The Cumberland Post

The Cumberland Post
My Backyard, Six Miles from the Cumberland River

Friday, February 18, 2011

Country Dirt

I've been working on a new blog to promote Blood Country. It's called Country Dirt and it's going to be my main site for the book. I'll leave a book link in the left column here on the Post, but I won't be writing anymore stuff here about it, sullying up this place with all that crass materialistic, commercial stuff.

Not that this place is all that pure or anything, I'm just speaking figuratively. Mainly, I don't want to estrange the few bloggers friends who stop by here regularly by boring them with constant "buy this book" posts.

I'm working on a promotional video (if I succeed, I might have to violate my anti-sullying rule and use that here on the Post as well, just to see what ya'll think about my first cinematic attempt), and I'm also eventually going to set up a Facebook page. Now, that Facebook thing could be a real adventure for me.

Anyhoo, here's the first post from over at the other site, and a link in case you want to check it out. This post might be of interest here because of the video of an old friend I found on youtube. He's a songwriter/singer and...well, I explain more below in the first Dirt post:

COUNTRY DIRT

Country Dirt? What's up with that title?

The "country" part refers to country music. I love country music. I live outside Nashville, but be advised, that fact doesn't guarantee my affection for the music. I know lots of people here who don't like it, some who hate it, even some who are embarrassed by it. 

I just like it, it's simplicity, it's general reliance on lyrics over volume, and it's themes that connect to real people's lives. Before my parents got a TV, I listened to the Opry on Saturday nights on the radio. After we got a TV, I watched Flatt and Scruggs, Porter Wagoner, the Wilburn Brothers, etc. on TV. Right now, the first preset radio station on my truck radio is WSM, 650 AM. 

I like Rock and Roll and other kinds of music too. But my heart has always been in country.

I've always been fascinated with the people who make this music, not only the stars, but the sidemen as well. Over the years, I've had connections with several people who are involved with music in Nashville, at least on the edges of that scene. An old friend of mine, Charlie Barnes, was a sideman for Jeannie Seeley and Jack Green for awhile. He cut a single or two back in the day and still can play guitar with the best of them and has a great voice. Another good friend and former work colleague is the son of a famous Nashville sideman, Howdy Forrester; Bob's a super fiddle player himself. 

In the '70s I met songwriter/singer Guy Golemon. We became friends for awhile and our kids played together. We had quite a few beers over the years and I even helped him move into a new apartment one time. When they grew up, his sons John and Will became a major part of the group, The Cactus Brothers. I lost track of Guy but recently saw this great video from 1988 posted on youtube last year by his son Will.   


Nashville can sometimes be a dirty, mean spirited place for an artist struggling to get noticed. Guy's song nails the frustration that a lot of artists who come here eventually feel. And that leads me to the second word in this blog's title.

"Dirt."

Even as a boy I liked to play in the dirt, making roads and racetracks and battlefields. My grandma used to say, "Let that boy alone, a little dirt never hurt anyone." When I got through playing, I could always take a bath.

My Encarta Dictionary has several meanings for "dirt." 1. unclean substance. 2. earth. 3. hard packed earth. 4. scandalous facts. 5. corrupting influences.

I think all of these meanings are in play here. I will sometimes deal with "unclean" things in country music, scandalous facts, corrupting influences, etc. 

I figure there's plenty of material in this area for lots of posts; I could do a whole month on George Jones' shenanigans, for example. And, in this same context, the travails of Mindy McReady come to mind. That's poor Mindy to the right.

I've got my first post in the hopper now about a drunken Ernest Tubb's attempt to shoot (with a .357) a well known Nashville producer. 

But, I'll always be on the lookout for stories readers might have; if you've got dirt, share it here. (I'll be glad to research your stories/rumors and post them.) 

