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Post by drlj on Jul 8, 2023 14:19:25 GMT -5
 I picked up this book a few days ago after reading some favorable reviews and I am really enjoying it. It an interesting history of Chicago’s influence on folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues and the National performers who got their start in the clubs and on radio stations throughout Chicago and suburbs—including Northwest Indiana. If you have any interest in music history, it’s a fascinating read. |
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 14:30:44 GMT -5
I picked up this book a few days ago after reading some favorable reviews and I am really enjoying it. It an interesting history of Chicago’s influence on folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues and the National performers who got their start in the clubs and on radio stations throughout Chicago and suburbs—including Northwest Indiana. If you have any interest in music history, it’s a fascinating read. Is Marshall in it? |
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Post by drlj on Jul 8, 2023 14:31:25 GMT -5
I picked up this book a few days ago after reading some favorable reviews and I am really enjoying it. It an interesting history of Chicago’s influence on folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues and the National performers who got their start in the clubs and on radio stations throughout Chicago and suburbs—including Northwest Indiana. If you have any interest in music history, it’s a fascinating read. Is Marshall in it? I use his picture as a bookmark. |
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 14:50:49 GMT -5
Does seem like a good idea for a book -- beyond legendary electrified bluesmen like Buddy Guy and BB King when he lived there, you got your Steve Goodman, John Prine, Mark Clark and so many more.
Madison, Wis., up the road, seems to have produced an unusually high number of fine musicians who made it at least semi-big, although I'm sure many of them were not Cheeseheads by birth, but collegians who stayed put. Corky Siegel comes to mind.
Siegel was a Chicago product, too, but my memory places him in Madison in the latter part of his career, I may have that wrong.
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Dub
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Post by Dub on Jul 8, 2023 14:52:34 GMT -5
,looks like I’ll need to get this. Thanks.
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Post by John B on Jul 8, 2023 14:55:31 GMT -5
WLS probably figures large in the story - they had the WLS Barn Dance before it moved to WSM and became the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Rhubarb Red (Les Paul), and others got their start there. Larson Brothers guitars also featured in early country music.
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 14:57:37 GMT -5
WLS probably figures large in the story - they had the WLS Barn Dance before it moved to WSM and became the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Rhubarb Red (Les Paul), and others got their start there. Larson Brothers guitars also featured in early country music. And WLS (Lake Shore) was a high-wattage station, reaching New Orleans on a good night, and points in between. |
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Post by drlj on Jul 8, 2023 15:10:16 GMT -5
I think you would enjoy the book, Mark.
The Barn Dance, which ran from 1924 until 1968, is a big part of the story. The number of performers who appeared on that show is astounding.
WLS (World’s Lowest Salary, according to Jethro Burns) also figures prominently.
Barn Dance and Grand Ole Opry were rivals. As the Opry was coming of age, the Barn Dance was dying and the talent headed back to the South.
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Post by Village Idiot on Jul 8, 2023 15:12:40 GMT -5
That does look like a good book. I've been to the Chicago suburbs a few times in the past few years visiting a friend and we play at some open mics. I always include a John Prine and a Steve Goodman. Song. When I do the latter, I always say "Arlo Guthrie (or Jimmy Buffet, depending on the song) did not write this song".
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 15:20:19 GMT -5
LJ doesn't know it yet, but he's gonna mail me that book when he finishes reading it, and I will pay the postage, as long as he remembers to send it Book Rate.
When I'm done reading it, I'd be happy to sell it to anyone on the Forum.
