WYNN - Country Music Memory Lane - Don Williams
Vic wondered when I was going to feature the legendary Don Williams. Today, is that day. Full disclosure, in this article I generally only go back to about 1980, and DW certainly qualifies. Even though Williams career started well before that, the 1980's were very kind to him and where he enjoyed the greatest of his remarkable success.
ACM Single Of The Year - Written In 30 Minutes - Recorded By Many Since
I played DW music for many years as he was a big time hit maker and staple on the radio for a couple generations. Williams had a certain sound that made him completely unique and unmistakable. He was deemed "The Gentle Giant" and that was apt. His beyond smooth and easy going style sounded effortless in every song he recorded. His career was thrown into a far higher gear when the Urban Cowboy phase hit and much of his music was discovered by a new and eager audience. His iconic song, I Believe In You, crossed over to pop stations and that was a game changer to a degree. Although should be noted, Williams was always a country artist first and foremost.
Gigantic Hit - Country And Charted Pop
His fan base was huge with listeners and with dozens of artists in and out of country. The list of stars that recorded Williams songs is simply staggering as far back as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton and as recent as Alan Jackson. DW was also very big overseas with a highly enviable international fan base. And if you're wondering where, the answer is - Yes! Yes, about everywhere. You see, Williams was easy to listen and relate to in his style which was and still is - timeless. There was nothing flashy or fake about any Don Williams song. His disarming singing style was uniquely his and has never been repeated. Randy Travis was reminiscent of Williams to a degree with his big baritone easy style, but not quite the same.
Big Song - Played It For Years - A Fan Favorite
Williams also did a small amount of acting in movies and his music was used in a number of movies in the 1970's and 80's. He was nominated for a ton of CMA's and ACM's over this long career winning a few. He's in the Country Music Hall Of Fame and belongs there. He was a great ambassador for country for a long while. He battled very tough back problems for many years, but still performed concerts and recorded terrific music. Don Williams was a big time star for a long time.
Big #1 Song - When I Got A Job At My First Country Station
But as long was DW was on the charts successfully (about 20 years), the end of his chart run came quite quickly, and none of it was his fault. His run of number one songs was incredible with 20 career total. From 1975 through 1991 only 2 of his singles did NOT make the top 10, and only 6 did not make the top 5. But for Williams like for many others of his era, the end would start to begin about 1988 and end in the early 1990's.
Big Song - From A Big Album - Same Name
Country had pivoted to a new day. Younger, louder, more electric, and more powerful performers were the new rule. The class of 1986 and 1989, and the giant surge of the early 1990's proved too much for many. Country was now Garth, Alan, Clint, Travis, Strait, Brooks And Dunn, Yoakam and countless others with more thump leading to many of the established guard being suddenly left off the chart. The fans and listeners were younger, videos were busting loose, concerts were now huge productions, and the Neo Traditionalists were getting us a lot of exposure outside of Country we had not experienced before. The change over on the charts was amazingly swift. That is a tough thing about the music biz
A Real Fan Favorite #1 - Terrific Song
But Don Williams would continue to perform for many years and record with other great contemporary stars like Vince Gill, Keith Urban and others. He toured for a long time in the UK where his popularity was still huge, and then he retired in 2015. He issued a statement that said basically this, "I'm hanging up my hat and going to enjoy some quiet time at home" That of course was so typically Don Williams, understated and totally humble.
Big Song Another Number One
Even though many of you reading right now may not really know a whole lot, or anything about Don Williams, if you love country he's worth discovering. He was a very big star, a perfect image and his longevity was incredible. I was proud to play his music on great radio stations around the country. And when I hear a Williams song from time to time still today, it makes me smile with great memories of a very different time - that he was pivotal in defining - with class, dignity and humility.
Easy To Listen To
He's the kind of artist that only existed once with his absolute unique style, and will not exist again. He was that different.
Don Williams passed away in 2017.
Don Williams indeed was "The Gentle Giant"
Getting a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree? Check Out These Tips!
Well, this is my second blog featuring Babs, so obviously, I am a fan of her advice. I was talking to Abbie in promotions about fresh cut Christmas trees and how to care for them and most of my advice from her came from Babs. Although we have been getting fresh cut trees for years, I still echo all of this:
WYNN - Eat Of The Week!
OK, I get it it's chicken! But by the sheer amount of new chicken joints and established joints going all in on chicken, we must love it. I love making chicken at home in one way shape or form, because you can make as much as you want, and have leftovers.
But these look amazing, and I'm not sure Tupperware would be required after the initial eating.
Enjoy!
WYNN - BROWNS - Ya Gotta Beat The Bad
It was a game the Browns had to have for a thousand reasons, and they got it done. But it wasn't easy or pretty. Alas, a win is a win and they are now 5-7 and technically still alive for a playoff spot. But in fairness, the way they played, the Texans were the ONLY NFL team they would have beaten Sunday. The Texans are simply awful, maybe one of the worst teams I've seen in many years - maybe since us a few years ago.
When you play a team that bad and have to rely on a special teams TD, two defensive TD's to win and your offense did NOT score any points, it's concerning. To make it worse, they only threatened so score a TD once and tossed an INT in the end zone. But they did win and it's on to Cincy for a season defining game with the Bengals. Win this one and you're still breathing. Lose it, and it's curtains for a post season possibility. The Ravens found a way to win yesterday after their QB got hurt, and that hurt the Browns badly, as did Cincy's BIG win over Kansas City.
I was watching the game with you, seeing the numbers and stats, it became even more clear to me just how bad the Texans really are. Sunday was the Texans Superbowl, and I'll give them credit. They did NOT allow the full strength Browns to score an offensive TD. Nick Chubb ran for a paltry 70 yards against the NFL's worst defense against the run. They just don't have the talent to compete with the Browns, or any other NFL team. You can't even say the Browns defense played well, the Texans are not at all a fair measuring stick.
