Today was my fifth work day (for pay) on my new job. After an A.D. 2010 of self-employment (pure commission & no withholding for Uncle Sam) and unemployment, to have ANY employment with a regular income is most deeply appreciated. But THIS particular line of work is truly a God-send!
You see, I'm once again guiding tours of the Grand Ole Opry House!
In the late 1990s I went from being a part-time or seasonal ticket seller, to Tour Coordinator at Grand Ole Opry Tours. One element of that position was guiding tours of the House -- the tour company's only walking tour.
And now I'm doing this again, with some alteration. For one, we begin the tour to the right of the central lobby with a six-minute video introduction to the Show and the House. And of course I knew, from the first Saturday last October, when 4,000 others and I took the free tour of the newly reopened House, that the backstage and to a lesser degree other areas, had been greatly improved in appearance. In fact, the Great Flood (May 2010) and the astounding and amazingly rapid restoration of the House are featured in the video. Plus, in the Green Room a metal strip we call Guests' attention to displays how high the floodwater rose.
But I very quickly learned this revised tour, and indeed this past Wednesday, my third day of work/training, got to conduct my first tour. afterward I asked the "veteran" Tour Guide how I did and she replied that I was wonderful! So perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised at what occurred at week's end.
When I clocked-in late Fri. afternoon, after battling Nashville's notorious Fri. going-home "rush" hour traffic, I was expecting to do whatever assigned tasks I'd be given while the Friday Nite Opry Show took place, then "shadow" or assist & learn the Post-Show Tour with an experienced Guide. And yes, I did spend some time scanning tickets at the Opry House front door and then guiding Guests to their seats in the auditorium.
But before I got started, my Lead informed me that I'd be doing a VIP Tour. I'd heard of these, but not much more than the term. This involved contacting a small group of Guests, in this instance six, at the seats as Intermission was ending, to escort them to backstage, to Dressing Room #1, which once served the late Roy Acuff, the "King of Country Music" and one of the "Four Pillars of the Grand Ole Opry". There they got to enter and meet for a few personal moments and a few photo shots with no less than Vince Gill! Afterward I took them on an abbreviated version of the regular backstage tour, so they could see the Green Room, other dressings rooms (each decorated to a theme) and the Opry House post office. Then I took them back to their seats so they could enjoy the rest of the show – including Vince, who "hosted" the final half hour.
When that final half hour and the show ended I was back in the lobby area to guide a group of Guests on a backstage tour. The Post-Show Tour is pretty much like the regular tour, except we skip the introductory video. After all, they've just enjoyed the Fri. Nite Opry Show and hardly need a six-minute explanation, not even by Carrie Underwood. But the BIG diference in the Post-Show is that things are still busy backstage, and some of the stars are fixing to leave. Thus, my group ran into Craig Morgan, and shortly afterward Vince! Both men graciously delayed their exit for pix and autographs. That's the way Country Music artists are, especially those who belong to the Opry family!
The next day (sat. the 19th) during a break between tours I went to the box office to inquire about groups rates and minimum numbers. And to my great surprise ran into Lisa Minix! She trained me on the computerized sales-cash register system when I first sold tickets at Opryland back in 1991! What a delight to see her again! We couldn't stop hugging each other.
Therefore yestereve's Grand Ole Opry Show carries special meaning for yours truly. Y'all come to the tour and show now, ya hear?
Running account of my impressions of Nashville, Tennessee, a.k.a. "Music City", since my return at the end of July - altho' the blog commences at the beginning of November of A.D. 2008.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Music City on the Silver Screen; a movie review
Saturday afternoon, 15 January, I did something I don't get to do as often as I wish. I took in a new movie, at the theater.
The movie is "Country strong".
I might not have paid it much more attention than any other flicks that have debuted so far this year. But when I watched Gwyneth Paltrow sing and play guitar, presenting the theme song, during last fall's CMA Awards show (right here in Bridgestone Arena, downtown) I got rather impressed. Plus, I came to remember that last year there was a call for Nashville residents to go to Municipal Auditorium to participate in crowd scenes for the movie.
