNINGS OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Although musicians in the southern Appalachians had been recording their Old Time Music or fiddle tunes for some time, country music really took off in the 1920s. It has roots in traditional folk music, Celtic music, gospel music and old-time music.9 The term country music began to be used in the 1940s when the earlier term hillbilly music was deemed to be degrading and the term was widely embraced in the 1970s, while country and Western has declined in use since that time, except in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where it is still commonly used.10 The first commercial recording of “country music” was “Sallie Gooden” by fiddlist A.C. Robertson in 1922.

On August 1, 1927 in Bristol, Tenn., however, it is said that country music was born. On this day record executive Ralph Peer signed Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family to Victor Records. The Carters and Rodgers with their unique styles helped to build the foundation of the great genre of country music. James (Jimmie) Rodgers also known as the Father of Country Music was born in Meridan, Miss. in 1897. He decided to become a serious performer in 1925 when he retired from the railroad. He then moved to North Carolina in 1926 where he started a

8 Bob Walker interview Nov 6, 2009

9 Peterson, Richard A. (1999). Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, p.9.

10 Peterson, Richard A. (1999). Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity, p.9

7 hillbilly band the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers. Lasting less than a year, the band broke up over an argument about money. This did not stop Jimmie. He went on to record alone, “The Soldiers Sweetheart” and “Sleep Baby Sleep” on his first record which sold millions establishing him as a country star. Rodgers died in 1933 before getting a chance to play on the radio or at the Grand Ole Opry; he was however still inducted into the Country Music Hall of

Fame in 196111.

During the 1930s, cowboy songs or western music were popularized by Hollywood films, which helped

“The Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry to gain stardom and to claim the top country record of the year four times in the

1930s. However, most artists found it hard to keep record sales up due to the Great Depression. During this time there were two new outlets for country music that became wildly popular sources of entertainment. Barn Dance shows that featured country music were all over the south and the bigger of the two, the Grand Ole Opry on WSM radio, which first broadcast in 1925, was growing and introducing new stars including Uncle Dave Macon and Roy

Acuff.

ROY ACUFF AND THE GRAND OLE OPRY

WSM Radio’s Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. is synonymous with country music. Since 1925, it has featured country music acts and aspiring musicians on its stage every Saturday night for its live broadcasts. The

Grand Ole Opry has introduced most, if not all of the country music greats that we know and love. To this day, it is every country musician’s greatest dream to sing on the Opry stage.

The Grand Ole Opry came into existence by means of Nashville’s National Life and Accident Insurance

Co. when it launched the WSM as a “promotional venture”12. The WSM Barn Dance, as it was known for the first year, soon became a fixture, originating from the WSM’s Studio A on the fifth floor of the National Life headquarters. At this time, the first host of the show was George D. Hay, a broadcaster from Chicago. Hay realized

11 Roughstocks History of Country Music

12 Grand Ole Days

8 the need for more space and a live studio audience. One night after a witty commentary on the show’s contrasting style to the “grand opera”; Hay proceeded to give the Grand Ole Opry its name.

“For the past hour, we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry,” said Hay13. The Opry was broadcast from the WSM’s studios from 1929 to

1934 when a larger space became necessary. From the historic Hillsboro Theater to the War Memorial Auditorium, the Opry moved four times within eight years until 1942 when it found its current home at the Ryman Auditorium.

The stage of the Grand Ole Opry has been graced by many country musicians. In the center of the stage they stand on is inlayed a faded circular piece of the original Opry stage, tying together generations of talent and love for country music.

Through the Great Depression, the radio became a getaway for many, especially soldiers. In 1932, WSM expanded their reach by increasing its power to 50,000 watts, the legal maximum at the time and had the nation’s tallest radio tower.14 Because of this, the popularity of country spiked in both the north and the south.

Broadcast throughout the south and Midwest, The Grand Ole Opry began as a show to promote part-time artists. When Roy Acuff became involved at the Opry, country music became a professional business. Acuff, a fiddler and singer from Maynardsville, Tenn., first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1938 and soon became a regular on the show15. Not long after that, Acuff and his newly named band the Smokey Mountain Boys were becoming as popular as Dave Macon who was the Opry’s main attraction at the time. Beyond that, Acuff’s recordings such as “Wreck the Highway”, “Fireball Mail” and “Night Train to Memphis” became so popular in the

1940s that he began to show up Frank Sinatra in the music polls. In 1962, the King of Country Music was recognized for his contributions when he became the first living musician to be inducted into the Country Music

Hall of Fame16.

