Nashville Garbage Wins Again - or - Let Mason Ramsey Do His Own Thing

By now, everybody has heard the story of the yodeling kid, aka Mason Ramsey, whose intoning of Hank Williams' classics at a local House Of Rollbacks in Kentucky, just across the border from his home state Illinois, catapulted the video of that performance into internet virality. TV shows, a guest spot at Coachella, a first performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and now he got country-Biebered up and released a terrible debut single "Famous." All that in less than a month.

Oh, I was ecstatic like so many other traditional country music fans (aka old farts). Here was a young lad of 11-years pouring his heart out with Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues." A little late to the game, I normally don't pay that much attention to viral videos and memes, I shared it on facebook and stated that "...this is real country. And Hank is smiling."



Well, Hank and I aren't smiling anymore.

It seemed too good to be true, a visit on the Ellen DeGeneres TV- show, not only saw him getting a scholarship to study in the future but also made it possible to go visit and sing at the mother church of country music, The Grand Ole Opry. But that visit to Nashville bore strange fruits, the record-machinery under the auspices of has-been-artist Jake Owen and his Big Loud Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic got hold of the little rebel singing Hiram's songs and set him straight: Turning him into a Justin pop-starlet. Accused of the "kidnapping" of the boy's dream are beside Owen, Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard, EDM-pop-country garbage-writers - Corey Crowder (Kane Brown), Sarah Buxton (Chris Lane), and Canaan Smith (Florida Georgia Line) and to top the atrocities, they hired FGL producer Joey Moi known for his crimes with Nickelback.

Hastily Social Media accounts were created, suddenly there was a website, a facebook page, an Instagram showcase, and a Twitter feed. As far as I know, all these are restricted to kids older than 13 years old. But the onslaught got started and started it did - poor Mason gained over 4000 followers on Twitter per day, alone. And "Famous" his debut was released the same day, "The Yodeling Boy" was squeezed into the FGL set at the Stagecoach festival, to promote the drum-machine ditty.

Not only is "Famous" a dumbed-down, generic mass production, but its lyrics also wouldn't make a reading book for first graders. Please read and digest with caution:

Don't get me wrong, it's pretty cool to be on TV
So all the folks back home can see me
And that I'm livin' it out
All the things I used to dream about
Yeah, it's pretty great, singing on a stage
Proud 'cause there ain't an empty seat in the place
But, girl, ever since I met you
I got a whole new perspective

And people eager to know what happened to their @lilhankwilliams (his Instagram moniker) started clicking on YouTube (> 8 million) and he started to dominate Spotify (> 5.6 million) which amounts, with other streaming services, to over 15 million streams in one week. And the single is currently going to radio, which may or may not pick it up, as they may hopefully see the whole deal as a novelty factor with a faster half-life than a rotting egg in the sun.

Producer Joey Moi and the other perpetrators should be charged with musical child molestation and treason in the name of true country music.

The only good part is, that the original video where he sings his idol's song still leads with 37 million spins and Hank actually saw a 2000% increase of spins on Spotify. How sweet would it have been if the kid actually would have released a remake of a Williams' classic?
The Grand Ole Opry asked him back and Mason will make another 3-hour road trip back to Nashville to play this coming Saturday 5/12. I hope he sticks with Hank, as he got a standing ovation the first time doing it.
But as the Grand Ole Opry wrote: "Mason is rising fast in the music business." - just let's all hope not too fast, this kid deserves better.

*/***** (1/5)


Sources: Pandora - Next Big Sound, YouTube, Billboard, Guardian. Grand Ole Opry

In The News - Jon Pardi Likes Beer - Marty Stuart To Open Museum - Mel Tillis Memorial Recap

Traditional newcomer Jon Pardi is featured in a Superbowl beer commercial. Marty Stuart announced, that he plans to open the Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music Museum and Performance Hall in Philadelphia, Mississippi. And a recap, with a video link to the full memorial for the late Mel Tillis at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. 

