* * * Happy Holidaze! * * *

** ARTY HILL LIVE ON SMC 12/13 @ HIGH NOON **

Tune in for some pickin' & grinin',

holiday tunes and good cheer with the pride

of Baltimore, ARTY HILL,

just after the SMC Spiritual Set!

Arty's on tour -- appearing at Sally O'Brien's, 12/12 @10pm w/Steve Potter,upright bass; Jonathan Gregg,steel (NYC); Stan Mitchell,drums (NYC) -- in support of his latest Cow Island Music EP, "Montgomery On My Mind," and will be sharing plenty of road stories, new songs and promises to sing a few holiday tunes, as well.

A fine way to start your week!

DUDE, Happy 60th Birthday!

Jeff Bridges turns 60 years old today!

Another good reason to revisit

The Big Lebowski

...as if you needed one.

Keep a lookout for his new movie, Crazy Heart,

opening in a few weeks -- with music from Ryan Bingham and T. Bone Burnett (New West Records)!

UPDATE: Smokey Pledges - One Month Later

Since throwing out the Smokey Pledge challenge last month,

662 new pledges have been

registered at SmokeyBear.com!

Thanks for all your help and remember to

tell your friends about this campaign!

Your forest friends will be forever grateful.

BENEFIT ---> Contribute to Doug Sahm Hill 11/6

On what would have been

Sir Doug's 68th birthday,

Antone's is hosting a big ol' bash to

raise money for Doug Sahm Hill!

(Click on the poster for more info)

Get Your Smokey On Pledge Update!

In a week's time, the number of additional "Get Your Smokey On" pledges

has DOUBLED to a whopping 332!

Keep 'em comin' folks!

And remember to download your

Smokey Bear mask for Halloween!

Update: Smokey E-Card & Pledges Tally

Since Sunday morning's Pledge challenge, over 160 additional pledges have been recorded at Smokey Bear's WEB site. Thank You!

To keep the momentum going, how about sending a Smokey Birthday Card to some of your pals?

I can't be the only person who just learned (two months after the fact) that Smokey Bear turned 65 in August!

Update: "Get Your Smokey On" Wildfire Pledge

Thank You!

Since Sunday morning (10/4), close to 100 additional pledges have been recorded in the national tally.

Keep up the good work, and remember to visit the resources section for all sorts of teachers' aides and additional Smokey Bear info.

Download your Smokey Bear mask now.

After all, Halloween won't be complete without a few Smokey Bears, Teddy Roosevelts , John Muirs or Shelton Johnsons trick-or-treating this year, will it?

Thanks for helping to spread the word!

** HAPPY 65th BIRTHDAY SMOKEY! **

Read all about Smokey Bear by clicking on his image!

Learn what you can do to prevent forest fires, and take the "Get Your Smokey On" Wildfire Pledge, here!

<<< R.I.P. AMY FARRIS >>>

AMY FARRIS

With Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women

Green River Festival, Greenfield, MA

7-18-09

(click on image for L.A. Time Obit)

Music City Roots - LIVE from the Loveless Cafe - Nashville, TN!

Debut show to air Wednesday October 14th!

Tune in to WSM-650AM or WSMonline.com to hear what's shakin in Music City!

This weekly show will be hosted by JIM LAUDERDALE and include WSM's EDDIE STUBBS as emcee.

Slated for the first show are EMMYLOU HARRIS, Kennedy-Rose and more, from 7pm-9pm. (CST)

Read all the deatils here.

Now THAT'S Americana!

AMA Awards host, Jim Lauderdale (Spooner Oldham on keyboards), offering his newly written Americana theme song (and dance routine) to the Ryman Auditorium crowd September 17, 2009.

As always, he was hilarious!

** Happy Birthday Kitty Wells 8/30/18 **

The Queen of Country Music turns 91 years young on August 30th!

Here she is singing her signature (answer) song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"

Take it away Kitty...(click on image)

This week! From Elvis In Memphis Special

Tune in this SUNDAY August 16th, after the SMC Spiritual Set, for a very special ONE HOUR of conversations, interviews, insight and one-of-a-kind quotes from the folks who worked with Elvis Presley on 1969's legendary "From Elvis In Memphis" album.

Hosted by Ben Fong-Torres, it's got plenty that you've never heard before from producer Chips Moman and the musicians from these historic recordings - Reggie Young, Bobby Wood, Bobby Emmons, Donna Jean Godchaux, and Gene Chrisman!

Be sure to check out the story on Chips in the Commercial Appeal this week!

>>>> PREACHER JACK <<<<<

Performing for the faithful.

At The Lizard Lounge July 30, 2009.

One of the best sets I've witnessed in a long time!

[[[[[[[[[[ The Cajun Hank Williams ]]]]]]]]]

As GREAT as ever....

D. L. MENARD

-- Lowell Folk Festival, 2009

Check out this legend's music,

your dancin' shoes with thank you!

Final Nail In the Coffin...R.I.P. BCN!

Well, if Charles' exit wasn't the end of an era, this certainly does it.

What was once the ROCK of Boston will soon become an all sports station.

Sadly, the creek has risen...

