

Wes Anderson’s latest endeavor Asteroid City is making its crash-landing into theaters this Friday, June 23rd, and it has a fitting soundtrack to match. As a preview, Jarvis Cocker has shared one of his contributions to the film called “Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven),” a single he wrote with Anderson and his former Pulp bandmate Richard Hawley. The song also features Seu Jorge, who was prominently featured on the soundtrack for Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Considering Asteroid City takes place in a desert town in 1955, the soundtrack comes chock-full of period-setting tunes like classic bluegrass and country as well as mid-century pop. Along with a couple of originals from Cocker are songs by Bing Crosby, The Springfields (featuring a young Dusty Springfield), Burl Ives, Tex Ritter, and many more, as well as a score by Alexandre Desplat.
Cocker is just one of many voices...
Considering Asteroid City takes place in a desert town in 1955, the soundtrack comes chock-full of period-setting tunes like classic bluegrass and country as well as mid-century pop. Along with a couple of originals from Cocker are songs by Bing Crosby, The Springfields (featuring a young Dusty Springfield), Burl Ives, Tex Ritter, and many more, as well as a score by Alexandre Desplat.
Cocker is just one of many voices...
- 6/20/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music

The soundtrack to A Christmas Story Christmas manages to be both seasonally appropriate and fun, effectively bringing the charm of the original movie into the 1970s with its era-appropriate songs. Set in 1973, A Christmas Story Christmas catches up with a now-adult Ralphie Parker, who is under pressure to deliver the perfect holiday for his family after the tragic death of The Old Man. Though the movie is aided by its returning cast members, the songs of the 2022 A Christmas Story sequel help update the franchise while capturing the energy of what is so beloved about the 1983 original.
The follow-up, which was released on HBO Max, is able to seamlessly transition A Christmas Story into a new time period thanks to its music. Predictably, the soundtrack of A Christmas Story Christmas includes a plethora of Christmas carols, ranging from traditional tracks to familiar holiday songs by popular artists of the time like the Jackson 5.
The follow-up, which was released on HBO Max, is able to seamlessly transition A Christmas Story into a new time period thanks to its music. Predictably, the soundtrack of A Christmas Story Christmas includes a plethora of Christmas carols, ranging from traditional tracks to familiar holiday songs by popular artists of the time like the Jackson 5.
- 11/19/2022
- by Holly McFarlane
- ScreenRant

In the first 14 years of Elvis’ recording career with RCA, nearly all his records were credited to “Elvis Presley With the Jordanaires,” because that’s the way Elvis wanted it. Many of those early hits were built around the imaginative vocal ideas of the group’s arranger, Neal Matthews, and all four members of the vocal quartet took an active role in crafting the sounds that dominated much of the pop, rock & roll and country music charts from the mid-1950s on. To Elvis, who met the Jordanaires in 1955, they were more than a studio backup group. While Baz Luhrmann’s awards contender “Elvis” focuses on other aspects of Elvis’ influences, the Jordanaires were not part of the movie’s story, but they are an essential component of rock and roll history. Jordanaire tenor Gordon Stoker tells the story:
By the summer of 1955, I thought I’d seen it all.
By the summer of 1955, I thought I’d seen it all.
- 10/26/2022
- by Michael Kosser
- Variety Film + TV

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis stars Austin Butler as the hip-swiveling titular hound dog and Tom Hanks as his manager Colonel Tom Parker. In this Elvis Presley biopic, the musician is presented as a mythic figure and true life superhero, saving the world from repressive rhythms to become the King of Rock and Roll, while Parker comes off as the cartoon villain, and not only because Hanks sounds like the Dutch uncle of Looney Tunes’ Foghorn Leghorn.
As Parker confesses at the beginning of the movie, “There are some who’d make me out to be the villain of this here story.” And it can be said that “the Colonel” was the antagonist of Elvis’ true life as well.
“I’m not interested in playing a bad guy just for the sake of [it being like], ‘Before I kill you Mr. Bond, would you like a tour of my installation,’” Hanks said at the...
As Parker confesses at the beginning of the movie, “There are some who’d make me out to be the villain of this here story.” And it can be said that “the Colonel” was the antagonist of Elvis’ true life as well.
“I’m not interested in playing a bad guy just for the sake of [it being like], ‘Before I kill you Mr. Bond, would you like a tour of my installation,’” Hanks said at the...
- 6/25/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek


