Are we "Old Farts & Jacka**es" ?

[Zeke Cory]

Does a love for "traditional country music" and its great beginnings with the likes of Faron Young, Buck Owens, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and so many others whom we dearly respect actually make it so? These recent rants by Blake Shelton really put Ray Price and Jeannie Shepard on the edge. As steel players, these comment seems to come close to home as well, as our beloved instrument is often associated with the "traditional" country. He stated (or something similar) "As artist of the year, I decide the direction country music will take". Did Blake get himself on the proverbial country music sh*t list? If not for the aforementioned great country artists who came before him, he may very well not be enjoying the success he is today! Common sense says a smart man does not bite the hand that feeds him. Looking for your opinions and comments. Best Regards.

[Zeke Cory]

http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/blake ... ent-429212

[Bob Hickish]

Zeke
it don’t make sense - seems to be signs of the times - this kinda stuff is going on all around us , not just at the Opry -- like the quote from the article -- “ unquestionable violation “ but no one seems to cares -
from the article
quote
unquestionable violation of the Opry’s long-standing membership rules. According to the bylaws of The Opry, membership not only has to be earned, but maintained.

[Bud Angelotti]

Are we "Old Farts & Jacka**es" ?

Zeke - Maybe old farts, but not Jacka**s.
Whatever Blake said, or Toby, or whatever his name is, I wouldn't take it to heart.
Most everyone is capable of saying something stupid at any given time.
Here's another way to look at it.
If it wasn't for the "pillars" of "rural" music, these "new" guys might be sitting somewhere, with nothing to do.
So don't fret it !

[Joe Casey]

Country Music has changed in a sense, only as we knew it.. If anything a newer music in name only.... The people who do it now are different and their Ideas in writing and music is more suited for the new..The Fans are Younger and words mean little to them unless they use Classic writtin things like ba donka donk..The Ballards are truly few..Things will be different 20 years from now..But will the many who do it now be remembered for classic songs??They will get older probably a lot faster.. Because there is no longivity,No songs that stay #1 more than a couple of weeks then in a few months forgotten..The Money is rolling in and who can fault them for that? One thing for sure ,there were many true greats of Country music who kept the Name true and the music going while they could..But everyone gets old.Especially the Fans who are needed to buy the Records-Tapes-Cds to have continued it's legacy..It's all about the numbers...Country music will out last the Blake Sheltons,heck it already has,Its still changing and he may be too Country for producers now....Not many things in life now are what they seem..But everyone still has the will to find and do things they like..There still is some Traditionalist out there that need support if anyone who gripes its gone..You might have to search some old bars,Shift through the kareoke but somewhere theres a bunch of guys doing the Hag,Price,Jones for 30 or 40 bucks a night.. Meanwhile in Texas, they are alive and well there if one wants to remain true to his Music..Small labels putting out good Country music.. I'm sure there are plenty of Country singers out there who could flourish if supported,But in the entertainment world today whats the incentive?? If you don't roll with the flow the Tides way too strong to swim into..We the considered old Farts won't spend 75-80 bucks a ticket for a concert..But there are millions out there that will..There are still only two types of music out there...Thats Good or Bad..But it's still up to us to make the choice..Taste varys..So lets Hope Blake gets old enough with his music to be called an old fart..We did..

[Larry Otis]

its loud rock and roll with a hat and boots on.

[Tab Tabscott]

www.oldfartsandjackasses.com

[George Buechley]

All us old guys need to teach more youngsters how to play Dobro and pedal steel (also fiddle and mandolin) if we want to hear it in the future. Take time to show them the importance of those instruments and how they evolved into the early country music sound. Country music isn't dead it just needs more young blood that understand the past. Most guitar lessons these days are done by rock guitarist. My son was lucky because when he took guitar lessons his teacher let him know more of the history side of American music (starting with blues and country styles). It got him involved and he actually enjoyed listening to it after someone poked his interest.

George

[Bob Hickish]

George
there is the “Old Time Fiddlers” that do just that -- lot of young folks -- However - they don't allow electric powered instruments - Reso’s - fiddle - Mando. I’v met some of the nicest and grate musicians here -- i recommend it for any one who likes the old music --- I think there in every state

http://www.fiddlecontest.com/

[Curt Trisko]

There's truth in what George says. Most of the people younger than 40 that I know who play and appreciate 50s-70s country music don't come from that musical tradition. We grew up liking other types of music and became interested in it by going back to the common roots of popular music and then following this offshoot back up.

