Eddy Arnold?

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 9 Aug 2004 8:29 pm

Did anyone see Eddy on the CMT Documentaries
Sunday night. He said, I didn't care if my music was country or not, I was trying to sell records. The "Almighty Dollar" wins again. eh?
It's no wonder he didn't give a damn about Little Roy Wiggins.

Roger

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 10 Aug 2004 5:57 am

It's been known for years that he didn't care much for country music. But his music was enjoyable. I heard Vince Gill on the Crook and Chase show say he would rather sing Rock And Roll but the money was in new country. But he played it well.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 10 Aug 2004 6:25 am

With Eddy Arnold it goes even deeper. Roy Wiggins told me many times, "Eddy absolutely hated hillbilly (later dubbed county) music"

He went on to say that Eddy's idol was Bing Crosby. I believe if one thinks about it, this tends to be quite evident. Particularly so, IF you go back and realize HOW, all the then "hillbilly" singers sung, mouthed and voiced this particular genre' of music.

I attribute this to Eddy being the very first "hillbilly" singer to crossover the charts. It also made him the richest "hillbilly" ever. (Note: that may have changed now with the advent of such "country (yeah right

) stars as Garth and Shania. Not sure.)

There are millions of people all over the world that would not have been caught dead going to a Roy Acuff show, but would, and did buy every record Eddy recorded.

In retrospect, his thing for Bing was indeed probably one of the most incredibly brilliant things ever in the history of "hillbilly" music.

Sad though he is the only musician (broadly termed) on those recordings who benefited from the "cash flow".

May Jesus rest Little Roy Wiggins soul,

carl [This message was edited by C Dixon on 10 August 2004 at 07:28 AM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 10 Aug 2004 6:36 am

Here's a story Eddie told us one Saturday night in the alley behind the Ryman back in the late 40's: Uncle Dave Macon, one of the old-timers on the Opry, was travelling with Eddie on one of their tours. It was late at night and Eddie was driving. Uncle Dave was in the back seat sleeping. A Bing Crosby song come on the radio and Eddie turned the volume up. It woke Uncle Dave up, and he asked, "Say, son, who is that singing?" Eddie said "Shhhhh, Uncle Dave. Be quiet. That's Bing Crosby." Uncle Dave said, "Bing, s--t, he'd better change his style. He'll never get nowhere singing like that."

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Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 10 Aug 2004 7:11 am

I am not necessarily of fan of Eddy Arnold, (I did like his steel player) but I do see a correlation between his popularity and the current controversy about RR.

I was there in the era of the early 1950's, when Eddy Arnold was one of the first to bring the attention and recognition of country music to the "pop" listeners of that era. Many who would never listen to "hillbilly music" were requesting songs by Eddy Arnold.

I am just wondering....will RR someday be credited with bringing the mainstream listener's attention to the steel-guitar because it was perceived to be more "modern" than the music of the past?
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 10 August 2004 at 09:28 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Aug 2004 8:28 am

Gene,
I hope the good Lord takes me home before then!!!

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 10 Aug 2004 9:50 am

A couple of stories,about the "benevolent" Mr. Arnold,I heard through the grapevine.

One year,for Christmas,he gave Roy Wiggins a GIANT bag of POPCORN!!

Another time,when he was making his big "crossover",he was booked on a show,& the promoter introduced him as,"The Tennessee Plowboy,Eddy Arnold". He refused to come out on stage.

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mm if it ain't got that twang.
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C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 10 Aug 2004 10:37 am

"I am just wondering....will RR someday be credited with bringing the mainstream listener's attention to the steel-guitar because it was perceived to be more "modern" than the music of the past?"

That would not suprise me in the least. We did indeed have EA crossing over. Elvis was never a country singer but he was brought up thru that medium.

There have been enumerable occassions of stars who got "there" using another medium to get them to where they always wanted to be.

The most classic example I can think of is LeeAnn Rimes. One that has not blossomed (as yet) is Vince Gil. He is inately a R and R singer. This is his love. I believe this has always been his heart's desire. And IF this ever happens, I will feel the same towards him as I do Lee Ann. NOT because they wish to perform another kind of music. Rather because they did NOT go home with what brung 'em to the dance!

RR has not used the steel guitar as a spring board in country music to get to that place many dream to be.

The steel guitar is not the vehicle in his case. (Has it ever been?) Though it appears many believe that. He is.

So it is highly possible that the SG may go along for the ride and end up becoming given steel player's ultimate dream.

And that of course is, the total cessation of the stereoytipical word "country" instrument. Plus attracting and hopefully keeping players in other musical genre's attracted to the SG.

Time will tell on that. I would not venture a guess.

My fear is that if it does, or if gets to be accepted in other musical genre's and becomes the norm, there will be NO country music. OR worse, NO country music with a "country" steel guitar. There is dang little now. OR any other kind of music where the SG is played like my ears wish to hear it played.

And IF that happens it is of NO concern of mine if every kid in the world was attracted to it and played it like they play regular guitar.

Since I do not care for the kind of musical genre's that have become the greatest thing since sliced bread, including the blind tag along screaming kiddies.

If on the other hand; we could listen today to a myriad of musical Genre's such as Hawaiian, Big Band, 40's popular, classical music, true Jazz, Dixieland, Cajun, 50's type R & R; Barbara Streisand, Lou Rawls, Celen Dion type singing, etc; with that said music using the steel guitar as standard, etc; played like Buddy Emmons plays (as well as many other greats); THEN my dream would have come true.

My ultimate dream is to see the SG be attracted to and played in ALL other genre's of music the way I love to hear it played by many many of the great steel guitaists such as Paul Franklin or Joe Wright, including Buddy always of course as well as countless other great players.

When THAT day comes (it is not going to happen) then it will have achieved its rightful place, IMO.

To repeat from previous posts. "If the ONLY way our beloved instrument can become accepted, is for it to be played like the masses play a lead guitar nowadays, I simply do NOT want it to be accepted!"

To me that is musical sacrilege. But then that is me.

The ONLY way

carl

Al Johnson · Post by **Al Johnson** » 10 Aug 2004 12:29 pm

I am 70 years old, and used to listen to Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys on the Checkerboard Square radio program with Rod Brasfield (sp). Little Roy on steel-Speedy McNatt, fiddle-other bass and guitar. Sponsored by Purina a fast moving 15 minutes. One thing Eddy Arnold knew how to do for many many years was--please the fans. Eddy also had Hank Garland in his group sometime after that with Roy Wiggins. We can't all be what people want us to be--but we can all be ourselves.
Be happy and Swing West Al