Jon Pardi redoes "I Like Beer" for Superbowl commercial

"Dirt On My Boots" crooner, Jon Pardi, the reigning CMA "New Artist Of The Year" and ACM "New Male Vocalist" was asked by Michelob ULTRA to re-record the 1975 Tom T. Hall ode "I Like Beer" for a new commercial that will show during this year's Superbowl.
The original, the first single from Hall's "I WROTE A SONG ABOUT IT" charted on the Country Singles Chart at #4, got a more uptempo treatment during Pardi's recording.

Even though Pardi is only delivering the soundtrack to the new anthem for Michelob ULTRA's commercial starring actor Chris Pratt, US Open Gold Champion Brooks Koepka, 11-time World Surf League Champion Kelly Slater and 2017 NYC Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan it is trying to demonstrate that "You Can Do Both" - being fit and still enjoy a cold one.

“This past year has been filled with so many milestones and bucket list items, and when Michelob Ultra reached out with an opportunity to be part of this Super Bowl commercial, I was all in. It was such a fun experience to record this version of the song and it’s awesome to be a part of it,” Pardi was quoted in the press release.

Pardi’s current single “She Ain’t In It” is currently Top 30-and-climbing on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. I hope that "I Like Beer" will be soon available as a download.



And here's the original by Tom T. Hall

Marty Stuart To Open Museum

© David McClister 

According to the Associated Press (AP), Country traditionalist Marty Stuart is planning to open "Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music Museum and Performance Hall" in his hometown, of Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Stuart, who began playing as a 13-year old with Lester Flatt and later was part of Johnny Cash's band, is an avid collector of country music artifacts and has by now amassed more than 20'000 pieces, from clothing by Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline to handwritten lyrics from original superstar Hank Williams. He is also known as a photographer and has a vast collection not only of portraits of country stars of old but also of the American West.

Philadelphia, a small town about 80 miles northeast of Mississippi capitol Jackson sure will get an economic boost from tourism when the Congress of Country Music is supposed to open in three years.

"My collection for all these years has been a very good-neighbor collection. We've loaned things to museums for years and years,"  Stuart is quoted in the AP article.

The government of Mississippi has already allocated $2 million to the project, Stuart is trying to raise the rest of the money from private donors.

Stuart is currently touring behind last year's album "WAY OUT WEST," which made my "10 for 2017" as one of the 30 best Albums released in 2017. His next dates will be in Texas: New Braunfels, Austin, Houston, and Dallas. For more info and tour dates, visit his website, Marty Stuart

Mel Tillis Memorial

Last week's memorial for the late singer, Mel Tillis was broadcasted live on legendary AM 650 WSM, as I told my readers in my blog.

If you didn't have a chance to tune into the almost 2-hour long memorial with various artists taking part, local Nashville NewsChannel 5 recorded the whole celebration of life for Mel Tillis on video and uploaded it to their facebook page.

Besides some stellar performances, it was the remembrances, the little stories that make this memorial worth watching again. I hope the station will leave that link up for people to revisit.

"You could feel the emotion in the room. We felt dad's presence. We think he was proud," Pam Tillis told the TV station.

Mel Tillis, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame was honored by Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, with the following statement:

"Mel Tillis spent a lifetime giving us joy and laughter and music, which is why his death brings such sadness. Had he never stepped on a stage, he would still have been one of the funniest and most genuine people on the planet. But his whimsy and warmth were only a part of his appeal. He wrote some of country music's most compelling and consequential songs, he fronted a remarkable band, and he sang with power and emotion. He also shone as an inspiration, revealing what others called an impediment as a vehicle for humor and hope."



