In Country's Country
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Y OR LL A M Y D N exas Countr A ’s T y M R ge u ha si Y rt c B a H C a S ll H o f P COU F A S N a R Y’ T m G R R e O T Y & T T O N e H U x P R O D i t N C e A r N M T I X u E s e T u m 62 texashighways.com | OctoBER 2015 Tex Riter image courtesy Texas Country Music Hall of Fame OctoBER 2015 | texashighways.com 63 I GREW UP IN A TEXAS FAMILY THAT LOVES COUNTRY-WESTERN MUSIC. The lilt of a fiddle breakdown, the rhythm of a shuffle drum beat, the soulful wail of a steel guitar—these sounds seeped into my pores in the 1950s and ’60s, for- evermore setting a button on my internal radio dial to “classic country.” To me, many attributes of Lone Star cul- Clockwise from above: Billy Walker’s jacket; Ray Price’s ture—the sense of place, pride of history, 1970 Album of the Year award from the Academy of and gift of storytelling—ring truest when Country & Western Music; Tex Ritter’s signature “Tex” experienced alongside a heartfelt country guitar; a replica of Henderson radio station KGRI. tune. Great stage moments stick with me, like hearing the late Johnny Gimble fiddle a waltz he once played with Bob Wills, the “King of Western Swing.” And in my car, radio “driveway moments” hold me to the last line of a sad story song, like the tear- jerker “She Thinks I Still Care,” sung by Saratoga-born crooner George Jones. The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame & Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage puts these legendary musicians, as well as the special musical moments they create, into focus for country music fans. With a $1.5 million addition completed this year, the museum has expanded its exhibition space by 27 percent to 16,500 square feet. Located near downtown, with a bronze statue of Tex Ritter picking guitar out front, the red- brick museum offers a kaleidoscope of glit- tering costumes, vintage posters and pho- tos, and treasured musical instruments, all in honor of the musicians who have shaped country music in Texas. The Tex Ritter Museum opened two decades ago in a historic home to pay hom- age to its late namesake, a star of stage and screen who grew up near Carthage. The 64 texashighways.com | OctoBER 2015 OctoBER 2015 | texashighways.com 65 museum created the Texas Country Walker. There are also more recent music with other musical styles, from spotlights, which inspire special Music Hall of Fame in 1998 in trib- stars like chart-topping Neal McCoy blues, bluegrass, and boogie to gospel, musical memories for visitors. Roy and ute to other Texas country legends— and Grammy-winner Linda Davis— jazz, and rock. Much of that blending Evelyn Peacock of Normal, Illinois, including another Carthage native, from Jacksonville and Dotson, respec- took place in Texas, explains museum pause at singing cowboy Gene Autry’s singer Jim Reeves—and launched a tively—and groundbreaking Latino founder and director Tommie Ritter exhibit. They check out one of his glitzy annual show to celebrate new singer Johnny Rodriguez from Sabinal. Smith, a cousin of Tex Ritter. favorite Western suits, his handcrafted inductees (typically held in August). Inductees either hail from Texas or “When I was researching the need Lucchese boots, and one of his signa- In 2002, the museum and hall of fame have had careers that contributed to for this museum, I was amazed at ture “Round Up” guitars. Sold in the moved next door into a new building, the state’s country music scene. Many how many Texas artists significantly 1930s by Sears, the guitar body bears which has since welcomed visitors also starred in movies and TV shows. influenced the development of country a stenciled scene of a mounted cowboy from every state in the union and 42 (A new exhibit also honors “Friends music,” Tommie says. “We identified rounding up cattle. The Peacocks other countries. of Texas Country Music,” such as more than 300 artists who qualify to remember listening, as children in To date, the hall of fame has induct- Grand Ole Opry photographer Les be inducted into the hall of fame.” the 1930s and ’40s, to Gene Autry’s ed 46 members, each honored with Leverett and Nashville broadcaster Like many kids in the 1950s, yodeling songs on the National Barn a display case of memorabilia and Ralph Emery.) Tommie knew Tex Ritter as A“ meri- Dance, a radio show that aired on biographical information. Inductees Collectively, their stories chronicle ca’s Most Beloved Singing Cowboy,” Chicago station WLS. “We also went include early pioneers such as honky- the evolution of country music, a famous for B Western movies and hit to Gene Autry movies during the tonkin’ Al Dexter, “Texas Troubadour” distinctively American blend of tra- records, especially the 1952 Academy Depression, which was a great treat,” Ernest Tubb, and songwriter Cindy ditional hillbilly, folk, and cowboy Award-winning movie theme “The recalls Evelyn, clutching a Gene Autry Ballad of High Noon” (sometimes CD she bought in the museum store. called “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Another couple, Rick and Peg Fehr, Darlin’”). As his cousin, Tommie drove from their Carlinville, Illinois, LIKE MANY KIDS IN THE looked up to Tex, literally. “He was home listening to Texas country tunes. 