Folks lately I have been writing and supporting the Midnite Jamboree hosted by the Ernest Tubb Record Shops. Well my dear readers the time has come for us to give back to them..because we are very very close to loosing it forever. How much more Country Music history do we have to loose before we have nothing left? We lost half of Printer’s Alley and Little Jimmy Dickens in one week. Please folks YOU have a VOICE and I hope after reading my friends letter to us you will act now and help us. THIS LETTER is written and given to me by Country Music Legend Glenn Douglass Tubb. If nobody listens then we will loose this precious piece of history.

THE MIDNITE JAMBOREE

For those of you who are not aware of the historical importance of the Midnite Jamboree; I thought I would give you a brief history of the show. It was started in 1947 by my uncle, Ernest Tubb, the same year he opened the Ernest Tubb Record Shop and it was also the same year that he became the first Country music artist to play in Carnegie Hall in New York City. That was a pretty eventful year for him. He opened the record shop so that he and other Country music artists would have a place to sell their records. Most record shops back then wouldn’t sell Country music, or, as it was called back then, “hillbilly” music. He also started the Midnite Jamboree as a means to advertise his records and the records of his fellow artists. He also decided that the young artists who were trying to get the record companies to listen to them, needed a platform from which they could be heard, not just by the record company producers here in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles but by the public all over America. The Midnite Jamboree came on right after the Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night, at midnight. And at midnight, WSM Radio’s 50,000 watts really reached out because at midnight most all of the smaller stations went off the air and WSM became a clear channel station, reaching more people than the Grand Ole Opry did. This was a powerful tool for letting people know about the new records being offered by Ernest and the other artists. Down through the years, I think most of the Grand Ole Opry members have sung on the Midnite Jamboree at least once. Other artists have sung there too. Even Elvis Presley, the King of rock and roll, sang there when he was starting out. I remember Tennessee Ernie stopped in Nashville and sang on the MJ when he was on his way to California in 1947. This was when the record shop was on Commerce Street. It didn’t stay there very long because it was just too small. The people would walk up from the Grand Ole Opry to listen to the MJ and they would have to stand out on the sidewalk and out in the street to hear the show. The police finally said that something had to be done because the people were interfering with the flow of traffic. So, one night, my dad rented a flat bed truck and me and my brothers moved the entire record shop down to 417 Broadway where it is still doing business today. It is the second oldest radio show in the world, second only to the Grand Ole Opry. This year, in May, will mark the 68th year it has been broadcasting. The people who have sung on the stage of the MJ would read like a Who’s Who of Country music entertainers, some of who have gone on to be superstars and country music legends. Anyone who has been paying attention to what is happening on the internet has to know that the internet has broke the back of the record shop business because people are now downloading music for free instead of buying the records from a record shop. Consequently, all the big record store chains have gone out of business. Songwriters, artists, publishers and record companies have all suffered devastating losses also. Songwriting is now a hobby for most of us instead of an occupation. But the Ernest Tubb Record Shop was the sponsor for the MJ; it paid the cost for putting the show on the air every Saturday night; so when people stopped buying records, the record shop was no longer able to pay the cost for putting the program on the air. The bill usually runs between $2,200.00 and $2,500.00 each Saturday night, depending on how many musicians are on the stage on any given night. Since the record shop was no longer able to support the program, David McCormick, the owner and CEO of the E.T. Record Shops, started paying the bills for the program out of his own pocket, determined to keep the legacy that Uncle Ernest started alive. Now, he is no longer able to bear this financial burden alone. The Midnite Jamboree is a piece of Country Music history and I believe it should be preserved, just like any other National Treasure. Some friends and I have started a Midnite Jamboree Association which we hope will help pay the weekly costs for keeping this show on the air. There have already been iron on patches designed with the logo for the MJA, hat pins, lapel pins, tee shirts, caps, neat membership cards and other perks (about $75.00 worth) which is what the annual dues are for membership, so it’s really a good deal. You get a bunch of neat stuff and you help save a Country music historical treasure. And when you wear your cap with the MJA patch on it, or the hat pin or lapel pin, you will be showing everyone that you belong to an organization that is helping preserve and important part of Country music history. If we can get a thousand members, that will be enough to keep things going for the next generation. To join or get more info, you can send an email to Ken Mosher at kenmosher@yahoo.com or Glenn Douglas Tubb at <dgtubb@gmail.com or write to The Midnite Jamboree Association, P.O. Box 159326, Nashville, TN 37215. Please make your checks payable to David McCormick or Glenn Douglas Tubb because we do not have all the paperwork completed to open the account for the MJA. All members will receive a copy of the song I wrote and recorded for the show I hosted on February 14th called THE MIDNITE JAMBOREE. You will also receive a copy of the Christmas CD that Dottie and I recorded just before I got sick and had to spend Christmas in the hospital. We didn’t get a chance to advertise the CD or try to sell it because I was busy trying to stay alive. So, we decided to make it a gift to everyone who joins. All the songs are original. All of my CDs are always filled with my own compositions. We are busy recording a new Gospel CD at this time. If we get it finished in time, we’ll include a copy of it also. Please help us keep this tradition going. It would be a real shame to see it all go under after David has worked and sacrificed so much for so long to keep it going. Thank you all for your time and attention. God bless you all.

