A word about keeping up.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Good thread & Good wisdom

Tommy, Herb, Michael, Joe, RIGHT ON !

the older players taught me when i was a kid & it's the right thing to do to pass it on to the young today
that's Natural Law
there's a time & age for everything
Let the young ones have their fun, let us pass on the wisdom of our experiences & be Thankful for what we had or did'nt have

shoot, i made more $$$ as a roadie back in the 60s/70s than i ever made playin' musik & had the time of my life ridin'a bus like MJ mentions-
like many, i settled down , got a sweet wife & great kids & don't want to miss out on them or worse lose them
i still get to play & have a good time
so i ain't bitchin' Winking

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

If we feel bad here in steel guitar land just think about those poor shredding guitar players from hair metal bands in the 80's ! The ones that haven't switched over to modern bluegrass have no gigs at all. If you only want to play one set of licks that only fits with one particular kind of music from one era it will be hard to stay busy enough to make a living.
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Ryan McMahon · From: The Land Of Sky Blue Waters

If I dont like the way it sounds(new country) so what. No soul, no heartache, no emotion. Bland , corny, over produced, no identity. I am a country purist, and no steeler with an open mind is gonna convince me Carrie Underwood is tallented. or Taylor Swift is good. Go ahead, play steel to it. someone has to. Who buys or listens to that crap anyway??? So very painful to listen to. Sounds like christian music. The only message I want in my country is; Take me to a barroom driver, set me on a stool.Dim lights and thick smoke.Maybe Im just a young buck with too much piss n vinegar, but dang it!!! someones gotta stand up and say 'top 40 country sucks!!!!'
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Robby Springfield · From: Viola, AR, USA

This subject has been a two edged sword for me for a long time. I remember well when the trend began in the early 80’s where the steel started fazing out of country records and guitars and even fiddle began taking over the shape of the new sound. I was way too far into music itself to think about another occupation…no slam to those that change…your probably wiser than myself. The decline in popularity of the steel scared me bad enough to pick up the guitar and jump in the water.

There is nothing about change that is permanent except “Change” itself. I can’t say that I started playing music because of the steel, but rather for the love of music in general. To me there is nothing better than 3 chords and the truth…with a steel of course! But things change and necessity dictates…which is what the topic is about I believe. When the steel began to vanish, I turned to the guitar to feel like a part of the music. One of my regrets in life is that I didn’t devote more effort into making the steel fit the new music. When you go from a western swing song to a country song, you don’t change instruments, you just change necks and/or the approach to playing that music. Here is where all kinds of preferences, likes or dislikes, and decisions take place.

I can’t say that I don’t like some of the new music…it keeps my guitar brain functioning. I have found both pleasure and regrets in trying to keep up with the change. The thing I find more disturbing than the change in the music is the trend in society that helps drive that change. Music is much like politics or Crest toothpaste. The powers that be decide what/which agenda or product or, (style of music in this case), they want to promote. We as a majority society in general decide what policies or music we will accept.
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Bill Bailey · From: Kingman, AZ

Hey Robbie,
Lets go back to "Big Mamu"
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Bill Bailey
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112.

Brian Henry · Posted 17 Nov 2009 2:27 pm

Hey Bill, Can we also go back to BIG DADU?
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Bill Bailey · From: Kingman, AZ

Why Not!
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Bill Bailey
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112.

Alan Miller · From: , England, UK.

Country music for me started to loose its identity when Dolly Parton recorded "Jolene" and Billy Swann recorded "I can help", I thought back then Oh dear is this what they are calling country music ? The writing was on the wall.
It has been a down hill slide ever since.

Taylor Swift and other like singers can live their dream but they are dreaming if they think they are singing country music.

Didnt Ray Price say a about someone couple of years ago on the CMA awards show(?) something like, "Nice song just don't call it country".

Its great to hear pedal steel in other types of music other than country but its not country just because there is a steel guitar in there.

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Back in July I was whining about not having any playing gigs then I got a concert with a 6 piece noise band, that's right, complicated sound from 3 reeds and 3 guitars, followed by an in-store at Amoeba of my stuff and another set with a noise band, followed by a metal set at the Key Club followed by backing Yogi Baird at the Hillbillyfest, followed by a couple days of film scoring sessions. It was seriously fun and if you notice, there's only one night of country/cajun. The steel guitar has an enormous range of possibilities, including country.

