Grand Ole Opry Keeps Country Music History Alive with Opry Country Classics

The Grand Ole Opry is one of the biggest moving parts when it comes to how the country music genre has evolved through the years. Most importantly, the Grand Ole Opry continues to keep the country music history alive with their show, Opry Country Classics!

This special show honors the classic country music which made the genre what it is today and recognizes the country artists who made those songs so memorable. Usually, Larry Gatlin from Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers hosts the Opry Country Classics show but Bill Cody took over the hosting duties for this particular show. Continue reading

Lee Brice Releases One Of Them Girls

A great country music artist, Lee Brice released a brand new single this spring which was sent to country radio entitled, One Of Them Girls.

The new single is one of many which will be featured on Brice’s upcoming new album, Hey World, coming out on November 20th. This remarkable song was co-written by Brice, along with fellow songwriters, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson and Dallas Davidson. Continue reading

Introducing Sun Records Inspired Diner in Nashville

Back in 1952, a tiny, independent record label was started in Memphis, Tennessee by a young businessman named Sam Phillips. He called the label Sun Records, and it would go on to become one of the most famous and iconic labels in American music. Legendary performers like Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others, were all discovered by Phillips and signed to Sun Records between 1952 and 1969. A famous photograph taken at the Sun Records Studio of Perkins, Cash, Lewis, and Presley all sitting around a piano was nicknamed the “Million Dollar Quartet” – a name which has endured when talking about the four performers during their time at Sun Records.

And now, a new TV series premiered on CMT last night called, Sun Records, based, of course, on Sam Phillips and his historic record label. But, I’m not here to talk about that new series today… instead, I’d like to tell you about another Sun Records inspired attraction – a new eatery in Downtown Nashville called the Sun Diner. Continue reading

Artist in Retrospect: Bobbie Gentry

I have always enjoyed learning more about the musical artists I like, even those that have fallen out of the public eye. This past summer, I stumbled across an article published by the Washington Post about the popular 1960’s country artist named Bobbie Gentry, and how she hasn’t been seen or heard from since the late 80’s. I was immediately interested in finding out all I could about this mysterious artist.

Bobbie Gentry, born Roberta Lee Streeter on July 27, 1944, was most known for her song, Ode To Billie Joe. Like most fans, this was the only song I knew by her, and, to be honest, I knew it best from hearing other artists cover it live, like Jeannie Seely at the Grand Ole Opry. Most of Gentry’s songs were based on her hometown in Mississippi. Continue reading