The Music of Arkansas Notes

1. The Music of Arkansas Notes

2. I. The Early Years A. The earliest known reference to Arkansas music was March 12, 1682, when Rene Robert Cavelier was going down the Mississippi River singing.

3. I. The Early Years 1. When he arrived in the Quapaw village of Kappa, the Frenchmen thought the singing was a war cry. a. Cavelier explained to the Indians that he meant no harm by the singing and that it was just for fun. b. Soon a celebration was started that featured singing and dancing.

4. I. The Early Years 2. This dancing and singing began to spread to other Indian villages in different areas.

5. II. The Arkansas Traveler • In 1845 it was known as a fiddle tune. • The story of the song 1. A solitary traveler approaches an isolated Arkansas cabin on horseback.

6. II. The Arkansas Traveler 2. In the doorway, the homesteader plays the first part of a song called The Arkansas Traveler. 3. The fiddler responds rudely but when the traveler offers to play the tune’s second part, he’s suddenly offered the warmest of hospitality.

7. II. The Arkansas Traveler • Recordings of the song 1. In 1902 by Len Spencer. This may be the first recording of the song. 2. In 1922, Henry Gilliland and Eck Robertson’s version of the song is cited as the first country music record

8. III. African American Influence • Blacks sang songs as they worked. • For one month each year, some slaves would go on a month spree of eating, drinking, and dancing. • Sang songs in church.

9. III. African American Influence • “Song of the First of Arkansas” 1. A marching song written for the First Arkansas Colored Regiment during the Civil War. 2. Written by Lindley Miller.

10. IV. Arkansas’ first professional musician was Essie Whitman • Born in Osceola in 1882. • Toured first with mother and sister singing jubilee songs. • Later she was one of the Whitman Sisters on the vaudeville circuit. • In 1921, she was recording records.

11. V. Radio • The first radio station in Arkansas was WOK, which stood for Workers of Kilowatts. 1. First broadcast of February 18, 1922 in Pine Bluff. 2. Featured local news and talent. 3. Featured results of a high school basketball game.

12. V. Radio • KTHS was a popular radio station in Hot Springs. 1. Featured The Lum and Abner Show. C. Early radio stations played a variety of music and talent. D. Commercial recordings of country and western music developed along with radio in the early 1920s.

13. V. Radio • A very popular radio show was King Biscuit Time. 1. It went from 12:15 – 12:30 on Helena’s KFFA. 2. It was sponsored by the local Interstate Grocery Company to promote their flour.

14. V. Radio 3. It featured guitar player Robert Lockwood and harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson. 4. It was so popular that Interstate Grocery Company was soon selling Sonny Boy Corn Meal.

15. V. Radio 5. The popularity of this music is still going strong with the King Biscuit Blues Festival. 6. An appliance salesman named Johnny Cash started out singing on a 15-minute gospel show on KWEM in West Memphis.

16. VI. Rock ‘N’ Roll • In the decade after WWII, rock ‘n’ roll came to Arkansas. 1. Some people called its earliest appearances rockabilly. B. Rock ‘n’ roll was not popular at first, but soon more and more people started listening to it.

17. VI. Rock ‘N’ Roll • Sam Phillips helped start the careers of many rock ‘n’ roll artists at Sun Records. 1. He recorded Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.

18. VII. Performers • Black Oak Arkansas 1. 6 young men from Northeast Arkansas 2. Popular in the south 3. Southern rock music 4. Toured with Black Sabbath

19. VII. Performers • Glen Campbell • Born in Delight in 1938 • His start in music began at age 4 when his dad paid $5 for a guitar. • Won 8 Grammys • Was in the movie True Grit with John Wayne

20. VII. Performers 5. Had his own T.V. show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 6. Played for the Queen of England in 1972

21. VII. Performers 7. Songs a. Rhinestone Cowboy b. Gentle on My Mind c. By the Time I Get to Phoenix d. Galveston e. Wichita Lineman

22. VII. Performers • Johnny Cash 1. Born in Kingsland in 1932 2. In 1956, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 3. Married June Carter

