Legends Q&A: May 2007

By Lew Jones

Grand Ole Opry member Jean Shepard
Photo courtesy of opry.com

Check in with Lew Jones for the latest on your favorite country legends!

Q: How about some info on Jean Shepard?
(Frank, Easley, SC)

A: Although I can't do her justice due to limited space, I'll give you some highlights on this amazing country performer, Frank. I consider her one of the great ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. When she comes out on that stage, she is clearly in command. She certainly comes by that honestly, because she has been a member of the Opry cast for over 50 years. She was an early star on the Ozark Jubilee from Springfield, Missouri before moving to Nashville and The Opry. She had 8 Top 10 songs, including her No. 1 duet with Ferlin Husky, "A Dear John Letter" back in 1953. At age 73 (11/21/1933) she still brings glamour to any stage she appears on.

Q: I am looking for a song by Hawkshaw Hawkins called "Borrowing." Could you please tell me what album it is on? I am very much interested in purchasing this album for my dad.
(Shauna, Navarre, OH)

A: This is a tough one, Shauna. Interestingly enough, I found it on DVD more easily than on CD. Since Hawkins died in 1963 (in the same plane crash that killed Patsy Cline) it was way before the era of videos, so the DVD "Hillbilly Rockabillies On TV" is obviously a compilation of TV appearances. I did find a mention of a CD called Hawk on the Bear Family label out of Germany. Their website is a bit hard to negotiate, but you may have more patience than me. Good luck! By the way, Hawkshaw was married to Jean Shepard (see the previous question) at the time of his tragic death.

Q: On Loretta Lynn's hit "Honky Tonk Girl", is that Crystal Gayle singing with her on "So turn that jukebox way up high, and fill my glass up while I cry?" It sounds like it might be.
(Caroline, Marysville, OH)

A: Since Crystal was only nine when Loretta recorded the song in 1960, I doubt it, Caroline. Crystal was indeed quite young, when she had her first hit recording, 10 years later in 1970 at age 19. But not that young. Crystal's debut was "I've Cried The Blues Right Out Of My Eyes" and it peaked at No. 23. Not bad for the first time out! Also, Loretta's first recording success- the song you mentioned- happened on the West Coast, for a tiny label named "Zero Records". This put her a long way from her now-legendary family home of Butcher Hollow, Kentucky.

Q: Could you please tell me what country group did the song "I Go To Pieces"? This song was originally done by Peter & Gordon. The country version was sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
(Cathy, Garland, TX)

A: Since you specified "country group", Cathy, I'm zeroing in on Southern Pacific. Their version of the song got to No. 31 in 1990. A lesser-known rendition was brought out by Dean Dillon and Trisha Lynn in 1988. The song was written by the late Del Shannon.

Q: I was listening to the car radio and heard two songs, but no name for the singers. The first song was "Singing In The Kitchen", which was a male country singer singing with small kids. The second song was "Crystal Chandeliers", also by a male singer. Would it be possible to purchase those two songs on CDs? Thanks, and I love GACTV.com
(Thelma, Freeport, IL)

A: Bobby Bare was the one on "Singin' In The Kitchen", Thelma. Of the two you mention, it'll be the hardest to find. It was the title song of Bobby's LP back in 1974. To the best I can find out, that album has never been released on CD. I did find a CD version on an album called Country Countdown: Country Family, a compilation which also has songs by Dolly Parton, Alabama and Diamond Rio. This could be your better bet, unless you want to dust off that old record player. As for "Crystal Chandeliers", that's by Charley Pride and is available on quite a few of his greatest hits CDs.

Q: Why does Connie Smith not have a website for her fans?
(Deanna, Tracy City, TN)

A: One word, Deanna: time. Those of us involved in the Internet can tell you that it takes quite a bit of time to create and maintain a web site. And, when I last talked with Connie when she guested with me on a live Ryman Auditorium broadcast a few years back, she stated that although she loved the music and her fans, she keeps her main focus on family matters. She's married to a very active member of the country music industry, Marty Stuart, and she's been known in the past to dislike the trappings of stardom. She impressed me as being a very down-to-earth lady.