Tunes for Twangers

Music 305 A
A History of Country Music

Module 8 ~ Producers & Personalities

This Module – shall focus upon two divergent, yet interesting aspects of the country music business – what I am calling the Producers and Personalities. I am using the term “producers” in the loosest possible sense to denote those involved in the recording industry that have had a palpable influence on our country music. In some cases – the influence of these gents has been enormous [and to some artists way of thinking – too powerful, too all-controlling, too draconian]. I am using the term “personalities” to highlight two or three well-loved and well-known artists generally associated with the Grand Ole Opry. Country music is a performance art – and from the very beginning [i.e. early artists who were involved in traveling medicine shows and vaudeville] many, many “colorful” characters have been part of the country music scene. As with all other of the modules – those I have chosen to explore briefly in Producers & Personalities are simply representative of many, many others.

Note
There is a distinct possibility that we shall “run out of semester” before we get to Module Eight. I hope that no matter the case – this information will prove helpful to each student at some juncture.

The Producers

Gallery Photos

Ralph S. Peer
Fred Rose

Sam Phillips

Owen Bradley

Don Law

Chet Atkins
Randy Hughes

Ralph S. Peer (1892-1960)
[and this gent has been mentioned in previous modules – particularly his role in the Bristol Sessions]
- prominent businessman in early country music
- pioneer in recording, music publishing and artist management
- born in Kansas City
- age 18 went to work for Columbia
- in 1919 was hired by Okeh records

He is quoted as having said – this was before “country” music or “race” music existed – primarily they recorded tunes such as “Silver Threads Among the Gold” and Home “Sweet Home”

- the first country music recording that made money “Fiddlin’ John Carson” was an accident
- the first “race” recording by Okeh and Peer “Mamie Smith” – Crazy Blues was also
- early recorded Vernon Dalhart, Stoneman Family and the Hill Billies
- left Okeh and went to Victor in 1926
- the fame Bristol Sessions took place in late summer of 1927 [Pop Stoneman, Jimmie Rodgers, Carter Family]
- went on to publish music by Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, et al
- founded Southern Music Company
- a true magnate

Fred Rose (1898-1954)
- principal figure in the rise of country music industry
- producer, publisher, songwriter and talent scout
- born in Evansville, IN
- grew up in St. Louis
- supplemented family income by playing the piano for tips
- 1917 was working in Chicago
- wrote and co-wrote popular tunes such as Red Hot Mama, Honest and Truly, Deed I Do
- made piano rolls, recorded for the Brunswick label and broadcast on WLS
- lost job due to drinking problem
- moved to Nashville to work on WSM
- composed pop-western hits for Tex Ritter, the Sons of the Pioneers and Bing Crosby
- spent time in Hollywood writing for Gene Autry and Roy Rogers
-in 1942 joined with Roy Acuff to form Acuff-Rose – Nashville’s first major publishing house
- served as “expert editor” for the works of Hank Sr. and considered him his protégé
- one of the first [of three with Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Sr.] to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame

Sam Phillips (1923-2003)
- one of the most important, non-performers in American music
- founder of Sun Records in Memphis
- originally from Florence-Muscle Shoals area of Alabama – a blues fan
- moved to Memphis in 1945 as a DJ
- to supplement income in 1949 started Memphis Recording Service
- started to develop rockabilly performers
- found a calling in recording artists – insisting that “direct, unfussy presentation” is what mattered

credited with introducing to the world – many of the “giants” of music …..
Elvis Pressley, Jerry lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, B. B. King, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, et al

Owen Bradley (1915-1998)
- born in Tennessee
- produced hits for half dozen members of the Country Music Hall of Fame
- built first music business on what is now known as Music Row
- was an architect of the “Nashville Sound”
- only country music producer ever nominated for an Academy Award
- family moved to Nashville when Owen was young
- began working as a professional musician by age 15 – by the 1930’s leading his own band
- broadcast on WLAC – then became a regular on WSM
- Decca executive noticed Bradley’s skills – hired him to lead sessions
- continued to co-write music [example Night Train to Memphis – Roy Acuff]
- first hit – Red Foley’s Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy
- worked with Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce
- Kitty Wells – It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
- built an independent studio
- in 1958 named head of Decca’s Nashville division
- great success with pop as well as country [Burl Ives, Pete Fountain, et al]
- forever associated with Patsy Cline – then Loretta Lynn [also Brenda Lee]
- lasting and powerful impact

also of note …..