13 Grand Ole Days

14 Roughstocks History of Country Music

15 Roughstocks History of Country Music

16 Roughstocks History of Country Music

Roy Acuff was not the only personality born at the Opry to win over the hearts of millions of country fans from North to South. There were many more such as, Arthur Smith and the Dixieliners, Curly Fox, Golden West

Cowboys, Bill Monroe, Eddy Arnold, Red Foley and Hank Williams, who made his first appearance in 1949 with his song “Lovesick Blues” already at the top of the charts. For over 75 years, the Grand Ole Opry has been broadcasting the greatest music and talent. The Opry has given and continues to give countless musicians their chance to prove them selves. Young country fans everywhere dream of seeing or being on this stage. The Opry has helped the careers of many. Today’s Opry stars are yesterdays Opry fans, and it will continue that way for generations.

………….

“Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again,” Lee continues to sing the song.

'Cause I told you once, you son of a gun, I'm the best that's ever been.”

“You know, if I wasn’t here right now, I’d be singing karaoke. That song makes me want to dance,” He exclaims as he wipes down the bar and sets up for the next day. “Rhode Island is the farthest north I’ve ever lived, in fact it’s the farthest north I’ve ever been, Honestly, and I didn’t think I’d last this long up here, but it ain’t so bad.”

Lee finishes closing down the bar and heads to his car.

“See you later Josh,” he calls to the other bartender.

Lee takes a right out of the parking lot towards the local bar, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Restaurant and Pub. The bar is small, set back off the main road in a small shopping plaza. Its blue and yellow neon sign is the only one still lit up this late at night. Big Dawg’s is a long and narrow room taken up mostly by the overly shellacked bar. At the far end of the room is where Lee spends the rest of his night playing pool and feeding the juke box that is lit up on the wall like a shiny new toy, 50-cents per song, only to here more country.

“Up here in New England,” Lee begins as he presses buttons on the digital juke box, “I either do this or go someplace and sing karaoke to get my country fix, but if I was back in Georgia or down there somewhere, I would be square dancing or riding a bull.”

This time he selects “American Ride” a new song by Toby Keith.

“I road my first mechanical bull when I was 22. I loved it, even though I broke my hand,” Lee laughs. I’ve yet to ride a real one, probably break more than just my hand if I do.”

Lee McIntyre, born and raised country, has brought his love for the country music genre up to New

England with him. Like everyone else in New England who listens to the music, you wouldn’t be able to tell he loves country just by looking at him. In fact, when you look at Lee there seems to be nothing country about him. In a faded pair of blue jeans, a stripped brown and orange cotton polo shirt and flip flops, he readies himself for his next shot.

“Yellow, left pocket,” he tells his opponent.

Lee obtained the nickname “country” in high school. He wore his passion for country music right on his sleeve.

“With country music, there is almost always a story behind it and not just a beat and some lyrics.”

Inspired by David Allen Coe, “an original country music singer and song writer that moved the industry by leaps and bounds,” as Lee describes him, inspired him to begin singing at a young age. He found a passion for it right away and soon enough found his way on stage. Since his early twenties, Lee has been entering Karaoke contest, both solo ones and as a duo with his sister.

“My sister, Jessica [Lajeaune McIntire], is ten times the singer I will ever be,” says Lee modestly. “We have won over 12 karaoke contest together.”

One of seven, Jessica is Lee’s only full-blooded sibling. They share a bond and love for each other and for country music that is undeniable when they are singing together. The song ‘Picture’ by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crowe and ‘I Need You’ by Time Mcgraw and Faith Hill are two of many songs that have won them not only awards but the hearts of all who hear them.

On his own, Lee has won 6 multi-level Karaoke contest, singing his way to number one every time. The song that has taken him there the most is “Ol’ Red” by Blake Shelton; a song about love, and how it can get you in

11 and out of trouble. He has become a local favorite at the Middletown VFW which he tries to frequent every

Monday night for Karaoke night. Lee says he is not one for the spotlight, and has no desire to become famous or to take his talent to the next level, but just loves to sing songs that make him feel alive.

“I just basically love the country and country music constantly reminds me of that,” he explains as he walks into the building that is home of the Middletown VFW post 4487. “I am an original up here, not like everyone else like down south. I feel unique and I love the people up here.”

Country music for Lee, like for many others who listen to it, do so for many more reasons than the pretty face who sings it and a catchy chorus. Country music songs have personality and a meaning. They make you feel.