The Browns rolled out their brand new QB, fresh off an 11 game suspension and an NFL layoff of 700 days. It's not fair to analyze him this week. Not many of us would be very sharp at our jobs after not doing it for two years out of disgrace in your former employers building. But being fair, he will not face any team the rest of the way as bad as the Texans. You have a week to tune it up because Joe Burrow and the Bengals will not be near as charitable as the Texans. They would love to pound the Browns for 20 reasons.
One good sign was Stefanski didn't coach like it was the Beer League. He didn't make things even more scary by making silly in game decisions. But this is true - He KNEW a loss Sunday (and it clearly could have happened) may have spelled the beginning of the end for him. Can you imagine walking into the owners office today, whose football future you traded away for a quarter of a billion dollar QB (who played), to explain losing to THAT team? The sheer crushing national and social media embarrassment alone may have been too much for the owner to deal with, let alone his football reality. I have no doubt the search would have begun today. The Texans bailed him out.
Should be noted, two of the leagues biggest "analytics" teams are the Browns and the Chargers. Two teams loaded with talent for the most part, and they are a combined 11-13, and both now looking from the outside in for the post season. Somehow the Steelers have the same record as the Browns right now. Funny, 6 months ago many were talking how the Steelers were in rebuild mode and would stink, and the Browns were ready for a deep playoff run. There is still room for good football common sense in the NFL. Ask Mike Tomlin.
The Browns have it right in front of them, the Bengals and the Ravens the next two weeks, and both games are must win - period. Even through it all, the Browns have not played themselves all the way out of it yet. But they better take a different game to Cincy than they took to Texas Sunday.
Go Browns!
WYNN - "Ya Gotta Get Up Early...!"
It's Monday and for many it's a tough day to get going. I have always had a very different take on Mondays. Although there are weeks I'm not ready for the weekend to end, I LIKE Mondays.
It's my job. I have been getting up at about 2:30AM for 40 years to do mornings shows here and around the country and great country radio stations. My job is a lifestyle, not a job. It's a way of life and you have to adjust to it. I love being up early and I live this place and this station.
I hear people say that "they are not morning people." Well, that's too easy to simply say. I think everyone can be if motivated enough by something other than just everyday life.
Here's a GREAT article to see if you can - or not!
Can You Become A Morning Person?
Painted Plows
I remember last year the good folks over at ODot had fun and named their plows!
The 2021 winners were: Snow Force One, Darth Blader, Plowy McPlowface, Snow More Mr. Ice Guy, Snowbi-Wan Kenobi, O-H Snow U Didn't, Sir Plows-A-Lot, and Ah, Push It… Push It Real Good!
Well this year you can vote for your favorites by CLICKING HERE!
I love some of these names:
You get 8 selections... They have to be in by tomorrow night.
There is a plow painting contest too....
Trailer Thursday: Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiney
Ya'll, there were SO MANY trailers that came out this week that I could've chosen from to do Trailer Thursday. That 90's Show, Transformers, even the full Super Mario Bros. trailer. But since I already talked about that, I decided to do the latest one of all, coming out just an hour after I type this: Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny.
I absolutely LOVE Indiana Jones. I've dressed up for him for Halloween, I've played the lego games, I even plan to go to the location of the last crusade someday. So this (possibly final) installment is something I'm definitely looking forward to. I also love Fleabag, so seeing Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the trailer was fantastic to say the least.
Deep Fakes! Guns! Whips and hats! All of this and more in the thrilling trailer below!
Dan + Shay Get Ready For The Holidays!
Dan + Shay made an appearance yesterday on the TODAY Show to talk about a few things like getting ready for the holidays, new music, and family!
Then they performed a couple of their holiday songs, a great way to start off the season!
Merry and Bright!
I have a lot of Christmas traditions. One of them is to get the Bath and Body Works scent Vanilla Bean Noel in every product it comes in. I loved the scent so much I couldn't wait for the holidays to come around the corner so I could smell that lovely scent again. But unfortunately dear reader something...happened. Something changed. While I was Black Friday shopping, I stopped into the store to smell that oh so lovely scent, only to find something sinister in its place. Online I was warned about what had happened, but I needed to see for myself, and as I sniffed that scent on the strip of paper, the scent I adored was nowhere to be found. It wasn't in the lotion or even the hand soap.
They had changed the recipe.
So I had to find a new scent, something to replace this huge, sugar cookie scented hole in my heart. Luckily, I didn't have to look far! Bath and Bodyworks New holiday scent Bright Christmas Morning smells wonderful. It's fruity, but Christmas-y, and like the name says, very bright. I used the body wash, lotion, and fragrance spray today and I absolutely adored it. I'm hoping to get the candle and car fragrance soon.
I do hope they release more products, like their body scrub and hand cream, in this scent next year. Definitely give it a try if you're looking for a new signature scent this season, give this one a shot!
Merry Clarksmas!!
I talk a lot about Raising Cane's! ONE LOVE...
The delicious hand-battered cooked to order chicken fingers, crispy crinkle cut fries, think Texas taoast, the secret Cane's Sauce and a sweet tea for me. You can't beat it!
Raising Cane's and the Crew have a new member... Well actually a couple new members for Christmas. It's the Griswold Family Christmas Plush Puppies. There is Clark, Aunt Bethany and Cousin Eddie... you can pick up the small plush puppies for $9.99 for the Hap, Hap, Happiest Christmas Gifts for everyone on your list. You can purchase the plushies at your local Cane's or online at RaisingCanesGear.com. They have sooo much fun check out Clark lighting the Canes below too!