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Post by John B on Jul 8, 2023 15:47:16 GMT -5
WLS probably figures large in the story - they had the WLS Barn Dance before it moved to WSM and became the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Rhubarb Red (Les Paul), and others got their start there. Larson Brothers guitars also featured in early country music. And WLS (Lake Shore) was a high-wattage station, reaching New Orleans on a good night, and points in between. Or, because the station was originally owned by Sears Robuck, "World's Largest Store." Much like WSM (the home of the Grand Ole Opry) stood for "We Shield Millions" as it was owned by National Life Insurance Co. |
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Post by John B on Jul 8, 2023 15:47:53 GMT -5
That does look like a good book. I've been to the Chicago suburbs a few times in the past few years visiting a friend and we play at some open mics. I always include a John Prine and a Steve Goodman. Song. When I do the latter, I always say "Arlo Guthrie (or Jimmy Buffet, depending on the song) did not write this song". I introduce almost all of the songs I perform that way. |
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 15:57:01 GMT -5
And WLS (Lake Shore) was a high-wattage station, reaching New Orleans on a good night, and points in between. Or, because the station was originally owned by Sears Robuck, "World's Largest Store." Much like WSM (the home of the Grand Ole Opry) stood for "We Shield Millions" as it was owned by National Life Insurance Co. I stand (well, sit) corrected, faulty memory. |
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Dub
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Post by Dub on Jul 8, 2023 16:20:46 GMT -5
WLS probably figures large in the story - they had the WLS Barn Dance before it moved to WSM and became the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Rhubarb Red (Les Paul), and others got their start there. Larson Brothers guitars also featured in early country music. The WLS National Barn Dance didn't "move" to Nashville. George D. Hay (The Solemn Old Judge) was hired away from WLS in November 1925 and started the WSM Barn Dance. The National Barn Dance continued in Chicago until 1968, moving from WLS to WGN in 1960. Acts like Bob Atcher and Arkie the Arkansas Woodchopper, continued with the WGN Barn Dance until the end with some new acts like Bob and Bobbie Thomas. |
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Post by drlj on Jul 8, 2023 16:39:49 GMT -5
When reading a book like this, I keep my IPad handy so I can jump to YouTube and listen to performers that are mentioned. So far, they have all been there. Listening to some of the old recording that were considered so far out of the norm in the 30s, 40s, & 50s has been an eye opener—or maybe I should say an ear opener.
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Post by Russell Letson on Jul 8, 2023 16:56:13 GMT -5
The next book on the reading list could be A Good Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry by the late Charles Wolfe, who also wrote about the Louvin Brothers, Tennessee country traditions and (with Kip Lornell) Lead Belly. I got to meet Charles briefly once at an academic conference in Florida (I've known his younger brother Gary for decades). Nice man, very low key, and a major scholar of the folk and country music of the south.
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Post by John B on Jul 8, 2023 17:04:30 GMT -5
Or, because the station was originally owned by Sears Robuck, "World's Largest Store." Much like WSM (the home of the Grand Ole Opry) stood for "We Shield Millions" as it was owned by National Life Insurance Co. I stand (well, sit) corrected, faulty memory. Actually I bet it was both. Probably the lakeshore one first, and then someone in the advertising department at Sears came up with the store one. WLS probably figures large in the story - they had the WLS Barn Dance before it moved to WSM and became the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Rhubarb Red (Les Paul), and others got their start there. Larson Brothers guitars also featured in early country music. The WLS National Barn Dance didn't "move" to Nashville. George D. Hay (The Solemn Old Judge) was hired away from WLS in November 1925 and started the WSM Barn Dance. The National Barn Dance continued in Chicago until 1968, moving from WLS to WGN in 1960. Acts like Bob Atcher and Arkie the Arkansas Woodchopper, continued with the WGN Barn Dance until the end with some new acts like Bob and Bobbie Thomas. stand corrected! |
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Post by drlj on Jul 8, 2023 17:14:32 GMT -5
According to the book, the original call letters were to be WES for World’s Economy Store. On the afternoon of the 1st broadcast in April of 1924, letters were changed to WLS for World’s Largest Store. As I said earlier, Jethro Burns had his own interpretation of the call letters.
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Post by millring on Jul 8, 2023 19:45:54 GMT -5
There's a guy on route 23 named Bradley Kinkade. I once asked if he was related to THE Bradley Kinkade. I got a blank look.
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Post by billhammond on Jul 8, 2023 19:57:07 GMT -5
There's a guy on route 23 named Bradley Kinkade. I once asked if he was related to THE Bradley Kinkade. I got a blank look. You should have, instead, told him how much you loved his Wet Basement Series.  |
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