Sources: Press Release, Billboard, Whitburn, AP,  Marty Stuart, NewsChannel 5 Nashville,

Mel Tillis' Memorial Service Will Be Broadcast Live - Many Stars To Attend And Perform

The memorial service for Country Music Hall of Famer, Mel Tillis will be broadcast live from the original Grand Ole Opry (Ryman Auditorium) by legendary Nashville station 650 AM WSM tomorrow morning, January, 31st at 10 am local time (CST). If you are not in the local area to catch the radio station you can listen to it on the web WSMonline.com, or on your phone on the station's mobile app.

Tillis’ family, friends, fans, and music industry colleagues will gather at the Ryman to honor the life and career of the Country Music Hall of Famer.

A slew of country stars will perform some of Tillis’ most memorable career songs. Those scheduled to take the stage include Ricky Skaggs, Ray Stevens, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Alison Krauss with the Street Corner Symphony, Jamey Johnson, Collin Raye, Daryle Singletary, Lorrie Morgan, Ira Dean, Pam Tillis, Sonny Tillis, and Carrie April Tillis.

Tillis’ band, The Statesiders, will accompany select performances and former “Nashville Now” host Ralph Emery will emcee.

The event is free and open to the public.

After a long struggle to regain his health, country music legend Mel Tillis passed away on November 19, 2017, at the Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. Tillis battled intestinal issues since early 2016 and never fully recovered. He was 85.

Tillis wasn't only a singer, he was an "Entertainer of the Year" (CMA 1976) and a great songwriter as well: songs like "Detroit City" (Bobby Bare), "Life Turned Her That Way" (Ricky Van Shelton), "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" (Kenny Rogers), and "Honey (Open That Door)" (Ricky Skaggs) are just a few of his gems out of a huge catalog.
On February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to country music




Source: Press Release

In The News - Merle's Tour Bus For Sale - Reba Hawking Chicken - Nashville Scene Winners

An old tour bus once owned by Merle Haggard goes on to the auction block in Texas; Reba McEntire got promoted to Colonel and is hawking Smoky Mountain BBQ chicken and weekly publication "Nashville Scene" asked over 90 country music critics for their best of 2017. 



Merle's Bus
Ever fancied on riding in a country music star's tour bus? What about owning one and taking it for a ride through the Texas Hill Country. On February, 10th Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels is putting a 2008 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) bus, once owned by Merle Haggard up on the block.

Besides the regular outfittings (master bedroom, bunks, lounge area) the bus also has some custom made features. The late Merle Haggard was a huge train buff, so the sides of the bus are adorned with Santa Fe Super Chief insignia and the bus, according to the Austin American Statesman even has a vintage train horn installed.

In 1969 Haggard released a tribute album to the "Singing Brakeman," Jimmie Rogers called "SAME TRAIN, A DIFFERENT TIME" and followed with another album lauding trains seven years later with "MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH TRAINS."
The cover of that album also depicts some of Merle's model trains and beside the Dolly Parton penned title track, contains Merle's lament about the disappearance of trains, "No More Trains to Ride".

The video below must have been filmed by the previous owner, it looks like they used Lago Vista airport outside of Austin for a backdrop.
Update: Today (1/29) I did get an update from Robb Burley from the Auction Gallery
 "The bus was ordered new by Merle in 2006 & was delivered in 2008. Merle toured in it until 2015 when he traded it in on a bus he only had a few months before he died on his birthday April 6, 2016. Photo of the original title to Merle is on the website. The bus has over 350,000 Merle miles on it. A custom seat has the armrest wear out there by Merle. Comes with a built-in authentic train whistle. The bus was acquired by the current owner & consignor of the bus when Merle traded it in. They tried unsuccessfully running it on eBay twice. Bidding will open at $100,000. It should land north of $200,000 easily even if it wasn’t owned by Merle. The bus shows road wear but is in excellent working order and in good condition. The custom tags were added when registered in Texas."
More info at Burley Auction Gallery




Colonel McEntire

Several firsts mark the new campaign for "Smoky Mountain BBQ" from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). For the first time, it's a music star and a woman who will play the role of grey-haired and mustached KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders.

