I like all genres...Country is always a favorite...tongue-in-cheek, or black humor, and most always a nice play on words in the lyrics.

Pure poetry, and this three chord stuff is perfect for 61 note arrangers.

Thanks Gary.

Ian

Russ,

I was gonna' put a disclaimer on the post heading for you and Chas, and maybe Diki, not to click on the thread. Keep in mind that the majority of folks throughout the free world--not just the United States, love country music. Most folks also love Jimmy Buffett. You, on the other hand, don't play either, which is just a difference is likes and dislikes. So while you may get fired playing these songs, most of get HIRED because we play these songs. Like the old saying goes "Whatever floats your boat."

Cheers,

Gary

Actually, Gary, I have played my share of country music when I supported myself 100% playing. One band was the top group in Lexington...an Eddie Arnold kind of group. The guitar/tenor banjo guy had played Vegas for years. We did supper clubs...tuxes and all. The place I played in college in Victorville, California was called the Silver Saddle. The star was "Sugarfoot" Collins...complete with Porter Wagoner sparkles, who's opening line was, "Hi, there, I'm Sugarfoot Collins, better known as ole "sweetfeet" and I'm gonna shuck a little corn."

I don't mind listening to it as much as I dislike playing it.

Turned down a music directors job on Hee Haw (or, at least, an interview) because I thought the idea of old men in corn fields with young women in low-cut tops was stupid and would never make it (LOL). (Low-cut tops? Now That was a stupid thing to turn down as a 22 year old "horn-dog")

Decided not to play with a local country group that became really big on a national level when they followed their #1 pop hit with a country album...thought I would be a sell-out.

Preston Weber, my long-time partner, who died a month or so ago, had transitioned from a folk/sing-a-long guy to a country sing-a-long guy who did modern country. I played with him two sets on guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass and did two jazz sets solo. He earned as much as I did combining my day VP level job at a Fortune 200 company and evening job and was worth every penny. We did the World's Fair Together and traveled for the state department of tourism as Kentucky music ambassadors.

I understand that a commitment to jazz is an addiction and I, as well as others pay a big price for it, in terms of less money, fewer jobs (probably less women) and having to please a jazz audience, which is informed and super critical (don't drink as much as other audiences, either, which impacts the bottom line, and the paycheck).I'm hooked and can't bring myself to play anything else. The compromise is, I play jazz songs so quietly that I don't get in the way of eating a ham sandwich.

Actually, I just got off the phone with Chas, and he liked the video and gave me some "crap" for knocking it!

And, one of my best friends here; Rory is a Nashville session player who can play me under the table with one hand tied behind his back.

You're right, Gary...whatever floats your boat.

And, after all, it's not the meek who will inherit the earth...it's the REDNECKS(LOL)!

BURP!

Russ(closet Redneck)Lay




[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-26-2010).]

I knew there was a reason why I like Chas!

Good reply, Russ. Lots of history there as well.

Thanks,

Gary

Hey Travilin

Thanks for the lyrics. I never was much into Country but one of the biggest lessons I've learned the hard way in this business is you can't be too hip for the crowd. People who are dancing and paying you still like the corniest stuff and the fun is playing it for them. I'm in to Jazz, Blues and old school R&B but you've gotta mix it up.
Just got back from a "Southern" trip to North Carolina and while in Asheville (if you've never been there GO!!! great little city) met up with one of the steady musicians in town. He repeated the same things I just said and told me how he could hook a bar crowd with the simpilist songs, mostly country. Most of which bored him to death after all these years but he works steady and pays the bills.
Ya gotta give em what they want and know

Bill in NJ

You guys amaze me. Are you saying that 3-chord country songs suck? You just killed 80% of the catalog of Hank Williams. C'mon.

On the other hand, I will take a good country song ANY day over 99% of all jazz songs. As will 99% of the public. Just because you can play a bazillion chords and a bazillion notes and improv on the fly does not make good. I like it about 5 minutes and I'm done. I respect jazz players talend but I respect opera singers talent, too, and I'm not into opera.

So, there.

EDIT: I just thought of something else. Most of you know I focus on original songs. I am a songwriter, first, a performer second. And the hardest thing to do is write a GREAT... SIMPLE song. Believe it or not.

Simple can be VERY good.

[This message has been edited by SemiLiveMusic (edited 10-26-2010).]

Bill in NJ,

I've been to Ashville a couple times--nice town. And, the guy at the bar knows what he's talking about--you gotta' play what the audiences want if you want to stay in business.