Whether it’s a smile or a tear, country music is written with a purpose, to express feelings that are otherwise unexplainable.

“I have been through a lot in my life, and music, country music, has always been in the background reminding me that I’m not the only one,” says Lee. “ It has helped me to always put my head up and push forward.”

’89 and AFTER

The late 1980s and early 1990s created a new type of country music star; the young and video-ready from the South and the North, including Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and LeAnn Rimes. The careers of these stars were highly commercialized and attracted many new fans. Garth Brooks, who released his first record in 1989, is undeniably the most popular country music artist of all time, in terms of a worldwide following, albums sold, and accolades achieved. To his credit, entering the music charts at the top is something only the hottest rock and rap acts seem to do on a regular basis, but as far as country acts go, he is one of the only other performers to pull it off. In 1997, the early success of LeAnn Rimes had her taking home the Grammy for Best Female Country

Vocal Performance and beating out the more heavily favored artists in the rock genre. She is the youngest person to win a Grammy, and the first country singer ever to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist17. Garth Brooks,

17 Wikipedia.com

12 with over 36 Top 10 hits, 20 of them number one hits, and six Diamond certified albums, has certainly made his presence in country music felt. Amongst his most cherished hits are “The Dance,” “The Thunder Rolls,”

“Unanswered Prayers,” “Standing Outside the Fire” and “To Make You Feel My Love.” LeAnn Rimes is most known for her top ten hit “Blue”. In addition, both Brooks and Rimes were and still are two of New England’s most favorite and listened to country musicians, according to Bob Walker at WCTK.

Now over 75 years old, The Grad Ole Opry is learning how to balance its roots and its loyal fans with its future and its new fans. Peter Fisher, Opry manager since 2000, says “one of the most challenging aspects of maintaining the bigger than life history of the show is striking the proper generational balance of performers. The diversity and the passion of the people who come there each week to offer their unique perspectives on the world through their music is what ensure the show’s future.”18

The November 2009 issue of billboard magazine was released to find country music at its best throughout.

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. It is often considered to be one of the ‘holy grails’ of the entertainment industry, and the official trade publication of the music industry; it is typically regarded as one of the most relevant and unbiased sources of information on the music industry. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis. Among the two most important charts, the Billboard Hot 100 ranks the top 100 songs regardless of genre and is frequently used as the standard measure for ranking songs in the United States, while the Billboard 200 survey is the corresponding chart for album sales19. The November issue also reveled in the success of country music super star Taylor swift who won 4 CMA or Country Music Association awards including, entertainer of the year, female vocalist of the year, album of the year, and video of the year. The young 17 year old took the music industry by storm. Her 2010 Fearless tour sold out all the Northeast venues, including Boston, one of the largest.

“You just need to ask me to see how much country has grown in the North,” explains Lee. “I have moved back and forth from the North to the South 6 times in my life, beginning at an early age. When I was younger living

18 Grand Ole Days

19 Wikpedia.com

13 up here, people barely knew any country hits and they would make fun of me when I did. That didn’t bother me; I have always been me for me. “

The Grand Old Opry radio program was described by TIME in 1940 as a “mountain music hoe-down” listened to by “plain folk in the South.” Over the next sixty years country music grew to be the most popular music format in the U.S. Between 2000 and 2006 listenership in every genre of music declined, except in the country music genre, which was the only one to increase.

“Country is the nation’s most popular music format, with the largest number of radio stations and fans all over,” explains Richard Corliss in the article for Time Magazine, “Can Garth Save Country. “But to many music consumers, country remains a quaint taste.”

A quaint taste that is becoming part of consumer’s pallets more and more everyday.

“Each time I would come back up North, I would find the country music industry growing more and more on all the Yanks up here,” says Lee with an ‘I told you so smile’ on his face. “The final time I moved back up here in 1998, it was almost too hard to tell I was in the North; to see so many people into the same type of music as me and I was so far away from my home town in Georgia.”

On the Billboard 200 list for the week of November 28, 2009, Taylor Swift sat at number 5 with her album

Fearless, and has the number 14, 26 and 91 spot on the billboard Hot 100 song list20. There are a total of 22 country songs ranked on the Hot 100 list, and 21 country albums on the Billboard 200 list, more than any other genre.

According to Billboard Magazine, after the 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards on November 11th, the overall sales of country music albums went up 3%21. In addition, the most significant numbers for country music can be seen on the Billboard Airplay chart. With the top 75 songs listed in the November issue, 24 of the 75 songs played on the radio were country22.

