"Appalachia is still, for American musicians, a kind of fountain of youth we always go back to, the old home place to a group of artists who represent the quintessence of American independence, fortitude, genius, and madness." - Paul Burch
Showing posts with label Smokey Mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smokey Mountains. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Saturday, October 6, 2012
(435) ME AND COUNTRY MUSIC : MY ROOTS IN CHEROKEE COUNTY
I grew up in rural Cherokee County North Carolina - The Smokey Mountains - where I ran with a kid gang, and as a teen followed my father's work to Oregon and then around the country to Akron, Ohio, where I got my big break. From there I would move to New York City as my base but tour throughout the South.
I grew up hearing Country Music and I've always loved it. Rockabilly, as you probably know, has strong roots in Country. Many of my peers in the business in the late 1950's and early 1960's also had country roots, people like Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen and Buddy Holly, who were from West Texas, and Glen Campbell, who was from the "Deep South".
As a song writer, I was just as interested in writing for Country music artists as ever and I was able to place some of the songs I wrote or cowrote with Country artists.
I grew up hearing Country Music and I've always loved it. Rockabilly, as you probably know, has strong roots in Country. Many of my peers in the business in the late 1950's and early 1960's also had country roots, people like Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen and Buddy Holly, who were from West Texas, and Glen Campbell, who was from the "Deep South".
As a song writer, I was just as interested in writing for Country music artists as ever and I was able to place some of the songs I wrote or cowrote with Country artists.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
FROM OUR ARCHIVES : (344) END OF THE YEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
(344) END OF THE YEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
Christine remembers that her family brought live trees that waited outside until Christmas eve to be brought indoors and decorated, which is, she tells me, the custom in Central and Eastern Europe, and I was thinking about living surrounded by evergreen trees in the Smokey Mountains where my family lived when I was growing up and I still have so many well loved relatives and friends who I don't get to talking to near enough.
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Christine remembers that her family brought live trees that waited outside until Christmas eve to be brought indoors and decorated, which is, she tells me, the custom in Central and Eastern Europe, and I was thinking about living surrounded by evergreen trees in the Smokey Mountains where my family lived when I was growing up and I still have so many well loved relatives and friends who I don't get to talking to near enough.
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
(344) END OF THE YEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
Christine remembers that her family brought live trees that waited outside until Christmas eve to be brought indoors and decorated, which is, she tells me, the custom in Central and Eastern Europe, and I was thinking about living surrounded by evergreen trees in the Smokey Mountains where my family lived when I was growing up and I still have so many well loved relatives and friends who I don't get to talking to near enough.
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
We don't want to rush into Christmas here, but at the same time, as we blogged a while back, CHRISTMAS was the COVER TUNE ERA way back and ever since and that is on topic!
So we looked back upon some of our older posts, discovered that many of the videos we attached were, as happens, expired, and decided we would go ahead and replace those as well as update our Youtube station and represent some of the finest memory music in the Western World!
We hope you'll enjoy listening and remembering with us!
Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna
Friday, December 3, 2010
SMOKEY BLUE EYES by ROY STERNHAGEN (DAVID HOUSTON ALSO RECORDED THIS ONE!)
Friends, Roy Sternhagen honored me by recording this song not once but three times and putting it up on YouTube which is where we met. An artist who had an album out named David Houston recorded this one.
ROY STERNHAGEN reminds me so much of the musicians that I grew up around in the Smokey Mountains, listening to him is like going home again. And I always think of home at THANKSGIVING. This year, though our country continues in terrible economic times, we as Americans still have so much to be thankful for.
I am thankful for my family and old friends and new friends like Roy.
ROY STERNHAGEN reminds me so much of the musicians that I grew up around in the Smokey Mountains, listening to him is like going home again. And I always think of home at THANKSGIVING. This year, though our country continues in terrible economic times, we as Americans still have so much to be thankful for.
I am thankful for my family and old friends and new friends like Roy.
Friday, June 12, 2009
CHEROKEE SCOUT NEWSPAPER - MURPHY NORTH CAROLINA MENTIONS THIS BLOG
"We’re not the only business or resident who has come up with informative and interesting ways to spread whatever word they want online. One such site is by Murphy native Wes Bryan at www.wesbryan.blogspot.com, where he shares plenty of stories about his life in music.