Beginning tomorrow (1/28) new ads featuring Reba McEntire will air on television and computer screens in the US to hawk KFC’s new Smoky Mountain BBQ line of fried chicken.

“With Reba’s southern roots and entrepreneurial spirit, she truly embodies the values of the Colonel and the crowd-pleasing flavor of our Smoky Mountain BBQ,” Andrea Zahumensky, Chief Marketing Officer for the fried chicken chain was quoted in the press release. ”

“I’ve held a lot of roles in my life – sort of like the Colonel himself – but this is certainly the most unique one yet,” McEntire iterated in the release.







Nashville Scene Country Music Critic’s Poll

For the 18th time, weekly publication "Nashville Scene" asked 94 guest music critics for their favorites of 2017. As no big surprise, most mainstream Nashville bubble artists got ignored, Jason Isbell and his 400 Unit came out as the big winner with "Best Album of the Year" for "The Nashville Sound," "Best Live Act," "Best Songwriter," and being "Artist of the Year." Isbell came in second behind Chris Stapleton as "Best Male Singer"  the female counterpart being Lee Ann Womack.

Midland was voted best new act in front of Tyler Childers and Carly Pearce; their Grammy-nominated song "Drinkin' Problem" also got the honors as "Single of the Year."  Little Big Town was the only mainstream winner in the Duo / Group category.

An interesting factoid mentioned in the publication is that "five of the top 20 singles on Billboard’s year-end chart (Kane Brown’s “What Ifs,” Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy,” Dylan Scott’s “My Girl,” Florida Georgia Line’s “God, Your Mama and Me” and Jason Aldean’s “Any Ol’ Barstool”) failed to gain a vote from any critic."

For a full list of the winners, visit Nashville Scene's website.

Sources: Austin American Statesman, Burley Auction Gallery, YouTube, KFC Press Release, Nashville Scene

Singer Lari White Has Passed

Singer/Songwriter, Producer and Vocal Coach, Lari White has died earlier this morning (1/23) after a courageous four month battle against a rare peritoneal cancer. 

Update 1/23/18
Her mom took to Caring Bridge again today and announced that "At 4:44 this morning, Lari peacefully took her "Rain Walk"..." referencing Lari's love of the rain. Lari was able to spend the weekend at her home with close family and was able to enjoy a sunny and rainy day, as that were her wishes. 
Our condolences go out to her loved ones. May there be a light in the darkness!


Original post:

Her mom took to Caring Bridge to post an update on Friday (1/19) and it looks disheartening:
"Last night Lari was admitted to a wonderful Hospice facility here in Nashville, where she has all the Care she needs to make her comfortable and quiet for this part of the Journey, and where she is completely surrounded by loving family…"

It was only in November when Lari took to her "ArtistWorks" space to tell her voice students that she was diagnosed with cancer:
"...The surgery revealed advanced Peritoneal Cancer. Since then a series of complications including pain management, pneumonia and a bowel obstruction requiring emergency surgery has kept me in and out of the hospital fighting for my life. This is, of course, my focus for the foreseeable future."

But she also encouraged her students to keep going on: "All I ask is that you keep singing! Make a joyful noise, because I believe Our Creator loves the sound!"

Lari came to prominence in the late 80's with winning "You Can Be A Star" on The Nashville Network. A resulting record deal with Capitol didn't give her the success she was looking for and she started singing backup for Rodney Crowell. It was him, who, after she got another deal with RCA, produced her debut album "LEAD ME NOT" with the rockabilly-tinged "What A Woman Wants" being its biggest success.



She triumphed even more with her follow up, 1994's "WISHES" giving her three top-ten hits, two again co-written with Cannon "That's My Baby" and "That's How You Know (When You're in Love)" and the Cindy Greene, Don Cook, Chick Rains penned "Now I Know." The album was produced by Garth Fundis and was certified Gold a year later for half a million copies sold.