20 Billboard Magazine November 09

21 Billboard Magazine November 09

22 Billboard Magazine November 09

NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY RADIO

Along with Rhode Island, Massachusetts has a very strong following and love of country music.

Massachusetts has been and still remains a vibrant center of country music-making. Massachusetts’ country music community has produced a number of nationally significant figures like surf guitarist Dick Dale of Waltham and bluegrass banjoist Bill Keith of Brockton, and of course Cottonwood. Down-home local country music associations like the New England Country Music Historical Society and the Massachusetts Country Music Awards Association remain dedicated to promoting the region’s musical legacy through live events23. And while network country radio remains unfriendly to local music, friends have been found in the most unlikely places, like WHRB-FM at Harvard

University, whose “Hillbilly at Harvard” broadcast has been a staple of that station’s Saturday morning programming since 1948.7.24 Two of New England’s top rated country music broadcasting stations, Country 102.5

WKLB from Waltham, Mass and CAT Country WCTK out of Providence has launched country into the faces of

New Englanders, and they are more than happy to listen.

…………

The smile on her face reaches from ear to ear as she stands in front of the microphone, the only thing keeping her from feeling alone in the empty studio.

“It is a sunny but chili one out there today. Hello I’m Jessica Tyler. That was ‘White Liar’ the new one from Miranda Lambert,” Says the mid-day radio personality for Cat Country, 98.1 Jessica Tyler, with an excited tone,. “More on the way along with some holiday favorites from your favorites on Cat Country 98.1.”

She presses the only lit up button on the switchboard of many below the microphone to turn it off. With 14 years in the music industry and radio, 11 of them she has spent in country music. Tyler is well versed in the genre and has been said to know the industry, the artists, the format and the area like no one else.

23 Keeper of Tradition

24 Keeper of Tradition

“Country music is a lot more popular than people think,” she begins to explain. “New stars continuously come along and shine the spotlight on it. Just look at what Carrie Underwood has done, and now Taylor Swift.”25

In the beginning of her career, Tyler was living every country fans dream. Talking to the stars was her job.

She has met everyone from George Straight, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Reba, and Kenny Chesney. Today the list continues to grow adding the boys from Love and Theft, Taylor Swift, and her favorite, Keith Urban. She spent 3 weeks with the country star on his tour bus, sleeping in the bunk right above his while on the road.

“I went on tour with him [Keith Urban] years ago. My friend was part of his crew,” she says while looking at an autographed picture of him on the studio wall. “To this day he still knows me by name.”

Country like no other genre allows fans unparalleled access to the artists. Like what Tyler experienced, that is not at all uncommon for a country musician to allow fans to come backstage, or take a look around their tour bus.

“Country music artist really care about their fans,” says Tyler. “It’s great to see. These artists know they would not be where they are with out the fans. And New England fans are unlike anywhere else.”

Country music fans in New England know their stuff. Because it’s a person and a story and not just a popular fad or the one big hit they are interested in, they show the most passion and admiration for the artists when they come to perform in New England. All this love and passion from the fans has not gone unnoticed by the artists who sing the songs they love. Stars such as Kenny Chesney with his song ‘She’s From Boston’, and his cover of

‘Please Come to Boston’ show that they too have an affinity for the North. In an interview with the Boston Herald shortly after his performance at the 2008 New England Country Music Festival Chesney claimed that he would be playing second base for the Boston Red Sox if he hadn’t picked up a ‘gee-tar’ back in the day. Statements like this made by stars of Kenny Chesney’s status are more than humbling to country music fans in New England.

The computer screen lights up alerting Jessica that the commercial is ending. She stands turns to her left and addresses the mic, positioned perfectly at the level of her mouth.

25 Jessica Tyler interview Dec 4, 2009

“That was Love and Theft with their new one ‘Runaway’. I’m Jessica Tyler. You can see Love and Theft

December 11th in Foxboro at Showcase Live,” she says enticingly. “Up next is your entertainer of the year, Taylor

Swift, and your chance to win tickets to see her in her Fearless tour coming up this hour on Cat Country 98.1.”

The red ‘ON AIR’ light turns off as she removes her head phones and takes a sip of her coffee, only to stop her talking for one second. Her bubbly personality and talkativeness exudes nothing negative about her. The job as a country radio host seems like it was made for her.

“I’m some what a geek when it comes to country music,” says Tyler laughing at her self. “I know random facts about really everyone in country music.”

