From music to movies, fashion to food, Elvis Presley’s influence on culture has been pored over in exhaustive detail since he emerged as an entertainment titan more than six decades ago. Even his fit-for-a-king exit line, uttered by many a concert promoter, has become absorbed into the popular lexicon: “Elvis has left the building!” Summing up his status as more than a man but a force of nature, the colloquialism has taken on a life of its own in the 40 years since Presley left the building for good. Remarkably, the origin of the popular catchphrase can be traced back...
- 8/16/2017
- by Jordan Runtagh
- PEOPLE.com
Darius Rucker is turning on his comedic charm for Cmt this week. On Wednesday night, he played the president of the network in a humorous clip that kicked off the Cmt Music Awards. On Sunday, he'll make another Cmt cameo but in the biggest of big roles: Jesus Christ. Well, "Special J," as the Elvis Presley character calls him, as they tear through barbeque ribs in the back of a convertible. Rolling Stone Country has the exclusive sneak peek of Rucker guest starring on Billy Ray Cyrus' new Cmt sitcom,...
- 6/10/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy C. Newman, known for mixing Cajun and country music, has died. Opry publicist Jessie Schmidt said Newman died in Nashville on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 86. The Tennessean reports Newman's first Top 10 country hit, "Cry, Cry, Darling," came 60 years ago, in the summer of 1954. That same year he joined Shreveport-based radio show "The Louisiana Hayride," where he performed alongside Johnny Horton, Elvis Presley and others. He joined the Opry in 1956, after notching five straight Top 10 records, including "Seasons Of My Heart." In 1957, Newman earned his highest-charting record with "A Fallen Star," which reached No.
- 6/22/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Yodelling country singer best known for Rose Marie and Indian Love Call
The singer Slim Whitman, who has died aged 90, was a noteworthy figure in country music, since, although he was hugely popular outside the Us, for most of his career he was almost forgotten in his own country. In the 1970s, two decades after his American heyday, he still commanded enough of a following in the UK to be voted the No 1 international star in a music poll – four times.
Much of the reason for his success outside the Us was his high, clear, strong singing and almost operatic yodelling, characteristics that several generations in Britain, Australia and South Africa have assimilated into their notions and fantasies of the old west of America. One of Whitman's chief models was Wilf Carter, a Nova Scotian yodeller and singer of cowboy songs who was popular throughout north America in the 30s...
The singer Slim Whitman, who has died aged 90, was a noteworthy figure in country music, since, although he was hugely popular outside the Us, for most of his career he was almost forgotten in his own country. In the 1970s, two decades after his American heyday, he still commanded enough of a following in the UK to be voted the No 1 international star in a music poll – four times.
Much of the reason for his success outside the Us was his high, clear, strong singing and almost operatic yodelling, characteristics that several generations in Britain, Australia and South Africa have assimilated into their notions and fantasies of the old west of America. One of Whitman's chief models was Wilf Carter, a Nova Scotian yodeller and singer of cowboy songs who was popular throughout north America in the 30s...
- 6/20/2013
- by Tony Russell
- The Guardian - Film News
Miami — Country singer Slim Whitman, the high-pitched yodeler who sold millions of records through ever-present TV ads in the 1980s and 1990s and whose song saved the world in the film comedy "Mars Attacks!," died Wednesday at a Florida hospital. He was 90.
Whitman died of heart failure at Orange Park Medical Center, his son-in-law Roy Beagle said.
Whitman's tenor falsetto and ebony mustache and sideburns became global trademarks – and an inspiration for countless jokes – thanks to the TV commercials that pitched his records.
But he was a serious musical influence on early rock, and in the British Isles, he was known as a pioneer of country music for popularizing the style there. Whitman also encouraged a teen Elvis Presley when he was the headliner on the bill and the young singer was making his professional debut.
Whitman recorded more than 65 albums and sold millions of records, including 4 million of "All...
Whitman died of heart failure at Orange Park Medical Center, his son-in-law Roy Beagle said.
Whitman's tenor falsetto and ebony mustache and sideburns became global trademarks – and an inspiration for countless jokes – thanks to the TV commercials that pitched his records.
