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Well once again Mr. Clay Campbell and the KENTUCKY OPRY have brought us another GREAT country music concert! This one will be in Paducah Kentucky at the CARSON CENTER and will feature Little Jimmy Dickens,Jim Ed Brown,Helen Cornelius,John Conlee and last but NOT least one the GREATEST country music announcers and DJ’s of all time Keith Bilbery!

HERE’S THE INFO!

Grand Ole Opry Stars are coming to Paducah!
ON SALE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 AT 10:00 AM (CDT)

Friday, November 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Prices (fees not included):
$75.00 (Main Floor Orchestra Center Rows BB-EE)
$60.00 (Main Floor Orchestra Side Rows AA-EE; Main Floor Orchestra Center Rows A-C)
$45.00 (Main Floor Orchestra & Loge Side Rows B-Y; Main Floor Orchestra & Loge Center Rows D-Y)
$35.00 (1st Balcony Box Seats & All Rows)
BOX OFFICE: (270) 450-4444
Group Discount: Groups of 20 or more contact Barbie at the Kentucky Opry: 1-888-459-8704
NO CAMERAS, CAMERA PHONES OR RECORDINGS

Jimmy Dickens, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius and John Conlee With Special Guest - WSM Grand Ole Opry announcer for 30 years: Keith Bilbrey

Little Jimmy Dickens is the master of country novelty songs, as well as a renowned ballad singer. Dickens is also known for his diminutive stature — he’s less than five feet tall — and his affection for flamboyant, rhinestone-studded outfits and country humor. Dickens has had hits in every decade between the 1940s and the 1970s, and has become one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular beloved performers.

Jim Ed Brown came to fame as a member of the ’50s vocal group the Browns, in which he was the band’s lead male vocalist. In 1965, when the group was still together, he embarked on a solo career with “Pop a Top Again”.

Jm Ed Brown had his greatest success in the late ’70s, when he regularly performed duets with Helen Cornelius. They had six Top Ten hits between 1976 and 1980, including their debut single, “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You,” which went to number one in 1976. During this time, two of those hits broke the Top 40. Brown and Cornelius delivered their number 13 hit “Don’t Bother to Knock.” in 1981.

Kentucky Native John Conlee is a lot like the songs he sings: He lives a domestic life with his wife Gale and three children, Rebecca, Jessica and Johnny. During the past two decades, John has achieved a level of success by making records to which the listening public can relate. A gifted entertainer, Conlee is not into glitz and hype, preferring to spend his off time working on his 32-acre farm.

Conlee’s hits include ” Rose-Colored Glasses” (his signature song), “Back Side of Thirty,” “Lady, Lay Down,” “Before My Time,” “Friday Night Blues,” “Miss Emily’s Picture,” “Busted,”"I Don’t Remember Loving You,” Common Man,” “‘m Only In It For The Love,” “In My Eyes,” “As Long As I’m Rocking With You,” Years After You,” “Domestic Life,”and Mama’s Rockin’ Chair.”