Read all about it, here.

Talk to Charles, here.

>>>> H A P P Y 4th O F J U L Y <<<<

"I Am the Nation"

(click on images)

"The Fourth of July"

** Bring the Rawk! New York Dolls Share the Love With Beantown Faithfull - June 28th **

No Make-Up Necessary!

Not these days!

Not these seasoned performers!

Nope, just an evening of full-throttle, beautiful R&R with a generous mix of hits, new songs, old songs with a new twist and girl-group favorites.

The Boston Herald summed it up nicely!

The Maria Callas segue, off the Paradise PA system, was perfect!

Their new CD, "'Cause I Sez So," will not disappoint!

Hey....It's my duty to inform y'all about "the good stuff," Country or not!

* * * Happy 30th Birthday! * * *

Sunday Morning Country

reached a major milestone this month...

that's right, turning the BIG 30 in mid-June!

Yeehaw!

Stay tuned for plenty of CD and ticket giveaways, special in-studio guests and a few surprises, too!

Can a Big Birthday Bash be far behind?

**** Direct from Nashville, TN -- 1 Night ONLY **** DAVID PETERSON IN BOSTON - 6/22! ****

You've heard plenty from David Peterson's great new CD, "Comin' On Strong" played on Sunday Morning Country!

Come out and hear him for yourself,

MONDAY, June 22 at 7pm sharp!

An early show, plus great beer, BBQ and N'Awlins style specialties with your music at Smoken' Joe's!

DO NOT miss this rare opportunity to catch the man that everyone is scrambling to play with in Nashville!

LIMITED Seating - Get Here EARLY - Don't be left out (on the sidewalk) lookin' in!

** NATIONAL FLAG WEEK **

Raise that flag!

Drape that bunting!

Say the Pledge of Allegiance!


It's National Flag Week and all thangs patriotic are encouraged.


Not sure what to do? Read up on Flag Day history and associated activities.


Help celebrate our nation's Stars & Stripes!

>> Birthday Boy - Lester Flatt - 6/19/14 <<

Lester Flatt born in Duncan's Chapel, Tennessee.

Along with partner Earl Scruggs, he rises out of Bill Monroe's band to become a leading figure in the development of bluegrass, joining the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.

Here's a terrific video of Lester on lead for "Go Home." (click on the image)

<< Remembering Arthur Alexander 6/9/93 >>

On a warm, humid, love-bug filled, glorious Nashville summer afternoon, way back in 1993, I witnessed what would ultimately be Arthur Alexander's last performance -- on the Bug Music Stage during Summer Lights - June 6, 1993.

As anyone who was there can attest, he sounded wonderful and the crowd was beaming!

Hearing "Anna," "You Better Move On" and "Soldier of Love" from the man himself was beyond belief!

Sadly, three days later he was gone forever.

"Lonely Just Like Me" was reissued a few years back with plenty of extra stuff to make your purchase worthwhile. There are some decent collections out there, too. If you already own everything available, do a friend a favor and turn them on to his rich, country-soul sound.

They will be forever grateful --- "ahh ahhh......go with him!"

>> GOT COUNTRY? <<

Jamey Johnson blew through Boston last week and left everyone happily spent, after a 2+ hour show at The Paradise.

Here are a few shots from the

evening....which was one of the best hard-core Country shows I've seen since Shaver, circa 1994!

Of special note: Cowboy (Eddie Long), on pedal steel, was killin' it all night!

Simply beautiful stuff!

* Mexican Sunflowers for Cinco de Mayo *

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I'm sharing plenty of Mexican Sunflower seeds with all requests via email! Simply send me your snail mail info and the seeds are yours (while supplies last)!

These flowers are gorgeous with velvety heart-shaped leaves.

The seeds are from Mexican Sunflowers grown in my garden last year, and with any luck, plenty of sunshine and some TLC -- you'll end up with LOTS of these beauties!

Take a look....

(Mexican Sunflower- 2008)

* MILTON on SMC 4/26 at 12:30pm *

THAYERS NATURAL REMEDIES presents...
The Even-Better-Live Series
w/ MILTON!

***

The trio version (Milton, Julia & Sami) will be squeezing into the cozy confines of the Z to tell stories about & singing songs from their latest CD, GRAND HOTEL

(with hints of Vince Bell, The Band, Van Morrison and Nick Lowe all rolled into one)

And later that day playing at Club Passim, Harvard Square -- 8pm (now you can order a beer or glass of wine while enjoying the show).

Tune in early, you don't want to miss the Boston-area debut of a band destined for bigger thangs - trust me!

** Arty Hill LIVE on SMC April 12th **

THAYERS NATURAL REMEDIES presents...

The Even-Better-Live Series

w/ Arty Hill!

Hot off the heels of his smokin' week of Not-SXSW shows in Austin (and The Plough & Stars the night before), Cow Island Music's ARTY HILL will be paying an Easter Sunday visit to WZBC's Sunday Morning Country at high noon!

You heard that right carrot top!

And he's promised to sing "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" (along with a bunch of old & new tunes) for all the kiddies gorging on chocolate eggs, peeps and other assorted high fructose goodies.