Unlike country music, in the pop genre there are more and more one hit wonders. Country songs are very lyric driven and in turn, that is what makes them relatable to all who listen. Pop and rap songs never seem to make it to that level. Country music artists, such as Dolly Parton, or Allen Jackson span decades. In pop, save Michael

Jackson, that seems to be more and more of a rarity.

“I think country is a popular umbrella format on radio today,” explains Tim Leary, host of Tim Leary and the Morning Show Gram on WCTK. “There is something for everyone.”26

Although there still may be a stigma attached to country music in New England, today, more than ever there are crossover artist, such as Swift that are introducing more and more people to country music. In songs, album sales, radio, or live concerts, country music tops them all, even in New England.

“At Cat Country we have always had a steady if not growing number of listeners,” says Bob Walker proudly. “Country music is not age specific. It’s for everyone, but I think anyone who listens especially for the first time gets the feeling it was written just for them.”

26 Tim Leary interview Dec 4, 2009

JO DEE MESSINA

One recognizable name from New England is famed country music star Jo Dee Messina. Born in Holliston,

Massachusetts on August 25, 1970, Jo Dee was first attracted to country music after hearing the recordings of

Alabama and Hank Williams, Jr. Her love for country music grew as fast as her respect for its heroes. Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, are strong women of country that wrote and sang from the heart, and Reba McEntire, the hard- working, blue-collar girl was whom Jo Dee related to best. At age six, Jo Dee had her first public performance and from that experience, she was hooked. From then on she did what she had to, to perform – booking and marketing her own shows, lugging gear and keeping the books. At age 19, she made the difficult decision to move to Nashville.

She didn’t know a soul, had no grand plan, but what she did know, was that she wanted to sing. It was there that Jo

Dee would lay down roots and chase her dream.27 Messina debuted in 1996 with the single “Heads Carolina, Tails

California”. In the song, she even mentions the well-know East Coast city where she is from.

“Baby, what do you say we just get lost?

Leave this one-horse town like two rebels without a cause.

I got people in Boston.

Ain’t your daddy still in Des Moines?”

She went on to become an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist. She’s had 9 #1 singles, has been honored by The Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, nominated for a Grammy

Award and was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week # 1 songs from the same album. Her second album, I’m Alright created 3 # 1 hits; I’m Alright, Stand Beside Me and Bye Bye. Jo Dee released her third studio album, Burn in 2000, which aimed towards Country pop-styled music. The album's lead single, "That's the

Way" peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and also became her highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot

100, peaking at #2528. Also in 2000, she won the Country Music Association's "Horizon award," which is awarded to new Country music artists. She also won Billboard magazine's "Most Played Female at Country Radio" and also

27 Jodeemessina.com

28 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Dee_Messina#cite_note-movietome-6

18 won three major awards from the Boston Music Awards29. With her roots in Boston, one of the most famous cities in New England, Jo Dee helped to shine the spotlight on country music up north.

“My greatest hope is that somewhere, somebody will hear my music, and find in it what I’ve found in music my entire life,” said Jo Dee in an interview for her website. Reassurance, understanding, inspiration, strength and compassion.”30

AIN’T AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS

She was 20, with $550 in her pocket and her entire life packed in to her car. The drive from New York was no less than 22 hours. Her destination; Nashville, Tenn. There is only one reason why a person would pack up their life and move it to the country music capital of the world; country music and the chance of fame. And that is exactly why Kris Vassilatos made the journey.

“I was young and full of energy, and I loved to sing,” explains Kris. “Figured I needed to put it to good use.”31

After the almost two day drive down south, Kris ended up in Crossville, two hours north of Nashville at her friend Christine’s.

“She was my childhood neighbor,” explains Kris about Christine. “She said I could stay with her until I found a job.”

It was winter in Tennessee and Kris would drive two hours everyday from Crossville to Nashville looking for a job.

“They would not hire the Yankee gal over their own,” says Kris. “It was an incredible task to find work.”

29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Dee_Messina#cite_note-movietome-6

30 Jodeemessina.com

31 Kris Vassilatos Facebook interview Oct 28, 2009

Finally she landed a job at the Hyatt Regency Nashville for $5 an hour, a lot of money down there at the time. With $20 left, she lived off rationed pop tarts and spaghetti for two weeks. Work allowed her one meal a day and she was grateful.

“Once I was on my feet I made a demo and hit the pavement to Music Row…where rejection was like smiling. Some days I went home and cried. Others, I laughed ‘til I cried.”32

One night at a local Nashville club, Kris was introduced to a young girl with a punk hairstyle named Kathy.

