Western swing entertainer Spade Cooley detoured down a murderous path
It’s generally accepted that Bob Wills, along with his Texas Playboys, remains the “King of Western Swing.” But in the 1940s and early 1950s, a
Rhythm of the Road by Kris Rutherford
Tracy Byrd: This cowboy-hat-wearing performer is from the country — and he likes it that way
During the 1970s, as country music artists gradually crossed over to pop, one casualty of the genre’s evolution was the cowboy hat. While some artists
From disco to country, ‘Big’ Al Downing made his mark
Only one performing artist can lay claim to having the No. 1 disco single in the U.S. and Europe one year and following it up
Randy Travis’ new song welcomed by fans, debated by critics
If you followed the neo-traditionalist movement in 1980s and 1990s country music, no doubt you remember Randy Travis’ debut single, “1982.” The song hit the
Merle Haggard’s Grandma Harp: The woman behind the lyrics
“Grandma’s maiden name was Zona Villines….” Hardcore Merle Haggard fans will remember the opening line of his 1972 single, “Grandma Harp.” The song rose all
Sylvia helped set the female country music scene in the ‘80s
A couple of weeks back, I was chatting with a fellow classic country music enthusiast, and the subject of early 1980s female artists came up.
Cliff Abbott’s lyrical storyteller style shines through in ‘How Much Longer?’
Cliff Abbott is a storyteller who thumps an upright bass and strums an acoustic guitar. This combination, along with the words to the self-penned stories
Songwriter Mel Tillis stuttered his way to stardom
Mel Tillis started stuttering following a bout with malaria at 3 years of age … but he didn’t realize it until he entered first grade.
Carved in solid Oak: Songs that would be gold, Part 2
In last month’s Rhythm of the Road, I began a countdown of the Top 10 songs recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys (ORB) that, in
Carved in solid Oak: Songs that would be gold, Part 1
The Oak Ridge Boys (ORB) have announced their retirement and farewell tour. It’s been a long, 50+ year career for the current quartet — and
Cowboy crooner Gene Autry’s ride to stardom, Part 2
Last month, I shared the first of a two-part series about one of America’s cowboy heroes — Gene Autry. When we left off, Texas-born Autry
Cowboy crooner Gene Autry’s ride to stardom, Part 1
Those who know me sometimes say I have a one-track mind when it comes to music. That is a fallacy. After all, I listen to
Leon Everette rode ‘Hurricane’ to fame
Leon Everette may have grown up in Queens, New York, but his South Carolina roots were pure country. During his childhood, Everette didn’t aspire to
David Frizzell, brother of superstar Lefty Frizzell, carved his own path to the top of the charts
If your last name is Frizzell, you may or not be country music royalty. But if your last name is Frizzell AND your brother’s name
Country singer/songwriter Ed Bruce immortalized parking lots back in the ’80s
Parking is still a hot issue in the trucking world, and the lack of it creates headaches for most every truck driver at some point.
‘God Bless the USA’ singer/songwriter Lee Greenwood is more than a one-hit-wonder
Country crooner Lee Greenwood isn’t a one-hit wonder, and this performer didn’t just come to Nashville after drifting down some “Dusty Dixie Road.” But, then
Statler Brothers thrived on Americana, as reflected in baseball-themed ballad
Now that the new baseball season is under way, it’s time to reflect on the rites of passage for a sport — the millions upon
Was the Louvin Brothers’ 1959 song ‘Knoxville Girl’ a precursor to modern entertainment?
If one is to look at the television, it seems murder is all the rage these days. You have a choice of “NCIS (insert your
Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s body of work is poetry that offers a lesson to anyone who listens
In last month’s column, Kris Rutherford kicked off the first of a series about Jimmy Buffett. To read the previous piece, click here. Summarizing the
Despite Billboard charts, Jimmy Buffett is no ‘one-hit wonder’
Truck drivers navigating the interstates aren’t much different than other American workers. Every worker thinks often of reaching the next destination, of finishing the next