On her third and last (besides a Greatest Hits Compilation) outing for RCA "DON'T FENCE ME IN" which she produced with Josh Leo, was the marvelous single "Wild At Heart," a co-write with Al Anderson.



Another stint came in 1998 with Lyric Street Records. With the title track, "Stepping Stone" (White, David Kent, Craig Wiseman) she not only cracked the Country top-twenty but also appeared on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Other singles were "Take Me" (Bob DiPiero, Stephony Smith) and "John Wayne Walking Away "(Austin Cunningham, Jerry Boonstra, Doak Snead).

Over the years she appeared in films like "Cast Away", Broadway Musical ("Ring Of Fire") and Cabaret Shows ("My First Affair"), producing artists and playing house concerts all over the country, including some appearances on Delbert McClinton's cruise. As a producer, she was actually in charge of the Platinum certified album by Toby Keith "WHITE TRASH WITH MONEY." She also started releasing albums on her own label, Skinny White Girl, like "GREEN EYED SOUL".
In February of last year, she released two EPs "New Loves" and "Old Friends" (both available through the links on her website) containing new songs and some re-recordings of her old hits, with some special friends, Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell, Delbert McClinton, Etta Britt and Victor Wooten helping out.
To promote the release Lari visited Eric Dahl, the longtime host of Nashville's FOX 17 Rock & Review TV show.



Lari White is married to singer/songwriter Chuck Cannon (among many others "I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery), the couple has two daughters, M'Kenzy and Kyra, and a son, Jaxon.

To cope with the enormity of medical bills, some friends have established, a gofundme account in the name of Lari White and Chuck Cannon.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lari and her family.






Sources: LariWhite.com, Caring Bridge, Billboard, RIAA,

Plagiarism - Ed Sheeran sued over McGraw/Hill hit "Rest Of Our Life"

A lawsuit filed in New York federal court accuses Ed Sheeran and three of his co-writers of "blatant copying" an Australian hit by Jasmine Rae "When I Found You" into Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's top-20-hit "The Rest Of Our Life." Two of the original writers, Sean Carey and Beau Golden are seeking at least $ 5 million in damages plus profits, song royalties, covering of attorney's fees and costs, along with an injunction for the song to be permanently blocked. 

The lawsuit alleges that: "The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of original elements of the song, and is obvious to the ordinary observer." But it's not just the melody, both songs also have the same message, lauding a long-lasting romantic relationship and making both partners stronger in the end.

The two plaintiffs hired Nashville lawyer Richard Busch, who successfully won a trial for the family of Marvin Gaye. Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams were found guilty of infringing Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up" into "Blurred Lines," a hit for Thicke. The Gaye estate was awarded $ 5.3 million.

This is not the first time Ed Sheeran is accused of copyright violations, Busch already sued the British composer and singer before. That $ 20 million lawsuit over the hit "Photograph" was settled out of court and since then the two suing songwriters are credited as co-writers of the song, which grants them a significant share of royalties.

The suit against Sheeran and his co-writers Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol, Amy Wadge, and Steven McCutcheon also includes McGraw, Hill as well as the publishing companies and the record labels. It actually gets quite interesting, the suit claims, that a marketing manager of Sony Music Australia, Tim Holland who also happens to be the boyfriend of Jasmine Rae was aware of the infringement months before the McGraw/Hill hit was released. Rae, who is not part of the plaintiffs seeking damages, is also a co-writer on "When I Found You," and released the song on her 2015 album "HEARTBEAT."
The lawsuit alleges, that "It very well may have been an agent of Sony Music Entertainment who provided the other defendants herein with access to the Song."
It is also alleged that Mr. Holland may have presented "When I Found You" to Sony Music "in an effort to gain exposure for Ms. Rae and promote her work." and that he may have kept his silence about the infringement, in order to not "lose his job with Sony Music."
Another theory also stated in the complaint, of how Sheeran could have accessed the song, says that he was touring in Australia while "When I Found You" was being played on the local radio stations.

