magazine - americanradiohistory.com...COUNTRY MAILBOX Dear Editor: Perhaps some of your readers will want to help me in my prepara-tion of a first biography of the late country singer

the countrymusicmagazine

AUGUST 1969/50c

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COVER

Cover - Buck OwensCourtesy Capitol Records

couitryINSIDEARTICLES

Buck Owens-Tops At Home And Abroad 12James Hendrix 20Tompall And The Glazer Brothers-Harmony At Work 28A Th-Th-Th-Thing About Mel Tillis 35Jimmy Payne 40

FEATURES

The Country Poll Results 10TV Versus Country And Western In England 18Thirty Years Of Million Sellers 23The Academy Of Country And Western Music Awards 32

PROFILES

Charlie Louvin 2

Tommy Cash 48

DEPARTMENTS

Country Mailbox 6Fan Club Listings 24

President-BERYL J. WOLK. Executive Administrator-J. PALMA. Administrator-PRUE MARTIN. Editorial Administrator-IRA BLACK.Editor-SHEL KAGAN. Associate Editor-BONNIE O'BOYLE. Contributing Reporters-Loretta, Loudilla & Kay Johnson, IFCO. Art Direc-tor-JOE DePAS. Staff-RALPH CRENETI, ART WHEELER. Production-MARTY RUBIN.

Advertising and Sales: Advertising Director, 11401 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19154, (215) 677-6200. DANIEL AND ASSOCIATES,Suite 103, 2631 Bachman Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, (214) 357-0680.

COUNTRY Magazine is published by Goodway, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. Subscription $5.00 per year in the United States, foreign rates uponrequest. Single copy price 50 cents. Copyright 1968 by Goodway, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without writtenpermission is prohibited.

1

PROFILE: CHARLIE LOUVINCHARLIE LOUVIN is one of the most talented, sea-soned, professional, versatile, and hard working coun-try music artists of today. His career began severalyears ago with his brother, Ira, as the wonderfulLouvin Brothers in Henagar, Alabama. Together theybecame Country Music's most honored duo, and re-corded twenty LP's and over one hundred singles forCapitol Records. For five straight years they werevoted "Most Programed Sacred Group" and "MostProgramed Duet" by the national country and west-ern disc jockeys. Many songs such as "When I StopDreaming," "The Weapon of Prayer," and "I TakeThe Chance" they wrote and recorded. Their wonder-ful sacred songs become a part of them, and todayalmost any gospel album will include at least one oftheir songs. Even though Ira's gone, no CharlieLouvin show is complete until he sings many of thesebeloved Louvin Brothers songs.

In 1963, Charlie launched his own career as a singleand since then every record has been listed in the top50 trade magazine charts across the country. His first

record as a solo, "I Don't Love You Anymore," be-came the number one record in the nation, followedby such greats as "Less And Less," "See The Big ManCry, Mama," "Think I'll Go Somewhere And CryMyself To Sleep," "You Finally Said SomethingGood," and "Off And On."

Charlie has recorded for Capitol Record for 15years, and has starred on the Grand Ole Opry since1955. His television appearances include "The PaulWhitman Show," "National Life Grand Ole Opry,""The Bobby Lord Show," "Porter Wagoner Show,""Wilburn Brothers Show," "The Bill AndersonShow," "American Swing Around," "MidwesternHayride," "Flat And Scruggs Show," and manyothers. Charlie has been in two movies, "Music City,USA" and "The Golden Guitar."

Charlie is a family man and lives in suburban Nash-ville with his wife, Betty, and their three sons, Sonny,Kenneth and Glenn. "Country music has been mylife," says Charlie, "and I don't think I could be hap-py doing anything else."

2

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COUNTRY

MAILBOX

Dear Editor:

Perhaps some of your readers willwant to help me in my prepara-tion of a first biography of thelate country singer Vernon Dal -hart (1883-1948).

Dalhart had sold 25 millioncopies of his international hit"The Prisoner's Song" b/w "TheWreck of the Old '97" (1924) be-fore most early country artists hadseen a mike. Recording under atleast seventy-four different namesbetween 1916 and 1938, Dalhartcut close to 5,000 different tracksfor most of the major and minorrecording companies of the `teens,`20's, and early `30's.

I am interested in exchanginginformation about his life, career,and recordings with your readers.

Gratefully,Walter Haden

Assistant ProfessorThe University of Tennessee

at MartinMartin, Tennessee 38237

Dear Editor,I am writing to put in my twocents worth in the controversyconcerning "Which Way CountryMusic."

In effect the argument is sense-less because there is only one`Country' music. When you startputting strings and other fancysound effects in our music you'regoing to have to call it somethingelse because it's not country any-more.

I can't understand why peoplelike Ray Price and Eddy Arnoldhave changed their money makingstyles to go along with the so-called 'new breed' of countrysingers. If I wanted to listen tothat kind of thing I'd change myradio station.

I'm all for `country converts'such as Jerry Lee Lewis and ElvisPresley as long as they keep itcountry. You'll notice that thereare at least no strings in their mu-sic.

Hats off to Ernest Tubb,George Jones, Johnny Cash,Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, and allthe blue grass singers (to name afew) who aren't about to settle fora cheap imitation of the best mu-sic of all time.

Yours truly,Genie Brooks

Mont Belview, Texas

Dear Sir:

It did my heart good to see in the

April issue a couple of letters giv-ing their disapproval of the so-called contemporary countrysound that is being forced uponthe country fans.

This movement starts with theA and R men in Nashville and ispicked up by the disc jockeysacross the country. The fans havelittle say in what will be played onthe radio station and will probablybuy some of the contemporarymusic because the real good tradi-tional country music is less avail-able.

Eddy Arnold has for a longtime removed himself from coun-try music. He used to have CattleCall played upon his entrance onstage when on television, but Inotice this has also stopped. RayPrice is also far removed from hisold style. This is bad enough butwhen the music industry tries topalm off Doris Day and BobbyGoldsboro as country, this is thelimit. The CMA awards is a joke.It brings tears to your eyes tothink how old timers like TexRitter must feel.

A Northern Jersey station willplay any record by a rock or popartist if it is a country tune, butwill not play records of localcountry artists.

We listen to country stationsbecause we do not want pop or

6

Five new albumsabout life and love you'll

be happy you boughtThree of the albums are by three of the greatest in Country music today:

Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins and Ray Price. And the others bytwo who are soon to be: Johnny Duncan and Bobby Barnett.

They'll make you smile and make you sigh and even make some ofyou cry a little.

Because they're singing about life and love and all the littlethings that go with it.

Which means they're singing today's top Country hits. (After all,outside of life and love, what's left that's worth singing about?)

Get all five of them. Even if you shed a tear or two, you won't be sor

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COUNTRY MAILBOZ

Continued from page 6rock and roll. So why try to put iton the country stations. I hopeothers will write in backing theold traditional country music.

As far as spangles or tuxedoes,let the country artists look coun-try. From cowboy hat to boots.Jimmy Dean is not ashamed towear his boots.

For traditional country,Lawrence King

Morris Plains, N.J.

