I only saw the dragons of power pushed back to a standstill a couple of times, and both times were historic moments in classic country music.
In the year of 1975, the CMA and all the powers behind what they were starting to call Metropolitan Country was desperate to meld some of the pop artists into the so called country fold. The night of the big awards ceremony, they were getting ready to announce the night's biggest award..The Country Music Entertainer Of The Year. Charlie Rich was called out to do the envelope thing, and give the winner's name. Now, Charlie had been doing some Gin and Tonics, back in the hospitality room, and also was taking some pain medication. He stood at the mike, ripped open the envelope...and stared at the name of the CMA choice...his eyes focused on the name JOHN DENVER. Charlie did not say a word, he just reached into his pocket and took out his cigarette lighter, flicked it, and set fire to the envelope. He dropped it, burning, to the stage floor, and walked off. The producers were livid! They had this nice speech, via satellite, for John Denver to give...they immediately went to the satellite and John Denver, not having a clue what had just happened, gave his little acceptance speech. Charlie was black balled from all CMA events for the rest of his career, but, knowing Charlie, I don't really believe he gave a rip. Pretty strong statement by a heck of an artist, and the dragons could not believe it had happened.
Of Course, a couple of years before that, they made a mistake in letting Mr. Acuff be a part of the CMA Awards show. It was a token choice, letting this old country singer on the stage that he had helped to build. It was time for the envelope, please...Yessir, Mr Acuff tore open the envelope and read the name: The winner is OLIVER NEWTING JOHN. Mr. Acuff had no idea who Oliver Newting John, was, but he was pretty sure she wasn't country, and Olivia Newton John was some embarrassed, but lived to get over it.
The high points of the CMA Awards, that I have witnessed up close and personal was the time, in 1989, when Dolly Parton came out and sang, "He's Alive" and the Christ Church Choir came in behind her, filling the stage, and brought the house down. It was a great moment in music. And we all stood and gave the longest standing ovation I have ever seen on the Awards.
Alan Jackson, at the CMA Awards, singing, "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" in 2001, just days after the horrible 9/11 event, was something I shall never forget. Again, another longest standing ovation in CMA history.
So, you see, both sides of the coin, here. When they first started pushing the pop acts on country, some of the old school didn't take to it very well.
Tremendous internal maneuvering by record companies and other power bases working to change our music. But, in spite of them, some of the new kids had enough guts to buck the dragons, like Alan Jackson and others, and write and record songs from the heart. We've come a long way down the road from where country started out, and that is natural, but there will always be talent that can't be bought off, controlled and diluted by people who have no more talent that a fishing worm. When I hear a good country song, still today, it thrills me that someone is still standing up to the Dragons. Bravo to those few, who will do it. Stan
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