But I'll also pay attention to meaning number 2, earth, as in the good earth, our home, the source of our sustenance. Country music is often said to be "down to earth," or "earthy." Nothing dirty about that. I'm thinking in this context about stories of how struggling artists got discovered, what obstacles they had to overcome, etc. Also, Again, any stories or anecdotes along these lines that you want to share on this site will be welcomed.

In the interest of full disclosure, there's one other thing I need to tell you. I'm using this blog to promote (sell!) my book, Blood Country. It's a mystery novel set in Nashville and the private detective is also a guitar sideman. The case he's digging into involves him with one of Nashville's most prestigious music families and some scandalous secrets that they've hidden for twenty years. I'll be doing regular posts about the novel and sharing some excerpts from the book here. Right now, you can read more about the book (and buy it) by clicking on the links to the left.

That's all for today, partners.

It's fun to play in the dirt, but always take a bath when you're done. Until we meet again, stay true to yourself, and when you do anything, give it your best shot. 

5 comments:

  1. As always Dan, a pleasure to read. I'll be sure to add Dirt to my reading list and if I have anything for you I'll pass it along.

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  2. Ah... so much to comment on here, but I'll limit myself to "good luck with the book," and we'll be checking in at the "other blog" from time to time.

    Well, there's this, too: I did a LOT better with "20 Years" than I did with Patsy's tune. ;-)

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  3. This post got my attention mate. First off, didn't know you were a writer/author. I like to think of myself as one also. Secondly, be looking forward to the book, after all, I was a Homicide Detective Sergeant for 16 of my 21 years in law enforcment.

    A "country" story with no dirt, but everytime you have an article posted about "sidemen" and Nashville or "Opry" I can't help but think of this. Picture an American submarine that's been out to sea for almost 6 months having stopped in many ports around the world, but none of them near the good old US of A.

    You're on your way home and about three days out from the New London, Conn. Submarine Base. Your skipper surfaces and a few hatches are opened to let in some fresh air. BTW, this "boat" is an old conventional (non-nuclear) sub and they were known to get quite "ripe" after awhile.

    The antenna for "the gertude"( a radio that could receive Am and Fm radio stations) and could be played for the crew in the messhall. A young sailor from upstate NY who generally liked only Rock & Roll was slowly turning the tuning knob and after get'n nothing but static for a few minutes, he hears this high pitched, cackling voice who immediately conjured up an image of a straw hat with price/size tags still attached being worn by a rather ugly, but friendly feminine face say'n;

    " Hooooowdy! This here's cousin Minnie Pearl coming diiirect to y'all from WWVA, Wheeling West Virginy. Welcome friends & neighbors."

    I've liked Bluegrass and country music from that day forward.

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  4. Hey, you have been a busy boy! I like the new blog spot! I am sure there is enough "Dirt"
    around Nashville to keep you writing for a long time. Remember "Country music is great, but Bluegrass rules." Yeeeehaw!

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  5. Deb, Thanks. There have been quite a few Canadian Country singers over the years. Hank Snow from the old days comes to mind. I always liked Ian Tyson and of course Gordon Lightfoot.

    Buck, Sorry about the yodeling Patsy M. Actually she was pretty big back in the day. From wpedia: Her 1935 "I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart" was the first million seller by a woman. Not sure she yodeled on that one though.;)

    Cookie, Thanks, I really appreciate your comment. According to what they tell me, the book is available now. It's not a police procedural, more in the old Ross Macdonald hardboiled P.I. vein. And you are definitely a writer yourself as evidenced by your blog. I've read lots of well written pieces there. I haven't read one of your magazine cooking columns yet, but tell me where to look and I definitely will.

    And I can picture your pleasure at hearing old Minnie P. (Sarah Cannon) as you returned from a long time at sea. She was a quintessential American and hearing her would have definitely let you know you were back in the States. Or at least getting close! You probably know this already but Cannon was really a cultured lady who only used that persona in her act. Thanks again for a great comment.

    Scooney, you're right about the "dirt." It's everywhere! And Bluegrass. It's my religion, man.

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