Dear Editor:I read the letters in this month's"Country," concerning Country &modern country music. For thepast 22 years I've been a countrymusic fan, and I also like some ofthe modern country music, if theyuse guitars. I think the ones thatmade it big as country singers,should stay country tho some oftheir records don't sound at allcountry anymore.

For the past 8 years, my favor-ite entertainer (singer & instru-mentalist) has been GlenCampbell. Someone wrote in"Country Mailbox," - "GlenCampbell can't even get close tocountry music". Even tho' his re-cent hits are modern country, hehas made several country records,including a blue grass album, andmany 12 -string guitar albums thatare country. He's been singingcountry for a long time, but neverhad a big hit till he started doingmodern. I like all of his records,and think his TV show is great.

Some of my other favorites in-clude: Marty Robbins, EddyArnold, Sonny James, MerleHaggard, Dolly Parton, BillAnderson, Connie Smith, CharliePride, David Houston, BuckOwens, and Loretta Lynn.

I'm looking forward to readingyour next issue, and hope to see astory about Glen Campbell soon.

A Country music fanMrs. Marilyn Stephens

Broken Bow, Okla.

Dear Editor:I wish to write you about trendsin Country Music today and how Ifeel about them.

First, in the latest issue ofCountry Magazine, I read two let-ters by Charles Jolie and by VeraJohnson that I am in disagreementwith. The new trend in CountryMusic is very good because it isbringing Country Music and theNashville sound into places it hasvery rarely been and into newcities. A few years ago here inNew York City and nearby NewJersey, the people refused to rec-ognize Country Music and it wasregarded by many as HillbillyMusic even though we did haveradio station WJRZ, a CountryMusic station. Now in this area ifyou listen to a popular music sta-tion like WHN and WNEW radio,you will hear a Country songplayed once in awhile. Perhapsthey play David Houston, and ifyou listen to a hard rock or rockand roll station, you hear TammyWynette, Jerry Lee Lewis andJohnny Cash to name a few. Afew years ago WJRZ brought afew Country Music road showsinto this area and so few peoplewent to see them that they gave itup. This past January, we had theBill Anderson show with DonBowman and Jan Howard, andalso David Houston at SymphonyHall in Newark and the auditor-ium was packed to the rafters.

And this past March, we hadGeorge Jones and Marty Robbinsto name a few at Symphony Hallin Newark and the tickets weresold out a month in advance.

I must admit that stars likeJerry Lee Lewis aren't exactly realCountry Music singers, but if theyappe..l to the young and recordthe Nashville Sound-then that isall that matters because theyoungsters buy most of the rec-ords and they either make orbreak a trend in music, especiallyin a big city like New York wherethe teenage population is over-whelming. I also admit that EddyArnold and Ray Price aren't asCountry as they used to be, butthey too are after the youngergeneration and are a big help inbringing the Nashville sound intonew, better and bigger areas.

Just don't get me wrong. I am afan of Buck Owens, Bill Anderson,George Jones, Carl and PearlButler to name a few, and I listento all their songs, enjoy them andam a member of their fan clubs. Iam still in deep favor of the newtrend in Country Music.

Second, I am very pleased tosee that there is more network tel-evision exposure of CountryMusic, especially with JohnnyCash hosting a summer show onABC from Nashville, and theHe -Haw country music varietyshow coming on CBS this summer.Both have prospects of being regu-lars next season or next spring ifthey prove to be popular. Thatalong with the exposure given theGlen Campbell Kraft Good TimeHour seems to show that the newtrend in Country Music has a lotto do with bringing more CountryMusic on network TV.

To finish up, if you really be -Continued

8

COVNTRY MAILBOZ

Continuedlieve Country Music belongs in thehills and not in the big cities and ifyou believe that teenagers have nopart in today's Country Music,then you aren't in favor of what'shappening to Country Music to-day and the bigger and betteramount of exposure given Coun-try on TV. Then you may just beconsidered a darn hillbilly.

This is the new trend and this isshow business and there is very lit-tle you or anyone else can do tochange it as long as new Countrystars keep coming into the picture.

Yours truly,Thomas Andrasic, A

fan of Country Music andthe Modern Nashville Sound

Clifton, N.J.

Dear Editor:I'm not a fan from way -back, I'monly 18, but I would like to de-fend the "country" stations andD.J.s of today. Just as the peopleand surroundings change so doesthe music; whether it be Country,Rock, Classical, or Middle of theRoad.

Country Music with its manyvarieties can't be outlawed just be-cause its not all the same. There'squite a difference between thebanjo pickin' Blue Grass countryand the Western sound, yet each isas Country as the other. The mod-ern Country, folk song, and Balladhave as much right to be played asany other country sound ... andwho can better express this soundthan Glen Campbell, Roger Miller,and Johnny Cash. All the stylesare the backbone of America andthe variety is one reason I enjoy it.I think everyone should have the

right to listen to the Countrysound they enjoy- - -

K.F.Phoenix, Arizona

PS. As to the Spangles or Tuxe-does - I like Levis and Boots!

Dear Editor,Country Music like everything haschanged with time. We no longerhave singers like Hank Williams,Redd Foley, Jimmy Rodgers andCowboy Copas to continue thetrue country sound. Those likeLoretta Lynn, Tex Ritter, KittyWells and Hank Snow, just toname a few, aren't going toaround forever either. So after thereally great are gone, what willCountry Music be like then?

Country music has taken achange, but why is it considered achange for the worse? Eventhough singers like Eddy Arnoldand Ray Price have escaped thecountry sounds, there are still doz-ens of other young country singersthat hold great promise for thefuture.

As far as I'm concerned Coun-try music will never entirely fadeout.

Sincerely,Dianne Daniel

Prospect Park, Pa.

Dear Editor:I have just finished looking overmy second copy of WMNI, Coun-try and I am very pleased with themagazine. I have no gripe at all ex-cept, I feel that with this type ofmagazine, I share the same opin-

ion as Mrs. Anna Durand on Page6. Fan clubs do a lot to supportthe various artists and withoutthat support it would be muchharder for records to be sold, andvarious performances to haverecord attendances. I know of sev-eral persons that belong to asmany as twelve clubs and theytravel hundreds of miles everyyear and write literally thousandsof letters in support of the artists.They write and call radio stations,they purchase the records and pic-tures, and they involve their fami-lies and friends. I think it wouldbe very nice if there were a specialfan club section and perhaps anarticle now and then about a par-ticular club and its activitieswritten by that club's president ora State representative.

But that is not the real reason Ihave written to you, however. Wehave a wonderful country/westernstation here in Lansing, and I amcurious as to why WITL does nothave their call letters on an editionof your wonderful magazine. Mr.Tom Allen is the program managerand a very fine one, and all of the"Country Gentlemen" DJ's aregreat and do a wonderful job ofairing the best in country/westernrecordings. We also have severalshows at the Civic Center each sea-son with sell-out crowds. I don'tknow how you arrive at the sta-tions to be represented but I de-cided I would write and suggest it.I hope you don't think that I ambeing nosey. I am a real interestedCountry fan.

Yours sincerely,Mrs. Gwen Meyers

Lansing, Mich.

9

SACRED SONGS OR LESS?