GH: Well readers last week independent traditional recording artist Tracey K. Houston stopped by Garyhayescountry.com to talk about her great career in country music and some other subjects.
Tell my readers where you‟re from, how you got started in the industry and who initially discovered you?
TKH: I was born and raised in western Canada, and by that I mean British Columbia and then as a teenager we ended up moving to Alberta. I lived in Calgary and I moved to Nashville in late „95. Who discovered me, let’s see… in „91 I recorded a four-song demo with a producer out of upstate New York and from that I used it to pitch to labels and such. Then in 1993 one of the label heads that I had talked to, Scoot Irwin out of Toronto, Ontario, he contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in releasing a single on a compilation. Compilations were fairly new at that time and I still called them “Various Artists” records — and it was a compilation that was being released to radio in Canada the States and Europe.
Things have changed alot since 1993 but back then my first single I recorded and released was “He’s Not For Real” which also appears on my first full album which I did in 1997. How I got into the business though was through Gary Buck, who is originally from Ontario but he also worked in Nashville with alot of artists and was a writer and a producer and had his own label in Canada. But in 1987 he was the one who actually got me up on stage for the first time with him and his band during a Calgary Stampede performance at a Royal Canadian Legion in the Forest Lawn area of Calgary. That was my first experience being on stage. In 1995 I moved down here to Nashville.
GH: Now “He’s Not For Real” that was on ATI Records correct?
TKH: Yes it was.
GH: I want to get independent labels out there that so many great artists are on. Especially Bloodshot Records and a few more I can think of. Because these people really need support and funding to keep going and do what they do.
TKH: ATI records that was headed up by Scoot Irwin is no longer around but still he’s the one who believed in me enough to give me a break and we‟re still very good friends to this day, we still keep in touch and I’m forever grateful to him. I got really great response from that single in Europe, it was alright in the States and was pretty good in Canada. I‟ve always had good response from Europe because it is Traditional Country.
GH: You‟ve done many benefit shows for some great people. Tell me more about the one you did in „97 for the Robertson County officer.
TKH: It was in White House Tennessee. I opened for David Frizzell and I also did some backup vocals for him. It was great for me because I absolutely love Lefty Frizzell and I knew all the vocals. It was for a Robertson County police officer who was killed in the line
of duty. A bunch of us got together up in White House to raise funds for him, and it was full because of the good cause.
GH: And in 1998 you were nominated as “Most Promising Female Artist of The Year”?
TKH: Yes I was, and I was amazed because this was out of New York State, and I had never actually played there. I still however have the notification and it was flattering. Now New York City is totally different from New York State though. How I‟ve been told they really like country music in New York, there is a place called the Rodeo Bar that alot of traditional country artists have played. I know Dale Watson plays there.
GH: I like Dale alot.
TKH: Yeah you cannot get any more country than him. He and Hank III are two of my favorites that are out right now for straight-ahead traditional country music.
GH: Yeah and Dale he’s such a nice guy.
TKH: He’s such a hoot to hang out with. I love his music he’s real. There‟s nothing pretentiousness about him and that’s what I like. What really appeals to me is if they‟re down to Earth.
GH: In 2000 you recorded another album “I‟m Not The Same Girl.” Tell me more about that album and what label it was on, Songbird Productions right?
TKH: Yeah that’s my own label. Back in „97 I was signed to an independent label here in town. I only agreed for a one-year contract, but I wasn‟t promoted much on that label, and it really wasn’t all that much Country. However that first album did garner a Number One hit of the title track “Falling For You” on the Independent charts in December 1997. They wanted me to re-new but I didn‟t, I wanted more creative control.
I formed my own label in 1999 and put out my second album “I’m Not The Same Girl”. That way I had full artistic control. The second album was much more country. The first song on the album “The Kind Of Man I Never Find” it‟s a fiddle kick off and there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that it’s real country. Lots of fiddle and steel…that‟s what I truly love. I had seven singles off that album. Even though Songbird is my own label I was releasing the singles on Stardust records with the great Buster Doss. He did alot to really help me. He helped me get alot of exposure. He passed away a few years ago and I miss him. One song “The Girl In Oklahoma” had a really good run for me and even 5 years later it was still being played on playlists, it had a really long run. Billy McCoy wrote that song and it was his first cut as a writer.