Semilive (Bill),

I played a place Monday night, just 30 minutes so a friend of mine who plays there could take a break. I only played two country songs during the 30 minutes and when I fired up and performed Crazy, some old guy came up to the other performer and said "What's with this country music--we don't like country" pointing to a half-dozen people sitting at his table. My buddy pointed to the 60 people I had crammed on a small dancefloor and said "Yeah, but they DO!" I ended the set with "He Stopped Loving Her Today," the dancefloor was packed to capacity, and included some couples from the complainant's table--amazing.

I never get tired of performing country songs, even those with just three chords. Probably because they provide me with a vast degree of latitude, the dancefloor is always packed, there are damned few critics, lots of kudos and every performance produces not only repeat performances, but additionally, lots more jobs at other locations.

Cheers,

Gary

I'm going to claim to be an authority on steady work in the music business. I'm 65 and had my first paying job at age 11 in an Officers Club in Fairbanks, Alaska. I've had 9 weeks off in 54 years...playing at least 4 gigs a week. That was primarily moving from state to state as a "military brat".

At the time of that first job, popular tunes were on the radio by Marty Robbins Ferlin Husky, Farin Young, Bill Hailey and the like. I chose to play Les Paul tunes.

Over the years, I had to play country (probably 15% of the time) to get by. Didn't like it.

It would have been easier if I had taken the country route, from a musicianship/employment standpoint.

It would have been easier if I was 1/5th the entertainer some of you are. I'm not.

My niche as a single, became horse farms, "snob" restaurants, Jazz arts organizations, country clubs, college/higher education related events and government organizations; then adding film scores and related work.

About three years ago, I had enough of the snobbery at the main restaurant I played for 14 years.

I played a reception at a place called "County Cookin" by George, and didn't go back to the job I'd had for 14 seasons. Patrons at the "snob" place paid an average of $32.12 per sitting. The country restaurant charged $8.95 for a buffet, including drink. This is the place Uncle Dave and Jim (Zuki) and Tom's family visited.

Customers from the "snob" restaurant warned me that I would ruin my reputation playing in a place like "Country Cookin" by George.
Incidentally, Country George was a Chiese gentleman, but that's another story.
Frankly, they (the Country Cookin folks) were nicer people. While I altered my tunes a little, I still stayed in the standards/60's-90's songs, played with a jazz attitude. And, yes, I would do a (yuck) country tune, if requested.

In the early 70's, I was playing an after hours job. It was a restaurant job downstairs and a dance hall upstairs on week-ends. A drummer I'd worked with in the Little Enis band asked me to fill in one week-end upstairs. I'd call this a "welfare" country job. Country music was not at all popular on the radio. In fact, believe it or not, in Lexington, Kentucky, there was only one low watt country station in the entire market. Three years later, the joke was, I was still waiting for the "permanent" guy.

These people clogged, listened to Johnny Cash, Johnnie dollar and Johnnie Paycheck. I developed an alter-ego. I became Johnnie Mastercard. I had a Porter Wagoner-type shirt made (sparkles) and got a Charlie Daniels hat. I decorated my telecaster with Mastercard stickers. I'd enter-stage right doing a "duck-walk", yelling "charge". The folks loved it. George Jones and Jerry Lee stopped by while in town for breakfast.

I'd mention that I had a problem with a mower. At 6:00 AM (I got off work at 4:00 AM from the restaurant) two of the patrons were in my front yard with their tools. Great people I still keep in contact with.

The group upstairs played only country. Downstairs, I played typical lounge stuff. Patrons downstairs were service people and other musicians from other restaurants and clubs. I got to show off, playing tunes chosen for how much they impressed other players. I was an arrogant little jerk at the time.

Today, my business involves transactions with university people, owners of large farms and companies...pretty "high flyers"...most with at least a college education.

They are NOT country music fans (at least, they won't admit it).

My music appeals to them. From an education and day-business standpoint, I fit in this group.

But, factoring in honesty, charity and compassion, my heart is with folks like the ones who, years ago, drove 50 miles, showed up at my door to fix my mower and refused to let me pay them.

I like the country attitude and genuine country people; just don't like to play the music.

And, as hard as it is, I'll continue to play what I love, less money, smaller audiences and "snobbish" customers not withstanding.

15,000 jobs ( or more) later, I'm still at it, doing things my way.


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-27-2010).]

SOUTH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>This way--->

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 10-27-2010).]

"I've had 9 weeks off in 54 years...playing at least 4 gigs a week."

WOW! You got time off? How did you swing that? I guess it was the short hours and high pay. Just kiddin' Russ.

My musical career didn't begin till I was 17, which was when I got my first paying job playing a beat-up 6-string and singing with a bluegrass band. At age 70 I'm still at it, still playing country and still having a ball. I have just as much fun playing Folsom Prison Blues today as I did when it first came out. And, the first country song I performed in public was in 1957 when I played and sang Old Mountain Dew.

Cheers,

Gary