Between the opening of "Country Strong" here and last Friday, I managed to read a few reviews of it. It generally got panned. I got to having second tho'ts about seeing it; wait 'til it would be available on DVD for check-out. However, I searched for the least expensive ticket in town and went.
I'm glad I did!
The movie was quite believable. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that this was award-winning actress Paltrow PLAYING a PART, not a REAL country music star struggling with addictions and a troubled marriage. At one scene I got to feeling some animus against her character; she seemed too whiny (like Marsha Mason's role in "The Goodbye girl"). But then when she visited the schoolroom as part of "Make-A-Wish" I really warmed up to her. I began to root for her to overcome her dependencies and revive her marriage & her singing career. And then when she performed those songs on stage -- even tho' I knew this concert scene was shot in Nashville's Municipal Aud. and NOT in Dallas) -- I really was ready to stand up & cheer as tho' actually in the crowd at an actual Country Music concert! At this point also, Kelly Canter was making me think of Trish Yearwood and/or Faith Hill! (The latter, BTW, is Tim McGraw's real-life Pop-Country-star wife.)
As the reviews said, there were many clichés which've been in more than one flick about a country music star. I myself noticed ones I'd seen in "Coal Miner's Daughter" and/or "Pure Country", but these didn't really bother me. What DID bother me: some scenes were set in Texas or "on the road again" somewhere/anywhere, but I recognized all urban scenes as shot in Nashville & the rural road scenes in rural Middle Tennessee. Not that such makes a BIG difference to yours truly, who long ago made his peace with knowledge that TV shows set in the Deep South -- "Andy Griffith Show" and "Dukes of Hazzard" -- got filmed in California.
But the other thing that bothered me was the conclusion, after the big concert scene. It mocked the movie's title; "weak" would've served as a more accurate adjective. True, in REAL life famous people struggling to rise back up from an addiction-induced slump DO sometimes crash-and-burn rather than overcome. But I so much WANTED Kelly to make it! And everything in the flick SEEMED to be leading to a spectacular triumphant finale. Or maybe I'm just not sufficiently perceptive; were there hints, omens I'd missed?
Actually, I did notice that after she left the stage and was walking backstage she had a very weary, almost troubled look. And when she locked the door I started to get nervous. So I wasn't totally unprepared, but with such LITTLE forewarning, coupled with my growing affection & hope for her, that suicide ending simply left me very dissatisfied. I walked back to my car feeling that I'd been robbed.
Finally I shall say that I applaud "Country Strong" (despite the mockery of the title by the main character's ultimately-fatal weakness) for its presentation of Nashville. It really captured Nashville as Music City, a place where the music industry strongly influences our economy and living. I liked how it displayed this one aspect of my current hometown's character -- never forgetting it's "Music City" as in MANY genres, NOT only Country Music. Nor forgetting that as State Capital it's a major location of governmental activity, as well as finance and insurance. Nor that this burg has TWO other important nicknames which reflect two other MAJOR elements: "The Athens of the South" (much cultural activity & numerous higher ed. campuses) and "Buckle of the Bible Belt" (denominational headquarters & publishing houses).
The movie may have had its weaknesses, but the city most definitely has MANY facets -- STRONG facets.
The movie is "Country strong".
I might not have paid it much more attention than any other flicks that have debuted so far this year. But when I watched Gwyneth Paltrow sing and play guitar, presenting the theme song, during last fall's CMA Awards show (right here in Bridgestone Arena, downtown) I got rather impressed. Plus, I came to remember that last year there was a call for Nashville residents to go to Municipal Auditorium to participate in crowd scenes for the movie.
Between the opening of "Country Strong" here and last Friday, I managed to read a few reviews of it. It generally got panned. I got to having second tho'ts about seeing it; wait 'til it would be available on DVD for check-out. However, I searched for the least expensive ticket in town and went.
I'm glad I did!