Prince’s unreleased 2010 album Welcome 2 America is the next offering from the singer’s Vault, with the LP finally due out this summer.
Prior to Welcome 2 America’s July 30th arrival, the Prince Estate has shared the title track, a spoken word soliloquy that criticized social media, celebrity culture, music industry monopolies, and more:
“The world is fraught with misin4mation. George Orwell’s vision of the future is here. We need 2 remain steadfast in faith in the trying times ahead,” Prince said in 2010 in a statement shared by the Estate.
Prior to Welcome 2 America’s July 30th arrival, the Prince Estate has shared the title track, a spoken word soliloquy that criticized social media, celebrity culture, music industry monopolies, and more:
“The world is fraught with misin4mation. George Orwell’s vision of the future is here. We need 2 remain steadfast in faith in the trying times ahead,” Prince said in 2010 in a statement shared by the Estate.
- 4/8/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com


The National’s Matt Berninger has released a solemn new song, “Let It Be,” which will appear on the upcoming deluxe edition of his 2020 solo album, Serpentine Prison.
As Berninger noted on Twitter, his “Let It Be” is not a cover of the Beatles tune, although he added he wrote it with Mike Brewer, whom he called “the Paul McCartney of southern Ohio.” Berninger’s “Let It Be” is a poignant ballad that grows richer with soft horns, harmonica, and shimmering electric guitars as Berninger sings, “Five o’clock in...
As Berninger noted on Twitter, his “Let It Be” is not a cover of the Beatles tune, although he added he wrote it with Mike Brewer, whom he called “the Paul McCartney of southern Ohio.” Berninger’s “Let It Be” is a poignant ballad that grows richer with soft horns, harmonica, and shimmering electric guitars as Berninger sings, “Five o’clock in...
- 2/19/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com


Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Cheap Trick at Budokan and Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis are among the Library of Congress’ 2020 inductees into the National Recording Registry.
Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” and Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” also featured on the diverse list of 25 recordings deemed “aural treasures worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance to the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” the Library of Congress said Wednesday.
Other inductees include Tina Turner’s 1984 LP Private Dancer,...
Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” and Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” also featured on the diverse list of 25 recordings deemed “aural treasures worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance to the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” the Library of Congress said Wednesday.
Other inductees include Tina Turner’s 1984 LP Private Dancer,...
- 3/25/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Music legend Elvis Presley is getting the biopic treatment, with an upcoming movie starring Austin Butler and directed by Baz Luhrmann. The still-untitled movie will costar Tom Hanks as Tom Parker, Elvis's longtime manager. Many casual fans might not know of Parker, but he was one of the most influential people in Elvis's life and career.
Born in the Netherlands, Tom moved to the Us as a young man in the 1920s, joining the Army and using the fake name "Tom Parker" to hide the fact that he was an immigrant named Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk who had arrived in the country illegally by jumping off a ship. He served honorably once, then, after reenlisting, was charged with desertion and imprisoned. After his release, he worked odd jobs at carnivals and first entered the music industry as a promoter in 1938.
In the 1940s, Tom's roster grew, as he promoted country stars in Tennessee,...
Born in the Netherlands, Tom moved to the Us as a young man in the 1920s, joining the Army and using the fake name "Tom Parker" to hide the fact that he was an immigrant named Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk who had arrived in the country illegally by jumping off a ship. He served honorably once, then, after reenlisting, was charged with desertion and imprisoned. After his release, he worked odd jobs at carnivals and first entered the music industry as a promoter in 1938.
In the 1940s, Tom's roster grew, as he promoted country stars in Tennessee,...
- 8/9/2019
- by Amanda Prahl
- Popsugar.com