1. 66% say more2. 24% prefer the status quo3. 10% want less J.

The results of COUNTRY's poll are in! The race for favorite male country artist was a close one all the waydown the line and it ended in a tie for first place between Johnny Cash and Buck Owens. Among the girls,Loretta Lynn took a commanding first place and the Buckaroos won handily as your favorite country band.Another unchallenged winner was Chet Atkins as the favorite instrumentalist. All in all we found that everytop country and western artist and band has a sizeable number of fans among our readers, not to mentionthe many local talents you mentioned in your responses. As one lady put it, "This is a very unfairquestionnaire. It's very difficult to select one artist or performer from among so many excellent choices!"Well, we were happy to know that and hope that there will always be many, many "excellent choices" forcountry music fans.

Incidentally, we couldn't tabulate your all-time favorite country songs. The reason? Almost everybodyhad a different choice. However, among the songs most frequently mentioned were "Your Cheatin' Heart,""Tennessee Waltz," "Release Me," "Wabash Cannonball," and "Cattle Call." A few of you preferred newerreleases such as "Harper Valley PTA" and "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass," but on the whole, the oldersongs seem to be your favorites.

SHOULD COUNTRY MUSIC HAVE MORE THE INSTRUMENT THAT MOSTREPRESENTS THE COUNTRY SOUND

1. Guitar2. Steel Guitar3. Banjo4. Fiddle

tfY POLL RESULTS

5. Electric Guitar

FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE

MALE ARTIST INSTRUMENTALIST FEMALE ARTIST BAND

1. Johnny Cash -Buck Owens (tie) 1. Chet Atkins 1. Loretta Lynn 1. Buckaroos2. Bill Anderson 2. Floyd Cramer 2. Tammy Wynette 2. Po' Boys3. Glen Campbell 3. Roy Clark 3. Connie Smith 3. Wagonmasters4. Merle Haggard 4. Buck Owens 4. Dolly Parton 4. Brazos River Boys5. Porter Wagoner 5. Boots Randolph 5. Norma Jean 5. Strangers6. Charlie Pride 6. Don Rich 6. Jan Howard 6. Lonely Blue Boys7 Waylon Jennings 7. Jack Greene 7. Jeannie C. Riley 7. Jones Boys8. Marty Robbins 8. Pete Drake 8. Kitty Wells 8. Rainbow Ranch9. Eddy Arnold 9. Glen Campbell 9. Patsy Cline 9. Tennessee Three

10. Hank Williams Sr. 10. Grady Martin 10. Dottie West 10. Texas Troubadours11. Hank Snow 11. Buck Trent 11. Jean Shepard 11. Cheatin' Hearts12. Ray Price 12. Earl Scruggs 12. Bonnie Guitar 12. Nashville Brass13. George Jones 13. Brother Oswald 13. Lyn Anderson 13. Stonemans14. Jim Reeves 14. Hank Snow 14. Skeeter Davis 14. Bluegrass Boys15. Hank Williams Jr. 15. Larry Butler 15. June Carter 15. Flatt and Scruggs16. Sonny James 16. Jerry Byrd 16. Wanda Jackson 16. Leon McAuliffe17. Stonewall Jackson 17. Johnny Cash 17. Minnie Pearl 17. Texas Playboys18. Jack Reno 18. Billy Grammer 18. Bobbie Gentry 18. Southern Gentlemen19. David Houston 19. Joe Maphis 19. Bonnie Owens 19. Waylors20. Ernest Tubbs 20. Leon McAuliffe 20. Jeannie Seely 20. Bandaleros21. Bob Wills 21. Roger Miller 21. Mary Taylor 21. Border Riders22. Roy Acuff 22. Bill Monroe 22. Marion Worth 22. Cherokee Cowboys23. Jim Ed Brown 23. Merle Travis 23. Kay Adams 23. Gamblers24. Ferlin Husky 24. Hank Williams Sr. 24. Liz Anderson 24. Smoky Mountain Boys25. Warner Mack 25. Cousin Jody 25. Wilma Burgess 25. Deputies

ucI(

OwensNETWORK, HERE HE COMES

By: Loudilla Johnson

Buck .Owens, ranking as theworld's #1 Country Music person-ality, has been chosen by CBS tel-evision to star in a brand new,60 -minute series with the unlikelytitle of "Hee Haw".

The series begins on June 15that 9:00 p.m., filling the recentlyvacated time slot of the now de-funct Smothers Brothers ComedyHour. Buck will host the entiresummer series which will consistof ten shows with an option forthree more and just may moveinto a regular season in Septemberor January.

Appearing as regulars on theshow, along with Buck will beRoy Clark, Sheb Wooley, new-comer Susan Raye, Grandpa Jonesand Archie Campbell. Guest artistsalready set for appearances areMerle Haggard and Bonnie Owensfor three shows, Minnie Pearl,Loretta Lynn, Sonny James,Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride,George Jones, Wynn Stewart,Eddy Fukano, Tammy Wynette,the Hagers and String Bean. The

Buckaroos, under the direction ofDon Rich, will be the staff musi-cians. Producers are JohnAylesworth and Frank Peppiott,currently producing the JonathanWinters Show, now filling out itsfinal season.

This should prove an excellentopportunity to display the talentsof the Country Music Industry'and Buck Owens is the fellow whohas proven many -fold, his abilitiesto carry the torch of CountryMusic around the world. Owensand troupe recently completedsuch a successful tour of theScandanavian countries that hewas immediately signed for a re-turn tour this Fall.

Another feather in the Owenscap came from the Governor ofCalifornia, the Honorable RonaldReagan, in the form of the title ofCountry Music Ambassador ofGoodwill for the State ofCalifornia, which was bestowedupon Buck recently in Bakersfield.The California title takes itshonored position beside the ap-

pointment as Country MusicAmbassador to the State of Texas(The State of Owens' birth.) byGovernor Preston Smith inJanuary of this year.

And Buck continues to set hisfeet on new paths leading deeperinto the Country Music industry.One of the latest being the estab-lishment of his new recordingstudios in Bakersfield. He has alsoformed Blue Book Records,named in conjunction with hispublishing house, one of the moresuccessful in the business.

Owens continues to write hitafter hit, releasing one numberone song after another for CapitolRecords, and already iswell-known to many televisionviewers via his syndicated,full -color series, which is filmed inOklahoma City; a fast -paced showwhich features some of the mostbeautiful sets you will see.

Which way from here? You canplace your bets it'll be UP ... andthat takes some doing whenyou're already #1.

12

Buck O 'yens during his appearanceop the J-o.lathan Win ter Show.

Buck and his Buckaroos performin Oslo, Norway, for over 6,000

. people.

Buck Owens, the top country mu-sic star in the world, proved hisuniversal appeal this past monthduring his European tour. Owenswho is the No. 1 country artist inScandanavia, is also ranked in thetop 5 of the overall favorite rec-ording artists in the Scandanaviancountries.

More than 6,000 peoplecrowded the Buck Owens concertin Oslo, Norway, and paid morethan $30,000 in gate receipts tosee their favorite star, BuckOwens. The crowd at the concertwas enthusiastic to the point ofhysteria; and many times, Owenswas forced to halt his performanceto accommodate the overwhelm-ing applause from the Scanda-navian people.