The movie was quite believable. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that this was award-winning actress Paltrow PLAYING a PART, not a REAL country music star struggling with addictions and a troubled marriage. At one scene I got to feeling some animus against her character; she seemed too whiny (like Marsha Mason's role in "The Goodbye girl"). But then when she visited the schoolroom as part of "Make-A-Wish" I really warmed up to her. I began to root for her to overcome her dependencies and revive her marriage & her singing career. And then when she performed those songs on stage -- even tho' I knew this concert scene was shot in Nashville's Municipal Aud. and NOT in Dallas) -- I really was ready to stand up & cheer as tho' actually in the crowd at an actual Country Music concert! At this point also, Kelly Canter was making me think of Trish Yearwood and/or Faith Hill! (The latter, BTW, is Tim McGraw's real-life Pop-Country-star wife.)
As the reviews said, there were many clichés which've been in more than one flick about a country music star. I myself noticed ones I'd seen in "Coal Miner's Daughter" and/or "Pure Country", but these didn't really bother me. What DID bother me: some scenes were set in Texas or "on the road again" somewhere/anywhere, but I recognized all urban scenes as shot in Nashville & the rural road scenes in rural Middle Tennessee. Not that such makes a BIG difference to yours truly, who long ago made his peace with knowledge that TV shows set in the Deep South -- "Andy Griffith Show" and "Dukes of Hazzard" -- got filmed in California.
But the other thing that bothered me was the conclusion, after the big concert scene. It mocked the movie's title; "weak" would've served as a more accurate adjective. True, in REAL life famous people struggling to rise back up from an addiction-induced slump DO sometimes crash-and-burn rather than overcome. But I so much WANTED Kelly to make it! And everything in the flick SEEMED to be leading to a spectacular triumphant finale. Or maybe I'm just not sufficiently perceptive; were there hints, omens I'd missed?
Actually, I did notice that after she left the stage and was walking backstage she had a very weary, almost troubled look. And when she locked the door I started to get nervous. So I wasn't totally unprepared, but with such LITTLE forewarning, coupled with my growing affection & hope for her, that suicide ending simply left me very dissatisfied. I walked back to my car feeling that I'd been robbed.
Finally I shall say that I applaud "Country Strong" (despite the mockery of the title by the main character's ultimately-fatal weakness) for its presentation of Nashville. It really captured Nashville as Music City, a place where the music industry strongly influences our economy and living. I liked how it displayed this one aspect of my current hometown's character -- never forgetting it's "Music City" as in MANY genres, NOT only Country Music. Nor forgetting that as State Capital it's a major location of governmental activity, as well as finance and insurance. Nor that this burg has TWO other important nicknames which reflect two other MAJOR elements: "The Athens of the South" (much cultural activity & numerous higher ed. campuses) and "Buckle of the Bible Belt" (denominational headquarters & publishing houses).
The movie may have had its weaknesses, but the city most definitely has MANY facets -- STRONG facets.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Happy New Year of Our Lord Twenty-Eleven!
Howdy & the Lord's blessing to you dear reader, from yours truly here in Music City, aka Nashville, Tennessee!
Yes, I notice that, one, I kind of faded out on this my blog as Two Thousand Ten drew to its ending. And two, HERE it's already the Sixteenth of January -- and I'm just now putting HNY greetings on it! ??!!?!!?
Oh, well, I resolve to do better! In fact, I already have a movie review planned for posting on Monday the 17th, of a flick I went to see Saturday (yesterday). Tune in tomorrow for that (hint: the flick I watched was filmed here in Nashville).
But for right now, I simply wish to give y'all my greetings & best wishes for this young year, A.D. 2011. My only other item for today's post is to mention that I'm listening, even as I type this to the on-line edition of the radio program "Front Porch Fellowship". It begins shortly after 4pm on Saturdays and is repeated at the same time on Sundays. You can dial it on your radio; go to "Solid Gospel Radio", 104.9 or 105.1 FM. The lower frequency is tied to a small town west of Nashville, the higher freq. to one to the east. So if you're west of IH 65, you'll pick up 104.9 better, and the other if you're east of that interstate.
