The saying, "That ain't country" isn't new. It's been going on the 43 years I've been in country radio. This is the final installment of artists that helped supply a bit more street cred with young fans that we had a hard time attracting. But these fringe acts were incredibly influential to our future stars.   - ICYMI  (Part 1) (Part 2)  (Part 3)

Lynyrd Skynyrd

For a group that never charted a song country, and did not really enjoy the chart success you might think on any chart, they have an incredible following with many country fans.  From Jacksonville, Florida, for many they are the sheer definition of Southern Rock. Sweet Home Alabama is an immensely popular song with rock fans and country fans as well.  And who on earth has not yelled, "Free Bird"  at some concert somewhere at some point?   The two Van Zandt Brothers went country and recorded a country album that I loved, Get Right With The Man  (2005), with the single, Help Somebody  (#8)  that was a fantastic song. That album went to #2.  They did a few other country albums as well.  But clearly, much of their stuff is way outside of our spectrum still today, but their popularity with our fans is absolute, along with Kid Rock and others of that ilk. In the end a no, BUT their influence to future stars and popularity with listeners was resolute and can not -  and should not - be ignored.  It is undeniable.  That is their real gift to us.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Before I go on, these guys are in the end -  a hard  - YES!  But it didn't start that way.  Formed in the mid 1960's by exceedingly talented singers and musicians and Mr. Bojangles  of course became a gigantic hit and classic in the early 70's.  Flash forward to the mid 1980's and country is very pop sounding.  They show up in Nashville and are clearly very country sounding and go on to great success for about a 6 year period garnering a ton of hit songs, award show nominations and just recorded some fantastic music.  Fishin' In The Dark is such a great song, and was HIGHLY influential to many rising stars it's hard to explain it properly.  It is also still today, some 37 years later one of the most loved country songs ever.  Garth performs that song many times in concert and gives them major props on stage. Funny about them, they were a pop/country/folk style band at first. Then became far more country than most of the "country"  being recorded in the mid-80's. Great singles, great albums, great musicians and great success.  It didn't start that way, but in the end a resounding yes!

Jim Croce

Jim Croce died very young and the career that was ahead for him seemed very britght and endless.  He was very good  friends with Jimmy Buffett and they each early on shared that wonderful acoustic sound that was a blend of pop/country/and folk. But Croce and much of his music was very hard to categorize, and yes, some of his songs ended up in country radio's gold libraries for a time as his sound was similar to Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor and others that did the same. We did not play Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown, but we did play a couple of others. Much of his music was released after his tragic death and a few songs did chart mildly on the country charts but nothing significant.  But the popularity of his music was very vast and he had fans from all genres including ours.  His story is a sad one dying so young but his music lives on.  In the end, a no, but his music was and is loved and isn't light years away.

It is that time of year - the college basketball tournament. How is your bracket doing so far? I am not filling one out this year, and I haven't for the past few years. Right now, I'm 50/50 with my favored teams. My Toledo Rockets were eliminated in the MAC tournament and as of now, the Tennessee Vols are in the 2nd round playing Duke on Saturday the 18th.

The entire tournament is so fun to watch. Game after game being one and done. You never know what might happen...even between a #1 and a #16! Good luck with your brackets and enjoy the games!!

This Trailer Thursday, we're looking at the latest from Dreamworks! Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken looks like a fun twist on the typical coming of age film. It looks like a very colorful, action packed movie that will be a perfect addition to the summer movie lineup!

Check out the trailer below!

Oh tomorrow is a big day!  St. Patrick's Day...  Start the holiday off with our girl who usually paints the town pink!   Sarah O' Kay will be out at The Dusty Armadillo St. Patty's Pop-Up Dive Bar tomorrow morning from 8am-10am...  breakfast, delicious drinks, fun.. 

Akron's St. Patrick's Parade was last weekend.... Soo...

If you are out of work and looking for a parade...  weather might be a little wet, but temperature should be fair.  The Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 1pm.  The route starts at East 18th Street and move west on Superior Avenue. the route will go through Public Square.   

Watch for Road Closings and Parking Bans.  Get there early and remember tomorrow is a work day. 

RTA will be offering $5 round trips downtown on March 17. 

Friday is St. Patrick's Day. It is also the day of the annual Cleveland St. Patrick's Day parade. The first parade in Cleveland took place in 1842 and was organized by Rev. Peter McLaughlin. The parade will start at 1:00 in Downtown Cleveland, and as usual will travel down Superior Ave from E 18th St to Public Square.