But he was a serious musical influence on early rock, and in the British Isles, he was known as a pioneer of country music for popularizing the style there. Whitman also encouraged a teen Elvis Presley when he was the headliner on the bill and the young singer was making his professional debut.
Whitman recorded more than 65 albums and sold millions of records, including 4 million of "All...
- 6/19/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
New Orleans -- Country singer-songwriter Claude King, an original member of the Louisiana Hayride who was best known for the 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain," has died. He was 90.
King had just celebrated his birthday and 67th wedding anniversary to his wife, Barbara, last month. The couple's eldest son, Duane King, said his father was found unresponsive in his bed early Thursday morning at his home in Shreveport.
King was one of the original members of the Louisiana Hayride, the Saturday-night show where Elvis Presley also got his start. The show transformed country and western music from 1948 to 1960 with music genres including hillbilly, Western swing, jazz, blues and gospel.
King's hit "Wolverton Mountain" told a story of mountain man Clifton Clowers, who guarded his daughter from suitors.
"Claude was a legend in the Louisiana music industry, one of the greatest songwriters, and a wonderful friend," said Maggie Warwick, owner of the Louisiana Hayride...
King had just celebrated his birthday and 67th wedding anniversary to his wife, Barbara, last month. The couple's eldest son, Duane King, said his father was found unresponsive in his bed early Thursday morning at his home in Shreveport.
King was one of the original members of the Louisiana Hayride, the Saturday-night show where Elvis Presley also got his start. The show transformed country and western music from 1948 to 1960 with music genres including hillbilly, Western swing, jazz, blues and gospel.
King's hit "Wolverton Mountain" told a story of mountain man Clifton Clowers, who guarded his daughter from suitors.
"Claude was a legend in the Louisiana music industry, one of the greatest songwriters, and a wonderful friend," said Maggie Warwick, owner of the Louisiana Hayride...
- 3/8/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
You may not know the name Frank Page right off the bat, but without him the musical landscape could be a lot different. Page, who died Wednesday at age 87, was the host of "Louisiana Hayride," a country music showcase program broadcast on both radio and television.
Frank is perhaps best known for introducing the debut of a young rockabilly singer named Elvis Presley. Presley performed "That's Alright Mama" on the radio version of "Louisiana Hayride" in 1954, before making his first national television appearance on the TV version in 1955.
The Associated Press reports that Frank remained with radio station Kwkh, the original home of Louisiana Hayride, until his retirement in 2005 after 65 years of service.
Frank is perhaps best known for introducing the debut of a young rockabilly singer named Elvis Presley. Presley performed "That's Alright Mama" on the radio version of "Louisiana Hayride" in 1954, before making his first national television appearance on the TV version in 1955.
The Associated Press reports that Frank remained with radio station Kwkh, the original home of Louisiana Hayride, until his retirement in 2005 after 65 years of service.
- 1/11/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Nashville, Tenn. — Not all pioneers know exactly where they're going, and that was definitely the case for Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two.
Cash, guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant – the last surviving member of the group who passed away Sunday morning at age 83 in Jonesboro, Ark., after an aneurysm and stroke – changed the future of American music and popular culture with their distinct boom-chicka-boom beat.
Grant fell ill after rehearsing for a concert to raise funds for the restoration of Cash's boyhood home, said Cash's daughter, Rosanne Cash.
Grant always freely admitted the soon-to-be historic trio had no special insight as they shaped that universal beat – a sound that launched a million imitators with songs such as "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues, "Ring of Fire," "Big River" and "Cry Cry Cry."
"Our inability had more to do with our success than our ability did, and I'm not ashamed of it,...
Cash, guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant – the last surviving member of the group who passed away Sunday morning at age 83 in Jonesboro, Ark., after an aneurysm and stroke – changed the future of American music and popular culture with their distinct boom-chicka-boom beat.
Grant fell ill after rehearsing for a concert to raise funds for the restoration of Cash's boyhood home, said Cash's daughter, Rosanne Cash.
Grant always freely admitted the soon-to-be historic trio had no special insight as they shaped that universal beat – a sound that launched a million imitators with songs such as "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues, "Ring of Fire," "Big River" and "Cry Cry Cry."
"Our inability had more to do with our success than our ability did, and I'm not ashamed of it,...
- 8/9/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
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