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10/26/2003 Entry: "Honkytonks, Blues and Hymns"

Many friends and students ask me about this kind of thing all the time, and since I am a bit of a scholar in the matter, I may as well send along the 411. When I last visited stateside I heard a great little documentary series on public radio about Music Americana. I finally found a link to that series today online where one may hear all the parts online. It's pretty swell.

A few names to look out for are:

Jimmie Rodgers, "father of Country". In my new band we mix his "Blue Yodel" with Led Zep's "Whole Lotta Love".
Carter Family; Sister Maybell happens to be the Mama of June Carter Cash, late spouse of the late Man in Black.
Doug Wamble. He's a salt-o-the-earth kind of Gavin Degraw.
Gatemouth Brown, Zappa named him as a major influence. He has his own mix of pipe tobacco.
Thomas Dorsey, father of modern gospel, also composed "Tight Like That".