{"id":423,"date":"2013-04-27T10:27:58","date_gmt":"2013-04-27T14:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.townehouse.net\/phoenix\/?p=423"},"modified":"2013-04-27T10:27:58","modified_gmt":"2013-04-27T14:27:58","slug":"a-l-little-bit-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=423","title":{"rendered":"A l Little Bit Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"country\"<\/a>In 1981 Barbara Mandrell introduced a song entitled “I was country when country wasn’t cool<\/a>“. This song chronicled a shift in the American culture. Before then,m Country or Country and Western music wasn’t listened to by most and it was difficult to find Country music on the radio dial in many parts of the United States. As a teen age boy I, along with most, spent my time listening to Rock and Roll, switching back and forth between WCPO (AM 1230) and WSAI (AM 1360). Eventually those stations were not doing the trick for me and I found myself tuning the old Zenith Royal 50 \u00a0up the dial to WCKY (AM 1530). Although it did not feature country music 24 hours a day, it did have some spots that featured country music. Most memorable to me was an evening spot hosted by Wayne Rainey<\/a>. I remember that the opening theme song to that show was the “Steel Guitar Rag<\/a>“, and I love that tune to this day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Barbara sang of was regarding a shift in the culture where country music was suddenly popular in the mainstream. One was not considered a “hick” if they enjoyed country music. Boots and jeans became popular and Americans were finding themselves at clubs on Friday nights doing country line dances. Country music fans were everywhere, country music was found on the radio dial, both AM and FM, and country stars were coming to perform concerts. Suddenly being country was cool. Of course,it was a matter of perspective. Those locally who considered fans of the genre as hicks perhaps did not realize that some of the East Cost Elitist considered everybody from our area as hicks. It was all a matter of perspective as the country acts were not only playing in arenas in the Midwest but were also booking concerts in major arenas such as Carnegie Hall. I should mention a major influence in introducing Country music to the mainstream was a TV showed called “Hee-Haw<\/a>” that aired in 1969. Although this show introduced some of the greats such as Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones, it also gave a very unflattering image of rural folks and their ways.<\/p>\n

I have love country music for many years now. I like a few of todays stars, but basically I am a purist when it comes to country music. I love to listen to “Country Classic” which includes such greats as Hank Williams, Faron Young, Ernest Tubb, Stonewall Jackson and more. The list goes on and on, most of them have cone on as well. This blog article would not be complete without making mention of one of the greats who just passed away, George Jones. To be honest, I think his passing is what put me into this mindset to write an article about country music in the first place. I have always been a fan of George Jones. The King of Broken Hearts could croon with the best of them. He epitomizes an era in Country music that will soon only be remembered in the Country Music Hall of Fame. I would much rather hear the plaintive sounds of how “He Stopped Loving Her Today<\/a>“, than to hear another worship a “Red Solo Cup<\/a>” Don’t get me wrong, I like to tune “Red Solo Cup”, but it isn’t Classic Country. So here is to the “Possum<\/a>“. May he rest in peace. And hey George, give our best to Tammy!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1981 Barbara Mandrell introduced a song entitled “I was country when country wasn’t cool“. This song chronicled a shift in the American culture. Before then,m Country or Country and Western music wasn’t listened to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_daextrevo_audio_file_creation_date":"","_daextrevo_text_to_speech":"","_daextrevo_document_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13,20,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-nostalgia","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/THFI.png?fit=214%2C200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14144,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14144","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":0},"title":"Divided We Fall","author":"Tom Lind","date":"July 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"As I carefully consider the state of our nation, I am deeply troubled by the multitude of divisions that have emerged within our society. It is quite surprising to realize that this is the most polarized our country has been in my entire lifetime. However, what concerns me even more\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ivided.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12203,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=12203","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":1},"title":"Inauguration Day – 2017","author":"Tom Lind","date":"January 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Today Mr. Donald Trump transits from being President Elect to President. \u00a0Inauguration Day is always a historical event in this country, and today is no different. \u00a0Unfortunately there are too many people who are simply sore losers. \u00a0There are too many people who are incapable of putting partisanship aside and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=21"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/washington1.jpg?fit=500%2C332&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14510,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14510","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":2},"title":"Farewell Charlie","author":"Tom Lind","date":"September 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I initially felt compelled to write this immediately after learning of Charlie Kirk\u2019s assassination. Fortunately, I waited until my anger had subsided, allowing me to think more rationally about my words. I understand that if I had spoken out immediately after this tragic event, I would have been the very\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CKirkTH091525.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11603,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=11603","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":3},"title":"How Memorial Was Memorial Day?","author":"Tom Lind","date":"June 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The grills have all cooled down, the hangovers are no longer hanging over, and most of us are back to work. However, since Memorial Day I have been wondering to what degree American\u2019s have given of themselves in order to be memorialize annually by too much alcohol and burnt burgers.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=21"},"img":{"alt_text":"memorial_day","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/memorial_day-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":577,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=577","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":4},"title":"Well Done, Sailor!","author":"Tom Lind","date":"September 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0This past Friday I was honored to have been permitted to attend the graduation ceremony for 886 new sailors to graduate from Navy Basic Training I was fortunate to have been able to attend because my nephew, Joseph French, was one of those 886 heroes being assigned to the fleet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"Joseph French ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/jfsailor1-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14109,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14109","url_meta":{"origin":423,"position":5},"title":"Reflection on Patriotism and July 4th","author":"Tom Lind","date":"July 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Patriotism is a powerful force that has been at the heart of America since its inception, pulsing through the veins of this great nation with unrelenting strength. Every year on the 4th of July, Americans come together to celebrate the courage, vision, and determination that led to the founding of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IdolizedPositiveKangaroo-size_restricted.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p38YRh-6P","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=423"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}