Jonell Mosser, one of our favorites, breaks into the Americana Music Association chart at #38 this week with “Fortunes Lost, Fortunes Told,” As we noted in our review of the album, Jonell is a stirring and soulful singer who has never had the break she deserves. Maybe that’s changing. With the Jayhawks still at #1 with “Mocking Bird Time,” the…
Tommy Womack on “a very special voice”
By Tommy Womack I was playing a gig in Florida three or four years ago. A fan asked me to play that song from my new record, “the one with Emmylou Harris on it.” I said I’d never done a duet with Emmylou. My new friend was quizzical. Surely I had done so! No, I countered. You mean the other…
D.J. Fontana at the Country Music Hall of Fame
Bill Lloyd hosted another remarkable “Nashville Cats” session at the Country Music Hall of Fame this afternoon, interviewing pioneering rock ‘n’ roll drummer D.J. Fontana. Fontana, Scotty Moore and Bill Black were Elvis Presley’s first band, playing such classics as”Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Over time, Fontana drummed on almost 500 Presley recordings. Some snippets…
TV holds key to growth of Americana music
By Ken Paulson Television is a very big deal to the Americana music community. For years, the Americana Music Association has worked to establish the genre with the general public, and TV is the key. Any medium that can make Snooki a household name should do wonders for Buddy Miller. That’s why news that WNPT, Nashville’s public television station, would…