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George Jones Tributes

J

John1

A different topic from the earlier George Jones post - would like to hear what various stations - classic or contemporary country - did as far as on-air tributes to George Jones. His stature in the industry put him above the usual short tribute & mention a classic artist would receive - probably the biggest artist loss since Johnny Cash 10 years ago, although many big name country singers gave passed away in that time.

Locally, I heard a nice recorded 1-minute tribute on WCTO Cat Country 96 in Allentown-Easton, Pa. with some song clips but I didn't hear them actually play a full song. I would imagine it's a dilema for any contemporary country station whether or not to 'break format' even though many of the top country stations have been around since at least the 1980's when George Jones was on their playlist.

I tuned via. internet & heard WSM-AM playing only George Jones all day with artist phone interviews & stories. Eddie Stubbs will be doing a 5 hour tribute this Wednesday evening. Bluegrasscountry.org from WAMU in D.C. was playing Jones country & bluegrass. Tuned to Classic Country Radio Dayton, Ohio & Chubby Howard was playing mostly George Jones. How did Real Country & Classic Hit Country handle this?
 
Just as I feared, though I hoped I was wrong. No responses since yesterday, likely because there's little to report. A thread like this should have filled 3-pages by now. But thanks John1 for such a thoughtful idea.
 
My view on this is if they didn't play him when he was alive, it's almost disrespectful to play him now that he's dead.
 
TheBigA said:
My view on this is if they didn't play him when he was alive, it's almost disrespectful to play him now that he's dead.
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I think you're right. And that may indeed be the reasoning among many PDs. Admittedly, my reply (above) was both subjective and sentimental, springing from a passion that George Jones deserves better. He blazed such a poignant trail for country radio and fellow performers.

There's a prevailing commentary in the business world (not just radio) that seems to demand, "never mind what you did for me yesterday, what can you do for me today?" I know, because I struggle with that very same catchphrase in consumer products sale/service. But business is business. I guess that's just the way it is.
 
My Cat Country stations dove in with tributes as soon as we heard the news. We played 2 to 4 George songs per hour. On current country stations across the country, I heard them give the sad news, but they didn't play any of his music. Keith Urban hit Youtube with a tribute to George, and that got some airplay.
 
100.7 The Coyote in Richmond, Ky went all George for the noon hour request show. All day, they played at least 4 GJ songs an hour. The afternoon guy played several live tv appearances, and the Friday night oldies request show payed tributes throughout the evening.
 
It will be hard to top the five hour tribute to George Jones WSM 650 AM in Nashville plans to offer tomorrow (5/1) night, from 7 pm- midnight CST.
It will be presented by Eddie Stubbs. He promises to dig deep into the Jones music catalog.
 
TheBigA said:
My view on this is if they didn't play him when he was alive, it's almost disrespectful to play him now that he's dead.
Click to expand...
On Saturday night's "A Prairie Home Companion" live from Lubbock, Texas, Garrison Keillor sang an original song parody to the tune of "Today I Started Loving You Again" called "Today I Started Hearing Jones Again" noting the sudden revival of airplays after George Jones' death. I guess the Lubbock stations must have suddenly 'rediscovered' his music.
 
Barry said:
It will be hard to top the five hour tribute to George Jones WSM 650 AM in Nashville plans to offer tomorrow (5/1) night, from 7 pm- midnight CST.
It will be presented by Eddie Stubbs. He promises to dig deep into the Jones music catalog.
Click to expand...
Agreed - the program of record for any artist tribute. Eddie Stubbs annual tribute to Patsy Cline/Cowboy Copas/Hawkshaw Hawkins/Randy Hughes is an unmatched example of how good radio can be. Even on Friday's WSM all request show last week he dug beyond the Jones hits to songs & stories I'd never heard before - like stories of the Jones/Melba Montgomery bluegrass album issued in the early '60's in response to the Beverly Hillbillies theme popularity. I have read & heard many stories about country music over the years, but Eddie Stubbs never fails to come up with songs & stories that I've never heard.

