Advertisement

Country Music News

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Mon., Feb.18)

Advertisement

Frank "Pee Wee" King was born in 1914.

Juice Newton was born in 1952.

Carl Perkins' No.1 single "Blue Suede Shoes" debuted on the charts in 1956.

Dudley Connell of the bluegrass band the Seldom Scene was born in 1956.

The Everly Brothers recorded "When Will I Be Loved" in 1960 during the duo's last session for Cadence Records before joining the Warner Bros. label.

Lonesome River Band mandolin player Don Rigsby was born in 1968.

Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn recorded the Top 20 single "Who's Gonna Take The Garbage Out" in 1969.

Hattie Louise Bess, owner of the famous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville, died at age 63 in 1978.

Emmylou Harris' "Blue Kentucky Girl" album was certified gold in 1981.


MUSIC AND MORE


HANK WILLIAMS JR.

Detroit rap-rocker Kid Rock showed his country leanings and his admiration for Hank Williams Jr. when the two appeared together on "CMT Crossroads" Sunday night. The show pairs country stars with kindred artists from other musical genres. The hour-long episode featuring Williams and Kid Rock was the second installment in the monthly series, country.com reports.

Advertisement

"I hope to be able to sing as good as this guy one day and play as good as him," Kid Rock told host Greg Martin, patting Williams' shoulder. "I'm trying. I got the best teacher out there. The (country) influence will always be in my music, but am I going to go country? I think I was born country."

Williams called Kid Rock by his real name, Bobby, and he spoke of him as his "rebel son."

The show included nine full or partial musical performances with the stars collaborating on Kid Rocks' "Cowboy," Hank Ballard's classic R&B hit "Finger Poppin' Time" and several songs from Williams' repertoire. The country legend's longtime backup group, The Bama Band, provided musical support.


WAYLON JENNINGS' FUNERAL

Waylon Jennings was buried last Friday in a private service near his home in Chandler, Ariz.

His longtime publicist, Schatzi Hageman, quoted Jennings' widow, singer Jessi Colter, as saying the service was "beautiful" and very much the way Waylon, who died in his sleep Wednesday at his home, would have wanted it. Colter also said she hoped to announced details next week for a public memorial service for Jennings in Nashville.

Advertisement

"I know how very much people loved Waylon and want to pay their final respect," said Colter in a statement issued by Hageman Thursday. "Therefore we will be planning a memorial service to take place in Nashville and those plans will be forthcoming."

Jennings -- one of the driving forces behind the so-called outlaw movement in country music three decades ago -- had been in poor health recently, and had undergone surgery in April and November 2001 in connection with treatment for peripheral vascular disease. On Jan. 7, it was announced that the singer's left foot had been amputated in December after a diabetes-caused infection set in.

Jennings was 64 when he died.

Hageman invited fans to send cards and condolences to the family c/o 1117 17th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sue Brewer Fund/Songwriters Guild Foundation, 1222 16th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212.

Latest Headlines