Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Hall of Fame Class of 2013

Category:  News

The new Country Music Hall of Fame inductees were announced this morning at a press conference inside the rotunda at the Hall of Fame.  Host Bill Anderson welcomed the three newest inductees:

Kenny Rogers (modern era):  far more pop than country; however, his crossover success dating back to the 1960s and his days in Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, with their cover of the Mel Tillis song "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," assured he would eventually be inducted.

Bobby Bare (veterans era):  from his 1959 "Bill Parsons" hit "All-American Boy" through a long string of hits, both serious ("Detroit City") and comical ("Marie Laveau"), Bare's career needs no addition to pad his résumé.  His induction is long overdue.

Cowboy Jack Clement (non-performer category):  given that Clement wrote such classics as "Guess Things Happen That Way" and "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" for Johnny Cash and "I Know One" for Jim Reeves it's hard to believe he was not inducted as a songwriter.  His overall career, which includes his studio savvy that dates to his work with Sam Phillips at Sun Records and his career assistance with the likes of people like Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, earned him his spot.  For whatever reason they decided to induct him, it's a good induction.

Congratulations to the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

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