Both songs can be listened to below - tell me what you think in the comments.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill


Jasmine Rae


Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, The Independent

Earls Of Leicester To Record Live Album At Country Music Hall Of Fame

Grammy and multiple IBMA winner Earls Of Leicester will record their new, third album at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville on February 24 and 25. 

The sextet under the aegis of Dobro master Jerry Douglas pays homage to one of the most influential acts in Bluegrass history, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs (hence the name Earls of Leicester) and their group the Foggy Mountain Boys. It was original Dobro player, Josh Graves, who made Douglas pick up the instrument and start playing it. Being one of the most respected instrumentalists, Douglas always wanted to celebrate the history and the songbook of Flatt & Scruggs and found in fiddler Johnny Warren,  whose dad was a Foggy Mountain Boy, bassist Barry Bales from Alison Krauss' band, current IBMA banjo player of the year Charlie Cushman, mandolist Jeff White, who replaced original "Earl"  Tim O'Brien and singer and guitarist Shawn Camp five other kindred spirits to offer songs originally recorded by Flatt & Scruggs.

A self-titled, Grammy-winning, "debut" album was released in fall of 2014, followed by "RATTLE AND ROAR" two years later and their new live album is scheduled to be later this year. Understandably, Jerry Douglas is quite excited about the new project:

“This two night stand in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame is a celebration for the Earls of Leicester – as exciting as when Flatt and Scruggs played Vanderbilt University and Carnegie Hall rolled into one,”
said Douglas, referencing the two live albums Flatt and Scruggs cut in 1964 and 1963 respectively. He also hinted at what people may expect during the recordings, which will also be videotaped:
 “We will be debuting songs new to our repertoire and rolling out a few surprises as we videotape and record the culmination of five years of work in our mission to re-educate, and in many cases, reveal this body of work for the first time.”

The Earls of Leicester will also tour select cities before the recording session at the Hall of Fame. So I can certainly imagine that certain new songs will be played and "rehearsed" during these live gigs.

The Earls of Leicester On Tour
2/15 Carolina Theatre Durham, NC
2/17 Rodeheaver Boys Ranch (Palatka Bluegrass Festival), Palatka, FL
2/19 Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL
2/20 City Winery Atlanta, GA
2/22 Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY
2/24 Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN
2/25 Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN

"The Train That Carried My Girl From Town" from "RATTLE AND ROAR"


Sources: Press Release, Earls of Leicester (FB),

Loretta Get Well Soon - Singer Suffers Broken Hip

We need to send Loretta Lynn another "Get-Well" card, the soon to be 85-year old broke her hip at her home in Tennessee, while still recovering from a stroke she suffered in May of last year. 

According to her sister, country singer Crystal Gayle, the "Coalminer's Daughter" is "doing as well as can be expected with this type of injury." Loretta's team soon followed with their own tweet and the same message on her website, saying that she's doing well and is thanking all her fans for the thoughts and prayers.

#birthdayweek #birthdaywish @LorettaLynn pic.twitter.com/rflIBEpdOn

— Crystal Gayle (@TheCrystalGayle) January 8, 2018

After her stroke last year, Loretta Lynn not only canceled all of her tour dates but also the release of her new album "WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT" to 2018 so she would be able to promote it properly. Her only public appearances after her stroke were at a benefit at her Hurricane Mills' Ranch and at the induction of Alan Jackson into the Country Music Hall of Fame both in October of last year.

Her last album, "FULL CIRCLE" on Legacy Records, a collection of classics and new songs, she recorded with the help of her daughter Patsy and John Carter Cash was released in March 2016 and was nominated for a Grammy Award in February of last year. "Everything It Takes" a song, Loretta co-wrote with Todd Snider is from that release.



P.S. Happy Birthday to Crystal Gayle, who turns 67 today (1/9); may her wishes come through that her sister will fully recover.

Sources: Twitter, LorettaLynn.com, YouTube