Thursday, April 26, 2012

Porter Wagoner






The Best of Porter Wagoner and Dolly PartonImage via Wikipedia
           When I was in high school back in the 1960s, I didn't have much of a social life.   I can recall on Saturday afternoons how I'd turn on the TV and watch country music shows like Bonnie Lou and Buster, the Stoneman Family, and Porter Wagoner.   During that period, Porter Wagoner featured on his show a young singer with big blonde hair.  This singer was Dolly Parton and for many years she was a regular on Wagoner's show and on his tours.

           Back then I swore I didn't like country music, yet something about these shows fascinated me.  The music and the artists started to become dear to me as I began to appreciate their music.  As country-rock became popular so did some of these roots artists become popular with the rock crowd.  That's when I became a country music fan.  After all, a lot of country music is really just rock and roll with fiddles and steel guitars and sung with twangy country drawls.

               Porter Wagoner's 1965 hit "Green, Green Grass of Home" is one of the best dream songs ever.  Many readers will most likely be more familiar with the version sung by Tom Jones, but Porter sang it first.





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12 comments:

  1. It's a wonderful song Lee, although until today had only thought of Tom Jones but as like many songs they originated from the US,

    Yvonne.

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  2. Had not hear of him...but look at Dolly!

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  3. I remember him selling soap (I think) on some show my aunt used to watch while babysitting me. Maybe I'm confused, but who could mistake those glittery western suits.

    Much better version than Tom Jones.

    ALSO, the list of bloggers is BACK.It must have been my browser that would not bring it up. One of the little prices to live in paradise. Thanks for your help.

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  4. We used to catch Porter Wagoner's show on WGN in the Sixties. I loved the commercials for Breeze detergent ("Look, Porter, they's a free towel in this box of Buh-reeze!"). I was surprised when she got so popular, because I always associated her with the show.

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  5. I love Porter. What a golden voice.

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  6. I didn't grow up with those shows, but I did grow up with Dolly. Boy, she did have some hair back then, didn't she? Thanks for reminding me of the good memories!

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  7. I like this blog, too! YOu are very versatile!

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  8. Yvonne -- When Tom Jones came out with this song I'd never heard it before.

    Em -- I believe Dolly was in her teens when she started with Porter.

    Faraway -- Those TV stars of early TV were not unwilling to sell stuff. Glad the list came back for you.

    The Sound -- Dolly was associated with Porter for several years before she hit it big on her own.

    Gregg -- He's a country classic.

    Jennifer -- Dolly is a real American rags to riches story.

    Holly -- Thank you!

    Lee

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  9. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton were part of our TV watching. Loved them both. Didn't believe for the longest time that Dolly's hair or chest were real. For that matter, I wasn't sure about Porter's hair either.

    But we loved their shows.

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  10. Susan -- Now that you mention it Porter's hair was kind of strange.

    Lee

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  11. Pure classic country! That song is going to stay with me all day now. :)

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  12. Paula - This version gives a lot of heart and pathos to the song.

    Lee

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