Living for Him,

Glenn

Last night I learned through social media that longtime guitarist for the Grand Ole Opry staff band James
(sometimes called Jimmy) “Spider” Wilson was taken to hospice care and passed away last night on the 26th.
He was one of the many people involved with Country Music that made the music famous from the background.
There were so many thousands of special people that took no credit for what they gave Country Music and he
was certainly one of them. The TRUE hero of the Opry were the ones that backed up all those that went through the doors.

He was born June 9th ,1935. In 1947 he began recording and playing with Little Jimmy Dickens and Buddy Emmons
and many more that went on to become Country Music Legends in their own rights.

In 1953 he began working on the Opry as a staff musician playing every friday night, Saturday matinee
and Saturday night show for many years along with Jimmy Capps Billy Linneman and other Country Music Legends.
Spider also played the Ralph Emery Show every weekday morning for many decades and  so much more.

He recorded and backed more Country Music Legends than I can possibly name in one article. I have been
introduced to his work whole studying Hank Locklin, Don Gibson, Justin Tubb and the list goes on and on.
If you have a vinyl record collection that beats or rivals mine you have this man’s name on the credits
of many of them…Ray Price, Dolly Parton…it just keeps going.

I never stop researching and learning about Country Music and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon.
My friend Mr. Joe Rucker who was good friends with Hank Locklin shared a really nice story on his
personal page not long ago saying Hank would announce “Here comes Spider” when it was his time
to do the turnaround.

In 1957 Don Gibson wrote and recorded “Oh Lonesome Me'” and I found his guitar work on this
number a few times which I believe the original solos were Hank Garland. One of my personal regrets
is my age, I always wished I was born about 40 years before I was and to actually get to be a part of
this era of Country Music. I missed out on the greatest era in history and there is no doubt about that.

Moonrunners Music Festival
Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender
Nelsonville Music Festival
Muddy Roots Music Festival
Outer Banks Island Bluegrass Festival
Muddy Roots Spring Weekender
30A Songwriters Festival
Ruckus In The Boonies
Crooked Smile Music Festival
John Hartford Memorial Festival
Lone Oak Festival
Merlefest
Duck Creek Log Jam

Folks I’ll be honest Ross Key’s Spring Fling is JUST THE TYPE of festival I REALLY LIKE to cover and cover it I SHALL..in fact I’m on vacation that week. So I’ll be there for sure and I’ll be checking into how much I will need for a small tent down there. I MIGHT have a spot out here if it’s not too late to get one form them. Regardless THIS IS the type of local country music I LOVE to cover. This festival is close to my home and I GOT ROOM at the house for you!

Saturday May 23rd at Smitty’s Bar And Grill On The Hill in Lebanon Tn this festival will be hosted by Ross Key whom I met last year at R.,O.P.E. We got to talking and he invited my website out for some music so I said HELL YES and hey you can NOT BEAT the price….FREE! You know what, this is a great opportunity for me to point out something. When there are FREE community festivals like this one BUY MERCH from the performers, find a few you like and BUY CD’s and stuff from them!