David Brown Editor
YES, I also use the Internet from time to time to see what's going on back home by going to the Cherokee Scout website! Wes
Click on the title above to get to the Newspaper !
David Brown Editor
YES, I also use the Internet from time to time to see what's going on back home by going to the Cherokee Scout website! Wes
Click on the title above to get to the Newspaper !
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
(24) HOW I MET THE FAMOUS YOUNG ELVIS PRESLEY & WINK MARTINDALE
United Artists had me touring around the country, playing live on television, radio, and at record hops on a promotional tour for my launch with "Lonesome Love," and "Tiny Spaceman." On my first tour of the Mid South in 1957, I went to Memphis, Tennessee to perform on a couple shows.
One of them was Wink Martindale's version of a dance party show.
At this point I was beginning to become used to the adoration of my fans. I was a teen idol. My name was mentioned in the columns and pictures of me and magazine articles about me were out there. The girls chased me around and even tried to tear my clothes off. Wink had the kids in the audience ready to give me a hearty welcome, but as I sang, I realized I had never caused so much commotion before... HA!
Elvis Presley and his early entourage had burst into the station to see me!
At this point I was beginning to become used to the adoration of my fans. I was a teen idol. My name was mentioned in the columns and pictures of me and magazine articles about me were out there. The girls chased me around and even tried to tear my clothes off. Wink had the kids in the audience ready to give me a hearty welcome, but as I sang, I realized I had never caused so much commotion before... HA!
Elvis Presley and his early entourage had burst into the station to see me!
That's what all the commotion was about! Even Elvis wanted to see what The Next James Dean really looked like. I was so excited that Mr. Elvis Presley was out there in the audience. Elvis Presley had achieved stardom and had become a millionaire. I was a fan of his and he was an inspiration! But I never dreamed Elvis would be coming round to see me!
After my performance, Elvis asked me to come back to Graceland TM with him to meet his parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had just purchased his own stretch limo and, after I piled in with the guys, Elvis drove us home in it himself. His family was much like mine because of our southern upbringing, and his father Vernon and especially his mother Gladys were welcoming. Gladys had the table spread with food and asked about my family. She said they had relatives in the Smokey Mountains.
That night I met Elvis's best friend from Humes High School in Memphis, George Klein, and funny-man ex-DJ, and recording artist Cliff Gleaves too.
That evening was the beginning of a friendship with Elvis Presley that lasted the 20 years until his death.
After my performance, Elvis asked me to come back to Graceland TM with him to meet his parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had just purchased his own stretch limo and, after I piled in with the guys, Elvis drove us home in it himself. His family was much like mine because of our southern upbringing, and his father Vernon and especially his mother Gladys were welcoming. Gladys had the table spread with food and asked about my family. She said they had relatives in the Smokey Mountains.
That night I met Elvis's best friend from Humes High School in Memphis, George Klein, and funny-man ex-DJ, and recording artist Cliff Gleaves too.
That evening was the beginning of a friendship with Elvis Presley that lasted the 20 years until his death.
Link to WINK MARTINDALE'S OFFICIAL SITE above!
Monday, August 20, 2007
(2) THE CHEROKEE SCOUT NEWSPAPER : MURPHY NORTH CAROLINA
Linda Miller, a reporter for The Cherokee Scout in Murphy North Carolina interviewed me a few years back. I was honored to be the subject of article called "FROM THE HILLS OF MURPHY TO THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS." The article recounted my discovery as the Next James Dean, and had pictures of me looking like Dean, as well as my version of Marlon Brando, pictures I took back about 1957-1958.
Mayor Billy Hughes says he'll award me the Keys To The City when I get back home, and it's always on my mind. Life keeps intruding on my plans to go. But it's like old times when Billy and I talk.
The Smokey Mountains are rich with excellent musicians. People there have a long memory. But I'm still surprised to learn that I'm still a star in Murphy.
Mayor Billy Hughes says he'll award me the Keys To The City when I get back home, and it's always on my mind. Life keeps intruding on my plans to go. But it's like old times when Billy and I talk.
The Smokey Mountains are rich with excellent musicians. People there have a long memory. But I'm still surprised to learn that I'm still a star in Murphy.
THE CHEROKEE SCOUT
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