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Show "What could they call them," asks one detractor of the music scornfully, "the Hillbillies?" On the other hand, some people in the industry argue that having the citations designated simply as the "CMA Awards" gives country music a touch of class all its own. Awards, which are made by vote of the more than 5000 CMA members, are given in 10 categories. This year's five finalists for the top award, "Entertainer of the Year," are Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The host for the show, expected to be watched by upward of 35 million viewers, will be veteran country singer Johnny Cash, whose wife June Carter will also appear on the program. 'Never let go' "One thing about country music fans," observes bandleader Danny Davis, "is that they're loyal. They latch onto an artist and never let go. That's not the way it is in the pop field, where every three weeks there's a new From the pure angle, country has one of the soundest economic floors in the business. A superstar like Loretta Lynn or Conway Twitty can earn a gross of genius-of-the-mont- h. dollar-and-cen- ts $500,000 a year." Davis himself is an example of what country music can do for its practitioners. A trumpet player who was born near Boston and raised in New York, he struck it rich when he went to Tennessee and organized a group called The Nashville Brass. Some country music purists look askance at Davis' group, for the traditional country instruments are fiddles and guitars, plus the human voice. But Davis has caught the spirit of country style and given it a modern sound, with the result that he plays 340 shows a year, flies around the country with e his band in his own Martin 404 airliner, has won the CMA Award for "Best Instrumental Group" six times and is up for a seventh. While a few outlanders like Davis have managed to crack the country music ranks, most of the performers still come from predominantly rural or small-tow- n areas, chiefly in the South. Chet Atkins and Dolly Parton are both native Tennesseans. Loretta Lynn, who has made so much money from ranch in Tennessee, country music that she owns a 3500-acr- e a seaside home in Mexico and a hunting lodge in British Columbia, is a Kentuckian who was a Coa Miner' s Daughter g which happens to be the title of her recent, from is who comes Ronnie blind, Milsap, autobiography. Robbinsville, N.C., and Charley Pride, the top black star, was and Roy born in Sledge, Miss. Johnny Cash is Arkansas-bortour of the Clark, who made a highly successful three-wee- k Soviet Union in 1976, is a native Virginian, although he now lives in Tulsa, Okla., which has just named a new elementary school for him. Traditionally, country music songs are just as homespun as their singers. Says lack Stapp, head of Tree International, the giant Nashville music publishing house: "The themes are simple and they relate to people the mother dying, trouble with a brother, a woman leaving, the baby sick, longing for home. Its not like rock 'n' roll, where you can't understand what they're saying." twin-engin- best-sellin- n, Sophistication and sexiness Nevertheless, sophistication and sexiness are starting to creep into country music, especially among younger artists like Barbara Mandrell, who sings "Married But Not to Each Other"; Crystal Gayle, whose hit number is "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?"; and Bobby Borchers, with "Lunch Time Lovers" and "Women Gonna Be the Death of Me, But What a Way to Go!" continued Save 10$ Save 10$ on any size New Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Complete on any size Mew Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Complete z GROCER As our agent you moy accept this coupon from fetal customer f YOU RECEIVE IT ON THE SALE OF THE SPEC ED PRODUCT WE WU REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE FACE VALUE OF THIS COUPON PLUS 5 U FOR HANDlftG Any other use may LU oc constitute FRAUD Proof of purchase must be submitted upon Thu coupon Is vod 0 taxed, V) licensed restricted or wherever prohibited by law Consumer must pay ony sates tax OFFER LIMITED TO ONE COUFON PER PACKAGE SEND TO THE QUAKER OATS COMPANY PO BOX 4106. OAK HARK 1UNCNS 60603 2 D o D o u UJ QC COUPON I EXPIRES APR. 3a 1978 OF THE SPECIFIED PRODUCT WE REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE FACE OF THIS COUPON PLUS 5 FOR HANDLING Any other use may constitute FRAUD Proof o I purSALE WILL VALUE chase must be submitted upon request This coupon a void 0 fared, licensed restricted or wherever 9 10$ 5622 GROCER As our ogen! you may accept the coupon from retail cusYOU RECEIVE IT ON THE tomers prohrbrted by tow Consumer must po any sales tax OFFER UMJTED TO COUPON PER PACKAGE SEND TO- - THE QUAKER OATS COMPANY PO BOX 4106. OAK HARK. ILLINOIS 60603 ONE 10$ I COUPON EXPIRES APWL 30. 1978 10$ P622 |
