Country Legends Association

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

I thought I'd post this as a point of interest and to alert you guys to an interesting organisation that's trying to keep classic country music alive and represented in the new century.

Their promo is: The association was formed to promote Traditional Country, Gospel and Bluegrass music which has been ignored to some extent, and to preserve the roots that brought Traditional Country Music to the public.

Anyway, through a friend I was appointed to the board of advisors, kind of like a friend for life type thing.
I basically write little bios/obits.

Country Legends Association Newsletter
The Website: http://www.clabranson.org/
Email: cla@clabranson.org
Mail to: Executive Offices
Country Legends Association
P.O. Box 7171
Duluth, MN 55807-7171

Phone: 218-626-9044
Fax: 218-626-2796

Check them out.

Here's a little piece I did.

Subject: Bobby Austin R.I.P.

Bobby Austin, songwriter, musician and recording artist; died Sunday (Jan.
6) in Camas, Washington, at the age of 68.

Born Robert Allen Austin on May 4, 1933, in Wenatchee, Washington, after
working in local bands, Austin moved to Los Angeles in 1955 and was soon was
involved in the local country music scene, first recording for the small
Sundown label in 1958.
In 1960, he released his first single on Challenge Records, 'Polynesian
Baby.' He subsequently joined labelmate Wynn Stewart's band and played bass
on recording sessions for Buck Owens (Capitol Records) and Wynn Stewart
(Challenge).

The band of Wynn Stewart followed their bandleader to Las Vegas and the
Nashville Nevada Club as the house band through 1961-1964.
The earliest version of the group fondly knwon as the Nashville Nevada Club
Band featured Roy Nichols (guitar), Ralph Mooney (pedal steel), Bobby Austin
(bass), Peaches Price (drums), Jim Pierce (piano) and bandleader Wynn
Stewart (guitar, vocals). At the club the band was augmented by singer
Jackie Burns. The core band worked in the studio with Stewart, but sadly no
live recordings of this group have survived.
The closest document we have of this fantastic group are most of the
recordings of Stewart from 1960-1963 and an interesting 1961 session for
vocalist Burns.
In 1961 Jackie Burns, Wynn Stewart and the whole Nashville Nevada band
entered the United Recording Corporation studio in Las Vegas to lay down
some demo tracks in the hope of gaining a record deal for singer Burns.
Stewart and Burns dueted on a version of the Hank Thompson classic ‘Breakin'
The Rules,’ while Jackie sang lead on several songs ‘Wild One,’ ‘Pennies
From Heaven’ and ‘The End Of The World.’
A vocal group known as the Cut-Ups (Joe Grant, Eddie Seals, Sam White); were
added to fill the sound.
These rare and tasteful West Coast styled country-pop numbers, none of which
secured Burns a solo deal, remain an interesting insight into the versatile
nature of one of the first 'modern' West Coast country bands of the 1960s.

In 1962, Capitol Records signed Bobby Austin to a solo contract, he soon
left the employ of Wynn Stewart to concentrate on his solo career.
His early outings on Capitol failed to ignite the charts and Bobby continued
to work the Las Vegas club scene.

He signed to the small Tally label in the mid 1960s, the Fuzzy Owens, Lewis
Talley owned record label which had been the home to Merle Haggard and
Bonnie Owens prior to their Capitol contracts and hit careers.
The label also provided another Capitol artist when they signed Austin in
1966 mainly due to the local action that his Tally single 'Apartment No. 9,'
was attracting. The song he had co-written with singer Johnny Paycheck was
Austin's first chart single, topping out at No. 21 in 1966 once Capitol had
bought out the single from Capitol. It was named the Academy of Country
Music's song of the year for 1966 and was the first to receive that honor
from the Academy. The following year, Tammy Wynette's version became her
first hit at the No. 44 slot.

Austin's other chart singles were "Cupid's Last Arrow" and "This Song Is
Just for You" (1967), "For Your Love" (1969) and "Knoxville Station" (1972).
His albums include Apartment No. 9 (Capitol ST 2773) 1967;
and Old Love Never Dies (Capitol ST 2915); 1968.

After his initial hits, his last Capitol single was issued in the early
1970s. In later years Austin admitted that his reluctance to tour was a
large factor in his inability to keep placing singles in the charts. Instead
of joining the package tours of West Coast hitmakers Merle Haggard or Buck
Owens, Bobby preferred to play the Nevada and Californian club scene, happy
enough to use local house bands, sometimes taking Ralph Mooney or another
old bandmate to play gigs.

Throughout the 1970s Austin continued to record for labels like Triune,
Atlantic (who's short lived country division included Willie Nelson, Wynn
Stewart and Austin), Hurrah, Syndicate and Design.

Bobby relocated to Washington state in the early 1980s, retiring from
performing he built a career as an artist, becoming well known for his
numerous paintings and murals.
At the time of his death he had been in ill health for several years, in
December of 2000, Bobby underwent pacemaker implant (his second). He was
preceeded in death by his onetime fellow bandmember Roy Nichols who passed
away in July 2001.

Bobby Austin is survived by his wife, Fern, and his children, Linda, Robert
Jr., William and Steve.
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Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Jason....thanks for the "heads up". Your exceptional knowledge of the music industry and it's history will result in your contributions being invaluable to the mission of this organization.

The informative tribute article you have written about Mr. Austin is a prime example.

Best wishes.........Gene

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

Jason: I can't add to what Gene said, but I feel exactly the same

How's your book coming along. I can't wait to read it.

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Thanks guys, thought I'd give the C.L.A a mention, Willie Nelson's their spokesman and they're trying to do their best for the classics.

They also like to keep abreast of newer acts that have that feel, not techno-country rappers of course.

Jim Bob, yeah it's coming along well of late, I'm just rolling along and it's shaping into a real beast.

Paul Graupp · From: Macon Ga USA

Sunday Morning, Ron Elliott is playing Precious Memories and I'm reading Precious Memories from Jason Odd. Man it doesn't get any better than this !! My thanks to you once again Jason, for some nice reading and Bravo to the new organization. Now Bobbe is playing......Maiden's Prayer !!

Best Regards, Paul

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

That makes very interesting reading, Jason - well done!

Please excuse my relative ignorance on the subject, but I had always thought that a number of Wynn Stewart recordings featured Ralph Mooney and James Burton - notably 'Man, Man, Mr Sandman' - can you confirm or deny this?

Thanks.

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Roger Rettig
Emmons LGIII(S10/D10)& MCI D10

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Thanks guys, and by the way Paul's book is a great resource. All his 1960s Fretts articles and besides a great reflection of the time, it's a real good read.

Roger, I hope my email helped you out.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Yes, thank you, Jason.
Clarence White, eh? That was a surprise - I'm grateful for the response....

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Roger Rettig
Emmons LGIII(S10/D10)& MCI D10

Perry Hansen · From: Bismarck, N.D.

Nice work, Jason
Perry

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