I’m a Member of the Country Club (Country Music is what I love)

Whispering Bill Anderson began his music career as a songwriter penning the 1958 hit “City Lights” for Ray Price. Within a few years Bill was encouraged to sing some of his songs in his low and mellow way. The results were a string of hit songs including the cross-over smash record “Still” in 1963 and a nickname, Whispering Bill. Over the years he has been an actor, game show star and television host but found himself back to songwriting from the 1990s onwards. Music is a great part of Whispering Bill and, luckily for us, he is still sharing it with the world. 

AV (Bam) Bamford was a colorful country music producer originally from Cuba. During the mid-1930s, he owned and operated a string of radio stations, mostly in the southern United States. As a promoter of these stations, he often befriended performers who would perform live on the radio or at remote locations such as state fairs. Over the years he was asked to manage a number of musicians, including Hank Williams. In fact, during our interview with Bam, he recounted the final days of the country legend and the last time they saw each other, which was just hours before Williams died.  

Harold Bradley is one of the most recorded guitarists in the history of Nashville. Harold and his brother, the legendary producer, Owen Bradley, created a new feel in country music, a style known today as the “Nashville Sound.” Harold can be heard on classic recordings such as “Crazy” by Patsy Cline and “Little Sister” by Elvis Presley. Advocating music education and playing a strong role in preserving the history of music and its Nashville connection, Harold has been a popular and effective leader as President of the Musicians Union and an author of several important articles on music and music making.  

Wayne Burdick’s pedal steel guitar made by Paul Bigsby graced the cover of the luthier’s first catalog. Wayne befriended Mr. Bigsby in the 1950s while Wayne was a member of the Tex Williams Western Swing Orchestra. Wayne’s pedal steel can be heard on hundreds of recordings and in fact the very instrument made by Paul Bigsby was later purchased by Ron Middlebrook who loaned it to the Museum of Making Music for display beginning in 2008. Wayne also had a long friendship with Rob Crook, the creator of the Standel Amplifier. Wayne thought very highly of Crook and Bigsby and shared some of his thoughts on the men during his NAMM Oral History interview.
 

Jimmy Capps has backed nearly every performer at the Grand Ole Opry as a house band guitarist since 1960! The list of artists he played with is nothing more than amazing and represents the grand old pioneers such as Roy Acuff as well as current Opry members such as Vince Gill and Garth Brooks. Along the way he was a sought after studio musician who recorded with another vast list of country, bluegrass and rock artists. His career has been historic!

Gene Chrisman was among the celebrated studio musicians from Tennessee who played on countless recordings and helped shape the Memphis Sound during the 1960s and 70s. Gene’s creative drumming style has been cited by percussionists around the world as an influence on their own careers. Chris was the drummer in the California Recording Studio in Memphis, which produced a string of hits for artists such as Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. For Elvis, Gene played the drums on “Suspicious Minds,” “Kentucky Rain” and “In the Ghetto.”  

Roy Clark, the Country Music Hall of Fame guitar player, has always been proud of his connection with the music products industry. In addition to the products he has endorsed over his long career, Roy helped design his signature model for Heritage Guitars. Roy has also been close to many in the music publishing industry ever since writing the first of many successful method books for both guitar and banjo. The books were helped along with the popularity of the TV program,  "Hee-Haw" which Roy co-hosted for over 20 years. Even on the day of his interview for the NAMM Oral History program a fan approached Roy and thanked him for his role in teaching him to play music and for the years of enjoyment he and his family have had as a result.

Paul Craft always felt a pull towards music but was not just sure how it would take hold in his life. For a time he ran a music store in Memphis called Paul Craft’s Music and Drum City all the while writing poems and setting them to music. When he felt he could write songs he headed up the road to Nashville where he cut demos and awaited the chance to have his songs published. Over the years he has become a well-respected and well-recorded songwriter having his music performed by many top artists. Among his hits, “Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Post of Life.” 

Buddy Emmons is on the short list of the most influential steel pedal guitarists in the world. Along with Alvino Rey and Speedy West, Buddy helped define the role of the instrument in pop and country music. We proudly note that all three of these legends are now included in the NAMM Oral History Collection. Buddy was co-founder of ShoBud and later worked closely with George Lewis on several noted adjustments and improvements to the instrument. In fact, their close friendship is evident by the number of trade shows that found both men at the ShoBud or George L’s booth talking about the old days.

Elaine Frizzell was an artist endorser for the Mosrite Guitar Company back in the 1960s. Over the years she became close friends with the company’s founders, Semi and Andy Mosley. She witnessed first hand the production of the guitars that were first made famous when played by the Ventures in the early 1960s. After hard times, she also witnessed the close of the factory and the effort Andy undertook in 2002 with Elaine’s help to complete the guitars Semi was unable to complete when he passed away in 1994. As an artist she has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded in the studios in Nashville as well as her own albums.