2015 PERFORMER LINEUP

DONNA STATEN CUNNINGHAM
Allen Karl
JULIE KEECH-HARRIS
LAURA DODD
ROY AUGUST
MIKE SILVERNAIL
SUZANNA KAY
RICK ALAN KING
MARK BRINE
HERSHEL BUTTS
DARREN RHODES
JAMIE WAYZ
THE KATTS
GATOR TOMMY SHORTT
DAVID HAWKINS
VINCE BARRIOS
J.K.COLTRAIN
LAURA SIMON
DANNY HARDIN
LYLE HOSKIN
SEBRINA HORSTMEYER
WAYLON CAREY
ANNEMARIE PICERNO
STARR BELLE
PJ STEELMAN

THE ROSS KEY COUNTRY BAND
Ross Key – Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Howard Yearwood – Lead Guitar & Vocals
Tim Hood – Drums & Vocals
Troy Cantrell – Bass & Vocals
PJ Steelman – Steel Guitar & Vocals
Starr Belle – Keyboard & Vocals

Now I will say that I met P.J.Steelman last year at another festival and we had a good time together and I look forward to seeing him again. I will be researching some of the other performers and I will be contributing to this event in many ways. You know honestly I like to write my own information on these as much as possible BUT his bio was so interesting I just would like to re-print it here.

Born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, Ross Key was born with a God-given musical talent. While he will tell you he had to work at learning each instrument he plays, he easily acquired the basics of music. Until 2011, Key lived within a 20-mile radius of his hometown. Key’s paternal grandparents told him he was a direct decendent (6th/7th generation) grandson of Francis Scott Key, the author of our nation’s National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. His uncle, Tommy Dunaway, played in the band with Mel Tillis, so as a child, he was exposed to the world of country music. Key recalls meeting Tillis’ daughter, Pam, when they were both small children.

Ross was given his first guitar by an older brother at age 12 and by 15, he was teaching guitar professionally at a local music store. He had his first paid, weekly gig by age 15 with his band, Key and the MasterLocks. He performed live on a local Jerry Lewis Telethon, and hired to perform at a McDonalds’ Grand Opening at that age. At age 16, he traveled Europe with the Boy Scouts of America, performing before King Gustaf of Sweden, which earned him a private audience with the King. He also performed before other political figures of that time throughout Europe. Key earned his Third Palm Eagle Scout badge by age 18.

A versatile musician, Key is an established professional entertainer, singer/songwriter and musician, incorporating his own material into his show which has garnered much attention from local and regional venues, radio stations, A&R’s, and record companies. Versatility coupled with a unique and distinctive style of his own, Key maintains a firm grasp on country music as it was performed by country music legends decades ago. His vocals range from soft and rasping to a hard, driving sound that creates an air of originality. Unlike many in his field, Key doesn’t duplicate or mimic. He makes each song his own, performing those songs that touch his heart in some manner. Key opens every show with his signature song, “Under The Double Eagle”, capturing the attention of audiences wherever he performs.

Key held the #1 spot for 24 months on ReverbNation’s local country music chart with his song, Saturday Night, and maintains a growing international fan base. Saturday Night still holds the #2 spot on his hometown country chart. In March and April 2011, Key debuted his talent in Nashville for the first time, performing in prestigious venues such as the Nashville Palace, Bluebird Cafe, and The Listening Room. However, it wasn’t until he attended a jam session in Lebanon, TN that he caught the attention of the then recently inducted CMA Hall of Fame, multi-platinum songwriter, Roy August. To-date, the pair have co-written songs for Key to record on a forthcoming album. His four week debut turned into a six week stay, having to return for another two weeks in May and June. In July 2011, Key officially moved to Nashville, leaving his native Lynchburg, Virginia for the first time.

Key holds a degree in Drafting and Architectural Science from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a master carpenter, plumber, and electrician.

