Examining the color of country music

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 2, 2006 | Bobby Reed

[Chi-townChief]

One problem that Bobby Reed misses here is that, among many blacks and liberal whites, it's somehow considered Tomming for a black to play country or even to acknowledge the great influence that country music had on early black rock-n-rollers like the aforementioned Ray Charles among many others, most notably the great Chuck Berry.

[memphibian]

Geez Louise ! You can't MAKE an entire race of folks play and sing a style of music that they don't dig. More power to the ones that do. If they don't suck, chances are that they will be successful. Does this clown worry about the lack of white rappers ? I think that it says alot that even in 1962 Ray could've had a hit like that.

[RegulatorCountry]

There's an African influence in most things southern, particularly music. The banjo originated in Africa. Both country music and blues spun off of Gospel, as did rock and roll. I know plenty of rural black folks, farmers, who quietly appreciate country music. Hold to the tradition and play the music; if you're good, appreciation will follow. There's an audience, and always has been, stereotypes of urban would-be "change agents" notwithstanding.

[Slump Tester]

You can't beat Frank Zappa's "Harder than your husband" for an odd artist to be doing country.

Here's a few actual C&W titles from an email, but I don't know the artists:

"If I'd a shot you when I wanted to I'd be out by now"
"I hate every bone in your body but mine"
"You're the reason our kids are so ugly"
"She Broke My Heart At Walgreen's (And I Cried All The Way To Sears)"
"She Made Toothpicks From The Timber Of My Heart"
"(I'm Pouring) Straight Tequila Over Mixed Emotions"
"I Can't Get Over You 'Til You Get Out From Under Him"
"There's A Tear In My Beer ('Cause I'm Crying For you, Dear) "
"Think Of Me (When You're Under Him) "
"If I Can't Live Without Her, How Come I Ain't Dead? "
"If I Had It To Do All Over Again (I'd Do It All Over You) "
"I'm So Miserable Without You (It's Almost Like You're Here)"

[norraad]

I was the recording engineer for a demo of that last one, it's a classic.

[Chi-townChief]

I remember reading one of the history of rock-n-roll books around 1970, I can't recall the author; but when he came to "I Can't Stop Loving You" he was so outraged that you would think that Ray had killed Kennedy. In a similar vein regarding racial stereotyping, a Chuck Berry Anthology CD liner notes compare Chuck and Elvis by saying (pardon the political incorrectness-these are the printed quotes) that Elvis was "a hillbilly who sang with that colored feeling" while asking about Chuck's fondness for country music, "Who is that black hillbilly?"

[RightField]

Have you heard the new one called "Redneck Love Gone Bad?" I heard it on a C&W station here in Florida last week.

[Defiant]

I was going to mention that the article needed to name Chuck Berry as one of the first black country performers. A lot of the early rockers sound like hillbillies if you listen to them with today's ear--e.g., Buddy Hollie.

[JoeSixPack1]

When race is ignored, the race baiter's go ballistic.

The mindset that brings us this article (that squarely questions the audacity of racial indifference) is only fuel for further bigotry. Instead of celebrating racial difference we receive instructions on how to worship the bigotry we are trying to eradicate.

[CBart95]

The hard-to-find reason for this little "saunter" about blacks and country music appears to be to tout the new Diane Pecknold book being introduced shortly.

But you have to reread this piece several times to dredge it up through all the author's "razzel dazzel". Because with all his history and clutter and commentary on upcoming events, the book by Diane Pecknold is almost lost.

"Pecknold( Diane) -- whose forthcoming book from Duke University Press is The Selling Sound: Country Music, Commercialism, and the Politics of Popular Culture" (The title should have been underlined)

The author is so wrapped around the axel on black/white ettiquete that simple truths like "Talent Talks and race and BS walks" in the music industry is simply overlooked.

Charlie Pride and Ray Charles are simply "phenoms"... Ray Charles even more so...a GIANT of all time.

Talking about "race" is picking fly specks out of finely ground pepper in a case like this. This is about the "Wonder of American Talent".

This guy should be taken out behind the wood shed for a few ceremonial whacks and be asked to stick more to the points on his future press announcements.

[truth_seeker]

Here is a good study in the roots of two great American music styles.

http://theband.hiof.no/albums/rhytm_country_and_blues.html

Each song is a duet with a country and a rthym performer.

[Larry Lucido]

Cleve Francis -- Cardiologist Francis left his medical practice to pursue a career in country music.

Man, those malpractice premiums are really having an effect on the industry.

[Military family member]

All Rock and Country Music has its roots in the Blues, which has always been a predominates African-American art form.

Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson,Bessie Smith, Big Momma Thorton, Watermelon Slim, Pinetop PeErkins, and many many others, played music that sounds as much country as Rock & Roll. Certainly the form, content and style are all there.

[Mike Darancette]

In a savvy career move, Cowboy Troy raised his national profile by co-hosting this year's season of the TV show "Nashville Star" alongside Wynonna.

I just loved that guy on the show with Wynonna (is Wynonna a black name?). :)

[Mike Darancette]

Elvis was "a hillbilly who sang with that colored feeling"

I would have to agree with that.

[Mike Darancette]

Certainly the form, content and style are all there.

I would add Mahalia Jackson in the mix as well.

[keithtoo]

Lionel Ritchie did at least one C & W song, "Deep River Woman".

[keithtoo]

Yup. Merle Haggard, Ronnie Milsap, and probably many others would have been happy to be considered Bluesmen, in addition to their C&W credentials.

[tophat9000]

All Rock and Country Music has its roots in the Blues, which has always been a predominates African-American art form.

Sorry but I have to disagree with you strongly on that... if you go back in time on rural white music to time and places of little to no contact with black music you still can clearly see (or hear) it as "root" Country Music ... however from day one of Black and White music "meeting" there been heavy cross pollination going both ways to the betterment of both.... honesty sung from the heart know no color

[Erasmus]

>>Cleve Francis -- Cardiologist Francis left his medical practice to pursue a career in country music.

>Man, those malpractice premiums are really having an effect on the industry.

Who better to sing songs about a broken heart?