In 1960 Loretta Lynn burst onto the country charts with her first song, “Honky Tonk Girl.” She quickly made her way onto the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and the rest, as they say, is history.
She’s made enough hit records to be able to release an album of Number 1s and few dozen others that could be called “greatest hits” and a whole section of her museum dedicated to the Grammys, Academy of Country Music and Lifetime Achievement awards. And though she’s over 70-years-old, Loretta Lynn can still write ‘em and sing ‘em.
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Less than a year after his Peace Queer EP, Todd Snider is back with The Excitement Plan, an “old gypsy term” that her borrowed from his dad.
As one of the folk genre’s favorite storytellers/smart-asses, Todd’s wit is in top form for the collection of 12 new tunes that he says in the liner notes are “your surefire cure for hard times.”
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With 16 number-one country hits and a whole museum of awards (including 4 Grammys, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards and the distinction of being the first woman to ever be named “Entertainer of the Year” by the Country Music Association) Loretta Lynn has been the “first lady of country music” for decades. At 74-years-young, her voice is still strong and her dresses still sparkle.
By giving various members of her band, The Coal Miners, time in the spotlight she kept the show moving while she caught her breath between her own tunes during her concert at Denver’s Paramount Theatre.
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It’s that time of year again and the music portion of SXSW kicks off tomorrow.
Even without a badge, there’s loads of free or nearly free shows to enjoy if you’re in Austin this week. KGSR has shows at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake, and the morning broadcast from the lobby of the Four Seasons.
Numerous artists are playing side shows around the city and there’s the annual Million Musician March for Peace on the 21st.
But, if you’re sitting out for this year’s festivities there’s still plenty to be excited about in the musical world.
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Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons
CMT has this new reality show called, “Can You Duet?”
As if we haven’t had enough American Idol, it’s coming to haunt us over in country music land as well.
Of course there are always those people that have a difficult time carrying a tune in a bucket, and there are the duos where each party thinks they’re holding the reins of the horse. It’s what makes the show even slightly interesting. And it’s better than watching celebrities reveal their “hidden talents.”
While Naomi Judd looks for the winners that make good television, we’ll take a look at some (not all) real vocal marriages made in musical heaven.
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From the unauthorized to the autobiography, books about musicians can be amazingly good reads while others are just a waste of trees. Of course there are several reasons for this varying degree of quality.
The artist may not want to talk to the author which often leads to a book filled with lots of rehashing of common knowledge and a few anecdotes from the kid who sat next to the kid the artist babysat when they were three.
Because they know all about the artist’s innermost thoughts and secrets.
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