GH: One thing you did that I really appreciated was that you organized a benefit for Ernie Ashworth and Ray Griff. Tell me more about how you went through doing that?
TKH: Well I had known Ray Griff ever since I was a little kid. We had been friends for 28 years. And although he was in Canada, there are still medical expenses that aren‟t covered up there. He was undergoing radiation for throat cancer and I wanted to help him. Ernie Ashworth had undergone the bypass surgery at that time and he was also a good friend, so I decided to do a dual benefit, get us all to come together to raise money for them. I talked to Marty Martell about it and he helped do alot of PR on it. I picked up the phone and called a bunch of my musician friends. Stu Phillips, Stonewall Jackson, Jim Ed Brown, David Ball, James Intveld, Lonzo & Oscar, Jesse McReynolds and Crystal Gayle were all happy to perform for it. I organized the whole thing and it was my band that backed everyone up except James Intveld, Jesse McReynolds and David Ball. I am very detail- orientated so I tried to plan it down to the minute. We only went 10 minutes overtime for the entire night, so that was pretty good for keeping it on schedule. That was the first time that I met you, and thanks for contributing to that cause.
GH: Yeah and that Don Helms show benefit was fun too. Don taught me alot and shared alot of knowledge with me.
TKH: I didn‟t know Don personally, I had met him once before, but I had a great time at that show. Ray Price was great, Bobby Bare was great, and I was glad to see the turnout on both benefits. They were for worthy causes. We got alot of internet advertising. Also, I want to mention the rumors that Ernie Ashworth’s family was against the benefit. That’s so not true, and Mark Ashworth, his son, actually got on WSM and cleared it up, and he was promoting it. In fact, I got the authorization from Ernie himself on the phone because he was still alive at the time I first came up with the idea for the benefit, in January 2009 when I asked him, and his words to me were “Oh, that would be a blessing.” Mark called me right afterward when Ernie told him about it and we discussed it further. So the naysayers who say differently are wrong.
GH: Tell me about your third album “Salute To Loretta Lynn”
TKH: How that came about was because ever since 2003 I have always been doing a Loretta Lynn tribute show called “Hey Loretta, The Girl From Butcher Holler” which I wrote the script for and based it on her life story. Due to fan demand, I decided to record a Loretta tribute album, because the fans wanted some of the songs that they heard in my tribute show so that’s how that came about. Loretta got the very first copy of the album and she told me in March 2008 that she really liked it, and that I did a REALLY good job, then she gave me a kiss. (laughter) I decided to concentrate on the 1960’s era for the song selections, starting with her first single “I‟m a Honky Tonk Girl” from 1960 and ending with “Wings Upon Your Horns” from 1969. There are 10 songs on the album, all recorded and appearing chronologically as to when she recorded them. It was released on February 1st, 2007, which marked the 47th Anniversary of her signing her first record deal with Zero Records on February 1st, 1960. Zero Records was a Canadian label started by Norm Burley out of Vancouver, British Columbia. There were only a couple singles released off that record, “Dear Uncle Sam” and “Our Hearts Are Holding Hands” which was a duet with Troy Cook, Jr., and it went to #1 on the European Country Music Charts in January 2008.
GH: And your fourth album “Just The Way I Am”, tell me more about that project.
TKH: I finished up that record and released it in 2008, I had been working on that for quite awhile and it includes a duet with Jim Ed Brown on “I Heard The Bluebirds Sing.” It also has a couple bluegrass songs on it, plus some other very traditional country songs. I was out doing shows to promote it for only a short time but then I started working on organizing the benefit shows, and I was booking a three-Province Canadian tour as well, so my time was very limited to be doing road work to push the record.
GH: Tell me about your newest album “Rockin’ Little Angel”