Kenny Martin · From: Chapin, S.C. USA

So let me get this straight!
"Let the kids have their fun and time" right?

The kids do a great job at what they do but call it what it is, pop rock!

Let me ask this question:
Is it still "Blue Grass" if you take the fiddle out, banjo and dobro and replace them with a distorted flat top and a distorted slide guitar?
Bill Monroe would find some way to have you shot!!

Can you actually sit back and say we need to change with the times? You're kiddin right? Rolling Eyes

Gene Watson has a new "Real Country" CD out so what the hell do you call it based on what they call country today? Don't even use the word "TRADITIONAL"! Mad

It's called "Real Country"!
There is real country still being produced but radio and the CMA will not let it out to the public!

No dis-respect to those who know more than me but i can't swallow the b/s pop rock!
Since 1970 i have played steel in country bands and guitar in rock bands! I like both worlds but there is a line in the sand for me!
38 Special sounded more country back then than what they call country today and they play Southern Rock!

You know where the retired rock and rap singers go to retire? In today's country music!

George Straits new song "Twang" has a message for this very subject! Listen to the words and i feel you can tell there is a undeline message he wants to deliver!
Nope won't, will not, can't ever agree with it! Mad

KIDDIE POP ROCK!

Ok, i feel better, sorry if my feelings offend anyone!
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Johnny Cox · Posted 17 Nov 2009 9:06 pm

Some very interesting debate on this. We all have the music that is near and dear to us and we call it what we want to. I remember in the 70s Nashville players called songs like Crazy Arms, Pride, Heartaches By The Number ect Texas Swing. Those songs are Texas Shuffles not swing. Bob Wills is Texas Swing. They were still great and 100% country. Remember that until the 80's the music out of Nashville, Texas and California was called COUNTRY & WESTERN. I just spent a weekend driving with the Kenny Rogers Tour and let me tell you it is great music. Call it what you will but as I walked out the front door with people from 18 to 80 I listened as they commented that Kenny is one of their favorite country singers as well as one of mine. I still love the good ole 60s and 70s music but I have to tell you I hated everything that was known as country from the 20s until the mid to late 50s. I now have a better appreciation for it but I don't have a collection either.
My mind was wide open in the 70s to new music as was those of musicians in my age group. In the 80s I closed my mind to anything that did'nt have steel and fiddle on it. My first of many carrer mistakes. I have been sole searching over the past months as I hear comments and read post where folks share their oppinions. Buddy Emmons once told me that "The past is a nice place to visit but don't buy a house there." As I was blaming Nashville for me being left behind a dear friend reminded me that Nashville gave me my dream as far as I would let it happen. I made the bitterly wrong decision to stay behind so now guys like Paul Franklin, Mike Johnson, Robby Turner and others that I grew up playing with are doing what I simply chose not to do. We can complain and condem till we are dead and we are not going to change the natural progression of music. The names we give it only seperates us more. The people making the music and the people buying the music ultimatly decide what it is called. Love what you love, play what you love and call it what you want to. Take it from me, it does no good to complain and put others down for doing what they love in their era.

As to my current status, I have chosen to make a living by driving musicians, bands and crews of every style of music. Maybe with my new found attitude I will learn something from these talented young people and will not die drowning my sorrows in Crown and Coke listening to feel sorrow for me songs. I still play when I'm home and love it. Joan plays with a top 40 band and I love setting in with them. I'm not moving away from the old just learning to appreciate it all. I won't like everything I hear but I'm staying open. At 52 I have a lot of catching up to do.
:)That's all I'm going to say about that! Very Happy

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Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967.

Stephen Gregory · Posted 17 Nov 2009 9:48 pm

Theresa Galbraith · From: Goodlettsville,Tn. USA

Good attitude Johnny, hey it's never to late! Smile

Did ya see my little brother on Kenny's bus?

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

I had the honor to work with George Morgan back in the 60's. He always did " Tiny Ribbons " with his flat top, no band, just him and the spotlight.
Folks were actually crying, it was that great. If you take away the smoke and mirrors on a lot of todays " Stars " and put them up there accapela I wonder what it would sound like.
Fortunately I live up in the far north where folks still drive miles to hear a country band play the old stuff. I gave up on the new music when Garth started flying around on wires.
I been picking this thing for sixty three years and still have a desire to learn and that is what it is all about for me. When you quit learning you are DEAD in the water...My two cents...

