Bob Payne
photo by Mark A. Herndon
I read that Merle Haggard has cancelled his April shows, continuing a trend that has plagued him for 2016. I am very saddened by these events, as I believe Merle to be the greatest Country music entertainer ever. We were lucky to have him at Riverbend just last year, when he delivered one of the biggest nights in the history of the festival.
With the passing of other great Country music artists in recent years, it makes one wonder – who will fill their shoes? Waylon is gone. Willie is now over 80 years old. King George Strait has retired from touring. Loretta Lynn will turn 84 in a few days. Dolly Parton recently turned 70.
As hard as I may try, I just don’t see this young crop of Country stars filling the shoes of these legends. Heck, most of it isn’t even Country music. Anyone that can sing about their truck and getting drunk seems to qualify as a Country star nowadays.
To make things worse, some of our local legends are starting to age a bit. Jimmy Tawater, while still one of the greatest entertainers ever to take the stage in Chattanooga, posts cat pictures on Facebook. Roger Alan Wade may be in the pinnacle of his career, but he has settled down with a worthless old dog named Woodrow.
Keith Sherman passed a while back, leaving the great Overland Express a legacy that may never be matched. The Beaters are going strong after 30+ years, but a bit of gray is starting to show on a couple of them, too.
Like the superstars of Haggard, Jones, and Willie, the local artists mentioned above are the superstars of Chattanooga’s music history. There are many more local artists that have a legion of followers that date back to the days of Yesterday’s and the BR. Who will fill their shoes?
George Jones once did a song about this and it is a poignant reminder that someone needs to come along.
Over 8 million people have viewed this video.
Here are the words:
You know this old world is full of singers
But just a few are chosen
To tear your heart out when they sing
Imagine life without them
All your radio heroes
Like the Outlaw that walks through Jessi's dream.
No, there will never be another
Red-headed stranger
A Man in Black and Folsom Prison Blues
The Okie from Muskogee
Or Hello, Darling
Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes?
Who's gonna fill their shoes?
Who's gonna stand that tall?
Who's gonna play the Opry
And the Wabash Cannonball?
Who's gonna give their heart and soul
To get to me and you?
Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes?
God bless the boys from Memphis
Blue Suede Shoes and Elvis
Much too soon left this world in tears
They tore up the Fifties
Old Jerry Lee and Charlie
And "Go, Cat, Go!" still echoes through the years.
You know the heart of country music
Still beats in Luke the Drifter
You can tell it when he sang I Saw the Light
Old Marty, Hank, and Lefty
Why, I can feel them right here with me
On this Silver Eagle rolling through the night.
Who's gonna fill their shoes?
Who's gonna stand that tall?
Who's gonna play the Opry
And the Wabash Cannonbal?l
Who's gonna give their heart and soul
To get to me and you?
Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes?
Yes, I wonder, who's gonna fill their shoes?...
Bob Payne is the entertainment editor for the Chattanoogan.com and talent/production assistant at Friends Of The Festival. Email Bob Payne at davrik@aol.com or www.facebook.com/davrik2000.