Wednesday, 25 March 2020 01:54

COUNTRY MUSIC - Kenny, Earl, Glen, and Don

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With Kenny Rogers passing last weekend, we are very close to closing a chapter in the book of Country Music that many grew up on.  Already passed are George Jones, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Waylon and Cash. Then we added Don Williams, Glen Campbell, and Earl Thomas Conley over the past year or so.  It's life, we all owe a debt.

 Great Kenny Love Song.......very underrated.

 

With Kenny, Earl, Glen and Don passing so did a combined 65 number one songs. Kenny 21, Earl 18 (in a row) Glen 5 and Don 21.  Those are just the number ones between them.  That era musically of course closed a long while ago. But now were are seeing the stars that made it possible drift away slowly.  There are some from that time still with us.  Willie Nelson this month recorded his 70th album, Tanya Tucker just had a great Grammy Night, Hank Jr. is selling concert tickets, and Dolly is still going strong in a ton of ventures.  Dolly of course is still a real favorite of pop culture, and heavily influential to many singers today, and a prolific song writer.

 One of my favorite Country Songs Ever....

 

The truth is, all of the above mentioned performers were incredibly influential to to the next line of major stars that followed, Garth, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Alabama, Clint Black, Terri Clark, Shania, and Brooks and Dunn. And they in turn gave the gift and mantel to the stars of today, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Carrie, Luke Combs, Blake Shelton, and others. 

 Glen always found incredible songs.....

 

Yes, the sound of the music has changed, and so have the stage shows.  County Music is an ever evolving, always revolving door of different. Just like our mentioned four.  Kenny was the style, the crossover sensation that gave Country a lift to new audiences.  Earl, a traditionalist, but gave us a new edgier sound, Glen gave us classic songs with a 5 octave range that everyone liked. And Don gave us balance, grounded us and showed there was still room for gentle in our format.

 This was #1 the week I started in Country Radio

 

I don't intend this as a sad post, just an honest one.  Things change in all avenues of life. But Country goes on like a train through the night.  And even though we have said goodbye to many recently, there are others to fill the stages - as they set the stage for who or what is to come.

Just like Kenny, Earl, Glen and Don.......

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