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MARCH 2018 Volume 49 Number 3 Issue 577
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Larry Delaney, Don Cusic, Julie Flaskett, Kelly Gregory, Michael Hingston, Tony Ives, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III,, Douglas McPherson, Stephen O’ Hanlon, Roland Purdy, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Wayne Smart, Chris Smith, Alison Stokes, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Jack Watkins
Assistant editor / Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Helen Parish, Patricia Presley, Ian Tilbury, Barry Dixon, Billie McAleer
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Country Music People is published the last Thursday of each month by KICKIN’ CUTS LIMITED 24 Darley Close, Wittering, Peterborough PE8 6EQ, UK Telephone + 44 01780- 783689
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© 2018 Kickin’ Cuts Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for statement of fact or opinion expressed by contributors. The views of the contributors are not necessarily those of Country Music People or its editor.
News
Marty Museum
N
o one ever worked harder to promote their career than Marty Stuart has, and with such a talented better half as Connie Smith at home, the pressure mounts. She’ s already a Country Music Hall of Famer. So now Stuart’ s stepping up to open a combination museum and theatre in his birthplace, Philadelphia, Miss., that’ ll house his vast collection of country music paraphernalia and promote live performances, when it opens in three years. Reportedly, the Magnolia State will ante up $ 2 million for the project, as Stuart seeks further private funding. Mississippi has produced some sterling stars on the music scene, including Jimmie Rodgers, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, B. B. King, Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters.
Marty, now nearing 60, toured in his youth with the likes of Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash, all the while developing a deep respect for roots music. This prompted a desire for“ collecting” costumes, instruments, music and whathave-you, artefacts now numbering some 20,000. His collection includes such mementos as Patsy Cline’ s boots; Hank Williams’ handwritten lyrics; and a suit from Cash, The Man In Black. Stuart’ s Sparkle & Twang collectibles have already been exhibited in museums like the Tennessee State Museum, Graceland in Memphis, and Cleveland, Ohio’ s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Initially, Cash’ s Columbia label signed Marty in the mid-1980s, when mainly known as Johnny’ s son-in-law( husband to Cindy Cash). After managing only a Top 20 tune Arlene, and five follow-ups that tanked, he found himself freshly divorced and out shopping another label. Thanks to MCA’ s assist, Stuart scored high marks in the early’ 90s, via singles Hillbilly Rock, Little Things and Tempted, enhanced by smash follow-up duets with Travis Tritt: The Whiskey Ain’ t Workin’, and This One’ s Gonna Hurt You( For A Long, Long Time). There was another solo success, Burn Me Down, but come Christmas’ 92, he found only coal in his stocking, as his year-end disc,
Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London
High On a Mountain Top, couldn’ t climb higher than # 24. Thus, out of 33 charted Billboard entries, Stuart totalled six Top 10s. Nonetheless, he hung in there and over the next 25 years, kept his name in the news- not always favourably- while fronting an acclaimed band The Fabulous Superlatives, boasting“ hillbilly” panache, balanced on a cutting edge. There were occasional albums, The Marty Party Hit Pack, Honky Tonkin’ s What I Do Best, Live At The Ryman, tours, and besides being an archivist, he became a photographer of note, snapping shots of fellow craftsmen, images heightened by an insider’ s insight.
In recognition of multiple talents, Marty earned three Grammys, and in 1992 an invite to become a WSM Grand Ole Opry cast regular. In 2008, the RFD- TV network presented The Marty Stuart Show, a half-hour showcase spotlighting Smith, The Superlatives and Eddie Stubbs, emcee, for six seasons. Last summer, as Connie’ s Top 10 Ain’ t Love A Good Thing best define it, she and Marty marked their 20th anniversary.
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