I don't think the irony is lost on anyone that a musical heritage like country that claims to value tradition and continuity has probably failed the most at maintaining it. While country has always evolved because of money (countrypolitan, bakersfield sound, outlaw), even I have to say that those changes had a continuity that most newer country lacks.

[Gene Jones]

As a musician from the 1940's, I find lots to agree with, and lots to not agree with, in the above posts.

My musical interests were formed in the western-swing era of the 1940-50's, where we dissed the hillbilly xound of Nashville, but marginally endorsed the "West Coast Sound".

As musicians, we rode on the coat-tails from the colusion of west coast and western swing, like Ray Price and numerous others, trying to strike a middle ground where we could still find work.

But, those days are gone. Those remaining musicians of that era who are mere remnants of the past, are of no consqeuence today.

[Dave Hopping]

Guys,it took forty years of revolutionary struggle to break down the system of respect for family,country,and ability that "classic country" embodies,but the Woodstock Generation has won and it's now the American way never to trust anyone over 30....maybe I can find a hammer-and-sickle pickguard for my next Squier Telecaster.

[John Peay]

I find it amusing that in the annual Georgia State Fiddle Championship, the categories are:

"Junior Fiddle": Ages 59 and younger
"Senior Fiddle": Ages 60 and older

We definitely gotta get some younger folks involved here! Otherwise in a couple of decades there will be no "Junior" division!

[Rick Collins]

...not an "old fart" (yet), but my attitude:
Pay no attention to nitwits whatever their age.
We are surrounded by plenty of clearheaded thinkers every day.

[Bo Legg]

Blake makes a good point “Nashville is for the Kids” I don’t have a problem with that “they can have it”.
Us old farts are consumers and we find or will find some other sources for our music.

But for Blake to imply that as old farts we are somehow obligated to support Nashville in order to help out young upcoming artists is ridicules.

It’s like saying that you young farts are obligated to go to Branson or you’re a jackass.

[Stuart Legg]

Well the way I see it is you only have two choices. Become an old fart or a dead fart.

[Pete Burak]

Look Maw...
It's "Blake and the Jake Aces".
Yee-Haw!

[Duncan Hodge]

I don't what label applies to me. I might be an "Old Fart", hell, I've been saying that since I was 35, and I personally know may people who have called me a "Jackass", some of them still good friends (at the time they said it I suppose that they were right).
I like a good song that hits me in the heart and makes me feel. I don't care if it is country, rock, soul, or even (gasp) hip hop...I like them all if it speaks to me and makes me stop everthing until I listen to it again.
Mr. Shelton has attempted to equate the amount of money generated and something good. The fact that cocaine dealers generate a lot of money does not make them good any more than the sales figures tallied by(insert your most despised music personality).
I listen to it all and play anything I feel in the moment. God Bless old time country music and the tragically hip young person, like the nice young lady I saw this week in New Smyrna Beach...I love them all.
Duncan

[Leslie Ehrlich]

As steel players, these comment seems to come close to home as well, as our beloved instrument is often associated with the "traditional" country.

A lot of 'traditional' country songs I like don't have the whining sound of E9th A and B pedals mashing away.

[Joe Miraglia]

Calling all young people--Please help us out!!

[Joe Casey]

Joe ,They are trying to help us out..All the way out..

[Don Barnhardt]

Country music has evolved quite a bit since "Gid Tanner and The Skillet Lickers" and "The Fruitjar Drinkers". Frankly I'd never heard of this Shelton guy untill this post. Just call me an OFJA.

[Peggy Green]

Facebook blocked Ray Price. Wow! Glad I don't do Facebook. "Take this Blake and _____ __ " to paraphrase that famous country song by Johnny Paycheck.

"I don't want to listen to my grandpa's music" - well actually I do. My grandfather would say turn off the radio. Then he'd hum and nearly yoddle this fiddle like tune. It was a Saami Yoik - his own special song.

As far as new music from the heart - I'm all for it.

[Peggy Green]

Hi Joe Casey!

[Roger Shackelton]

Blake Shelton's Personal Opinion is Just That, His "Personal Opinion" & He is Welcome To it.

Why Should It Upset Anyone or Cause Someone To Respond To It

I Happen To Like Coutry Music All the way back To Jimmy Rodgers "The Singing Brakeman".(Ca 1930)


Roger