While in Norway, Buck and hisBuckaroos taped an NRK-TV andradio program for the NorwegianNetwork giving some views on theincreasing acceptance of countrymusic throughout the world.

Everywhere Buck Owens trav-eled in Europe, he was met withgreat appreciation from the peo-ple. He and his troupe played theLondon Palladium and the EmpireTheater in Liverpool, and bothperformances were S.R.O. 5 daysprior to the engagements. He andhis Buckaroos broke all records atthe Grand Gala du Disque Festivalin Amsterdam, Holland.

In Europe alone, Buck Owenshas some fourteen of his 20 No. 1hit singles released, including hislatest, WHO'S GONNA MOWYOUR GRASS. Albumwise, over18 of his top -selling efforts havebeen released there; and the popu-lation is constantly demandingmore.

Speaking of his European tour,Owens said candidly, "I'm notkidding myself, not everyone whocame to see us was a Country mu-sic fan. Some just wanted to seewhat all the `Country Noise' wasabout. Judging by the crowds andthe acceptance at those concertsthough, I would say that countrymusic is growing faster than anyother type of music today."

Owens, who even in Europe hashimself introduced as being fromBakersfield, California, claims thathe will be cutting down on per-sonal appearances this comingyear to devote more time to in-terests closer to home. Those in-terests include his four radio sta-tions, two in Phoenix, Arizona,KTUF and KNIX, and two, KUZZand KBBY-FM, in Bakersfield. Re-gardless of his claim to slow down,Owens is booked solid for thenext month and will be on theroad around the U.S.A. for all buttwo days of the month.

continued on next page

15

Buck and his manager, Jack,lg Fadden, tape an interview fo

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Oslo concert.

16

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The sun, still high in the sky, glistened on the baymares whithers, as the clatter of anxious feet beatdown the old schoolhouse steps. James Hendricksyawned as he ambled over to the mare and with onequick movement, mounted. Still clutching the coarseblack mane, he nudged her forward to walk along sideof brother Jerry.

The two rode in a smooth canter, past the rows ofpumpkins, ready for Halloween, and on through thefreshly stacked hay, just bundled by Uncle Mark andhis men.

The schoolhouse stood just next to about a foursquare mile section of land in Nebraska, owned bythe Hendricks family. All around was the preparationof winter. Autumn was Jim's favorite time of the year- even though the work was hard the rewards were sogreat out there in the sandhills. Joe and MaryHendricks had been working this hard land now formany years. James, their first offspring was well intogrowing himself, and took on almost as much as hisolder cousins, driving tractors, learning to work thesoil, to plant and harvest, learning to listen to hisfather and reap the benefits of knowing the right wayto do things. Few things have changed in that respect.

The guitar, always there for a song with his momon piano became more important to him during thosefinal years of college, where he studied music theoryand composition. He later tried to teach them. Theclassroom indoors was closed and Jim traveled singingfor his supper.

New York City offered recording and work withCass Elliot and Tim Rose. The Big Three as they werecalled grew, and after a couple of years became theMugwumps. Jim began to write with Cass.

Soon open spaces of California carried him towhere musical thought was new. He began to discoveras the folk and rock blues and psycedelic soundsquickly came and went that there was a need forgoing home to the Colorado Rocky Mountains andthen on to Nashville-the home of Country music.

These last years have been a time of gatheringtogether ... of being discovered by Johnny Riverswho recorded his compositions "Summer Rain" and"Look to Your Soul" ... then John producing Jim'sfirst album "Songs of Hendricks"-now is the time ofharvest and Jim is already preparing for winter andspring and summer and fall.

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This may take some of you back in time to the days of Hank Williams, JimReeves and Cowboy Copas, and their greatest songs. At least these are thecountry and western records which sold more than a million copies or more.That "more" got to be pretty considerable in some cases. For exampleVernon Dalhart's "The Prisoner's Song" backed with "The Wreck of the Old'97" sold more than 25 million copies. By the way, if you can think of anymillion sellers we've omitted, let us know about it.

1923"Fiddlin' " John Carson"Fiddlin' " John Carson

You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till She's GoneOld Joe Clark

1924Vernon Dalhart The Prisoner's Song backed with Wreck of the

Old 97

1928The Carter FamilyJimmie Rodgers

1939Gene Autry

Wildwood FlowerBlue Yodel

That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine

1940Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys San Antonio Rose

22

1941Ernest Tubb and His Texas Troubadours Walking The Floor Over You

1942Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain BoysElton Britt

Wabash CannonballThere's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

1947Gene AutryMoon MullicanTex Williams and The Western Caravan

Here Comes Santa ClausNew Jolie BlonSmoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette

1948Eddy Arnold and His Tennessee PlowboysCowboy CopasCowboy Copas

Bouquet of RosesTennessee WaltzSigned, Sealed and Delivered

1949Gene AutryGene AutryHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys

Peter CottontailRudolph the Red -Nosed ReindeerLovesick BluesMy Bucket's Got a Hole In It

1950Gene AutryRed FoleyRed FoleyMoon MullicanRed FoleyHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys

Frosty the SnowmanChattanoogie Shoe -Shine BoySteal AwayI'll Sail My Ship AloneJust a Closer Walk With TheeLong Gone Lonesome BluesMoanin' the Blues

1951Red FoleyPee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys,

with Redd StewartSlim WhitmanHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams

Peace in the Valley

SlowpokeIndian Love CallHey Good LookingRambling ManCold, Cold Heart

1952Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley BoysHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting CowboysHank Williams and His Drifting Cowboys

1953Jim ReevesJim Reeves

The Wild Side of LifeJainbalayaYour Cheating Heart backed with Kaw-LigaHonky Tonk BluesI'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Mexican JoeBimbo

23

FAN

CLUB

DUSTY MILLER & COLO. WRANGLERSFan ClubAddie Cole, Pres.

Division St.Gloversville, N.Y. 12078

SONNY WRIGHT Fan ClubDarlene Halvorson, Mildred Wright andBillie Claycomb, Co. Pres.2089 HanoverAurora, Colo. 80010

JAY LEE WEBB Fan ClubElaine Hobson & Sibyl Hinkle, Co. Pres.6716 Exeter Ave.Birmingham, Ala. 35212

COUNTRY COUSINS CMA of Wisconsin, Inc.Murriel Filar, Pres.6342 W. Plainfield Ave.Greenfield, Wis. 53220

CLAUDETTE LE "5" & COUNTRY JEWELSFan ClubRex Glen, Pres.Cadillac HotelOshawa, Ontario, Canada

C&W FAN CLUB OF CZECHOSLOVAKIAIng. Miroslav Cerny, Pres.Olbrachtova 1057Praha 4, KrcCzechoslovakia, Europs

LITTLE VERY DAVIS Fan ClubKathy B., Pres.Box 458Evansville, Wyo. 82636

GEORGE HAMILTON IV Fan ClubDody Varney, Pres.6646 Old Plum Rd.Ft. Edwards, N.Y. 12828

