Tennessee Voices
Vince Gill has been quoted as saying the Eagles have influenced more people than Ernest Tubb, and therefore should join him in Country Music's Hall of Fame.
We respect the new Hall of Famer's right to believe what he wants, but while the Eagles may have influenced many, that doesn't lessen Ernest Tubb's major influence through the years.
A Lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians' Nashville Local 257, the Texas Troubadour died Sept. 6, 1984 at age 70, but thankfully, the good he did lives on.
During World War II, someone singing country, more than likely emulated this unique stylist, whose recordings touched many lives. Actually, the "Daddy of 'em all" managed to chart Billboard in five decades with 102 singles, country and pop, attaining 60 Top 10 rankings (the last being Leave Them Boys Alone in 1983).
Time can't erase Tubb's track record, it speaks for itself: His 1941 pop debut charting I'm Walkin' the Floor Over You, which he wrote, sold more than a million units. Follow-ups to that signature song were equally impressive, including chart-toppers Soldier's Last Letter, It's Been So Long Darling, Rainbow At Midnight, Slipping Around, Blue Christmas and Goodnight Irene (with Red Foley).
Some other memorable classics Tubb penned were Try Me One More Time, Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello and Letters Have No Arms. Attesting to his reach, popular music artists like Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Al Martino covered his hits.
Although Billboard didn't begin charting country albums until 1964, Tubb charted 15, including the Top 10s Thanks a Lot, Another Story, Singin' Again (with Loretta Lynn) and Ernest Tubb: The Legend & The Legacy.
He's shared the studio mic with such talents as Foley, the Wilburn Brothers, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Jr. and Waylon Jennings. Tubb also upped the royalty ante for songwriters like Vaughn Horton, Cindy Walker, Boudleaux Bryant, Jenny Lou Carson and son Justin Tubb.
As for helping newcomers, Hank Snow, Harold Bradley, Skeeter Davis, Jack Greene, Cal Smith, as well as the superb musicians hired as Texas Troubadours �?of which Jack and Cal are alumnus �?attest to E.T.'s past industry influence. Additionally,
Tubb spent 40 years as a Grand Ole Opry headliner; played Carnegie Hall in New York; established the Ernest Tubb Record Shops' retail and mail order business; inaugurated WSM's Midnight Jamboree broadcast 60 years ago; and in 1965, was enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Eagles' chart career spanned 1972-1982, while traveling a non-country road. They charted country, but never claimed to be of that genre. So why shut out pioneer country acts like Ernest (Pop) Stoneman, Lulu Belle & Scotty, Johnnie & Jack, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, The Browns or Skeeter Davis, whose many achievements still go unrecognized?
As time goes by, many yesteryear songs sound similar to today's country, as modern music veers further into the uptown sphere, making pop singers such as Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Patti Page, and even Margaret Whiting, sound down-home nowadays.
If indeed the Eagles are inducted, then how about the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons, Poco and Pure Prairie League? So we're right back to Vince Gill again. Where does that leave groups like the Statler Brothers or the Oak Ridge Boys, who paid their dues, devoting their careers to country?
Gill's so adept at politicking, perhaps he could convince Country Hall of Fame officials to consider a Friends of Country category for such acts, as well as for the likes of Ray Charles, whom the museum hails as supposedly having saved country music. Otherwise, borderline crossover stars will continue to fill berths that should be reserved for tried-and-true veterans of country music. TENNESSEAN.COM |
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