Saturday Night (Sunday Morning) On Music Valley

Yes, I am back writing a blog. There's a lot of reasons that I haven't been on here in a while, but the biggest is that with the new job...and the old jobs, I have been burning the candle at both ends as of late. Some of you have inquired, so I thought I would try to be a little more regular on this thing again.

Tonight was a neat experience for me. Aside from a year in Georgia, I have lived in Tennessee all my life. That being said, there are a few things I have never done. Two Rivers or Belle Meade Mansion? Never been. RCA Studio B? Never Been. The Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree? Well, I have been once. About ten years ago, when Rhonda Vincent hosted. I don't get to the Jamboree that often. For starters, it's at Midnight. I have never been a big late night owl, so usually when Jennifer Herron is talking about the Jimmie Rodgers record of the week, I am adrift somewhere in sleep.

Another reason is....it's at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Wait a minute, don't misunderstand me. More than any business anywhere, there's no other place I like shopping more. But, I have walked into the store, and came out with enough CD's to almost tear one of the plastic bags the cashier puts them in! It's truly somewhere I love going.

Anyway, earlier this week, I saw that Mel Tillis was going to be the host this week. I have been blessed to have seen Jones, Haggard, Owens, and many of the biggest legends in the format. About the only classic country artists from my lifetime that I have missed are Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. Nothing against the first two, but I can wait a little while to see them where they are playing. But, Mel Tillis? I sort of planned all week to go....

Then, Saturday came. Between this and that, I wound up with a case of the "I Don't Give A ____." But, around 11:15 or so, I decided "Why not." I'm glad I did!

At age 79, Tillis is still in fine vocal form, and his comedy bits are as funny as ever. I was totally mesmerized the entire hour. Mel is from that "Old School." He and his band, the equally legendary Statesiders, dress in suits, there's not a lot of lights, and he doesn't move around on stage too much. And, there's not a darn thing wrong with that. Don't get me wrong. I love much of today's music and stage shows, but "Old School" is still a pretty good way to be!

An hour and a half, and he played one hit after the other. "Sawmill," "Burning Memories," and "What Did I Promise Her Last Night," among them. He also did my two favorite songs of his "Send Me Down To Tuscon," and "Mental Rcvenge." It was a great night (or morning?) of music.

I did escape the record shop without a purchase, but hopefully a gift certificate to the store will find its' way to me. It is the holidays, after all, and I heard three albums tonight that I would love to have, and saw two or three books, a DVD, and a WSM T-Shirt.....

If you've never been to the Jamboree, I urge you to check it out. It's definitely a piece of Country Music history. Maybe, being just two miles away from it right now, I won't let another decade pass between visits....