Country Miusic...

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Country music...

by Johnny Roebuck on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 1:36pm ·

...it doesn't have to mean hick.

One of my favorite episodes of the Carol Burnett show had Vicki Lawrence doing a parody of a country song where she spelled out every word. IT was an obvious take off on "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" that was the current song of Tammy Wynett showed the absurdity of some of country music. One line said her boyfriend "S-P-L-I-T" It was some funny stuff.

Though the word "redneck" has taken on a new glorified meaning, country music doesn't have to mean redneck. Redneck in the '60s sense, means backward, glorifying in being ignorant (the white version of "ghetto" but I can't stand the term "white trash" which has also come to be glorified) I coined a word "grit" when the meaning of redneck was being so changed. There's nothing wrong with being country and nothing wrong with being what you want to be as long as you don't glorify in being or seeming ignorant. Willful ignorance is not only unattractive, it's stupid!

What has that to do with music? Everything. Country music progressed from its roots and then, SOME say went back to them, but in doing so, some of the country singers has disrespected other genres. "Piece of My Heart" and "Summertime Blues" are just a couple of examples.

I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard "Redneck Woman." Really? Proud of yourself that you leave your Christmas tree lights on? But over the years I've recognized the humor of that song.

While I love the old masters of Country and no one represents it more that the Old Possum, George Jones, some of the early stuff, guys looked up to get the "why would he sound like that on purpose?" reaction. I did a parody of one of these and the reaction was positive, but the fan of this "artist" did not recognize the fact that I was making fun.

Don't get me wrong. Even in the old days, there were great artists like Ernest Tubb, then came Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves and the great Marty Robbins. These guys had class, but they were still Country.

By the time Ricky Van Shelton came along, the big wigs of the industry wouldn't promote anyone who didn't sing with that nasal sound and a hick style. That's tragic.

There's no better country song than "I'll Leave this World Loving You."

To me, as a person who's been a "country dj" several times, there's not enough variety in the country music field and too much novelty. Country has always been about the "hook line" but lately, it's been for me, the SINKER.

There's not enough of the stuff in the middle. This is where my love, Rock 'n' roll was born, when Elvis and others combined a little of ALL of it into that marvelous stew that will always be the best to me.

Wow, you can say the "f" word repeatedly. Great. Now, can you write and sing some rock 'n' roll?

What Ever Happened to...

Delores Hart who played Elvis' leading lady in "Loving You" and "King Creole?" She's a nun. She'll soon walk the red carpet at the Emmies for a documentary about her group. Sorry, I don't know much about Catholicism. But Delores was seen as the next big female film star at the time she did the films with Elvis. She was not dis-similar to Grace Kelly and was poised for super-stardom, but felt the call of God on her life and became a nun.

Early Sign of Things to Come

I've always thought of Paul McCartney as the person who turned the focus on bass guitar. This is mainly because the Beatles had in effect three lead guitarists. George Harrison is credited as lead and played lead on many of the early Mop Top hits, but Paul is as good, if not better at it and it can be witnessed in his basically playing lead on bass in songs as diverse as "Rain" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy."

When rockabilly ruled the teenage airwaves, it was most often stand up or "slap" bass, that huge fiddle, for lack of another word, but during the recording of the soundtrack of "Jailhouse Rock" Elvis gave us a glimpse of what was in store. He played bass on "You're So Square (Baby, I Don't Care" which was the main groove of the song.

It wasn't until nearly a decade later that bass guitar played such an up front role in rock n roll. Here's a picture of Elvis during that session and holding the bass guitar and talking to Bill Black. The caption could read, "Your days are numbered, buddy!"

Vernon Potter @ Angies Restaurant

The significance of this picture is that it is at a table at Angie's Restaurant in Garner, the latest "incarnation" of this establishment which for years was Green's Garner Grille. There is a mural inside paying homage to the restaurant's rich heritage. If one wishes to eat there, be prepared to struggle for a parking place, let alone a seat, but the wait and minor frustration is well worth it. The food is superb home style and the prices are kept low.
Angie, the owner has worked at another Garner NC landmark, Toot 'n' Tell on the same road and most recently at "Tookies" which did not do well as the service was not good and prices too high.
Back to the significance of the place where Vernon is sitting. He and another group used to sit in that same position, when the restaurant was called A Place to Eat. I was privy to attending a Tuesday morning breakfast/gab session on a couple of occasions when my mom went and several others from the Capital Church.

Speak Ill of the Dead

No, I won't speak ill of the dead, but just because someone dies doesn't make them a saint. No names mentioned, but lately whenever a back burner has been entertainer dies, especially if they die from drug abuse, suddenly it's the "in" thing to pretend you always loved them. I've never been one to follow trends. Just because someone has passed away doesn't erase their stupidity or failures.

For ten years after Elvis' death he was disrespected by what Elvis' first unofficial biographer described as the "hipper than thou." Mainly it was the crowd on Saturday Night Live, always portraying him as a fat redneck when he never was either of those. Elvis was Southern but anything but a hick or redneck. He was so far ahead of "his time" that in the 21st century, the music industry can't even catch up.

Last night was a good night of karaoke because only one poor soul made a comment to me about the deceased daughter of a former Elvis back up singer. I did not like the way she sang Dolly Parton's song, "I Will Always Love You," even though there were others who sang it in a similar style to that that was pretty good. No, I didn't like the way she and those who have followed sang our National Anthem. There are certain songs that have tunes for a reason. I saw it as a lack of respect.