If you happen to be planning on going, you may want to pack a coat and an umbrella. The forecast is looking wet with scattered showers (rain THANKFULLY, LOL) and temps in the mid 40s. A cold rain - not the most fun way to watch a parade. But hey, it's the day where everyone is Irish! Plus, I have a feeling that many people will have had a beverage or two where they will not really care ;).

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Givin' Up On That  - Dalton Dover

This weeks Sunday Song is a slick release that I loved the first time I heard it from a new artist, Dalton Dover. Many new artists go to Nashville with big dreams and talent.  They have dreams of making it big in the music biz, nice goal.  Then there those that go to that same town wanting to be country singer and have a career in country music.  There is a big difference, and the ability to fool fans anymore is becomming more difficult.  The most direct path to the latter is recording country songs, and that's exactly what we have here.  This is a great contemporary country song, sung with today's passion style vocals and arranged country.  It's a modern version of a "hurtin" song and has reached down and touched a lot of people very rapidly, (just look and read the comments under this video when you're playing it.)  This is a powerful song that speaks to many, and that's a great start for anyone.  This is well, well done!

Dalton Dover Website

The 2023 Outlaw Music Festival is Friday August 11th at Blossom Music Center. Joining Willie Nelson this year is John Fogerty, Kathleen Edwards and Yellowstone's Luke Grimes. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10...BUT WQMX has you covered! We are helping you beat the box office this week with Scott on the morning show and Ben in the afternoon!

Be listening for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show and hang with Willie and the gang. If you are a Willie Nelson fan, you most definitely want to be there!

A few weeks ago, we did a Mt. Rushmore of Country Music...

By now you know you know, I'm a wrestling fan...

The Undertaker is one of the greats.  So when he talks about his Mt. Rushmore of Wrestlers, you take notice.

In the past, Taker had Shawn Michaels in place of Hulk Hogan but let the debate continue.  

 With Wrestlemania on horizon...

I think My Mt. Rushmore of Wrestling would be:

-Macho Man Randy Savage

-Ric Flair

-Mick Foley (with small little heads to make one Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love)

-and Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Sandman.

Honorable Mentions: The Rock, Cena, Ultimate Warrior, Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

Women's Mt. Rushmore:

-Miss Elizabeth

-Fabulous Moolah

-Sasha Banks

-Chyna

Honorable Mentions: AJ, Charolette Flair, Rhea Rhipley, Lita, Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus.

Letting Go - Suzy Bogguss -  1992 - (Album - Aces)

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I feel the incredible Suzy Bogguss is the best pure vocalist we have had in country since I have been in it.  She is absolutley blessed with perfect pitch (which is a real thing.)  Her voice is and was timeless, knows no real bounds, and it all seems so effortless.  She also understands that louder is not better - better is better.  When Suzy Bogguss sings you have to listen.  This was a number six hit on the country charts, and did well on the Canadian country charts too. This is powerfully written and delivered wonderfully, as a highly emotive story of a mother and daughter and their journey together.  The thing that jumps out of the speakers for me is this.  We don't really record a lot of songs like this right now.  This is honest, happy, sad, very emotional, and it's hard not to feel something deep when you hear it.  If you have never really heard Suzy Bogguss sing a song, or if it's been a while, take a few minutes and give her your full attention. Listen to her angelic performance of this song, it should live forever somewhere. For what this is, it's just about perfect.

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My Full Profile On Suzy Bogguss

Eddie Rabbitt - Step By Step -  1981

There was time everyone on the planet was a fan of the late Eddie Rabbitt. For many years he was charting tons of songs on the country and pop charts with regularity having tremendous success.  Rabbitt was a sensational song writer, singer and a classy ambassador for country music.  There may be no singer who benefited more from "Pop Country" and the Urban Cowboy phase. He was cool, he was likable, and he was a star.  This song was my favorite from him as I think it encapsulated the perfect marriage of pop and country. Of course many of his songs were part of our culture, I Love A Rainy Night, Drivin' My Life Away and others.  This was his ninth number one, and he would go on to have seventeen writing most of them.  This was Rabbitt at the zenith of his career.  The album of the same name was a huge success as well.  #1 Country, #3 Adult contemporary, and #5 on the Hot 100. That's what Eddie Rabbitt did on the regular in that era.

Last Week #41

My Full Profile On Eddie Rabbitt