Or you can do as I'm doing. Go on-line to www.southerngospel.com and click on the rectangular button below ON AIR in the upper left corner. If you enjoy Bluegrass Music or Gospel Music, "Front Porch Fellowship" is the show for your great listening pleasure!
I've began listening to Les Butler's hour-long musical trip to Heaven in the late 1990s, when the Salem network commenced the dual-freq. SGM station in Middle Tennessee. This event brought Gospel Music back to the greater Nashville area for the first time since WENO-AM780 ceased to send SGM over the airwaves in the early Nineties. Les introduced me to the joys of Bluegrass Gospel Music, and also to one of the genre's most talented and beautiful (audibly as well as visually) artists: Rhonda Vincent. Thanks to my frequent communications to Les about how much Rhonda impressed me, nowadays whenever he sends one of her Gospel songs out over FPF on the airwaves, he dedicates the song to yours truly.
Furthermore, since I returned to Tennessee from San Antonio -- wonderful place to live, except that it's short on Rhonda Vincent as well as Bluegrass Music in general -- Les has several times mentioned requests for "Front Porch Fellowship" sent to him by a Mike Johnson in Burley, Idaho. Every time I hear one of these I get happy and homesick at the same time; you see, Idaho's the state of my raising & still home to most of my family of origin (I know exactly where in southern Idaho the town is & have been there), and it warms my heart to know there's a lover of Bluegrass Gospel there amid those potato fields!
Well, whether you listen to Les Butler's show ornot, may our Lord bless you abundantly in this year!
Yes, I notice that, one, I kind of faded out on this my blog as Two Thousand Ten drew to its ending. And two, HERE it's already the Sixteenth of January -- and I'm just now putting HNY greetings on it! ??!!?!!?
Oh, well, I resolve to do better! In fact, I already have a movie review planned for posting on Monday the 17th, of a flick I went to see Saturday (yesterday). Tune in tomorrow for that (hint: the flick I watched was filmed here in Nashville).
But for right now, I simply wish to give y'all my greetings & best wishes for this young year, A.D. 2011. My only other item for today's post is to mention that I'm listening, even as I type this to the on-line edition of the radio program "Front Porch Fellowship". It begins shortly after 4pm on Saturdays and is repeated at the same time on Sundays. You can dial it on your radio; go to "Solid Gospel Radio", 104.9 or 105.1 FM. The lower frequency is tied to a small town west of Nashville, the higher freq. to one to the east. So if you're west of IH 65, you'll pick up 104.9 better, and the other if you're east of that interstate.
Or you can do as I'm doing. Go on-line to www.southerngospel.com and click on the rectangular button below ON AIR in the upper left corner. If you enjoy Bluegrass Music or Gospel Music, "Front Porch Fellowship" is the show for your great listening pleasure!
I've began listening to Les Butler's hour-long musical trip to Heaven in the late 1990s, when the Salem network commenced the dual-freq. SGM station in Middle Tennessee. This event brought Gospel Music back to the greater Nashville area for the first time since WENO-AM780 ceased to send SGM over the airwaves in the early Nineties. Les introduced me to the joys of Bluegrass Gospel Music, and also to one of the genre's most talented and beautiful (audibly as well as visually) artists: Rhonda Vincent. Thanks to my frequent communications to Les about how much Rhonda impressed me, nowadays whenever he sends one of her Gospel songs out over FPF on the airwaves, he dedicates the song to yours truly.
Furthermore, since I returned to Tennessee from San Antonio -- wonderful place to live, except that it's short on Rhonda Vincent as well as Bluegrass Music in general -- Les has several times mentioned requests for "Front Porch Fellowship" sent to him by a Mike Johnson in Burley, Idaho. Every time I hear one of these I get happy and homesick at the same time; you see, Idaho's the state of my raising & still home to most of my family of origin (I know exactly where in southern Idaho the town is & have been there), and it warms my heart to know there's a lover of Bluegrass Gospel there amid those potato fields!