I have some disagreements with WSM, like getting rid of Keith Billbrey & Kyle Cantrell, but Eddie Stubbs in that evening slot is a perfect fit.
 
John1 said:
I have some disagreements with WSM, like getting rid of Keith Billbrey & Kyle Cantrell, but Eddie Stubbs in that evening slot is a perfect fit.
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Bilbrey can now be heard on Nashville's Hippie Radio, http://www.hippieradio945.com but just be aware that he is (for the most part) NOT playing country music on his program, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (CDT) weeknights, although it is my understanding that he did a Jones tribute last Friday.
 
WSM and Eddie Stubbs still remain the two most important things to traditional country music. He is just an amazing talent.
 
1250WTAE said:
WSM and Eddie Stubbs still remain the two most important things to traditional country music. He is just an amazing talent.
Click to expand...

He commands a brilliant, respectful presence on The Marty Stuart Show, the quintessential off-stage announcer, and yet nobody's fool. He doesn't have to play the 2nd bananna like Ed MacMahon did.
 
WSM's Eddie Stubbs will feature the life and music of George Jones on his program TONIGHT, May 1 from 7 PM to Midnight CDT. Eddie Stubbs is, without doubt, the BEST country DJ in the business. If you can not listen to WSM-650 where you live, you can hear the program on: www.wsmonline.com

Tomorrow, May 2, WSM will also broadcast the Memorial Service for Jones LIVE from the Opry House at 10 AM CDT.
 
We are carrying the funeral services on Big D Country.
 
Watched George's celebration of life on GAC, with audio turned to Alan McCall's internet station. Marvelous, touching, upbeat, sad... I can go on.

Giving Alan Jackson the finale was a great idea. He turned glassy-eyed while singing He Stopped Loving Her... When finished, he humbly saluted, turned around, and slowly exited the stage with his back to the congregation. I believe that was his way of signaling to all, including the TV viewers, that his song was for George, not for him. Jackson is one of only a handful who could indeed, fill their shoes...
 
Thank you, J F P.

I listened to the entire service as well. It was very heartfelt and touching.

There won't ever be another Possum.
 
jfrancispastirchak said:
Watched George's celebration of life on GAC, with audio turned to Alan McCall's internet station. Marvelous, touching, upbeat, sad... I can go on.

Giving Alan Jackson the finale was a great idea. He turned glassy-eyed while singing He Stopped Loving Her... When finished, he humbly saluted, turned around, and slowly exited the stage with his back to the congregation. I believe that was his way of signaling to all, including the TV viewers, that his song was for George, not for him. Jackson is one of only a handful who could indeed, fill their shoes...
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yes!thanks to GAC, and XM/SR and all the outlets across this land that broadcast this memorial for George. as one of Georges friends at the memorial said" George jones did not sing to us, he sang for us". thankyou brad paisley, you nailed it too buddy: (paraphrase) "to those of you younger ones wondering what the big deal is all about, go buy some George jones albums and discover for yourself". ya brad, I had to find out for myself in the early 80's who this George jones character was all about. I did not know much about him, thanks to the blacklisting of his music by two seattle country radio stations. George was highly political in his final decades about the state of country radio. ya, George, I finally got it by the mid 80's after buying dozens of your album catalog. don't worry George, many of us get it, we wont let your music, and the really stuff die,my friend.

after a long night on the road making a living, i spent my tursday morning drinking whiskey, and watching the memorial on GAC. thankyou alan Jackson. you nailed "he stopped loving her today" you are the heir apparent for what George was all about. same to vince gilland patty loveless. thanks my friends. you are all my brothers and sisters to this great American country music culture. I say this because you all get it!!!!!!!!!so much more to say, as I tear up...

...and thankyou dear lord for keeping George kickin for so many years so we could hear him sing what the hell we was all going through in life, with that once in a lifetime pure country voice.
 
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