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Home , Dottie West, Ernest Tubb, Jack Clement, Johnny Paycheck, Lee Clayton, Mickey Newbury

COUNTRY Artists Honor (continued from page 28I say don't mix it all together. You can't take a THE COUNTRY COLUMN the 'Living First Generation and put out country song and please a jazz fan, a rock a telegram a couple of weeks Putting an end to a persistent rumor, sent Legend' album. 'n' roll fan and a country fan all at the same ago stating that he and wife/singing partner "are not divorcing each other, "Then Pete asked me to do some more time. You are going to disappoint the many artists who will be appearing on Ernest I 10 more songs. on record or off." Merle is also one of numbers, and recorded somebody. If a country record sells in the ,"due to be released what I Tubb's new double album, "Ernest Tubb: The Legend and About this time, Pete asked me pop field, that's great. But if you are making 9, birthday. Merle will be singing on the cut "Seaman's Blues." about doing a record with Waylon Feb. Tubb's 65th thought it for the pop field, saying it's country, then I 24 at the Exit/In to perform a benefit to do A group of Nashville artists gathered together Jan. Jennings. And he said Willie wants think you are cheating the n' :.lic. You are musician Philip Donnelly, who came to the States about four years ago with you. I told him I would, but it concert for fellow something not being honest with you, _ If you want a new work visa, guitarist Donnelly is presently be- way with the with . Awaiting the decision on would have to be done my to go pop, go pop. But dove ry to make a Immigration Department. Among the artists I of ing detained in Ireland by the United States Troubadours. Now, have known both pop record and say, 'Oh, I'm a country Lee Clayton, Owen Cody, and appearing in the benefit were Sammy Miller, Billy Burnett, them since they started in the business, boy.' " the and . All proceeds from show they are dear friends of mine. I said as long Hectic Schedule were donated to the effort to get Donnelly back into the United as we keep it country, I don't mind if they Tubb continues to maintain a travel States. want to add different things with some of schedule which would tax the strength of a Bobby Goldsboro has been set to appear at the Silverbird Hotel their musicians. Pete said, 'I will tell Waylon much younger man over 200 days on the in Las Vegas Jan. 31 -Feb. 13. and Willie and see if we can work it out.' - last year with a full schedule this year. Tessier Talent of Madison, Tenn. will now be representing Pee 'Complete Surprise' road But he is in good health, and he loves his Wee King, with and the Collins Sisters for booking "Well, it never got done because we were work. through their agency. And in association with 's never in town at the same time," Tubb ad- "I am doing what I want to do," Tubb said. Full House Talent, Tessier is also representing Johnny Paycheck ded. "Then Pete said he wanted some more "I would be lost otherwise. If I just stopped for booking. numbers because he wanted to put out a recording artist to be and sat down, I would go crazy. I'm not go- Merle Haggard Eddie Rabbitt will become the first double album. I went in one night and ing to work up there in Ernest Tubb's record represented in the Walk of Fame. The Walk will be located adjacent to the recorded some more songs. Now, Pete had shop, and I'm not going to work in a Palomino Club in North Hollywood, one of the most important country music showcases on not said anything more about Waylon or publishing company or sit up in an office. I the west coast. A bronze plaque and a special ceremony marked the inauguration of the Willie. Pete asked me to come back and think traveling is what keeps me young." Walk of Fame on Feb. 1, which Los Angeles Mayor Bradley declared as "Country Music listen to the tapes we had done, and he star- Musicians can tell countless 'road' Day." ted playing one that I had done on a session stories both serious and humorous. But and recently completed a second duet album at Jack Cle- two or three months earlier. It started off - - Tubb told of a letter he received a couple of ment Recording Studios in Nashville. produced the sessions, with Billy 'Waltz Across ' - and here comes in early March. Also months ago following an appearance in Sherrill engineering. The United Artists album is scheduled for release Willie singing with me. I said, 'What are you Iowa which is a simple, but effective illustra- in Studios were Hickory Records artist , who just completed doing.' Directly, here comes another song tion of why country music is a pure an album, , who began work on his first single for Monument Records, and and another with a guest artists on each American art form which has reached the Arleen Harden, who just finished a demo session with co -producers and Joe one. It was a complete surprise to me. I hearts and minds of this country for over 50 Allen. thought I would cry to think of these people years. and the Crickets began an 18 -date tour Feb. 2 at Florida State Univer- coming in and doing this. And they did it so I Fan Letter sity. wouldn't find out about it. I didn't know a "As many miles as I have traveled every in February that will take him to Columbia's will begin a series of tour dates thing about it until it was almost done." year, I feel like I have shook hands with college and university campuses throughout the western United States, as well as other As an original country stylist, Tubb holds everybody who has ever listened to country Nelson will con- major venues. Beginning Feb. 10 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., definite views on the subject of modern music," Tubb said. "But I received this of Arizona tinue touring through the month and will appear at venues on the campuses country music. He bears no grudge against beautiful letter that I have marked for my State University, Colorado State University, the University of Oklahoma and Wichita State any type of music, but believes it is dis- scrapbook. University. Future appearances for Nelson include a role in the movie "Electric Horseman," honest for someone to claim to be a country "Back in November, they had a bad which he completed filming recently with Robert Redford. artist and aim his music at the pop market. snowstorm up in Iowa. Our last date in a It's tough to turn 40, especially when your friends give you a souped up walker, complete However, Willie Nelson is one country artist Northwest tour was in a small town in Iowa, with air horn, license plate and aerial bearing the big 4-0. recently received that Tubb thoroughly enjoys. and that night there warnings not to get on such a gift from friends Norro Wilson, Warner Bros. A&R director, and Don "I've been a Willie Nelson fan way back the highway because of snow and ice. Light. before some of these people who like him Believe it or not, we had over half the a new session for Door Recently and Sonny Wright went into the studio to cut now," said Tubb, who shared a syndicated auditorium full of people. This is how the Peggy's older Knob Records. The session at Bradley's Barn was almost complete when television show with Nelson in the middle letter read: to hear what Peggy had done. Sissy Spacek, the actress sister, , dropped by '60s. "I was a Willie Nelson fan 20 years ago 'My husband and I came in the snow and was with Loretta. who will be portraying Loretta in the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter," when he had 'Mr. Record Man' and those ice to see you. He had been an Ernest Tubb Peggy and Loretta's sister, was supposed to sing some background har- , things out. I love almost everything he has fan all his life and has every record you ever Sue but she was detained by a snow storm in New York. mony with Peggy ever done. I was invited to play on some of made. We had always made plans to come in quite some time, In what could turn out to be one of the most unusual "crossovers" those picnics he started down in Texas, but see you over the years, but something unveiled his new disco show at the Exit/In last week in Nashville. With the it. We I was already booked. Willie is as country as always happened and we never made light show, Porter's new act addition of such touches as a synthesizer and a flashing disco anybody. He did 'Blue Eyes Crying In The just couldn't miss your show this time, so was quite a change in image. Rain' more country than did it 25 we got there. That was the greatest thing for Porter quipped. "I'm putting on a few more rhinestones than nor- "Change my image?" years ago. I see nothing wrong with what us because our 13 -year -old son is an Er- mal. I've even had a hat made that's got them all over." Willie and Waylon are doing. nest Tubb fan, and he was with us. The sad Jennifer bohler "What I object to is some of these people thing I want to tell you is that after the show, singing with a 30 -piece orchestra, saying when we got home, he complained that he they are country entertainers. If you was hurting in his chest. Four days later, he remember 's 'For The Good dropped dead of a heart attack. He was just