Well, whether you listen to Les Butler's show ornot, may our Lord bless you abundantly in this year!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Music of the season in Music City
Still strong in my memory is my introduction to the concept of a radio station sending out exclusively Christmas or holiday music over the airwaves in December. It was station WENO - AM 760, right here in Nashville in 1990. A few months later WENO -- first Music City station to broadcast only Country Music (and not WSM!) -- introduced me to Southern Gospel Music. (Alas! like most AM stations it's fallen to the "talk radio" format.)
While I lived in San Antonio I looked forward every year to listening to Mix 96 (KXXM) airing Christmas music. And now that I'm back here in Nashville I've been greatly enjoying the cheerful holiday tunes, on Mix 92 (FM 92.9, WJXA) and on "The Fish" 94 FM. An interesting detail about the latter station is that it's contemporary Christian music, but the December playlist has been as much a mix of secular and sacred songs as the former station broadcasts.
So, well, I've heard several times such cherished classics of the season as "Joy to the World" by Mannheim Steamroller and "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. TSO's hit has a fascinating story behind it, set in war-torn Sarajevo, and was on the playlist for "Holiday in the Park" in Fiesta Texas theme park (S.A.). The instrumentation and rhythm so affected yours truly that I came up with a sort of choreographed conducting set of movements, as tho' I were actually directing TSO. Probably I got plenty of weird looks from Fiesta Texas guests whenever I'd do this!
One other song I learned at Fiesta Texas that alas! I've only heard once (maybe twice) is Amy Grant's "Welcome to Our World". But on the other hand, "How Many Kings" serves a a nice substitute. And there's always Karen Carpenter sweetly singing "Merry Christmas Darling" or another song of the season.
A couple of "new" (to me) Christmas songs have blessed my listening ears. One is a duet medley by Bing Crosby and David Bowie titled "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth". Now THERE's a duo one wouldn't expect, dear reader, the old king of big-band crooners and a rock star! But it's a beautiful song! The other newby is "O Holy Night" recorded by Martina McBride. She sings the song BEAUTIFULLY!
Thru Yahoo I've accessed an on-line list of the top thirty holiday songs, culled by a Paul Green from a Nielson Soundscan list of 200 most popular.
Dear reader, enjoy the music of this season! And have a blessed time as the old year ends & the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven commences!
While I lived in San Antonio I looked forward every year to listening to Mix 96 (KXXM) airing Christmas music. And now that I'm back here in Nashville I've been greatly enjoying the cheerful holiday tunes, on Mix 92 (FM 92.9, WJXA) and on "The Fish" 94 FM. An interesting detail about the latter station is that it's contemporary Christian music, but the December playlist has been as much a mix of secular and sacred songs as the former station broadcasts.
So, well, I've heard several times such cherished classics of the season as "Joy to the World" by Mannheim Steamroller and "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. TSO's hit has a fascinating story behind it, set in war-torn Sarajevo, and was on the playlist for "Holiday in the Park" in Fiesta Texas theme park (S.A.). The instrumentation and rhythm so affected yours truly that I came up with a sort of choreographed conducting set of movements, as tho' I were actually directing TSO. Probably I got plenty of weird looks from Fiesta Texas guests whenever I'd do this!
One other song I learned at Fiesta Texas that alas! I've only heard once (maybe twice) is Amy Grant's "Welcome to Our World". But on the other hand, "How Many Kings" serves a a nice substitute. And there's always Karen Carpenter sweetly singing "Merry Christmas Darling" or another song of the season.
A couple of "new" (to me) Christmas songs have blessed my listening ears. One is a duet medley by Bing Crosby and David Bowie titled "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth". Now THERE's a duo one wouldn't expect, dear reader, the old king of big-band crooners and a rock star! But it's a beautiful song! The other newby is "O Holy Night" recorded by Martina McBride. She sings the song BEAUTIFULLY!
Thru Yahoo I've accessed an on-line list of the top thirty holiday songs, culled by a Paul Green from a Nielson Soundscan list of 200 most popular.