Now folks there are MANY hotel accommodations off exit 238 and I-40. I shall list them on here for you
on here:

HOTELS LOCATED AT I-40, EXIT 238
Econo Lodge (615) 444-1001
Day’s Inn (615) 449-5781
Sleep Inn & Suites (615) 449-7005
Comfort Suites (615) 443-0027
La Quinta Inn & Suites (615) 470-1001
Knight’s Inn (615) 449-2900

RESTAURANTS AT I-40, EXIT 238
Demos Restaurant
Sunset Restaurant
Cracker Barrel
Gondola Restaurant
Waffle House
Logan’s Roadhouse
KFC
Taco Bell
McDonald’s
Daily Buffet (Chinese) (located in the Walmart Shopping Ctr)
Ci-Ci’s Pizza
Pizza Hut
Hardee’s
Shoney’s
Subway

FOLKS you remember my three promises I made all of you when I first began this website?
I keep them always and I’m pretty sure you’ll agree. I NEVER will or went “to war” with any artist, I NEVER say anything horribly negative about someone’s music and I will NEVER do album reviews. With that being said I made MYSELF THIS promise, I’ll never blatantly try to solicit money from my readers directly. So I’m in a tight quandary here folks because the Midnight Jamboree needs financial and other support and help in order for the store to continue to bring it to you for FREE every Saturday like it has since over 60 years ago.

THE STORE IS NOT CLOSING NOR ARE ANY OF THE LOCATIONS CLOSING! So let me squelch ANY rumors or accusations against my website of spreading them, HOWEVER I will say I have been in direct contact with Country Music Legend Glenn Douglass Tubb and his associates and we MUST HAVE YOUR HELP to continue this.

I want to be honest with you right now THIS IS the most dire and important article I have EVER wrote and made. THIS is important and needs to be acted on right now. How can you help? Well for one ATTEND the Jamboree and support the store. Folks have stopped buying record albums and CD and more and more people have began buying online music and digital downloads. This is killing the record shop industry and we are loosing some really special historical places. True some folks are complaining the store has low stock and is not offering enough product but I ask you…if we are not spending money there for them to re-invest in that stock where will it come from?

Next weekend Mr. Glenn will be hosting a live Midnight Jamboree for Ernest Tubb’s 101st birthday and will once again feature Troubadors from the past including Jimmy Heap, Lynn Owsley and Leon Rhodes and more.
This will be the 3,549th LIVE broadcast of the event on WSM AM 650 and for a little while they will be rebroadcasting older shows because the store is having trouble hosting the event alone. So that’s where WE come in as FANS and friends of the Ernest Tubb Record Shops and Traditional Country Music in general.

OK I’m going to post a DIRECT QUOTE from Mr Glenn himself:
Many of you are asking how you can help save the Midnite Jamboree. Well, first of all, we are forming a Midnite Jamboree Association for people to join who love Country music and want to keep the Midnite Jamboree on the air. For those of you who are familiar with the MJ, you know what a blessing it has been for so many new artists and for the older established artists who may not have the opportunity to sing on the Grand Ole Opry. Also, those who are familiar with the MJ, you are also familiar with David McCormick, who owns and runs the Ernest Tubb Record Shops and the MJ. He has done so much to help so many people and never asks for anything in return. He has borne the burden of paying the expenses for the MJ for all these years (about $2,500.00 per show) , but the record shops can no longer support the MJ because people have quit buying records, thanks to the free downloads on the internet. For those who want to help, please contact Ken Mosher. For those artists out there who want to get involved; we would like to do a benefit concert this coming June during FanFair (or whatever they call it now). Please talk to your fellow artists and see who would like to appear on the show. If we could get a couple of really big names (Garth, Willie) we would need a big venue and that would be great. That would take care of the expenses for a year or more. Let’s keep the Midnite Jamboree going for the next generation of Country singers. Every cent that is raised will go to keeping the MJ on the air. God bless you all and keep you safe.

What we plan to do is to form a committee of members that pay a yearly one time fee to belong to the group.
They will be sending you items for your yearly fee and to refrain from soliciting anything from you you MUST email one of us for information on the fee. I have been selected to help in various ways for this cause.
ALL OF THIS MONEY will go directly to the store to continue the Jamboree.

WHO TO CONTACT: Gary Hayes Garyhayes2@yahoo.com or Facebook
Ken Mosher kenmosher@yahoo.com or Ken Mosher
Both of us can and will tell you where to send your fees and how much this will cost.

