Post by Scully on May 2, 2014 13:41:03 GMT -6
(Nashville, TN-5.2.14) The time has come to once again push the Country Music Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, to get caught up with those artists who are still waiting in the wings to hear their names called as the newest inductee’s into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
That old saying “It is better late than never,” is not something that is worth the time that many deserving artists have waited and are still waiting. It has no meaning when it comes to being inducted into the Hall of Fame. There comes a time when someone must take the bull by the horns and get this issue taken care of, so that all of these great names will be able to enjoy what they have been waiting for, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, plus the fact that they are definitely deserving. They have served their time, almost like they are being held in prison waiting for parole. Take a good long look at the picture I have added to this editorial and think about how long it took Carl Smith to be inducted, and then at the awards show they had the audacity to ask him to stand up and tip his hat. He must have felt like he was not worthy of being in the Country Music Hall of Fame, when all of the time he is one of the great artists that brought country music to the attention of millions of fans. The picture needs to be updated. The travesty about this is that there are a group of artists who at this time deserve to be inducted into the Circle of Fame at the Hall. Look over these names and tell me I am wrong. The following names are my own personal choices. No one has made me add the following names, only me.
The Browns’ I will never understand this. It is embarrassing to country music that they have not been inducted. Let’s not make them wait another year.
Oak Ridge Boys (If Alabama and the Statlers’ are in the Hall give me one good reason why the Oaks have not been included. They have paid their dues many times over in both gospel and country. They have as much right being in as both Alabama and the Statlers’.
The Wilburn Bros. The Wilburn Bros have been waiting long enough!!!!!
John Conlee John Conlee with all of his great songs is one of the greatest stylist that country music has ever known, and there probably will never be another like him.
Stonewall Jackson Take time to think about what Stonewall has meant to country music, and that should be enough to put him into the Hall of Fame. I am open to hearing any reason that he should not be inducted.
Jack Greene His career credits give him the right to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Johnny PayCheck Say what you will, but because of his lifestyle he was kept out of really getting his just dues, and though everyone thinks that other artists were the leaders of the Outlaw Movement, IT WAS PAYCHECK WHO was the original Outlaw from day one. Anyone who can write a song such as “Ole Violin and Outlaws Prayer,” and the songs not reach #1, there is something that is terribly wrong. He gave country music a great shot of pure traditional country music in the late 60’s. He was the King of Honky Tonks, and then went on to record great pure country music songs, but still his lifestyle was his main demon when it came to recognition for him. Put him in the Hall of Fame where he belongs, so that the newer generation will really know those artists who were responsible for country music going worldwide.
Redd Stewart How many remember when Pee Wee King was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but nowhere was the name of Redd Stewart mentioned. Please know that Redd was the lead vocalist and guitarist for Pee Wee King and The Golden West Cowboys. But most important, Redd Stewart wrote the “Tennessee Waltz, Slowpoke, Bonaparte’s Retreat, and You Belong To Me.” Yes that is right, Redd Stewart wrote those songs. So now it is up to the Country Music Hall of Fame brass to right this wrong and add Redd’s plaque beside Pee Wee’s where he belongs, and he does belong in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Another travesty which does not seem to bother the industry, but it bothers me. The last time a Bluegrass artist was inducted into the CMHOF, was 29 years ago. Are you kidding me?? Did someone forget Jim and Jesse or the Osborne Bros. It is time to get this mistake corrected. I really wish the artists who are living members of the CMHOF would begin to put pressure on the voting committee to have one more mass induction, which I was told would never happen again. NEVER SAY NEVER. If Country Music is a family, let’s join hands and act like a family and give those deserving artists their place in the Hall of Fame, so that they can enjoy this great honor for all they have given to the music. I have used that same quote for several years trying to get the committee to understand that they can get this right by adding the above names to be inducted. Yes I know there are many who will disagree with me, but the above choices of mine have paid their dues over and over again.
For all those that read this article and agree, please send a letter to the Country Music Hall of Fame, c/o the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, urging them to induct those who deserve their rightful place in the Hall. To continue to wait year in and year out to see who they feel is deserving, is wrong in anyone’s eyes. MASS INDUCTION is not something that certain factions who are instrumental in nominating those they feel should go in, want to ever do again, for whatever reason is something we may never know why. I cannot believe that the committee cannot see that by not nominating those who are older and have waited so long to be nominated, is causing hardship with these artists, and to wait until they have passed on, only makes it more difficult for the family to enjoy this special time to be a part of the circle of their friends who are waiting for them to be inducted. Let them enjoy this honor and tribute while they are still alive.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is for those in our music to be given the honor of being inducted into the Hall for their achievements during their careers, not to attend their funeral, and then induct them. It is time to make changes in the nominating of those who deserve this privilege for induction into this honored society that recognizes those who have given so much to country music, and now it is time for them to be given their recognition for what they have given back to our industry. The list of who we feel should be nominated and inducted is long, and it has names that probably will never get inducted, but the Hall of Fame is for those who cemented the cornerstone of country music so that the artists of today could enjoy the fruits of their labors. I feel that there are artists in today’s country music who do not take time to look at the past so that they can make the future better. The new artists of today will dwindle in the coming years, and I wonder if they will have the fan base “that will keep their music alive.” Some will, many will not. So it is time for a change, a change to get caught up for who should be inducted into the Hall.
I have written these articles over the past 10 years, but there has only been one mass induction, and it time for one last mass induction. Surely the media would be grateful to be able to write about the past of country music and how the nominating committee took it upon themselves to make sure that all those deserving to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame from the deep past up until the mid-70’s, should be given their plaque on the wall in honor of their sacrifices and achievements that gives them the right to be in the Hall.
So once again I urge the Hall of Fame nominating committee to move forward with great anticipation of making sure that finally the Country Music Hall of Fame is current by turning around and looking back at the past and those who have been overlooked, and make this induction ceremony equal to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and others. The Country Music Hall of Fame to me is the most prestigious and honored society in all music genre’s. I believe it can be done. My last question is “why has it not been done?” Is there a good enough reason for not doing a mass induction, and if so, please let us know why the committee is so against it? Possibly the nominating committee might be made up of younger people who do not know who the veterans and legends are, and what they have accomplished in their careers to be nominated. For those on the nominating committee who do not know the older veterans, it is time for them to study these great legends and find out who they really are.
Once again, congratulations to Mac Wiseman, Ronnie Milsap, and Hank Cochran on being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class. Certainly a special grouping of three deserving greats who have given back so much to our industry, and now they will take their rightful place in that special circle with their friends.
As always, I have given my opinion, and I look forward to all comments, pro and con.
Marty Martel©