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

You make a lot of sense Mr Johnny Cox, thanks for posting. Complaining about the state of country music got old a long, long time ago. As others have stated, we've been hearing those complaints since at least the 50's. People were complaining that the new music, Hank Snow, wasn't real country, like Roy Acuff...Jerry

Junior Knight · From: Eustace Texas..paddle faster..I hear Banjos...

Back in the early 80's I made the statement that if I wanted to keep playing the instrument that I love..steel..I would take off the blinders on my eyes and play the *new* music. There is some good music in the new stuff..but there is alot of crap,so I just take the good with the bad.I did that for over 25 yrs.
Now that I am playing the good music at the fall of my career,I think that I made the right call. After all..isn't music the *Universal Lanquage*?
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Bill Bailey · From: Kingman, AZ

Johnny,
Pretty clevor way to stay close to the music, At the wheel of the Bus taking the pickers safely to the show. Sounds to me to be a very rewarding career. At 52 you " Have not yot begun to fight"

Junior, You were an inspiration while you were the old Cat pickin with Leanne Rimes, Jeff Newman spoke very highly of you. I choose to keep on dreaming.
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Bill Bailey
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112.

Alan Miller · From: , England, UK.

A professional musician is exactly what is described on the tin.....a profession, they get paid to play whatever music they are asked to play if they choose to, and are capable do it.
As Junior Knight said " he took the good with the bad" 'cos when it stops being a hobby and a living has to be made its almost like any job... good days, not so good days and real bad days.

David Griffin · From: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA

I've tried to make a rule to myself about playing music:"When it quits being fun,QUIT" That rule has never let me down! Wink

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Jim Mathis · From: Overland Park, Kansas, USA

What a good post! As a professional photographer, I found out a long time ago that I had to stay current if I wanted to make a living. I am constantly reading magazines to keep up with what is current and all the new techniques. I find it exciting to always be learning new stuff.

In my music, I feel the same way. I am always trying new stuff and wanting to learn from the best and brightest. Ricky Nelson said, "If memories were all I sang, I would rather drive a truck." (Garden Party)

It is fun to play some of the old stuff sometimes, but if I only played the standard licks on the old country songs, well, I wouldn't.

I try not to put music in boxes or define what is "country." That is for the marketers. I just play music I like.

I am 61 and have a regular gig. Most nights I play something from the 60's, 70's, and a bunch of stuff I wrote this year.
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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I think Johnny's right on - you have to say current in any field to keep up. We each have a choice. I think at a certain point it's a legitimate choice to say, "Hey, I want to focus on a certain thing and not worry about staying on the bleeding edge." But the world will move on.

I think it's pretty hard to make a living at this as a sideman by taking one narrow stylistic approach. There are a few who seem to get away with this by essentially defining their niche, but I think versatility and an open mind open up a lot more possibilities.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 19 Nov 2009 7:46 am

Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

Johnny,

You can catch up if you want to. Just do the first string raise over and over and over and over, and then do it some more..... and if you're in doubt about a song or a lick, just do the first string raise again. Also, it seems that almost ever song must have a 6 minor in it. Don't worry too much about tone and hitting the wrong notes, etc... because the drums will be so loud that you probably won't be heard anyway. Getting your stage together clothes might be the hardest part. Laughing

Brian Henry · Posted 22 Nov 2009 4:34 am

Just as kendles and computers are slowly replacing books, so the Taylor Swifts are replacing Little Jimmie, Little Willie and the rest..... C'est la vie or translated It's just life!!
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Rick Campbell · From: Sneedville, TN, USA

tb is right about that. I'm a very hi tech gadget freak. This is why I'm able to access the forum in the middle of my travel time, sitting in airports, motels, customer lobbys, etc.... anytime day or night.

I wish the new artist could replace the older ones without replacing the music, but it's not goung to be that way. We might as well accept if for that it is, and find the music we prefer in other than mainstream sources.

If the Grand Ole Opry, Mother Church of County, Home of Country Music, won't stand up and defend real country, it hopeless. Smile

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