Dear reader, enjoy the music of this season! And have a blessed time as the old year ends & the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven commences!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Jimmy Kelly's is lost -- or I am!
Last night (Thursday, 2 December) the Nashville Area LCA Alumni had our monthly meeting, at a place called Jimmy Kelly's. As is typical of our Alum-Brotherhood functions, the food was delicious and the fellowship terrific.
Once I found the place.
The name was known to me from my previous residence in Music City, 1984-91. I had a picture in my memory of it being somewhere close to the intersection of 25th Ave. No, with Elliston Pl. and West End. Very near Centennial Park.
The e-mail invitation I'd received gave the address as 217 Louise Ave. A glance at Google indicated that it wasn't exactly where my memory was telling me, but not terribly distant. Nor terribly distant from where I was -- a library on the Vanderbilt campus -- as the time approached.
So I left the stacks (actually the terminals, as I was working on-line), got in my "new" Integra (new to me, but year 1995) and drove to the area between West End and Church near Baptist Hospital. I searched and searched the night-darkened streets in vain.
And then I remembered that it was supposedly off Elliston Place, not Church! So west I drove, and made a guess as to where Louise was. Over a half hour later and a stop at a drugstore for directions (but nobody knew) I finally found Jimmy Kelly's! I realized that I'd actually passed by it earlier, because there was no lighted or well-lit sing.
So it was after 7:00 when I sat down with my Brothers in the Bond. But from then on it was a wonderful evening. A few of the alumni even brought their wives with them -- lately our get-togethers have generally been open to "significant others".
We were seated upstairs, in an elegant room that had a fireplace (unused, alas), some large formal portraits on the wall -- including the best known painting of Commodore Vanderbilt himself -- and white cloth tablecloths and black cloth napkins. Apparently Jimmy Kelly's free appetizers are dollar-size pancakes (or pones) -- and these were de-e-e-e-elicious!
I think I could have made a meal out of just eating those little cakes. But that would have been dull, you know. I did have baked salmon along with a salad and baked potato. Yum, yum!
So what threatened to turn into a disaster of an evening jaunt turned out okay in the end. And NOW I know exactly where Jimmy Kelly's is!
Once I found the place.
The name was known to me from my previous residence in Music City, 1984-91. I had a picture in my memory of it being somewhere close to the intersection of 25th Ave. No, with Elliston Pl. and West End. Very near Centennial Park.
The e-mail invitation I'd received gave the address as 217 Louise Ave. A glance at Google indicated that it wasn't exactly where my memory was telling me, but not terribly distant. Nor terribly distant from where I was -- a library on the Vanderbilt campus -- as the time approached.
So I left the stacks (actually the terminals, as I was working on-line), got in my "new" Integra (new to me, but year 1995) and drove to the area between West End and Church near Baptist Hospital. I searched and searched the night-darkened streets in vain.
And then I remembered that it was supposedly off Elliston Place, not Church! So west I drove, and made a guess as to where Louise was. Over a half hour later and a stop at a drugstore for directions (but nobody knew) I finally found Jimmy Kelly's! I realized that I'd actually passed by it earlier, because there was no lighted or well-lit sing.
So it was after 7:00 when I sat down with my Brothers in the Bond. But from then on it was a wonderful evening. A few of the alumni even brought their wives with them -- lately our get-togethers have generally been open to "significant others".
We were seated upstairs, in an elegant room that had a fireplace (unused, alas), some large formal portraits on the wall -- including the best known painting of Commodore Vanderbilt himself -- and white cloth tablecloths and black cloth napkins. Apparently Jimmy Kelly's free appetizers are dollar-size pancakes (or pones) -- and these were de-e-e-e-elicious!
I think I could have made a meal out of just eating those little cakes. But that would have been dull, you know. I did have baked salmon along with a salad and baked potato. Yum, yum!
So what threatened to turn into a disaster of an evening jaunt turned out okay in the end. And NOW I know exactly where Jimmy Kelly's is!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
CMA Awards - Music City's Night to Shine
The annual CMA Awards Show here is to Nashville what the Oscars show is to Hollywood (& by extension L.A.). It's Country Music's and Music City's NIGHT to SHINE.
