CHARLIE WALKER

1926-2008

It's been a tough time around here for hard core country music fans. Honky tonk legend Charlie Walker passed away on September 12 and left behind a catalogue of vastly under-appreciated real country music. Most folks recognize Mr. Walker for hit tunes like "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" and "Please Don't Squeeze My Sharmon," but dig a little deeper and you'll discover a wealth of songs that were both risque and innovative. It was probably a big surprise to the industry when he recorded a way cool version of "Honky Tonk Women" that got him in a little hot water when he performed it on the Opry. However, the Rolling Stones song fit perfectly into his large repertoire of songs about drinking, bars and women. Songs like "Wild Women" and "Who Will Buy the Wine" pretty much define the old Texas honky tonk shuffle, and while most folks consider Ray Price to be the king of the shuffle I always identified with Mr. Walker's music much more... It was ahead of it's time. Take a listen below to "Ode to Stella," a song about a 'guitar.' I got to meet Mr. Walker a few years ago. I was flabbergasted at the time to be meeting such a legend, and I recall going on and on about some of my favorite songs of his. He was very humble and even seemed like he was surprised that I knew of such songs. When he found out I was from Louisville he recalled to me some of his own wild times from when he was stationed at Fort Knox. One of the songs I gushed to him about was "I Wouldn't Take Her to A Dogfight" which you can also hear below... Mr. Walker was one of the last of a dying breed. He was truly a legend and he will be missed...

JERRY REED HUBBARD

1937-2008

Like countless others, I have been a huge Jerry Reed fan for years. Though you'd never know by my own terrible guitar playing, Mr. Reed has always been a major influence on my songwriting and was one of the few artists I started listening to years ago who piqued my interest in country music. He was widely known in the mainstream for his acting and novelty tunes, but Mr. Reed was also undoubtedly one of the finest and most original guitar pickers in the history of popular music. He was also a remarkable singer and songwriter, and an amazing performer who possessed a style that was unlike any other artist before or since. He could take an old standard tune and completely change it into something new (i.e. "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "Don't Think Twice It's Alright," "Mule Skinner Blues," etc., etc., etc.). I had the honor of meeting Mr. Reed a few years ago after one of his shows in Nashville, Indiana. What a thrill it was for me to talk with him and for him to call me "Son!" He was so quick-witted... I remember during the show he paused to ask the audience for requests. I got his attention and asked him to play one of his goofiest tunes- "Broken Heart Attack" and without pause he looked at me and said, "Son, I'm gonna kill you." Classic... Jerry Reed was much more than a fine actor and novelty man... Just check out some of his RCA cuts from the late 60s and early 70s... "Today is Mine," "Guitar Man," "Sittin' on Top of the World" and countless others are all undeniable. And just listen to "Georgia on My Mind" one time and you'll agree that there was never a better rendition. A true original- Jerry Reed was one of the best of a dying breed.