Still not mentioning any names, but I remember a girl who burst on the scene and hearing her first song and thinking, now there's a singer. It was sung very much in the tradition of Marylin McCoo (5th Dimension) and it was called "Saving All My Love for You." Then I heard rumors that the Soul Train crowd and their "award" labeled her as "not black enough." Good grief. Too bad she apparently listened to people like that and very unfortunate that she started hanging with thugs, or so it seems.

A lot of people loved this person and her talent, because she was capable. But I'm afraid a lot of people will praise this and many other folks because it's just the thing to do. In the eighties you had to wear designer jeans with the tag showing and those God-awful Izod polo shirts. There was the collegiates when I was in high school who had to wear their name-brand clothes to try to prove their worth. Never bought into that. Lately it's been little punk thugs with hats on backwards and their little silver tags to prove legitimacy. In the words of Dirty Harry, "That's a helluva price to pay to be STYLISH!"

Rest in peace entertainers. Lord help you, because eyes are on you 24/7. That can't be easy. I haven't walked in your moccasins. I can't judge.

I wanna dance with somebody

Whoops, there goes another bandwagon. Missed it again!

So Long, Miss Millie

I kept seeing this couple in Locked & Loaded. A lady in a wheel chair and her husband. About the third time I saw them, I was in one of my moods and did something that would set into motion events that would have an effect on my life for good. I walked over and jokingly said to the lady, "Let me know, if you ever want to get rid of this guy...call me." I believe he said, "You can HAVE her." What followed were some introductions to two of the most amazing people I've met. His name is Gary Shook and his wife's name, Millie. In the years that followed, we became fast friends and they BOTH became heroes of mine. Millie, as she battled Lupus and Gary, as he cared for her, having himself, suffered a stroke. He's a retired State (of North Carolina) employee and she, a former nurse who had to cut her career short because of her health. They epitomize the "in sickness and in health" part of the marriage vow (covenant.) Yep, they fussed and got on each other's nerves, but they loved each other...love being a verb.

This Tuesday past, Millie went home to be with her Lord. At the memorial service yesterday, her dad, Mr John Hart who still lives was quoted as saying Millie developed her personality by the age of two and that when she was put in "time out" she would look in the corner and hum or sing her favorite tune as if the punishment was a sheer pleasure.

Millie spent a lot of time at Rex Hospital as a patient and when she was there, nurses would come and share memories of the days when she was on staff at Wake Medical Center.

Millie and I had deep spiritual discussions and I will not divulge a lot of details in those except to say, Millie had the assurance of her Home in Heaven and Who her Savior is and in the past few days, had become more aware of the Third Person of the Trinity, God's Precious Holy Spirit mainly as the paraclete, or one who comes along side, the Comforter that Jesus promised He would send when He went where we could not in order to send Him.

The memorial service did not have the celebratory spirit that I've seen in some services, but knowing in my heart of Millie's faith in the Lord and the assurance that she is forever present with Him, gives me great comfort.

Millie suffered quite a bit on this planet, but the preacher reminded us that she's in a place where there IS no pain, no sorrow, nor fear of death. There's no parting where she is and as I've said before, I sure hope by now she has met my Mom and Dad who are also there with Jesus.

The most merciful thing the Lord can do in the eyes of the Buck other than His offer of eternal life as a free gift and His paying for our sins on the cross of Calvary is His calling of one of His precious children Home. That's where Millie is now. Home. May the Lord Jesus forever be praised.

Perspective

This has been an eventful week. Not necessarily in a positive sense, but it has been in SOME ways.

Lost a dear friend, who I have no doubt is in Heaven based on our extensive discussions. Feel for her family.

Had a friend lose a job for no apparent reason. That hurts. It always does when things happen to those you care about deeply.

Became aware even more that some of my friends don't like others of my friends. You can't do anything about what you have no control over.

I have a friend who is very tolerant of an acquaintance of mine. I love the friend dearly and cannot stand the SIGHT of the other because of how much this person has hurt the other. I try not to be around this person any more than I HAVE to and I have to way more than I want to.

My dad, my hero the Geeze only used the word "hate" once that I can recall. Can't remember if I actually heard him or my mom told me about it. I know she did, but I believe I also heard it. Dad would say, "I hate him, I hate him, I HATE him!"

His crime? Disrespecting me. Well, now I know how he felt, because my friend can't see through the acquaintance and yes, I have used the "h" word while alone and had to ask the Lord to take that and put it in His sea of forgiveness forever. My friend sees something redeemable in the acquaintance. I do not. Strange, because I usually see everyone as a candidate for redemption if they're not already.

The concept of "Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on ME" comes into play at some point. Those of us who follow the Christ are to be ever forgiving, just as He is. His mercy endures forever.

When you've seen someone you care about in the fetal position enough times, sobbing and miserable, it tends to make you a little less tolerant of the person who caused the pain. Is it blind love that makes this person tolerate the other? Or my OWN spiritual blindness. I SHOULD realize that every day this person is on earth is another example of God's amazing grace that he hasn't called up his number to face his fate. If this person gets redemption, it will certainly surprise me.

I've never tried to be anything but honest, real. Lord help me forgive. You forgave ME, so I've no right to not forgive ANYONE else. Tall order, but I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me strength.

The Buck loves you.

Tinkerbell?

Strange occurrence this morning. Before I even opened my eyes, I awakened to a manifestation I can only describe as what it looks like when Disney's Tinkerbell arrives on the scene. Then, when I opened my eyes, the little sparkle hovered over my bed. It was interesting, to say the least. Theories? I have no idea.

(See, Margaret, I TOLD you Roebuck was losing it!)