23. VII. Performers 4. Songs a. Ring of Fire b. I Walk the Line c. Hurt 5. Died in September 2003

24. VII. Performers • Jimmy Driftwood 1. Born in 1907 near Mountain View 2. Became a teacher 3. Wrote “The Battle of New Orleans” 4. Helped establish the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View

25. VII. Performers • Al Green 1. Born in Forrest City in 1946 2. Began singing in gospel groups 3. Songs a. Tired of Being Alone b. Let’s Stay Together

26. VII. Performers 4. In 1976 he was ordained as a minister. 5. He pastors at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis. 6. Inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995

27. VII. Performers • Patsy Montana 1. Born in Hot Springs in 1914 2. Real name was Rubye Blevins 3. Wrote and originally sang “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” a. Became the first million selling hit by a female country singer

28. VII. Performers 4. Movie role in Colorado Sunset 5. Died in 1996

29. VII. Performers • Charlie Rich 1. Born in Colt in 1932 2. Hired as a session musician for Sun Records 3. Song a. The Most Beautiful Girl 1. Became a gold record 2. Won a Grammy

30. VII. Performers 4. CMA Entertainer of the Year 5. Once lived in Benton 6. Died in 1995

31. VII. Performers • Sonny Boy Williamson 1. Real name – Aleck Miller 2. Harmonica prodigy 3. On the radio show King Biscuit Time on KFFA in Helena 4. Died in 1965

32. VII. Performers • Buddy Jewell 1. Raised in Osceola • Worked at Six Flags Over Texas in a country music show then in a gunfight show • Went on T.V.’s Star Search where he won male vocalist on several episodes

33. VII. Performers 4. Won the Nashville Star competition in 2002 5. Songs a. Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacy’s Song) b. Southern Comfort

34. VII. Performers • Joe Nichols 1. Born in Rogers 2. Dad sang at the VFW 3. Jobs a. Moving furniture b. Installing cable T.V. systems c. Sold steaks door to door

35. VII. Performers 4. Songs a. The Impossible 1. Three Grammy nominations b. Brokenheartsville c. Gimme That Girl 5. Won CMA Horizon award

36. VII. Performers • Sarah Caldwell • Raised in Fayetteville • Giving violin recitals before the age of 10 • Graduated from Fayetteville High School at 14 years old • Founded the Opera Company of Boston • In 1976, she became the first woman to conduct the New York Metropolitan Opera.

37. VII. Performers • Evanescence 1. From Little Rock 2. Amy Lee and Ben Moody were the group’s founders a. Met at a church youth camp 3. The actual band started in the late 1990s.

38. VII. Performers 4. Brad Caviness started to play Understanding and Give Unto Me on the radio show he cohosted on KABF in Little Rock. 5. Won 2 Grammys 6. Started our as a Christian rock band.

39. VII. Performers 7. Songs a. My Immortal b. Bring Me To Life c. Understanding

40. VII. Performers • Kris Allen 1. Born June 21, 1985 in Jacksonville 2. Served as assistant music director at the New Life Church 3. Learned to play viola in elementary school a. Made Arkansas All-State Orchestra 4. Plays guitar and piano

41. VII. Performers 5. Attended University of Central Arkansas 6. Married Katy O’Connell in 2008 7. Won American Idol in 2009 8. Songs a. Live Like We’re Dying b. No Boundaries c. The Truth

42. VII. Performers • Other singings and musicians from Arkansas 1. The Browns a. Jim Ed, Maxine, and Bonnie b. From Sparkman

43. VII. Performers 2. Barbara Fairchild a. From Knobel

44. VII. Performers 3. Tracy Lawrence a. Raised in Foreman

45. VII. Performers 4. Collin Raye a. Born in Dequeen

46. VII. Performers 5. K.T. Oslin a. Born in Crossett

47. VII. Performers 6. Ronnie Dunn a. Native of El Dorado

48. VII. Performers 7. Scott Joplin a. Born in Texarkana

49. VII. Performers 8. Twila Paris a. Resides in Fayetteville

50. VII. Performers • Justin Moore a. From Poyen