24

CARL & PEARL BUTLER Fan ClubOpal Hardyman, Pres.1008 South Oak St.Champaign, Ill. 61820

ROY B. SIMON Fan ClubKay Culbert, Pres.410 Mackinaw St.Saginaw, Mich. 48602

NAT STUCKEY Fan ClubLinda Barthel, Pres.P.O. Box 50Roland, Okla. 74954

DEMPSEY SIMS Fan ClubGlennis Mollohan, Pres.343 W. Powers PlaceLittleton, Colo. 80120

REVIEW OF STARSEvelyn Otteson, Pres.217 Melrose Dr.Jackson, Miss. 39211

RALPH STANLEY Fan ClubFay McGinnis, Pres.1156 -21st St.Wyandotte, Mich. 48192

CATHY CASS Fan ClubBarbara Benton, Pres.1034 Lester Dr., N.E.Albuquerque, N.M. 87112

DON McHAN Fan ClubJessie Barkel, Pres.Box 507Holland, Mich. 49423

ERNEST TUBB Fan ClubNorma Barthel, Pres.P.O. Box 10Roland, Okla. 74954

REX ALLEN Fan ClubWilma On, Pres.160 El Bonita WayBenicia, Calif. 94510

JERRY HANLON Fan ClubLaura R. Lagge, Pres.P.O. Box 654Ennis, Montana 59729

BILL ANDERSON Fan ClubFrances Cox, Pres.P.O. Box 304Arvada, Colo. 80002

JOHNNY CASH SocietyReba Hancock, Pres.P.O. Box 95Oak View, Calif. 93022

ETHEL DELANEY Fan ClubClairetta Irish, Pres.R.D. #1, East Ave.McKean, Pa. 16426

JOHNNY STRINGER Fan ClubNettie Mae Hawkins, Pres.1510 Duck Lane Rd.Muskegon, Mich. 49445

MERLE HAGGARD Fan ClubFlossie Haggard, Pres.1303 YosemiteOildale, Calif.

JUDY LYNN Fan ClubJune Hucker, Pres.P.O. Box 14927Las Vegas, Nevada 89114

LYNDA KAYE Fan ClubMollie J. Farley, Pres.5219 WindemereHouston, Texas 77033

25

FAN CL'V B Continued from page 25

JOHNNY CASH Appreciation SocietyDavid & Pat Deadman, Pres."Saskatoon"106 Queen Elizabeth Dr.New Addington, Croydon,Surrey, England

DURWARD ERWIN Fan ClubSue Erwin, Pres.3259 Vernice Ave.San Jose, Calif. 95127

LORETTA LYNN Fan ClubLoudilla, Loretta & KayJohnson, Co. Pres.Box 177Wild Horse, Colo. 80862

LIZ ANDERSON Fan ClubCarol Doyle, Pres.18 Jackson Rd.Holyoke, Mass. 01040

GAYLE HOLLY Fan ClubPearl Chapman, Pres.1331 West Pine St.Walla Walla, Wash. 99362

CLAUDE KING Fan ClubHennie & Ruth Beltman, Co. Pres.330 Duke St., WestKitchener, Ontario, Canada

COMPTON BROTHERS Fan ClubRonnie L. Rhoads, Pres.Route #1Mertztown, Penna. 19539

PEGGY SUE WELLS Fan ClubMartha Ryle, Pres.1168 BelleviewBurlington, Ky. 41005

BOBBY BUTTRAM Fan ClubBarbara Phillips, Pres.P.O. Box 624Roswell, Ga. 30075

LYNN ANDERSON Fan ClubLinda Palmer, Pres.17 N. Wabash Ave.Battle Creek, Mich. 49017

JOE PAIN Fan ClubEvelyn Otteson, Pres.217 Melrose Dr.Jackson, Miss. 39211

MIKE YAGER Fan ClubNettie Mae Hawkins, Pres.1510 Duck Lane Rd.Muskegon, Mich. 49445

JACKIE MEYERS Fan ClubDrue Moore, Pres.416 St. Clair DriveIrwin, Pa. 15642

LARRY BRASSO Fan ClubMillie Miller, Pres.Rt. 2, Box 366Iowa, La. 70647

CATES SISTERS Fan ClubGlennis Mollohan, Pres.343 W. Powers PlaceLittleton, Colo. 80120

LINDA CASSADY Fan ClubGlennis Mollohan, Pres.343 W. Powers PlaceLittleton, Colo. 80120

JIM & JESSE Fan ClubJean Osborn, Pres.404 Shoreline Dr.Tallahassee, Fla. 32301

26Continued

FAN CLUB Continued

BUDDY MEREDITHDusty Borelson, Pres.Route 3, Box 31Rapid City, SO. Dak. 57701

LET'S TALK COUNTRYBeverly Linder, Pres.Route 2, Box 7-ABranchville, S.C. 29432

JAMES O'GWYNN Fan ClubShirley Johnson, Pres.R. 1Griswold, Iowa 51535

BILL PHILLIPS Fan ClubBarbara J. Huss, Pres.P.O. Box 884Harrisburg, Pa. 17108

MYRNA LORRIE Fan ClubJoy D.L. Murphy, Pres.1020 Stone St.Port Huron, Mich. 48060

JACK RENO Fan ClubSandy Davis & Doris Hall,Co.Pres.2215 North BigelowPeoria, Ill. 61559

WILBURN BROTHERS Fan ClubReva & Imogene Choate,Co-Pres.929 Neuhoff LaneNashville, Tenn. 37205

TOM TALL Fan ClubPeggy Steelman, Pres.303 Capitol TowersNashville, Tenn. 37219

CLYDE BEAVERS Fan ClubKathy Yonker, Pres.Box 274Pennsville, N.J. 08070

LEONA WILLIAMS Fan ClubDonna Dunlap, Pres.Old Monroe, Mo. 63369

BUCK OWENS Fan ClubMaicie Owens, Pres.P.O. Box 128Edison, Calif. 93220

CLOSSEY BROTHERS Fan ClubBettye Kendall, Pres.Box 204, 1475 Downing St.Denver, Colo. 80218

BOBBY PARRISH Fan ClubP.O. Box 99Amboy, Ill. 61310

JIM & KELLEY RICH Fan ClubHelen Wright, Pres.Box A-126Grants, N.M. 87020

RAY KIRKLAND Fan ClubPat Tucker, Pres.Rt. 1, Box 289Tampa, Fla. 33612

HANK WILLIAMS, JR. Fan Club806 -16th Avenue, SouthNashville, Tenn. 37203

ZARK PLAYBOYS Fan ClubRuth St. Arbor, Pres.2117A Cleveland Blvd.Granite City, Ill. 62040

27

315

LMPLLLLand the

vnalIn an age that's crowded with musical sounds of allkinds, any entertainer who attracts the world's atten-tion must have something unique. Tompall and theGlaser Brothers have that "something." Tompall,Chuck, and Jim have combined their originality andcreative ability to produce one of the sharpest acts inthe business.