1950S, TOMMIE KNEW TEX such a big man, he loomed over me They came to view spring wildflowers RittER as “AMERICA’S MOST when he came to Carthage on family and to get a big dose of Texas country visits. He was universally loved here music, first at Hill Country dance halls BELOVED SiNGING COWBOY,” and by fans across the world,” she says in Gruene and Luckenbach, and then FAMOUS FOR B WESTERN as we walk through the enlarged Tex at the Carthage museum. They marvel MOVIES AND HIT RECORDS. Ritter Museum. E( xpanded exhibits at how many country-music legends also honor Tex’s son, John Ritter, the Texas has produced. Viewing the TV and movie star best known as exhibit dedicated to singer-songwriter and film star Kris Kristofferson, they reminisce about the times they’ve heard him perform in person. Kris- tofferson’s display features leather jackets and pants he wore in the 1973 filmPat Garrett and Billy the Kid, along with his khaki uniform from U.S. Army Ranger school. Jack Tripper on “Three’s Company,” exhibits focus on Tex’s movie sidekicks, At the Jim Reeves exhibit, I chat who died in 2003.) who provided comic relief. “Arkansas with South African natives Koot and A dozen or so vintage movie posters Slim” Andrews often appeared along- Hanlie Engelbrecht, who now live in line the exhibition walls, touting Tex side Tex riding a mule and playing Royse City, near Dallas. I’m surprised Above: Waylon Ritter movies. I particularly enjoy offbeat instruments such as a bicycle when they recall the country-western Jennings’ hat. the 1940 poster for Rhythm on the Rio pump or a Rolmonica (a harmonica stars they’ve enjoyed since childhood. Right: a picture Grande, which shows Tex waving a played like a player piano), both “My parents loved the cowboy movies,” from Tex Ritter’s cowboy hat atop his signature rearing displayed in the exhibit. My favorite says Hanlie. “They called them ‘cowies.’ film Rollin’ West- steed, White Flash. Displayed nearby Tex artifact remains a 1930s Gibson They enjoyed singing along with Tex ward and a display is one of Tex’s silver-studded saddles, “Super Jumbo” guitar bearing the Ritter songs.” South Africans especially case honoring Texas similar to the one on the poster. Photos pearl-inlaid letters “TEX,” one of only loved the velvety vocals of Jim Reeves, Country Music Hall and outfits also recall Tex’s leading four Super Jumbos known to exist. “You still hear his songs on the radio of Fame inductee ladies, including Dorothy Fay South- The displays burst at the seams over there,” Koot tells me, including Linda Davis. worth, Tex’s wife for 33 years. New with memorabilia, dramatically lit by Reeves’ biggest hit, “He’ll Have to Go.” 66 texashighways.com | OctoBER 2015 Historical image (left) courtesy Texas Country Music Hall of Fame OctoBER 2015 | texashighways.com 67 The spacious Jim Reeves exhibit owned with legendary disc jockey Reeves at his gravesite three miles boasts one of his trademark red jackets, Tom Perryman, a member of the hall’s east of Carthage on US 79.) as seen on several of his album covers, Texas DJ Wall of Fame who is still on I meander past other exhibits as plus a couple of silky smoking jackets the air in Tyler. Another exhibit has the sounds of classic country waft and button-up sweaters that reflect Reeves’ baseball uniform from his from the museum’s jukebox, available Reeves’ sophisticated yet downhome short-lived pitching career with the for visitors to play for free. I take a ESSENTIALS image. There are also photos chroni- Lynchburg Cardinals, a St. Louis turn and punch in “Crazy Arms,” Ray TEXAS cling his humble upbringing in Panola Cardinals farm team. Several artifacts Price’s 1956 hit that popularized his County, as well as a replica control room recall his popular musical comedy, signature “Ray Price shuffle,” a 4/4 COUNTRY of Henderson radio station KGRI— Kimberley Jim, which was filmed in rhythm with drums and a walking MUSIC with original ’50s equipment including South Africa and released stateside in bass line.