TKH: I started recording that back in late 2009, but it was two years earlier my good friend Barry Hay, whom I‟ve known for over 18 years, gave me the idea for a rockabilly album. He really pushed me on that. I had never entertained the idea of doing a rockabilly album because I’m country, but Barry had alot of faith in me and funded the project. Without his big push I would have never stepped out of my comfort zone and recorded it. So right after I got off the Canadian tour I went into pre-production for this album and went through tons of songs for the album. I ended up producing that album myself. We recorded it at Bayou studios here in Nashville. It’s an analog studio, not digital. And for rockabilly you need analog and not digital because it has a more full-bodied sound, much warmer and with more depth. The studio guys were great they gave me the sound I wanted. I had Chris Casello on lead guitar, Dave Roe on upright bass, Rodger Morris on piano, Steve Holland on drums, Joe Spivey on rhythm guitar and John Heinrich on saxophone. All the musicians were playing live at the same time as I was cutting vocals so there was alot of energy there. The first single out on the new album is “Cryin‟ Over You” and it was written by James Intveld. He wrote it in 1987 for Rosie Flores, and that’s when I first heard it. I found the 45 in a record shop in Calgary and I was always loved the song. Even though it wasn‟t from the 50’s it was still on my list to record. It wasn‟t until 2008 that I realized that he wrote it, so I asked him at that time if he would mind me cutting it, he said, “By all means!” I first met Rosie in 2005 when we sang on the same show, but it wasn‟t until late 2008 that I met her again at a show. I brought the 45 to her show for her to sign. I asked James to sing backup vocals on the recording because he wrote it and he knew how the backup vocals should sound, without me trying to get a different backup singer to get the same sound I wanted. He also played piano on that cut as well. That’s the first single that’s out. Right now it’s released on a compilation album on Texas Drover Records out of Texas. Lou Nelson heads up that label. It’s been released all over the U.S., Europe and other overseas locations. I also have a duet on there with Marti Brom, I call her the „rockabilly sweetheart.‟ We cut an old Janis Martin tune “Hard Times Ahead.”
GH: Do you write your own material or do you only accept songs from other songwriters like me?
TKH: (laughing) I don‟t claim to impersonate a songwriter! (laughing) Well I have written some stuff with other writers, but nothing I‟ve recorded yet. Maybe someday. I try to co-write but due to our busy lives it’s hard. Both Carl Mann and Rayburn Anthony
have talked with me about us collaborating on songs together, but it hasn‟t happened yet. And also my good friend Jerry Foster, he and I have been trying to get together for awhile now, but he has so many irons in the fire it‟s hard for us to nail down a time. It’s good to see him so active still with his acting and other ventures.
GH: I’m friends with Jerry Foster too.
TKH: It‟s just really hard to find the time to get together with other writers due to my insane schedule. Usually the only time I go out socializing is for networking purposes. But I went to California in June for six days for a vacation! First vacation in 4 years. Of course, I still sang with a band out there, I can‟t get away completely from that. Ha! I don‟t think there‟s anything I do for fun that still isn‟t music related somehow. I went out for a girlfriend‟s birthday party, and she had a band there that I really liked, The Palominos. She had come out here to Nashville for my birthday party in late January, so when she invited me out there for hers, I couldn‟t really say no. (laughing) A couple weeks later she told me the Palominos would probably be playing, I told her that was even more incentive to go! (laughing)
GH: Yeah I just talked to them last week and will do an article on them soon too.
TKH: I checked them out on MySpace prior to us playing on the same show in California back in May. I really liked their music on MySpace, and totally loved their music at their live show too. They were awesome in person too.
GH: So what’s all happening with you now?
TKH: OK, here’s what’s happening with me now. As of mid-August I’ll be working on getting more bookings. The kick off show for the “Rockin‟ Little Angel” CD Release will be Saturday, August 28th at the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame in Jackson, TN. And I’m working on some other dates, including some in Ohio and southern Ontario, Canada. I wanna do a west coast tour in June out in California after Fan Fair, and then work my way up north into British Columbia. I’d like to start in Vancouver and any readers that want my show up there, this is where I want to book dates: Vancouver, Penticton, Kelowna, possibly Vernon, and Kamloops. Last year James Intveld and I played Kamloops, we headlined their Canada Day Festival. Also, I‟d like to play Quesnel, then up to Prince George, then west to Vanderhoof, and then heading back south and culminating in 100 Mile House, B.C.
GH: Well Tracey, thank you for your time and your contributions to country music. My readers definitely need to check out your work.
TKH: I appreciate everyone‟s support, and I love to spend time with everybody at the shows out on the road

Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc., invites you to “The Patsy Cline Birthday Block Party” to be held Saturday, September 4 from 10 AM to 6 PM - RAIN OR SHINE - at her Historic House at 608 South Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia. Shuttle bus provided by Winchester Royals from Court Square Auto Park/Kent Street Entrance. The mayor has declared it “Patsy Cline Day.” Admission is FREE. Donations - accepted at the gate - will benef…it the restoration of the house. Come meet some of Patsy’s family members, her fan club and many of her friends.

Agenda:

10:00 AM
Liz Ruffner will perform Patsy’s songs from 10:00 to 10:15 AM
Greenwood Grocery & Deli Catering & Concessions will be serving breakfast items. Souvenirs, brick sales, 50/50 raffle, chance at an overnight Gaylord National stay on the Potomac (worth $425), a Bryce Resort Golf package will all be featured during this “Specials” hour. Also, Sally Brown - with her special jewelry.

10:15 to 10:45
“Chit Chat About Patsy” table will be in full swing on the red carpet. Those who knew Patsy or Patsy history will share with us their stories (Connie Owens, Joe Richards, Mary Klick Robinson, Jackie Haymaker, etc).

10:45 to 11:00
“Louise” from the Historic Jordan Springs/Wayside Theatre production of “Always . . . Patsy Cline” will be with us. Come see her and get her autograph! She’s amazing.

11:00
Front Porch house stories. Step up and hear the history of Patsy’s Winchester years and the history of the house! Also, be sure to bring your camera to capture a special souvenir by having your picture taken in the replica glider with an enlarged portrait of Patsy sitting in the original glider right beside you.

11:30
Enter “The Patsy Walk” for $1.00. This event is like an old fashioned cake walk. There will be 10 circles on the ground. One will have a picture of Patsy’s house. Patsy’s music will play and when it stops, if you are the lucky person on the circle with her house - you win a prize! We will run five rounds at 11:30 and give away five prizes!

12 Noon
Liz Ruffner performs “Sweet Dreams” - from her winning performance at the contest held by Historic Jordan Springs, Wayside Theatre & CPC.

Mayor Elizabeth Minor officially declares it “Patsy Cline Day” in Winchester.

Lunch is in full swing sold by Greenwood Grocery & Deli Catering & Concessions.

Special appearance - Pollilops the Clown. She’ll even make you a special “animal friend” with her balloons!

12:15 to 12:30
Liz Ruffner will perform Patsy’s songs.

12:30
“Sweet Tooth” Live Auction. Come bid on some of the best recipes in town! One of the recipes and goodies auctioned will be Hilda Hensley’s very own “Walnut Cake” recipe recreated by Helen Cook, whose house Patsy took sewing/Home Economics in while attending Lincoln High School in the eighth grade.

1:00 PM
Patsy Cline Look-a-Like Contest ($10 to enter - pay day of event - enter by emailing inmemoryofpatsy@aol.com) Also, be sure to grab your camera for a special souvenir by having your picture taken behind the “Patsy Look-a-Like” board!

1:30
Enter “The Patsy Walk” for $1.00 This event is like an old fashioned cake walk. See 11:30 AM description for details of how it’s run.

2:00
Patsy Cline Sing-a-Like Contest judged by Fan Club members. ($10 to enter - pay day of event - enter by emailing inmemoryofpatsy@aol.com)

MUST PERFORM ONE OF PATSY’S SONGS. NO OTHER MUSIC WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THIS CONTEST HELD IN HER MEMORY.

Meet Jim McCoy who helped Patsy launch her career from WINC radio station.

Matt Spinks, winner of the 2010 Loudoun County Fair Karaoke Contest sponsored by Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc., (and lead singer with the band “Open Waters”) will perform his winning song from Patsy’s front porch.

3:00
Meet some of Patsy’s family members and some of her friends.

3:30
Birthday cake served in honor of Patsy’s birthday (which is Sept.

4:00 to 6:00 PM
Live music by the band “4 Of A Kind Plus” featuring old country and a “Patsy” entertainer.