The basis for their success is harmony, both inpersonality and performance. This quality had itsbeginning several years ago on a large farm -ranch nearSpalding, Nebraska. Both their mother and fatherwere musically inclined and their devotion to countrymusic lit the initial spark when their sons were stillvery small. Their father's continuing interest andguidance, and the principles of honesty and goodbusiness which he taught them have been major fac-tors in the growth of their career.

Continued on page 31

29

30

Continued from page 29Winning the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Show

launched the Glaser career in 1957. They moved toNashville shortly after that, and became regulars onthe Grand Ole Opry in 1962. They recorded such hitsas "Let Me Down Easy" and "Words Come Easy" onthe Decca label and then moved to MGM in 1966.Since that time all their releases have gone high in thenational charts. These recent successes include: "LastThing On My Mind," "Gone, On The Other Hand,""Moods of Mary," "Through The Eyes of Love,""One of These Days" and "California Girl And TheTennessee Square."

In 1968 Jim signed a contract with RCA Victor.He wrote his first release, "God Help You, Woman,"and co -wrote the second, "Please Take Me Back,"with Jimmy Payne. Jim has always been in demandaround Music City for vocal backup work, but nowhis exciting tenor sound has brought him two con-secutive hits of his own.

Singing is not the only aspect of the music businesswhere Glaser talent can be noticed. A large collectionof songwriting awards line the wall in the Glasers'Nashville offices. 1968 saw them add four BMIawards, three awards for being the best countrysinging group, and two Grammy nominations to analready impressive list.

The Glaser Brothers have established a completefull service organization for artists and writers. Inaddition to operating three publishing companies(Glaser Publications, Inc., Glaco Publications, Inc.,and G B Music, Inc.) they spend a substantial amountof time in artist management and career guidance.They are responsible for the discovery or promotionof such outstanding performers as John Hartford,Jimmy Payne, Buddy Starcher, Hoover, and SherwinLinton.

Tomp all and the Glaser Brothers have appeared asguest artists on virtually every syndicated televisionshow that comes out of Nashville, and they haveappeared in some "Nashville Sound" movies as well.But most important, this talented group travels morethan 150,000 miles each year to bring their specialbrand of entertainment to fans across the country.

On stage the real impact of the Glaser personalitycomes through. Tomp all and the Glaser Brothersreally enjoy putting on a show, and their feeling forfun automatically gets the audience involved inhaving a good time. The act never comes off quite thesame way twice, but it's consistently polished andprofessional.

Making personal appearances, playing the Opry,recording, song -writing, appearing in movies and ontelevision all add up to a very busy schedule for theGlaser Brothers. But they are never too busy to givetheir best to every aspect of the entertainment bus-iness. That's what makes Tompall and the GlaserBrothers continual award winners, and consistentrepeat performers.

In private life, both John and Jim enjoy such out-door sports as skiing (water and snow), football, andbaseball. They also hunt and fish, and John isworking toward a pilot's license. They are extremelyinterested in acting on a professional basis. Whenasked about their ambitions for the future, John said,"We would like to eventually do a TV series, possiblysomething about what's happening today." BrotherJim added, "I think that this is really our ultimategoal right now. ..to be involved in something thatreally says what it's all about."

JIM GLASER

"GOD HELP YOU WOMAN", a recent hit on thenational country charts, was Jim Glaser's first RCAVictor record. But although he is new to RCA, he isnot new to the music business. Most of you knowhim as the tenor singer with Tompall and the GlaserBrothers, the award winning group that is enjoyingmuch success in country music, and who have beenmembers of the Grand Ole Opry since 1962.

He is an accomplished songwriter, and was awardedfor outstanding achievement by the Nashville Song-writer's Association. His list of hits include "WHATDOES IT TAKE?", "THANKS A LOT FOR TRYING,ANYWAY", "SITTIN' IN AN ALL NITE CAFE"(which gave him his first BMI award), and "IN-STINCT FOR SURVIVAL". He is co -writer of themillion -plus seller, "WOMAN, WOMAN".

He is much in demand in Nashville's studios, wherehe works with vocal backing groups, as well as singingtenor with such artists as Warner Mack, WayneNewton, Bobby Bare, Marty Robbins, Bobby Lord,Bobby Wright, and Webb Pierce just to mention afew.

His latest release on RCA Victor is "PLEASETAKE ME BACK" B/W "KISS HER ONCE FORME". Nashville's music industry is well aware of JimGlaser's exciting voice, as well as his many other tal-ents. And now, the whole world is becoming aware ofhim.

31

Glen C:ampbell took home a burnper _crup of. trawards ft"orn the sinw. Th90 Dinah Shore iisdeiattervrvel_v as fric n:akes One acx:xspeei.hcs. í.

JLLYÍOOD PALLADIUM

It should have been called GlenCampbell Night at the Palladiumwhen the Academy of Countryand Western Music made its fourthannual awards presentations. Thehandsome young singer had tomake his way up to the podiumthree times to accept awards astop male vocalist, for the top al-bum of the year ("Glen Campbelland Bobbie Gentry"), and as tele-vision's top personality.

It was the second year in a row

that Campbell was named the topmale vocalist. He was also repeat-ing in the best album category, anaward he won last year with"Gentle On My Mind." As top TVpersonality he broke the longstreak of Billy Mize who has re-ceived that award for the lastthree years. Mize, however, didn'tleave the presentations emptyhanded for the popular band lead-er and his Tennesseans got theaward as best club band. As forthe best touring band-that award

went to Buck Owens and hisBuckaroos, making the fourthconsecutive year that Buck and hisboys have been tapped for honors.

Merle Haggard must have beenone of the most disappointed per-formers when the awards wereover. Although members of theAcademy nominated Merle tentimes for different awards, morethan any other performer, hefailed to top the balloting in a

Continued on next page

mpbell and Cathie Taylor, the top male and -

vocalists, congratulate each other after thetions.

33

Continued from page 33

category. It was a great year forMerle's releases. "Bonnie AndClyde," "I Take A Lot Of Pride,"and "Mama Tried" were all nomi-nated as the best single of theyear, but top honors went toRoger Miller's "Little GreenApples." In the category of songof the year, with the award goingto the composer, Jim Webb tookthe honors for "Wichita Line-man," the song he penned forGlen Campbell. Incidentally, inthat category, too, Merle Haggardcarried off three of the nomina-tions.

Among the other Country andWestern artists honored by theAcademy were Cathie Taylor, topfemale vocalist, Johnny and JonieMosby, top vocal group; RaySanders and Cheryl Poole, mostpromising vocalists; Tex Williamsand Larry Scott as top regionaland metropolitan radio personali-ties; and the Palomino and theGolden Nuggets as the top region-al and metropolitan country nightclubs. For their All -Star CountryBand of the Year, the Academymembers chose Jerry Wiggins,drums; Red Rhodes, steel guitar;Jimmy Bryant, lead guitar; RedWooten, bass; Earl Ball Jr., pianoand Billy Armstrong, fiddle. Spe-cial awards went to veteran ArtSatherly as a Pioneer of Countryand Western music; Western cos-tumer Nudie and Tommy Smoth-ers for introducing country musicon prime time TV.

