RIP Mickey Baker.
Mickey Baker, born McHouston Baker in Louisville, Kentucky, October 15, 1925 – November 27, 2012, died near Toulouse in the south of France. He was an American guitarist, and an in-demand session guitar player. Mickey Baker’s fluid and elegant style influenced countless guitarists of his generation and also young British rock musicians like Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. Along with contemporaries like Ike Turner, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley, Baker’s music was building bridges from Rhythm ‘n’ Blues to Rock ‘n’ Roll. Continue reading
The Bristol Sessions
I didn’t watch the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 12th), nor did I know who or what was up for an Award. Coincidentally, I was listening to Bear Family Records’The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang of Country Music that same evening, unaware it was up for the Best Historical Album of 2011. (I hadn’t read the page I just linked to until now!)
Jean Shepard – another Bear Family Artist proudly wearing the Custom BF button….
This photo I took last night Sept 29, in Edmonton , Alberta, Canada of this awesome lady Jean Shepard.
She told me while we were talking that she is also going to mention Bear Family Records and their great contribution in keeping the very precious music for all the world to be able to hear, in the upcoming new Country Family Reunion , which she will be part of the filming Oct 11!!! AND I couldn’t agree with her more!!! So glad she is planning to do so!!!
My Bear Family Collection would already be huge if I had my way and abilities to do so…..I am so very thankful for what is being done to keep all this very precious history captured by Bear Family!!!
Thank you for the fun privilege to share these special photos with you , and I will be sending you some more!!!
Getting the word and the awareness of Bear Family Records out there in places that may not already know!!
Have a really great day!!!
Sincerely
Denise Pederson
In Memoriam – Jimmie Rodgers was born September 8, 1897
Jimmie Rodgers, also known as ‘The Father of Country Music’, was born September 8, 1897, either in Meridian, Mississippi, or Geiger, Alabama.
Jimmie Rodgers was also known as ‘The Singing Brakeman’, or ‘The Blue Yodeler’. Rodgers developed an interest in music and entertaining at an early age. Originally, he intended to make a living from playing and singing music while in his early teens. But his father got him a job working on the railroad. In 1924 he was diagnosed with TB which eventually ended his railroad career.
In 1927 Ralph Peer was holding an audition for local musicians in Bristol, Tennessee. Peer recorded Rodgers, and the session yielded two songs, ‘The Soldier’s Sweetheart’, and ‘Sleep, Baby, Sleep’. Peer recorded him again in November 1927. This session produced four songs including ‘Blue Yodel’, also known as ‘T For Texas’, a record that would sell a million copies in the next two years.
After years of fighting TB, Rodgers made his last recording session in New York in May 1933. He died two days later on May 26, 1933. He was only 35 years old. Jimmie Rodgers will be remembered as the founder of modern country music, along with the Carter Family. The Country Music Hall of Fame was established in 1961. Jimmie Rodgers was one of the first three inductees.
In memoriam – Patsy Cline was born September 8, 1932
Patsy Cline was one of the greatest and most influential country music singers of all times. She was born September 8, 1932 and died in 1963 in a plane crash. She helped define the modern early 1960s Nashville sound in country music.
Patsy Cline is best remembered for her role as a female country music pioneer. Her songs successfully crossed over into pop music. ‘Walkin’ After Midnight’, ‘I Fall To Pieces’, ‘She’s Got You’, and ‘Crazy’, penned by Willie Nelson, are some of her greatest hits.
Along with country singers Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Cowboy Copas she died in a private plane crash March 5, 1963 on the height of her career.
Posthumously, she was in inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. She became the first female solo artist inducted. In 1995 she received a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
Richard Weize recieves the Award for Distinguished Service to Historical Recordings
The Award for Distinguished Service to Historic Recordings is presented annually to an individual who has made contributions of outstanding significance to the field of historic recordings in forms other than published works or discographic research. The 2012 ARSC Distinguished Service Award was presented to Richard Weize. founder and CEO of Bear Family Records, probably the most important reissue label in the world for roots- oriented music. Richard began collecting records in 1956, with the purchase of Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock.” In the fifties he was fascinated by rock ‘n’ roll, but from 1960 on his interest shifted to country music. In the early 1970s, he started the Folk Variety label and started booking folk acts into German clubs.
Open House 2012 / Tag der offen Tür 2012
Here are the first impressions…
Electric Blues series on Bear Family ‘album of the week’
This week’s ‘Klingan’ music show on Swedish National Radio (SR), a high-profile program spot, is regarding the ‘Electric Blues’ CD-series on Bear Family ‘album of the week’.
The show was aired Sunday, August 26. For details (in Swedish …) and the complete playlist, please click here
Blues and Rhythm gives full spread to Street Corner Symphonies
Eminent British magazine, Blues & Rhythm, devotes a full two-page spread to our doowop series “Street Corner Symphonies”. All in all there will be 15 volumes. First five are out now, five more will follow just after summer and the last five late 2012/early 2013… Collect ‘em all!!!