6:00 PM
50/50 Drawing of Winner’s Name (need not be present to win)
Drawing on chance for Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac Overnight Stay (worth $425)
Drawing on chance for Bryce Resort Golf Package

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS A MINUTE OF THIS EVENT!!!

*******

CELEBRATING PATSY CLINE, INC., RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS.

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS. ALL CHILDREN 12 & UNDER MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SUPERVISING ADULT.

NO ALCOHOL. NO FOOD BROUGHT IN. NO PETS.

ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE RESTORATION EFFORTS OF PATSY’S 608 SOUTH KENT STREET HOUSE.

While most “country” websites are busy telling you Shania Twain is the next Idol Judge,I’ll report on REAL country music!

On wedsday August 11th one day before what would have been his 81st birthday the Bakersfield West Rotary donated a star on the Fox Theater’s walk of fame to Honor Buck Owens who made a name for their city with his hit song “Streets Of Bakersfield” Which was written by Homer Joy. He later recorded a duet of the song with Dwight Yoakum.His two sons were present for the unvieling of the star and hundereds of friends and family members.

Buck was actually born Alvis Edgar Owens and he was born in Texas,but he loved Bakersfield so much he moved there in the
1950’s making it his home until we lost him in 2006.
Johnny Russell wrote his first hit song “Act Naturally’ and Buck helped form the “Bakersfield” sound of country music.
Buck is a member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.He left us 39 studio albums all produced by Capitol with Ken Nelson (accept for two) and some of the BEST live albums in country music history.Buck was the first country artist welcomed to Japan in 1967.

Songwriter JIMMY WEBB was born in 1946.He is most notably recognized for writing “The Highwaymen” the first hit for the band of the same name,which
consisted of Willie Nelson,Waylon Jennings,Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash.
Webb also wrote “Galveston” “Whichita Lineman” and “By The Time I Get To Pheonix” all hits for Glenn Campbell. “By The Time I Get To Pheonix” was the third most performed song in ANY genre between 1940 and 1990. And Mr. Webb is the ONLY songwriter
EVER to recieve a Gammy award.
He’s been awarded every accolade a songwriter could earn and has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

Sadly today in 1982 Country Legend ERNEST TUBB played his last and final performance on the Grand Ole Opry.He gave SO MUCH to country music,he with the help of many Troubadors built this little known genre of music into a worldwide phenominon.

Many many people played for Ernest including the GREAT Legend Jack Greene,and Billy Byrd,Petie Mitchell,and so many more I couldn’t name them all!

He brought forth a young lady from Butcher Holler Ky,we know as
Loretta Lynn.He became a weekly regular on the Opry and on Hee Haw,and started the Ernest Tubb Record Shops where today you can STILL find hard-to-find country and bluegrass music.

I miss this gentleman greatly and I was a very young age when he died…however I remember being sad because even at 14 I was
admiring this man and what he represented to the world.He like John Wayne WAS America.

Any of you readers that know me on a personal level know that my core belief is CLASSIC country was music of country’s past and TRADITIONAL country is music of it’s present and future.And I
disregard ANY and ALL pop country as country at all!

With that being said I firmly believe that in respect of female singers and songwriters Kitty Wells is was and always will be the queen of country,however Loretta comes close to first.
I think she is long overdue for this award!

According to the Tennessean,The Recording Academy’s second annual GRAMMY Salute to Country Music will honor Opry Member and Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn. A tribute show is set for Tuesday, October 12 at the Ryman Auditorium where Loretta will collect The Recording Academy President’s Merit Award in recognition of her 50 eventful years in country music.

Lynn is the second country music recipient of the award and also the second Opry member to receive the award. Vince Gill received the award last year in a tribute featuring performances by Brad Paisley, Michael McDonald, Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, and more

OK readers here’s a guy you MUST go see live! SCOTT H BIRAM and he will be playing thursday august 12th at 8:30 atTHE FOOBAR in Nashville.
You can pre perchase tickets HERE.
We must support these independent acts that play quality music.
Go to the shows,support them,buy their merchandise…and above all THANK them it’s a rigourous job!