The Academy of Country andWestern Music was formed onlyfive years ago to promote countrymusic in the Western states, partic-ularly California. It now has some365 members representing artists,club operators, composers, discjockeys, publishers and recordingcompany executives. The ultimatehope of the members is to estab-lish a Country Music Welfare Fundsupported by a major annualcountry concert. These annualaward dinner -fetes are one step to-ward that goal.

Backstage at the Academy show-(1 to r) VernCarstensen who accepted the award for most promis-ing female on behalf of Cheryl Poole; Jimmy Webb,who is the composer of Wichita Lineman, voted songof the year; Jonie Mosby, who with husband Johnnywas voted the top vocal group; Melody Patterson, oneof the presenters; Johnny Mosby, and Ray Sanders,holding the award for most promising male singer.

Leif Erickson (left) and Della Reese, two of the pre-senters, with Jimmy Webb and Roger Miller (right).Miller won the artist award for the single record ofthe year, "Little Green Apples."

34

Florida's fumy fisherm

an,and songw

riter supreme...

Afunny thing hap-pened toother day on my way

to interview Mel Tillis...he didn'tshow up. However, an even fun-nier thing happened later...HEDID. And unless you've personallyconducted any conversation withMel, you just have no earthly ideahow amusing the guy is. I mean,anyone with enough nerve to actu-ally write a song titled "HereComes Hannnah With A RedBandana" can't be all bad...evenif he does admit, "It was my firstbiggest bomb."

In my estimation, no matterhow many times a week you havea good old-fashioned Funk &Wagnall session...you still can notever come up with one word tocorrectly describe the creative catcountry music knows as Mel Tillis.For that matter, I don't believeyou could correctly capture theman's image with SEVERALwords. First of all, you wouldhave to sum it up with somethingto give credit to the fact that he'sa sensational songwriter, having

more than 400 recorded songs toYou'd need to include

that he's an extremely popularperformer, working in the neigh-borhood of 250 days a year ...which is no bad neighborhood,if you're interested in entertaining.You must also mention that MelTillis is probably one of the funni-est men existing this side of RedSkeleton. And that he's an ofaward -winner from way back. MelTillis is, however, without anydoubt, an individual ... one man... who can flat massacre yourmind in many ways.

s He took hold of those reins ofreality. . .of life itself...in 1932,back in Pahokee, Florida. And herecalls of his childhood, "Evenwhen I was just a little fella I wasalways in a music contest. When-ever they had any kind of event .. .and I mean anything ... I wasentered."

After attending the Universityof Florida, Mel entered the AirForce. And it was during his tourof Okinawa when Mel made up hismind to master music by having a

couple of the guys there teach himhow to put chords together. Uponhis discharge, he continued tocrave a career in the music indus-try. So much so, in fact, that hetook the long trip to Nashville, inhopes of trying to break into thebiz. He says, "I found after talkingto everyone in town, that it wasbetter to have your own material,so I was forced to return to Flor-ida, without much success. I didthat eight times."

However, that eighth trip was acharm for Mel, when he came totown with three songs, and had allthree of them published. In addi-tion, they were all hits, and theyall won BMI awards. WHATWERE THEY?

In between keeping a hot high-way from Florida to Nashville,Mel worked as a Railroad fireman,but gladly gave that up when hefound his place at CedarwoodPublishing Company, in Nash-ville. . .making a move to MusicCity his next step.

Just in the nick of time, justbefore Mel's strawberry -picking

36

money ran out, just before he andhis wife had to move out of theirone room apartment, Mel was con-tacted for his first professionaltour. It came about, it seems,when George Morgan had to can-cel out for surgery. Mel filled in.And as he told us about the tour,Mel said, "Yeah, when I left Flor-ida I told those folks I was gonnasee the world. So, where do youthink my first appearancewas. ..right back down there inFlorida."

"By this time," Mel says,"Doris and I had three girls andone boy, so it ain't too hard to seehow much I was working on theroad back then."

Columbia signed Mel to a re-cording contract, and he was withthem for five years, but when thechips were down...and the$$$$$'s were gone ... Mel alwaysfound more security, in his earlieryears, as a songwriter. He said, "Ididn't really know when I firstmoved here whether I had anyability to write, but I found it in ahurry when those babies started

arriving and my eleven bird-dogsbegan gettin' hungry."

Mel also recorded for DeccaRecords for three years. But itwasn't until he began his associa-tion with Kapp Records that hisrecording career ever came tolight. That's when he flat hookedhimself a hit from fishing buddy,Harlan Howard, titled "LifeTurned Her That Way." He's hadten singles out on -Kapp, and tenof 'urn have made the charts.

Mel recently became a regularon the Porter Wagoner syndicatedTV show, and he says, "That wasone of the best things that hasever happened to me. Early in '69we will be touring together, too,with a special package show."

Although Mel, himself, is still awriter for Cedarwood and main-tains a very close relationship withthem, he has started his ownpublishing company called Saw -grass Music, located in the midstof Music Row. Inquiring about hisfuture intentions for the organiza-tion, Mel stated, "I'm just gonna

build this thing, along with mystaff, til one day when I get tiredof the road, I can come in hereand start making decisions fulltime."

"Cottonpickin' Chicken -pickers" was the name of a movieMel starred in as a Batman sort ofcharacter. And knowing that halfthe world lovingly refers to him as"Muttering Mel", because of hisspeech impediment, it was notsurprising to learn that his rolecalled for someone who stuttered.However, Mel says, "When I gotout there ... I -I -I couldn't s -s -s-tutter. I had to fake it."

Yes, Mel Tillis has made quite aniche for himself in the entertain-ment industry. And as you'rereading this, somewhere outthere ... while it's warm inWashington, slushy in SouthDakota, and doggone cold inDuluth...you can be sure thattoday country fans everywhere aremighty glad there is a Mel Tillis todo his thing in the C/W world.

Continued on next page

37

A copla comics, Speck R des1 an Mel, do their thing for olks

w ching the Porter W ago r TVShbw. The Wagonmasters Join in

\the joshing session asperfectstráight men.

9 el stánastwith, lefi; right: Sud" at tyñ 'Warta df `; Ernes ,-

.,ecdrd p., BE áVeAlle11,11

rtitil1gg

.. :

A serious sid. of Mel Tillis...arare n orient.. Si a rare oeca-sion ... when Mel was rece itlymade a regu_ _ir neznber of tiGrand 31 ()pry.

39

JÍ y PaineMany years ago, back in Gideon, Missouri, a youngcountry boy named Jimmy Payne dreamed a countryboy's dream. In his dream, Jimmy went to the GrandOle Opry. A hundred times, in his mind, he walkedacross that stage. A hundred times he stood in frontof that mike and sang his heart out. He heard theapplause, the whistles and cheers of the enthusiasticcrowd.

One Saturday night in August, 1966, Jimmy Payneactually did walk across that famous stage. To a ca-pacity Grand Ole Opry crowd he sang "What Does ItTake To Keep A Woman Like You Satisfied?" Thedelighted audience gave the slightly frightened youngman from Missouri two encores, and a dream sud-denly came true.

"What Does It Take" was Jimmy Payne's first bigrecord on the Epic label. It won't be his last, for anumber of reasons.