Mom & Dad won't be left out either, as Arty has a few tricks up his sleeve pending the re-release of "Back On the Rail" and his forthcoming Hank Williams tribute record.

You DO NOT want to miss this!

<<< RIP Duane Jarvis >>>

From DJs Caring Bridge site:
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 10:43 AM, CDT

"Duane passed on last night.

His journey was peaceful and he now rests in a better place.

Please continue to share your memories of our wonderful friend DJ here and keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. "

You can also read what Peter Cooper has to say about DJ, his carreer, sweet nature and more in The Tennessean; and from Randy Lewis in the L.A. Times.

>> Duane Jarvis Needs Your Help <<

You may know him from seeing Rosie Flores, for co-writing Lucinda's "Still I Long For Your Kiss," or maybe you caught him on tour with Amy Rigby recently, or just maybe he was that really nice guy playing guitar, who smiled your way, and later thanked you for coming out to the show?

After a brave battle, Duane Jarvis is now playing his final gig, out by the ocean, and surrounded by friends and family. And he needs everyone's help.

Please visit his Caring Bridge page for more details about the Pray For Tomorrow Fund and to sign his guestbook. You may also send checks (however small) made payable to:

Pray For Tomorrow Fund
2554 Lincoln Blvd - #1010
Venice, CA 90291

BTW - “Live For Today, Pray For Tomorrow” is a song from his upcoming album.

And yes, he really *IS* the nicest guy on the planet!

* Byrds Heckled on Opry 3/15/68 *

Forty-one years ago The Byrds performed on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN to a crowd that included Gram Parson's grandmother and plenty of hecklers (unhappy with their hair-cuts)!

Click on the photo to hear Gram talk about that memorable night.

Also, here's Chris Hillman speaking about Gram joining/leaving The Byrds and his meeting with Keith Richards just before a concert date in South Africa...click on Gram's photo.

You simply can't make this stuff up!

** Happy Birthday Townes **

The late Townes Van Zandt would have celebrated his 65th birthday on March 7th.

In addition to all the Townes tunes played on SMC yesterday, here's a great video of Townes, with Blaze Foley, from 1984 to remember him by...

* Van Morrison Interviewed *

Van Morrison appeared on Imus In the Morning this week, 2/26/09, around 8:30am EST.

Through the kindness of others, namely Boston radio legend Charles Laquidara, you can hear Van the Man talk about all thangs music, click on his photo ---->

Quote of the week "...the approach is Jazz!" Yeah, baby!

*** Oh yeah, Z Y D E C O ! ***

Playing LIVE at NOON & straight from winning OffBeat Magazine's Zydeco Album of the Year, in N'Awlins, JEFFERY BROUSSARD & the Creole Cowboys!

You heard that right, cher!

And these guys are HOT!

Consider it my "Zydetine" gift to all the SMC faithful.

Is there a better way to work off your Valentine dinner...Zydeco brunch anyone?

Best of all, the band will be playing later that evening at Boston Zydeco's Mardi Gras Dance and at the Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday night, 2/21 in Rhode Island.

Tune in early for your accordion, fiddle, & rubboard fix!

* This just in...The Z Now Archived *

Just when you thought you'd found a way to stay focused and get through your workday with minimal interruptions, WZBC decides that you NEED to hear Sunday Morning Country whenever yer hankerin' fer HANK!

Yes, now you can listen to Sunday Morning Country at your leisure...or whenever your boss ain't around, when you get back from church, done with all your errands, or plain ol' want to hear SMC all over again!

Remember, shows will only be around for TWO weeks, after that it's all a memory, baby!

More than you could ever hope for at: http://zbconline.com

* CODE RED: VALENTINE ALERT *

The BIG Artist's Valentine Sale takes place on Sunday, February 1st, 2pm–5pm @ Kalliroscope (264 Main Street, Groton, MA). For more information, contact info@artval.org.


Click the poster --->

Come see and purchase a wide variety of artist-made Valentines. Prices $4 - $200, most under $30!

This event benefits the Artist’s Valentine—fundraising for artists, by artists. Artists from New England and beyond have made Valentines and are offering them for sale.

* 1/18/09 - PHIL LEE LIVE - In Studio *

The Mighty King of Love hisself, Phil Lee, will be performing LIVE on Sunday January 18th, at high noon!

Why you ask? Well, Phil has a new CD, "So Long It's Been Good To Know You," (Palookaville) and plenty of songs and stories he's itchin' to share with SMC listeners in order to start the new year off right.

FWIW - along with Bill Kirchen & Chip Taylor, Ol' Sinc (WHRB) considered Phil a favorite, tune in and hear why!

If you care to brush up on all thangs Phil Lee, go to www.phillee1.com

At the very least you'll be wanting one of his swell posters from the "I Saw Him Before He Died Tour '08-'09!"

That should tell you something...

** Back On Air 1/11/09 **

Big thanks to Steve Cornie & Country Vic for filing in on 12/28 & 1/4 respectively.

I'll be back in the saddle on 1/11 with plenty of new music and highlights from 2008's releases.

Stay tuned!