Originally from Texas, she wanted to be a New Yorker, which helped to solidify their quick friendship. She was in

Nashville studying music law and worked at a prominent music law firm.

“Turns out her and her bosses would later help me out a lot,” Kris explains.

Next came auditions. The most wanted yet dreaded yet exciting part of making it in Nashville.

“I auditioned for Opryland, the Disney World of the South so to speak,” says Kris. “They hated me! And then I auditioned for You Can Be a Star. A national program promoting new talent, like a country star search, I didn’t make that either.”

You can Be a Star in the 1980s was like the American Idol of today. Shows such as American Idol or the

Country Music Television show Nashville Star travel the country in search of talent worthy enough for television.

The formats of both televisions shows are similar. Each week the contestants sing and are judged and voted into the next week or not. On Nashville Star however, the contestants are limited to country music songs only. The show lasted for six seasons and at the end of each season the winner was awarded a record deal. Some of the now famous country singers to get their start from this show include; Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Hicks and Chris Young.

Although the audition on You Can Be a Star led nowhere for Kris, it wasn’t all heartbreak. Don, one of the audition judges, made one of her dreams come true.

“The audition was in the back part of the Grand Ole Opry’s new building,” Kris explains. “He graciously gave me a tour and before I knew it I was standing on the stage of the famous Grand Ole Opry.”

32 Kris Vassilatos Facebook interview Oct 28, 2009

Making it in the music industry can be ugly. And the people who seem to want to help get you there can be even uglier, as Kris got to experience that for herself as well.

“At some other auditions I met a talent agent, Jay Diamond, who seemed eager to help me, but he turned out to be smuck,” she said. “He only wanted to sleep with me.”33

So Kris said bye bye to Mr. Diamond and she was back to square one after one year in Music City. Now living in a basement apartment next to the Nashville airport, she new she still wanted more.

Her new friend Don from You Can Be a Star introduced Kris to an old-time producer who had a studio in his home. It’s all about who you know in Nashville. Excited about the new connection she thought this opportunity could help her with her big break.

“When he met me he hated me, because I was from New York,” says Kris. “He said to me ‘New Yorkers can’t possibly know anything about country music.’ But we worked at it, I proved him wrong and finally became friends.”

While using the studio free of cost, Kris was able to record a new demo. Rehearsal time at the studio also brought about the introduction to many important people and new connections including one to the Acuff-Rose

Artist Corporation.

Established in 1959 by Roy Acuff and Wesley Rose, the company became a very successful booking agency in the Nashville scene. With this new connection, things finally seemed to be starting to move in the right direction for Kris.

“After they heard my demo, they gave me the opportunity to record demo songs written by other writers that would then be pitched to certain country artists.” “Bye bye Hyatt and hello Nashville,” She says with a smile.

Today, people have the notion that being famous is all glitz and glam. Once you’re famous it might be, but getting there, if one ever does, is the hard part. Kris had a passion for singing and wanted to share that passion with

33 Kris Vassilatos Facebook interview Oct 28, 2009

21 anyone who would listen. And three years after moving her life to Nashville in pursuit of her dream, she would only get close to realizing it.

“I was given a rough demo two days prior to recording it,” explains Kris. “They told me who the song would be pitched to and I had to sing it in a way that made it appealing to that artist. I was paid $500 per song and did about 4-5 sessions per week after things took off.”34

At this point life in Nashville started to get a little easier for Kris. She moved into a better apartment and was finally doing what she loved doing every day; singing. With her new job also came some perks.

“I would go into the studio when they booked it. Sometimes 2 am,” Kris explains. “It’s hard to sing at that hour, but I didn’t complain. The agents would ask me what I wanted – anything – food, drinks, anything. It was a lavish demo life.”

The recording sessions were short, usually only one song lasting a few hours. Sometimes she would do multiple songs. She couldn’t complain. The money was great. However there seemed to be one thing missing. Kris was not famous and although she could sing, it was never her voice they wanted on the records.

“I was flown to other studios from time to time to do recordings as well. I was even lucky enough to meet

Reba, and Kenny Rogers and sit in on their sessions,” says Kris.

In 1990, Arista Records in New York started their own country line. “I was sent back to New York where the VP at the time asked me to show an upcoming country star around the city.”

Alan Jackson was that Country musician. The first country star to sign onto Arista Records and unknown to

Kris at the time, he would become one of the biggest country music stars of all time.