Jimmy typifies a new image emerging from thecountry music world today. The greats ... RoyAcuff, Tex Ritter, Ernest Tubb.. .will live forever.But today's country music has gained such scope thatit takes in many new brands of music and with themmusicians like Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare. ..andJimmy Payne.

Jimmy doesn't remember when he didn't want tobe a singer. He began to realize his ambition when heand two of his friends started a gospel trio right afterhe got out of high school. Every Saturday afternoonradio listeners in Malden, Missouri could hear anhour's worth of the "All Star Gospel Singers." Gospelmusic was not a particularly lucrative profession inthe fifties, however, and Jimmy frequently supple-mented his income by picking cotton.

In 1957 the big city lure captured the imaginationof the aspiring young singer. He moved to St. Louisand began to work in various clubs throughout thecity. Before long the Army brought a temporary haltto his musical career, but Jimmy knew he could neverstop singing for long. While he was stationed at FortLewis, Washington, he met Chuck Glaser, one third ofthe talented Glaser Brothers trio. The boys beganplaying shows together in officers' clubs wheneverthey could.

Before long Jimmy had entered, and won, theAll -Army Talent Contest for his base. This took himto the national contest held at Fort Ord, California.Here he met a contestant from a previous contest

who later proved to be a good friend and a greatcountry artist. .Bobby Bare.

With Army service behind him, Jimmy returned toSt. Louis, more determined than ever to become acountry star. In the distance he heard the sound ofNashville, and as many aspiring artists do, he saved hismoney until he had enough to make it to Music City,U.S.A. Here he again joined forces with his old Armybuddy, Chuck Glaser, who was by this time a suc-cessful producer. Chuck immediately took overJimmy's management and bookings, and a star was onhis way.

During his first months in Nashville, Jimmy cut afew singles for Independent labels, among which were"Ladder to the Sky", "Every Little Pretty Girl", and"Rusty Old Halo". Then in the spring of 1966 hesigned with Epic. His first release, "What Does ItTake?" attracted plenty of attention in both countryand pop markets.

Jimmy is a serious young man. ..serious about hiscareer as a country performer, and equally so as asongwriter. The flip side of his first Epic disc, "MyMost Requested Song," is a typical Payne inspiration.Tears, heartbreak and loneliness are prominently pres-ent, but the cliches so frequently sprinkled through-out country lyrics these days are conspicuouslymissing. He has his own unique method of communi-cating his feelings to the listener.

Jimmy looks closely at lyrics, both in his ownwriting and in all the songs he records. Soul is every-thing to him, and the soul he feels inside for his ownsorrow, or the sorrow of those mystical people hesings about is evident evertime he steps up to themike.

Today Jimmy Payne is totally involved and com-pletely committed to a musical career. With his band,whom he refers to as "The Payne Gang," he's busyplaying clubs and package shows all around the coun-try. He still finds time too for an occasional guestspot on the Opry. He has an exclusive writer's con-tract with Glaser Publications, and continues to turnout those soul songs which express the Payne philos-ophy so perfectly.

That Saturday night in August brought the end ofone dream for an ambitious young man, but there arealways bigger and better dreams. It also brought thebeginning of reality, and of a great career for a brandnew star.

40

COUNTRY

NOSTALGIA "-

A QUIZ

1. What is Bill Anderson's greatest hit?2. Which country music star acted in the Movie "A Distant Trumpet?"3. Who hosted the original TV show "Today-On The Farm"?4. Who wrote "Gentle On My Mind?"5. Terry Preston and Simon Crum are two stage characters created by

6. He's recorded songs about a mule train, a wild goose and DaveyCrockett. Who is he?

7. "Ballad Of A Gunfighter" starred country/western artist8. Roy Acuff once received an offer to play professional baseball. Which

team wanted him?9. Who is "The Maynardsville Flash?"

10. What do Rosalie Allen and Texas Jean Vallie have in common?

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42

V

COUNTRY MAGAZINEAudience Profile Survey

So that we may bring you more about the music you love

please answer and return the following questionaire

Do you own a stereo record player?

Do you play a musical instrument? Which one?

What is your favorite recreational pastime?

Do you own or ride a horse?

Do you wear Western clothes? What brands?

Where do you buy them?

Do you wear Western boots? What brand?

Where do you buy them?

Age

Are you In high school

A high school graduate

A college graduate

A home study graduate

Average Annual Income $5,000 - $8,000

$8,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $15,000

Over $15,000

Do you smoke? Favorite Brand

Do you drink alcoholic beverages? What kinds?

THANK YOU KINDLY %

Once while youwere at the movieswe were at a flood.

helpushelp

The American Red Cross.We dort know wherewéll be needed next.

You doth either.,EP TIS

advertising contributedfor the public good o

bonnie owens

sheb wooley

PROFILE: TOMMY CASHBeing the brother of an already famous entertainerhas not made the road to success easy for TommyCash. And in some areas, this fact has actually createdan extra burden for Tommy in his pursuit of a singingcareer. "Fans are quick to compare my singing withJohnny's," as Tommy puts it, "And as a result, itmakes it more difficult to sell my own style ofsinging".

Even in the face of such close scrutiny, Tommy hasbuilt a rapidly growing number of fans, and has estab-lished himself as one of the most promising and suc-cessful new artists in country music.

Born in Mississippi County, Arkansas, in whatTommy calls "The cotton capitol of the world", hepicked cotton and corn on the family's 40 -acre farmuntil graduation from high school. He began hissinging career at the age of 15, when he formed athree-piece band to play for school functions andsquare dances in and around Memphis. His activitiesin country music and his exceptionally rich voicehelped him land a position as perhaps the country'syoungest disc jockey on KWAM in Memphis.

Tommy gave up his disc jockey chores to promotecountry music shows throughout the country beforejoining the U.S. Army in 1958. While serving inGermany, the American Forces Network originatedtheir first all country music show called "StickbuddyJamboree" Tommy's experience as a disc jockey andknowledge of country music made him a "natural"

for the show, so he was quickly transferred toFrankfurt to initiate the new program. For two yearsTommy's voice was heard throughout fifteen coun-tries over AFN, as the show quickly became the mostpopular on the network.

During his off duty hours at AFN, he organized hisown band, and played clubs throughout Germany.

After his release from the Army in 1961, he ac-cepted a position as head of a music publishing firmin Nashville.

Happy with his executive position in the "MusicCapitol of the World", Tommy had all but forgottenabout performing when a demonstration disc that hedid for his company came to the attention of a localrecording executive. The next thing he knew, Tommyhad a platter contract, a hit record and fame. He wasback in show business to stay!

Tommy Cash right now is one of the busiest menin the world of country music and has made a steadystream of personal appearances throughout the world.He was recently signed to an exclusive recording con-tract with United Artists Records by UA's man inNashville, hitmaker, Kelso Herston. Herston and UAare betting that the name of Tommy Cash will soonequal that of brother Johnny Cash.Personal Direction:AUD-LEE ATTRACTIONS812 - 16th Avenue, SouthNashville, Tennessee 37203

48

TV IS CASH COUNTRY

PLUS:

WESTERN MOVIES

HOMER AND JETHRO

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