Crystal Gayle will revisit the country roots that run in her family with You Don’t Know Me, a collection of familiar country standards that includes the title track, which was penned by Hall of Fame songwriter Cindy Walker and popularized by Eddy Arnold in 1955.
Available September 6th, the LP was co-produced by Gayle and her son, Christos Gatzimos, and includes a trio performance of the Porter Wagoner-Dolly Parton classic, “Put It Off Until Tomorrow,” featuring Gayle and her sisters, Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue Wright. Her first all-new album in almost 16 years,...
Available September 6th, the LP was co-produced by Gayle and her son, Christos Gatzimos, and includes a trio performance of the Porter Wagoner-Dolly Parton classic, “Put It Off Until Tomorrow,” featuring Gayle and her sisters, Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue Wright. Her first all-new album in almost 16 years,...
- 7/19/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Just ahead of the September 15th premiere of the eight-part PBS documentary Country Music – A Film By Ken Burns, Legacy Recordings will unveil musical highlights from the 16-and-a-half-hour series with a deluxe five-cd set spanning the history of the genre.
The impressive track list represents artists featured in each of the series’ episodes, from the first stars of the genre, such as the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, to influential acts from the latter half of the 20th century, including Randy Travis and the Judds. The set will be released Friday,...
The impressive track list represents artists featured in each of the series’ episodes, from the first stars of the genre, such as the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, to influential acts from the latter half of the 20th century, including Randy Travis and the Judds. The set will be released Friday,...
- 6/13/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com


Roy Clark may have found his most wide audience as the co-host of the TV comedy series Hee Haw, but it was his prowess on the guitar, banjo and fiddle that made him such a hit with music fans, including famous friends like Brad Paisley. Clark died Thursday at 85, leaving behind a legacy of thrilling live performances. Here are six of his best.
“Twelfth Street Rag”
On the 1962 Capitol LP The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark, the guitar picker trained his dizzy digits on such familiar tunes as “Golden Slippers” and “In the Mood.
“Twelfth Street Rag”
On the 1962 Capitol LP The Lightning Fingers of Roy Clark, the guitar picker trained his dizzy digits on such familiar tunes as “Golden Slippers” and “In the Mood.
- 11/15/2018
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Mellow-voiced singer and prolific songwriter Freddie Hart, whose self-penned single “Easy Loving” was one of the biggest crossover hits of the early Seventies, died Saturday in Burbank, California. He was 91.
In addition to winning the Acm award for Song of the Year in 1971, “Easy Loving” was a Top 20 hit on the pop chart, a million-seller and earned Hart two Grammy nominations and the first of two consecutive Cma Song of the Year honors in 1971. Over the next two years, he would reach Number One on the country chart five additional times,...
In addition to winning the Acm award for Song of the Year in 1971, “Easy Loving” was a Top 20 hit on the pop chart, a million-seller and earned Hart two Grammy nominations and the first of two consecutive Cma Song of the Year honors in 1971. Over the next two years, he would reach Number One on the country chart five additional times,...
- 10/29/2018
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com


“That Time of Year” refers to Christmas, and it is a given in Danish thesp Paprika Steen’s third directorial feature that the togetherness holidays force on us are a holy pain in the arse, with or without Baby Jesus. That “Families are the best… and the worst!” stance feels more than a bit pat in a dramedy whose crises and insufferable behaviors have a well-made-play calculation even as they’re meant to capture emotional messiness. Nevertheless, this mix of sour comedy and default sentimentality should have some appeal in Scandinavia, where the actors’ familiarity will be a lure. Farther afield, it may stir lesser interest as a foreign-language piece too mainstream, and not original or subtle enough, for art-house audiences.
The theatrical air shouldn’t surprise, as this is the first original feature screenplay for well-established Danish playwright Jakob Weis. Sooner or later, “That Time of Year” will probably...
The theatrical air shouldn’t surprise, as this is the first original feature screenplay for well-established Danish playwright Jakob Weis. Sooner or later, “That Time of Year” will probably...
- 9/21/2018
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV


At the first Country Music Association Awards in 1967, Eddy Arnold was awarded with the inaugural Entertainer of the Year trophy. Since that first ceremony, a total of 32 performers have won one of the most coveted awards in the country music industry. Click through our photo gallery above of every Entertainer of the Year winner throughout Cma Awards history.
SEEGarth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year at 2017 Cma Awards, Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert also prevail
Garth Brooks is not only the reigning Entertainer of the Year, but also holds the record for the most victories in this category with an unprecedented six wins overall. Brooks first won this award in 1991.
Women have traditionally been underrepresented in this category, with only seven female artists winning the top prize. Loretta Lynn was the first female winner here, and Barbara Mandrell made history as the first artist of either gender to win the award twice.
SEEGarth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year at 2017 Cma Awards, Chris Stapleton & Miranda Lambert also prevail
Garth Brooks is not only the reigning Entertainer of the Year, but also holds the record for the most victories in this category with an unprecedented six wins overall. Brooks first won this award in 1991.
Women have traditionally been underrepresented in this category, with only seven female artists winning the top prize. Loretta Lynn was the first female winner here, and Barbara Mandrell made history as the first artist of either gender to win the award twice.
- 8/28/2018
- by Tony Ruiz
- Gold Derby


The all-star celebration of the enduring legacy of Country Music Hall of Fame legend Roger Miller continues with a preview of two more outstanding cuts from the upcoming double-lp, King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller. Encompassing two divergent styles of Miller’s songwriting styles, “Dang Me” and ‘The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me” represent, respectively, Miller’s first novelty hit – a Number One country and Top Ten pop tune – and one of the earliest examples of his gift for crafting mournful country ballads. On the former,...
- 7/12/2018
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Sneak Peek the Cmt Original dramatic TV series "Sun Records" (aka "Million Dollar Quartet") airing February, 23 2017, starring Drake Milligan as 'Elvis Presley', Trevor Donovan as 'Eddy Arnold', Kevin Fontaine as 'Johnny Cash', Christian Lees as 'Jerry Lee Lewis', Billy Gardell as 'Colonel Tom Parker' and a whole lot more:
"...in a dramatic recreation from one of the world's greatest jam sessions, December 4th, 1956, the career of 'Carl Perkins' was flying high from his hit 'Blue Suede Shoes'.
"New to the scene, 'Jerry Lee Lewis' is brought in to work on a new song with Perkins. Then 'Elvis Presley' and country 'Johnny Cash' stop by the studio for a visit.
The songs they sang on that epic day became the concept for an inventive retelling of their impromptu recording session..."
Cast also includes Jonah Lees as 'Jimmy Swaggart',...
"...in a dramatic recreation from one of the world's greatest jam sessions, December 4th, 1956, the career of 'Carl Perkins' was flying high from his hit 'Blue Suede Shoes'.
"New to the scene, 'Jerry Lee Lewis' is brought in to work on a new song with Perkins. Then 'Elvis Presley' and country 'Johnny Cash' stop by the studio for a visit.
The songs they sang on that epic day became the concept for an inventive retelling of their impromptu recording session..."
Cast also includes Jonah Lees as 'Jimmy Swaggart',...
- 2/21/2017
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek


Chad Michael Murray is feeling (and making!) the music in a new trailer for Cmt’s Sun Records.
RelatedNashville Premiere Recap: Love Means Always Having to Say You’re Sorry
Premiering Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10/9c, the drama stars Murray (One Tree Hill, Agent Carter) as real-life music producer Sam Phillips, the man responsible for setting rockers like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash on their respective paths to superstardom.
Set in Memphis during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, Sun Records “tells the untold story of nothing less than the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.” Additional faces you can...
RelatedNashville Premiere Recap: Love Means Always Having to Say You’re Sorry
Premiering Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10/9c, the drama stars Murray (One Tree Hill, Agent Carter) as real-life music producer Sam Phillips, the man responsible for setting rockers like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash on their respective paths to superstardom.
Set in Memphis during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, Sun Records “tells the untold story of nothing less than the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.” Additional faces you can...
- 1/6/2017
- TVLine.com
USA Network’s upcoming crime thriller Eyewitness has found its murderous male lead in Chicago Fire actor Warren Christie, TVLine has learned.
RelatedRyan Phillippe Drama Shooter Ordered to Series at USA Network
Adapted from the Norwegian drama Øyevitne, the series explores a grisly crime from the perspective of those who saw it happen. Christie will co-star as Ryan Kane, who, after committing a series of passion-fueled murders, will do anything possible to escape detection. As he hunts for the two eyewitnesses and attempts to mislead Sheriff Helen Torrance, a sinister game of cat-and-mouse ensues.
Christie — whose TV credits also include Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,...
RelatedRyan Phillippe Drama Shooter Ordered to Series at USA Network
Adapted from the Norwegian drama Øyevitne, the series explores a grisly crime from the perspective of those who saw it happen. Christie will co-star as Ryan Kane, who, after committing a series of passion-fueled murders, will do anything possible to escape detection. As he hunts for the two eyewitnesses and attempts to mislead Sheriff Helen Torrance, a sinister game of cat-and-mouse ensues.
Christie — whose TV credits also include Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,...
- 4/6/2016
- TVLine.com
Trevor DonovanJL Ranch, Texas Rising is set to join the cast of Cmt's new scripted drama Million Dollar Quartet working title as Eddy Arnold, country music and pop phenomenon with 85 million records sold and 28 No. 1 hits during his 60 year career. The son of a sharecropper, Arnold's inimitable baritone voice brought country to the masses, and made him the most popular country artist of the 20thcentury with hits including Make The World Go Away. Arnold and Elvis Presley shared much in common throughout their careers, including manager Colonel Tom Parker. Arnold has been cited as having profound influence on Elvis, who cut a number of his songs over the years. He also ranked among Cmt's list of 'The 40 Greatest Men of Country Music.'...
- 4/6/2016
- by TV News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
90210 alum Trevor Donovan has been cast in Million Dollar Quartet (working title), Cmt's upcoming eight-episode scripted drama inspired by the Broadway musical. Produced by Leslie Greif and directed by Roland Joffé, Million Dollar Quartet is a period drama timed to the historic 60th anniversary of the famous recording sessions featuring icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Donovan will play Eddy Arnold, one of the most popular country…...
- 4/6/2016
- Deadline TV
Moved from a planned awards-season contending fall reason to this spring, it's likely that the lukewarm reviews for "I Saw The Light" compelled Sony Pictures Classics to change their game plan. But that doesn't change the fact that it has Tom Hiddleston doing a pretty good job singing Hank Williams tunes in the biopic about the hard livin' country legend. Read More: Review: 'I Saw The Light' Starring Tom Hiddleston And Elizabeth Olsen The full soundtrack for the movie has landed. In an addition to Hiddleston singing a handful of cuts, there are also some classic tunes by Eddy Arnold, Jo Stafford, The Delmore Brothers, Emmett Miller, and more. If you feel like gettin' your honky tonk on, this seems like it'll do the trick. The soundtrack drops on in stores the same day as the movie, March 25th. Full details and tunes below. "I Saw The Light...
- 1/29/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Howard Hughes movies (photo: Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in 'The Aviator') Turner Classic Movies will be showing the Howard Hughes-produced, John Farrow-directed, Baja California-set gangster drama His Kind of Woman, starring Robert Mitchum, Hughes discovery Jane Russell, and Vincent Price, at 3 a.m. Pt / 6 a.m. Et on Saturday, November 8, 2014. Hughes produced a couple of dozen movies. (More on that below.) But what about "Howard Hughes movies"? Or rather, movies -- whether big-screen or made-for-television efforts -- featuring the visionary, eccentric, hypochondriac, compulsive-obsessive, all-American billionaire as a character? Besides Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays a dashing if somewhat unbalanced Hughes in Martin Scorsese's 2004 Best Picture Academy Award-nominated The Aviator, other actors who have played Howard Hughes on film include the following: Tommy Lee Jones in William A. Graham's television movie The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977), with Lee Purcell as silent film star Billie Dove, Tovah Feldshuh as Katharine Hepburn,...
- 11/6/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide


Jerry Vale, the popular Italian-American velvet-voiced crooner of the 1950s and '60s, died Sunday in the Palm Springs area, Kesq-tv reported. He was 83. A tenor with a smooth, polished delivery, Vale was a longtime fixture at Columbia Records who recorded more than 50 albums and hundreds of songs. He first hit the charts in 1953 with “You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart” (arranged by Percy Faith and his orchestra). His other enchanting hits included "Volare," "Al Di La," “Two Purple Shadows,” a cover of Eddy Arnold's “You Don’t Know Me,” “I
read more...
read more...
- 5/19/2014
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News

Florida Georgia Line broke a country music record this week. The duo, made up of Floridian Brian Kelley and Georgian Tyler Hubbard, just reached new heights with their hit single, "Cruise."
Originally released last August, "Cruise" has now spent a total of 22 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, the most for any song in charted history. Billboard reports that "Cruise" beat out some major contenders for the title: Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" spent 21 weeks at No. 1 between 1947 and 1948, Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On," also at 21 weeks in 1950, and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now," which matched the total in 1955.
Florida Georgia Line debuted "Cruise" as a part of the band's 2012 Ep, "It'z Just What We Do." The track later appeared on Florida Georgia Line's debut studio album, "Here's to the Good Times,...
Originally released last August, "Cruise" has now spent a total of 22 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, the most for any song in charted history. Billboard reports that "Cruise" beat out some major contenders for the title: Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" spent 21 weeks at No. 1 between 1947 and 1948, Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On," also at 21 weeks in 1950, and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now," which matched the total in 1955.
Florida Georgia Line debuted "Cruise" as a part of the band's 2012 Ep, "It'z Just What We Do." The track later appeared on Florida Georgia Line's debut studio album, "Here's to the Good Times,...
- 8/1/2013
- by Madeline Boardman
- Huffington Post
Plowboy Records recently released You Don’t Know Me, an Eddy Arnold tribute album featuring appearances from artists like Frank Black, Bobby Bare, Jr. and Alejandro Escovedo. Produced by Cheetah Chrome, the album celebrates Arnold’s 70-year career. “Eddy Arnold was always a household favorite,” said Escovedo. “My father was a lover of crooners and great voices. My mother loved him, too. He was one of those guys playing in our house all the time, along with Sinatra and Nat King Cole. We heard his voice a lot.” Escovedo chose to record the track “It’s A Sin.” “‘Its A Sin’ is one...
- 6/28/2013
- Pastemagazine.com
Yodelling country singer best known for Rose Marie and Indian Love Call
The singer Slim Whitman, who has died aged 90, was a noteworthy figure in country music, since, although he was hugely popular outside the Us, for most of his career he was almost forgotten in his own country. In the 1970s, two decades after his American heyday, he still commanded enough of a following in the UK to be voted the No 1 international star in a music poll – four times.
Much of the reason for his success outside the Us was his high, clear, strong singing and almost operatic yodelling, characteristics that several generations in Britain, Australia and South Africa have assimilated into their notions and fantasies of the old west of America. One of Whitman's chief models was Wilf Carter, a Nova Scotian yodeller and singer of cowboy songs who was popular throughout north America in the 30s...
The singer Slim Whitman, who has died aged 90, was a noteworthy figure in country music, since, although he was hugely popular outside the Us, for most of his career he was almost forgotten in his own country. In the 1970s, two decades after his American heyday, he still commanded enough of a following in the UK to be voted the No 1 international star in a music poll – four times.
Much of the reason for his success outside the Us was his high, clear, strong singing and almost operatic yodelling, characteristics that several generations in Britain, Australia and South Africa have assimilated into their notions and fantasies of the old west of America. One of Whitman's chief models was Wilf Carter, a Nova Scotian yodeller and singer of cowboy songs who was popular throughout north America in the 30s...
- 6/20/2013
- by Tony Russell
- The Guardian - Film News