Don Law (1902-1982)
- born in London [England]
- as a young man sang with choral societies
- immigrated to US in 1924 [Dallas]
- worked as a bookkeeper for Brunswick records
- became executive at Columbia
- instrumental in re-establishing the viability of country music
- Johnny Cash, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Johnny Horton and many others

Chet Atkins (1924-2001)
- few if any country instrumentalist has achieved more respect and admiration
- has influenced generations of guitar players – country, rock and jazz
- as record executive at RCA produced many hit records that are considered classics
- born in east Tennessee
- father a music teacher; mother – sang and played piano
- attended high school in Georgia
- WNOX [Knoxville] heard Atkins guitar playing – hired him for a program
- WLW – then WLS – then to WSM
- with help of Fred Rose – became one of the top studio musicians in Nashville
- in 1955 made Manager of RCA’s Nashville division
- very successful
- major step when he signed Charley Pride [African-American]
- remained influential as both a virtuosic guitar performer and powerful record executive

Randy Hughes (1928-1963)
(no Hughes was not a big-time, big-money producer like Law or Atkins or Bradley, Yes, he is best-remembered as the follow flying the plane the night Patsy Cline was killed. But he is perhaps representative of the “manger” role in country music – and of course – the link with Patsy is timeless)
- born in Tennessee
- began working at the Grand Ole Opry as a rhythm guitar player when he was 15
- traveled extensively with artists of the day
- made a series of recordings with sexually “suggestive” lyrics [Tattooed Lady, Not Big Enough]
- learned about arts management
- became acquainted with Patsy Cline in 1959
- she was in a bit of a lull at that time
- he revived her career – both became very successful
- Dyersburg, Tennessee March 5, 1963

The Personalities

Gallery Photos
Minnie Pearl

Grandpa Jones

Little Jimmy Dickens

Minnie Pearl (1912-1996)
Queen of Country Comedy
- born Sarah Ophelia Colley in Centerville, Tennessee
- started acting with a traveling company
- while on the road in northern Alabama – met an older lady – pattern for Minnie Pearl
- 1939 made first appearance as “Minnie Pearl”
- 1940 made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry
- helped by her sister and George Hay – developed the character
- 1942 became a permanent member of the Grand Ole Opry cast
- 1947 married the successful aviator Henry Cannon
- by the 1950’s had begun to appear on television regularly
- Hee-Haw regular
- beloved by all

Grandpa Jones (1913-1998)
- born Louis Marshall Jones in northwestern Kentucky
- when in high school, family had moved to Akron
- started copying Jimmie Rodgers songs and style
- local radio shows
- 1935 – age 22 – while working in Boston – he was dubbed “Grandpa”
- Cincinnati – WLW – learned to play clawhammer banjo style
- at WLW also worked with Delmore Brothers and Merle Travis
- gospel quartet and interest in gospel music he retained his entire life
- 1946 married Ramona [fiddler and singer] he had met at WLW
- moved to Nashville and joined the Grand Ole Opry
- Hee-Haw
- in 1997 celebrated his 50^th year on the Grand Ole Opry

Little Jimmy Dickens (born 1920)
- born in West Virginia
- career based upon early humorous or novelty numbers [Take an Old Cold Tater, et al]
- worked radio in West Virginia, Cincinnati, Saginaw and Topeka
- Roy Acuff heard him – brought him to the Grand Ole Opry
- at Opry Hank Sr. gave Dickens the nickname “Tater”
- in the 1950’s recorded some rockabilly numbers
- some romantic ballads
- 1965 hit “May a Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”
- member of the Country Music Hall of Fame