“We spent the day touring the city – who the heck knew he was going to be larger than life. He is a dream of a person and he deserved all he has received,’ said Kris about Jackson.

34 Kris Vassilatos Facebook interview Oct 28, 2009

After six years in Nashville chasing her dream, Kris decided she had had enough. The heat and the people were starting to get her. She had given Nashville all she had, but finally realized it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

“I loved it, but it took the thickest of skins to do what I did. I put up with rejection, no’s and verbal Yankee crap quite a lot. I don’t regret a second however, and would do it all again.”35

NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

As the home of James Taylor and Aerosmith, the Boston Pops and the band Boston, New England does not seem to have an affinity for country music. However, today it is home to one of the nation’s largest country music concerts. In 2006, the New England Country Music Festival featuring Kenny Chesney was the top-grossing single- day country music show in history. In 2007, Chesney returned to Gillette Stadium and sold out more than 50,000 tickets in 15 minutes.36

“There is just something about those people. Every time we play Gillette Stadium, they come and they sing their hearts out,” said Chesney in a press release. “It may be one of the NFL’s biggest stadiums, but I’m telling you, every year those people make it feel like a little club date.”37

2009 saw the sixth year in a row that one of country’s biggest stars, AMC and CMA Entertainer of the Year

Kenny Chesney headlined this beloved country music event. On the day of the festival Route 1 off 495 in Foxboro

Mass turns into a parking lot before every concert, every year. Cars and trucks fill the highway hours before the show every summer for what seems like a rolling tailgate party. With windows down in the 80 plus degree heat one can hear Kenny Chesney’s ‘Summer Time’ blasting from the speakers for miles and miles.

“Summer time is finally here, that old ball park man is back in gear,

35 Kris Vassilatos Facebook interview Oct 28, 2009

36 Gillettestadium.com

37 http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,gac_26063_5939514,00.html

Out on 49, I can see the lights.

School's out and the nights roll in Man, just like a long lost friend You ain't seen in a while And can't help but smile

And it's two bare feet on the dashboard Young love and an old Ford Cheap shades and a tattoo And a Yoo-Hoo bottle on the floorboard

Perfect song on the radio Sing along 'cause it's one we know It's a smile, it's a kiss It's a sip of wine, it's summertime Sweet summertime”38

Whether its teenagers driving with friends or parents driving there kids, or families going to the show together, young or old, they are all singing the same song and sharing their same love for country music.

The 2009 festival also featured Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Antebellum.

The New England Country Music Festival is the largest concert series in New England and has sold out Gillette

Stadium in each of its seven years39. The New England Country Music Festival is an all day event featuring at least

4 or 5 of the best country music acts on tour. The 2007 festival featured Pat Green, Sara Evans, Sugarland, Brooks and Dunn and Kenny Chesney. The 2008 festival included Leann Rimes, Sammy Hagar Keith Urban and Kenny

Chesney. Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox and Teddy Bruschi of the New England Patriots are admitted country music fans and joined Chesney on stage in 2008 singing “Back where I come from”. Each show sold out

38 Cowboylyrics.com

39 Gillettestadium.com

24 quicker and quicker than the year before. The 2008 show at Gillette Stadium sold out in the first 8 minutes on

Ticketmaster.com. Each and every one of the 68,756 seats was filled with country music loving New Englanders40.

LOVE, LIFE AND LYRICS

“He said: “I was in my early forties,

With a lot of life before me,

An’ a moment came that stopped me on a dime.

I spent most of the next days,

“Looking at the x-rays,

An’ talking ‘bout the options an’ talkin’ ‘bout sweet time.

I asked him when it sank in,

That this might really be the real end?

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?

Man whatcha do?

An’ he said: “I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dyin’.”41

Like in this song by Tim Mcgraw country Music and its lyrics touch upon every aspect of reality. There are songs about heartbreak, hurt, love and miracles. Montgomery reminds us in “Life’s a Dance” that “sometimes you

40 Ticketmaster.com

41 Azlyrics.com

25 lead, sometimes you follow,” so don’t be so afraid to try new things in life. Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff” reminds us that the good stuff can’t be found in a bottle, only in the love in a woman’s eyes. Martina McBride sings how she’s been “Blessed.” Hank Aaron Lines’ “You Can’t Hide Beautiful” reminds women that it’s not the makeup, the hair, the clothes or the five extra pounds that matter; it’s the woman that’s beautiful all by herself. Garth Brooks tells us that he’s not changing the world; he’s just making sure the world doesn’t change him in “The Change.” All while Travis Tritt just plain shouts that “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.”