Nashville, Tenn. — Gordon Stoker, a member of The Jordanaires vocal group that backed Elvis Presley, died Wednesday. He was 88.
His son, Alan, told The Associated Press that Stoker died at his home in Brentwood, Tenn., after a lengthy illness. Stoker, who was born in Gleason, Tenn., got his start playing the piano on Wsm radio and its signature show, the Grand Ole Opry.
Alan Stoker said his father was just 15 when he started playing professionally. He joined the Jordanaires as a piano player, but then became tenor vocalist. The group was already well known for their gospel singing when Presley recruited them to perform on his recording of "Hound Dog," in 1956.
The Jordanaires originated in Missouri and came to Nashville, where they backed Red Foley on a segment of the Opry called the "Prince Albert Show," according to John Rumble, senior historian at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
His son, Alan, told The Associated Press that Stoker died at his home in Brentwood, Tenn., after a lengthy illness. Stoker, who was born in Gleason, Tenn., got his start playing the piano on Wsm radio and its signature show, the Grand Ole Opry.
Alan Stoker said his father was just 15 when he started playing professionally. He joined the Jordanaires as a piano player, but then became tenor vocalist. The group was already well known for their gospel singing when Presley recruited them to perform on his recording of "Hound Dog," in 1956.
The Jordanaires originated in Missouri and came to Nashville, where they backed Red Foley on a segment of the Opry called the "Prince Albert Show," according to John Rumble, senior historian at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
- 3/27/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post


Atlanta -- Singer-songwriter Joe South, who performed hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s such as "Games People Play" and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" and also penned songs including "Down in the Boondocks" for other artists, died Wednesday, his music publisher said. South was 72.
South, whose real name was Joseph Souter, died at his home in Buford, Ga., northeast of Atlanta, according to Marion Merck of the Hall County Coroner's office. Merck said South died after having a heart attack.
"He's one of the greatest songwriters of all time," said Butch Lowery, president of the Lowery Group, which published South's music. "His songs have touched so many lives. He's such a wonderful guy and loved by many."
South worked as a session guitar player on recordings of some of the biggest names of the 1960s – Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. But he had...
South, whose real name was Joseph Souter, died at his home in Buford, Ga., northeast of Atlanta, according to Marion Merck of the Hall County Coroner's office. Merck said South died after having a heart attack.
"He's one of the greatest songwriters of all time," said Butch Lowery, president of the Lowery Group, which published South's music. "His songs have touched so many lives. He's such a wonderful guy and loved by many."
South worked as a session guitar player on recordings of some of the biggest names of the 1960s – Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, among others. But he had...
- 9/6/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
George Strait has topped a new list of country giants from the past 25 years. The singer beat Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw to the number one spot on Billboard's list of the top 25 country music artists of the past 25 years.
The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee has landed 44 tunes atop the Hot Country Songs chart, the most by any artist in the countdown's 64-year history. Only Eddy Arnold has scored more top 10 records with 92.
Strait is the only artist in Billboard's history to achieve top 10 singles in 30 consecutive years, from 1981 to 2010. The Top County Artists 1985-2010 ranking is based on performance on the weekly Hot Country Songs and Top Country Albums charts.
The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee has landed 44 tunes atop the Hot Country Songs chart, the most by any artist in the countdown's 64-year history. Only Eddy Arnold has scored more top 10 records with 92.
Strait is the only artist in Billboard's history to achieve top 10 singles in 30 consecutive years, from 1981 to 2010. The Top County Artists 1985-2010 ranking is based on performance on the weekly Hot Country Songs and Top Country Albums charts.
- 6/8/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
What happens in Vegas usually stays in Vegas. But this time Kenny Chesney might want to ignore that rule and tell all his friends about his night in Sin City. The singer won the coveted entertainer of the year award at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night. "This one is really extra special because long before I had a hit record, the fans always came to the shows. And I want to thank you guys for voting and for being there for me," said Chesney when accepting his award, which fans voted on for the first time.
- 5/18/2008
- by Shelley Akers
- PEOPLE.com
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