And shine we did last night, Wednesday, 10 November. Which, BTW, on any calendar year the Tenth of this month could legitimately be called "Vets-e'en" since it's the eve of Veterans Day. Remember, dear reader, to "Thank a Vet" for her/his vigilance in serving our nation in the military and guarding our borders to keep the peace within these United States.
Back to the music. . . .
Wednesday is rehearsal night for the Choir of Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and I haven't paid great attention to nor viewed on TV the CMA and other award shows for some years. But THIS Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten is different. A Facebook status notified us that ECC(DC) member and Nashville Bluegrass Band fiddler Stuart Duncan would perform during the show, at two specific times, the first being 9:30 local time. Choir Director Julie Duemler also notified us at rehearsal. So even tho' I'm always reluctant to leave Eastwood right after rehearsal, I did scoot back to Mercury Courts in timely fashion.
Only one resident was watching TV in the community room, and he didn't mind me switching channels to the award show. Just in time! Within only a minute or so they started a segment honoring Loretta Lynn for her 50 years of singing. Miranda Lambert began singing Loretta's signature song "Coal Miner's Daughter", then Cheryl Crow joined her onstage AND THEN Loretta herself came out to make it a trio. I cannot blame the camera crew for focusing on such notable singers of the female persuasion; the instrumentalists got short shrift. I only saw a bit of Stuart over a feminine shoulder now and then.
Just a few minutes later -- naturally after a LONG commercial break -- actress Gwyneth Paltrow played acoustic guitar while singing the title song of her up-coming movie "Country Strong". Vince Gill assisted her up front with electric guitar and his stellar tenor harmony. But blonde and beautiful Paltrow was the star of the moment, as she sounded like a true Country singer! Her performance prompts me to seriously going to see the picture show when it is released.
And on this song the cameras seemed to show more of the instrumental accompanists; I saw much more of Stuart and his deft fiddling. One could hardly call what he does so well "sawin' on a fiddle", you know! He and the other backing musicians were clad nicely in retro suits and ties, in a "men in black" motif.
When Tim McGraw came onstage to announce the final and highest award, he too sported a "men in black" look - only with addition of a sable Stetson! My favorite singer, George Strait, wasn't even nominated this time (he hasn't released a notable song in the past year or so). So I was rooting for Brad Paisley to win Entertainer of the Year. And sure en'uf, Tim said Brad's name as winner! Hooray for Brad Paisley - he's earned it & it's really overdue.
Brad was endearing in his acceptance. When he first walked onto the stage, with a white Stetson, he had sort of a swagger - but quickly it became evident that this was not due to arrogance but rather his being deeply humbled and moved by this honor. First thing he did was quote his hero, Jimmy Dickens, who often says at the end of his performances on the Opry, "If you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, it had help getting up there". He likened himself to that turtle, just as Jimmy does. And in the closing moments of the awards show Brad thanked all those who helped HIM "get up on the fence post". He started with a nod to fans -- and not simply HIS fams but all Country Music fans, calling us "the most amazing, loyal fan base in the world."
Do I need to add that I was very glad I saw that half hour of the CMA Awards Show? Yes, I was very, very glad!
B
And shine we did last night, Wednesday, 10 November. Which, BTW, on any calendar year the Tenth of this month could legitimately be called "Vets-e'en" since it's the eve of Veterans Day. Remember, dear reader, to "Thank a Vet" for her/his vigilance in serving our nation in the military and guarding our borders to keep the peace within these United States.
Back to the music. . . .
Wednesday is rehearsal night for the Choir of Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and I haven't paid great attention to nor viewed on TV the CMA and other award shows for some years. But THIS Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten is different. A Facebook status notified us that ECC(DC) member and Nashville Bluegrass Band fiddler Stuart Duncan would perform during the show, at two specific times, the first being 9:30 local time. Choir Director Julie Duemler also notified us at rehearsal. So even tho' I'm always reluctant to leave Eastwood right after rehearsal, I did scoot back to Mercury Courts in timely fashion.
