It was a real kick to read Edward Morris' column "Nashville Scene" in the January 26 issue of Billboard. It was well written and quite humorous. Read it if you get the chance.
Seems ten Country Music Hall of Fame members got together recently to tape reminiscences and music for what Morris dubbed "A Living Scrapbook."
The ten participants included Rosine, Ky.'s Bill Monroe, the "Father of Bluegrass Music"; Loretta Lynn, the coal miner's daughter from Butcher Hollow, Ky.; Grandpa Jones, a native of Henderson Co., Ky.; and Louisville resident Pee Wee King. The living scrapbook spoke with a decidedly Kentucky accent.
Didn't stop to count 'em, but I suspect that a respectable percentage of the other six (Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Little Jimmy Dickens, Minnie Pearl, Earl Scruggs and Kitty Wells) are claimed by Tennessee, by virtue of either birth or adoption. Pee Wee King is probably the only non-Tennessee resident of the ten. He was born in Wisconsin but has lived in Louisville for many years.
The taped reminiscences were included in the 65th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry television special that aired on CBS on January 19.