Do I need to continue to tell you readers just how important it is not to loose the Midnight Jamboree or any of the stores? How special are those places to you? Are you like me where you just get glassy eyed and warm all over when you walk in? We already lost half of Printer’s Alley and more places downtown than I can name and in my opinion we lost Tootsie’s. Country Music took It’s hardest blow it will ever take this year when we lost our beloved Little Jimmy Dickens…what would he want us to do? Sit on our butts and complain on social media saying “We hate pop country” or would he want you to GET YOUR BUTTS DOWN THERE AND FIGHT for what we want?

Moonrunners Music Festival
Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender
Nelsonville Music Festival
Muddy Roots Music Festival
Outer Banks Island Bluegrass Festival
Muddy Roots Spring Weekender
30A Songwriters Festival
Ruckus In The Boonies
Crooked Smile Music Festival
John Hartford Memorial Festival
Lone Oak Festival
Merlefest

Well folks It’s time to talk to you about the Duck Creek Log Jam in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Folks I’ll be honest this festival is for the good old hardcore campers for the fact that it has no showers. To be honest my personal needs require me to stay in hotel rooms and I get some great deals when I feature them on here. Most festivals have really close hotel accommodations available and as always I am adding info to these articles ALL THE TIME! We’ll check into adding some hotel locations to this festival.

I usually print this on EVERY festival I cover on this…you are permitted to bring your own adult beverages but PLEASE don’t be ugly to others. THAT’S the number one rule to ANY music event. You know another big thing that bothered me last year was witnessing the destruction of the campground property. IF YOU see anyone defacing the nature or harassing wildlife or defacing the property PLEASE tell Mr. Kyle or the staff. We have to buy merch and support these people with our wallets and our hearts, our voices can and will be heard better if we are respectful of the business. Only then can we witness the growth of Roots Music or any kind for that matter.

This festival takes place Memorial Day Weekend May 22-24 in Ohio’s Hocking Hills area which is one of the most gorgeous places in the state. I have been in the area and in the near future I fully plan to come up and help this festival grow. We ALL have that ability just by going and when you do let the director know how much they are appreciated. They need to be informed your likes and dislikes on order to become great and if you do it in a positive manner NO director would be upset with your dislikes.

The Duck Creek Log Jam is held at the Duck Creek Camping and Outdoor Events Area. Located directly adjacent to Lake Logan State Park, Duck Creek is nearly 100 acres of beautiful landscape in the Hocking Hills. Diverse stands of trees, including our bald cypress grove, abundant wildlife, and secluded feel make Duck Creek the perfect setting for any outdoor event. This festival is outdoors rain or shine and has three stages, a main stage and two smaller stages. It has a Pine Grove Stage and a Cabin Porch Stage. It also has smaller little stages that encourage impulse performances. Now WHO will be on those three stages you ask?

Dangermuffin
Whiskey Shivers
Yarn
Driftwood
The Howlin Brothers
Sol Driven Train
The Hocking River String Band
Buffalo Wabs And The Prince Hill Hustle
Caol Town Rounders
Honeybucket
The Great Wide Open
Mamadrones
Bibs And Barefeet
Bicentenial Bear
Honey And Houston

Now folks there will be more bands announced in the future and we’ll keep an eye out for any additions.Like all festivals as they announce more the ticket price goes up. There is a ten dollar parking fee per vehicle not included in the ticket price and there are vendors with ice and food but NO adult beverages sold on site…also
No glass bottles are permitted. Cans only.
No pets.
Swimming is permitted during daylight hours only and in designated areas. No night swimming.
Unauthorized sale of food or alcohol is prohibited.
No unauthorized vending.
No fireworks.
No weapons or knives.
No illegal drugs or controlled substances. If you need a nitrous tank and the guy with the backpack to have a good time, this festival is not for you.
No golf carts, ATVs or other motorized vehicles.
All coolers, vehicles, tents and persons are subject to search while on the premises.

To buy tickets you can click right HERE and folks for 125
that’s a GREAT deal for three days of music in the gorgeous area of Hocking Hills!