Country Music News Source

It seems for the last 50 years you could visit the Grand Ole Opry, and see at least one performer donning a rhinestone suit. The fad was at it’s hey day during the 50’s and 60’s, but as time progressed the rhinestone suit started to fade out. Porter Wagoner has kept this tradition alive for 50 years. Sadly, the ‘Wagonmaster’ passed away on October 28th at 8:25 p.m. He was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and then subsequently sent to Hospice Care.

Porter’s name will always be synonymous with the Grand Ole Opry. The legacy he left behind, is just as strong as any left by any other prestigious country artist. The only way his name will be tainted is if we start forgetting who helped put country music on the map.

Our customers are rabid fans of classic country music. They range from fans of Texas Swing to loyal fans of Daniel O’Donnell. But who do you think is our largest seller? If you guessed Hank Williams or Jim Reeves, you would have a good guess but the wrong answer. It is no other than Mac Wiseman. This very popular bluegrass/folk artist is at the top of our sells chart, with over 50,000 units sold during our twelve year history. I can’t give you a definitive answer as to why he is our largest seller, but I speculate that it is his smooth lead voice, and his deep grounded love for roots and traditional music. We actually deal directly with Mac with most of his product, and we have found out that not only is he extremely talented, but a real down-to-earth person. So if you’re looking for something old but new to your ears, try out Mac Wiseman, you will not be disappointed.

The Viginia Boys are gearing up for reunion on Oct. 27th. It will feature concerts and teaching workshops, which will be led by the one and only Jesse McReynolds from the incredible duo Jim and Jesse. This will be bluegrass at it’s finest. The reputation of Jesse McReynolds and The Virginia Boys is staggering. Laymen and afficianados alike always bring up the name of Jim and Jesse when discussing Bluegrass music. So if bluegrass is your forte, definitely plan to attend this time of fun and incredible music.

Earlier this year, four rooms of the Grand Ole Opry House went ‘under the hammer’ for some renovations. The DIY network, which stands for Do-It-Yourself, was there to lead country stars such as Little Jimmie Dickens, Lorrie Morgan, Chris, Young, Trace Adkins, and Jamie O’neal in the task. The renovations only took three days. The segment is called “DIY to the Rescue” and it will air on October 7th at 9:00 pm et. I hope that the producers of the show knew that they were treading on holy ground.

There used to be this hole-in-the-wall restaurant off of I-24 West on Old Hickory Blvd called HotChicken.com. They served the hottest chicken strips that I have ever eaten. I mean, it was melt your face off hot. It rivaled any hot sauce or habanero pepper that I have ever tasted. The restaurant was owned by Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan. Despite being popular with me and my friends, it went out of business a few years ago. To make matters worst, this past February, Sammy declared bankruptcy due to the debts that the restaurant and his slow musical career have accrued. It is safe to say that Sammy’s recent hits have been few and far between. So with all of his misshaps he is still going to run for Lieutenant Governor in Louisianna on October 20th. I am not saying that this should dissuade Kershaw from running, but it is definitely going to give the other candidates, fuel for mud-slinging.

Sammy is looking to improve the tourism in Louisianna by adding a Branson, MO type of attraction. I wonder if it will be cajun themed? Is this a self-serving act? I can just see the headline now, “Sammy Kershaw gets all of his money back by opening up new theater in Louisianna.” I am just kidding. If successful, he would bring money into an already poor state. What is everyone else think about this issue? What do you think Sammy’s chances are for winning. Is he going to win solely on past success as country artist?