Times,' this, to me, is as far as you can go. 53. I am so proud that this will be the most

This is what I call modern country music. It memorable thing I have. At least, we all got is a little on the pop side, but accepted by to see Ernest Tubb before he died.' the country music fan. I say, let's make it "To me, that letter was very touching," better, but keep it country. Don't over- Tubb concluded. "I wrote her a sympathy produce it and fill it full of gimmicks. If you card and thanked her for the very beautiful can't go out onstage and perform it like it is and touching letter. This meant something on the record, then I think you are overdo- to that lady, and this is what country music ing it. means to me, not just making the dollar. I "If someone asks me what is the dif- would have played for nothing if I had ference between a country song and a pop known it meant that much to her." song, I give them this example," added Appointed Tubb, who idolized the late Jimmie Kahlenberg Rodgers and whose first hit, 'Walking The As Music City Comm. Floor Over You,' is recognized as an all- time record. "Mainly, a pop Sales Representative song and especially a rock song is sold NASHVILLE - Music City Communica- because of the melody or beat. The lyrics tions, Inc. announced the appointment of are not too important. But in country music, Charles Kahlenberg to the position of sales the lyrics are the main thing, and the song representative. Kahlenberg comes to 2 cl b has a story that people can identify with. M.C.C. with an extensive background in in- long as it's not filled with too many dustrial sales, marketing and manufactur- staff members and Enterprises sur- Now, as MILSAP'S SURPRISE PARTY - RCA progressive chords, minor chords, jazz ing. Buddy Blake, president of Music City recently in his new studio and presented him with a birthday prised the RCA Records artist and rock licks, you can use any in- Communications, made the announce- was working on an upcoming LP (l -r) are: Joe chords cake. Shown in the studio where Milsap is ment citing Kahlenberg as an important ad- Nashville; Tom Collins, Milsap's co- struments. If the story is there, the song Galante, RCA division vice president, marketing dition to the M.C.C. staff in view of his ad- Milsap; Jerry Bradley, RCA division vice there. producer; Bob Thompson, Milsap's manager; in music industry. of national country sales. "I like all kinds of music," Tubb said. "I ditional experience the president. Nashville operation; and Dave Wheeler, RCA director

35 Cash Box/February 10, 1979

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