Only one resident was watching TV in the community room, and he didn't mind me switching channels to the award show. Just in time! Within only a minute or so they started a segment honoring Loretta Lynn for her 50 years of singing. Miranda Lambert began singing Loretta's signature song "Coal Miner's Daughter", then Cheryl Crow joined her onstage AND THEN Loretta herself came out to make it a trio. I cannot blame the camera crew for focusing on such notable singers of the female persuasion; the instrumentalists got short shrift. I only saw a bit of Stuart over a feminine shoulder now and then.
Just a few minutes later -- naturally after a LONG commercial break -- actress Gwyneth Paltrow played acoustic guitar while singing the title song of her up-coming movie "Country Strong". Vince Gill assisted her up front with electric guitar and his stellar tenor harmony. But blonde and beautiful Paltrow was the star of the moment, as she sounded like a true Country singer! Her performance prompts me to seriously going to see the picture show when it is released.
And on this song the cameras seemed to show more of the instrumental accompanists; I saw much more of Stuart and his deft fiddling. One could hardly call what he does so well "sawin' on a fiddle", you know! He and the other backing musicians were clad nicely in retro suits and ties, in a "men in black" motif.
When Tim McGraw came onstage to announce the final and highest award, he too sported a "men in black" look - only with addition of a sable Stetson! My favorite singer, George Strait, wasn't even nominated this time (he hasn't released a notable song in the past year or so). So I was rooting for Brad Paisley to win Entertainer of the Year. And sure en'uf, Tim said Brad's name as winner! Hooray for Brad Paisley - he's earned it & it's really overdue.
Brad was endearing in his acceptance. When he first walked onto the stage, with a white Stetson, he had sort of a swagger - but quickly it became evident that this was not due to arrogance but rather his being deeply humbled and moved by this honor. First thing he did was quote his hero, Jimmy Dickens, who often says at the end of his performances on the Opry, "If you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, it had help getting up there". He likened himself to that turtle, just as Jimmy does. And in the closing moments of the awards show Brad thanked all those who helped HIM "get up on the fence post". He started with a nod to fans -- and not simply HIS fams but all Country Music fans, calling us "the most amazing, loyal fan base in the world."
Do I need to add that I was very glad I saw that half hour of the CMA Awards Show? Yes, I was very, very glad!
B
Notice about dating of postings
Dear reader, please don't be misled by the dates on my latest two postings. It used to be that if I composed a posting on, say, a Monday and saved it as a draft, finished it on Tuesday & posted it, it would be dated the Mon. date.
Apparently no more, here on Blogspot. The "Hum-dinger" posting actually was started on Mon. 25 Oct. Then for some reason I didn't get back to finishing it 'til yours truly went to finish up my draft of "Purple". "Hum-dinger" focuses on events of two weeks EARLIER than does "Purple". Which means that if you're reading my postings from the top -- the latest to get "published" -- you're reading the two said posts in REAL chronological order, not the usual order of latest to older.
Hm-m-m-m-m! I kind of like that arrangement. Lover of history & biography that I am, one feature of blogs and other on-line on-going Websites that I've been unhappy about is that as you read down one of these you're going back in time -- reverse history if you will.
Oh, well. . . .
Apparently no more, here on Blogspot. The "Hum-dinger" posting actually was started on Mon. 25 Oct. Then for some reason I didn't get back to finishing it 'til yours truly went to finish up my draft of "Purple". "Hum-dinger" focuses on events of two weeks EARLIER than does "Purple". Which means that if you're reading my postings from the top -- the latest to get "published" -- you're reading the two said posts in REAL chronological order, not the usual order of latest to older.
Hm-m-m-m-m! I kind of like that arrangement. Lover of history & biography that I am, one feature of blogs and other on-line on-going Websites that I've been unhappy about is that as you read down one of these you're going back in time -- reverse history if you will.
Oh, well. . . .
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