Even when songs take the sad route, they play an important function. They allow us a cathartic release from the everyday pains of life. Tim McGraw sings that he would give up everything, “Just to See You Smile.” Patty

Loveless recounts the pain of parting as she asks, “How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye?” Brooks reminds us in

“The Dance,” that we might have missed the pain, but then we’d have to miss the dance. Trace Adkins recites his failures, but assures us “I’m Trying.” Reba McEntire asks “What Do You Say?” In a host of awkward situations, including a dying woman’s request to go home, and advises us “just bite your tongue and let your heart lead the way.” Alabama’s “I’m in a Hurry” longs for a simpler life, but they’re “in a hurry and don’t know why.” And Billy

Dean says goodbye to a love in “We Just Disagree”: “There ain’t no good guy. There ain’t no bad guy. There’s only you and me and we just disagree.”

Country simply has a way of expressing things that other styles can’t. When tragedy struck on Sept. 11 only Alan Jackson had the artistic talent to write a beautiful song about all the conflicting emotions of that day, and

“Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” was born, while Toby Keith reassessed his priorities in “The

List.” Country music also has humor that can’t be beat. Toby Keith especially is notorious for his comedy. “I Wanna

Talk About Me” pokes fun at a girlfriend who won’t shut up. And “How Do You like Me Now?” is the most perfectly spiteful song in all existence, right down to the instrumental bridge to the tune of “nana nana na na!”

McBride relates the awful consequences “When God fearing Women Get the Blues.” Brad Paisley faces an ultimatum from his girlfriend, either her or fishing and laments “I’m Gonna Miss Her.” And then decides he’s “so much cooler online.”

Country music is full of love songs that just can ‘t be beat. While rappers are surrounded by women who are little more than decoration, country artists serenade just that one special someone and sing their many virtues.

When they sing about making love, it’s about two people coming closer together. Even songs about one-night stands are just better, as you can see in Alison Krauss’ “Let Me Touch You For Awhile.”

“Country music is about life,” as Martina McBride says. “Sometimes life is sad. Sometimes it’s wonderful.” 42Country artists have a long tradition of expressing that fullness of life in a truly poetic manner. It’s

“three chords and the truth,” as the saying goes.

……….

The spotty fluorescent lighting illuminates the stage the same as the rest of the room. A small crowd of locals and regulars sit around the small bar discussing their less than eventful week with each other, sipping on

Narragansett’s. The music and unfamiliar voice coming through the speakers get little attention as the final notes of

“Piano man” by Billy Joel come to an end, the voice slightly off -key. Some distant claps can be heard across the room. The monitor goes blank for a quick second then appears “Lee” in green writing across the screen. The room is still a chatter as Lee takes his position in front of the microphone.

“Hello, how’s everyone doin’ tonight?” asks Lee sounding as if he was going to begin a comedy show.

The music begins to fade in louder and the twangy electric guitar introduction of Toby Keith’s “Who’s your Daddy” catches the audiences attention. Lee looks up from the mic with a smile on his face and begins to sing.

“Here you come knockin’ on my door baby

Tell me what you got on your mind

I guess those college boys all went home for the summertime

And you’re lookin’ right, lookin’ good, lookin’ like a woman should

So why is it so hard to find

A place to lay your pretty little head down once in a while

You run on a little tough luck baby

Don’t you sweat it

42 Martinamcbride.com

Everything is waiting inside for you

You know I got it

Come and get it

Who’s your daddy, who’s your baby?

Who’s your buddy, who’s your friend?”43

Not before long, the scattered people around the room come together in front of where Lee is singing and begin to clap and sing along; “Who’s your daddy, who’s your baby? Who’s your buddy, who’s your friend?”44 The audience yells.

Although this is a small bar in New England, the music of choice is country. Not hip-hop or classic rock, but country. The genre of music that seems to bring people together and bring out the best in them.

“You might’ve run on a little tough luck baby

Don’t you sweat it

Everything is waiting inside for you

You know I got it

So come and get it

Who’s your daddy, who’s your baby?

Who’s your buddy, who’s your man?”

The song comes to an end and one can tell instantly the mood of the room and all the people at the bar has changed.

Country music has found a home in New England and a home in the hearts of New Englanders a like.

Lee steps off the stage, elated with the familiar applause from the audience.

“I am very proud of where country music and where it finally is today,” he says. “It has been a battle but it is finally where should be, especially in New England.”

43 Cowboylyrics.com

44 Cowboylyrics.com