::Heather Marie's blog

Holly gained popularity in 1957. Between the years of 1957 to 1959 he sang lead vocals and played lead guitar in the band Buddy Holly and the Crickets and later embarked upon his own solo career - although during his solo career the Crickets still played background on his albums. Holly was killed in an aircraft accident on February 2, 1959 in Clearlake, Iowa. Fellow musicians Ritchie Valens and Jiles Perry Richardson Jr known as “The Big Bopper” were also killed in the accident. Don McLean referred to the accident as the day the music died in his 1971 hit song.

“The irony is when he died in February 1959 at that point, for the next few years Holly is pretty much forgotten,” says rock ‘n’ roll historian Dr. David Aquila. “While other artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis were A’ s. Holly was a solid B and it’s not until the 1960’s that he’s elevated. Holly is probably much better known today then he was back then.”

Aquila attributed the revival of Buddy Holly and the Crickets music to artists like Bobby Vee, Tommy Roe and The Beatles. Each musician looked to Holly for musical inspiration and emulated him.

“For many teenagers when they heard about the death of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Richie Valens, It was the first time that many of the young kids had dealt with death. This was someone younger,” says Aquila. “From that perspective, that probably had a lot to with why Buddy Holly became such a myth in American society.”

Teenagers in the ‘50s went crazy for Holly’s music but does his music still rave on five decades later? It’s undeniable that the course of music has changed since Holly hit the Memphis stage and that rock ‘n’ roll has completely transformed through technological leaps in the music. Some music fans are skeptical over whether these advancements have really improved music or if the ‘50s really do mark the day the music died.

Elise French and Nicole Bonjour, both in their twenties, have a disdain for new music and an affinity for musicians and the culture of the ‘50s. They both see a change back to the ‘oldies’.

Kenneth Nichols and sister Edith Martin, both in their sixties, grew up in southern Texas, close to Lubbock, Texas where Holly was born. They both remember the popularity of Holly and the thrill of the new rock ‘n’ roll era and continue to listen to the music of the ‘50s. 

“It was an exciting time,” says Martin. “Before everything was about the adults. The kids didn’t have a voice or an avenue – They didn’t have anything. Buddy Holly was to the kids of the fifties what the Beatles were to kids of the sixties. He was the cream of the crop.” 

Today’s generation has no definitive band or music style that defines them. Regarding music throughout the decades and pop culture, Aquila said that people have to ask themselves what does this say about the society?

“I think music has evolved into a totally different beast than it used to be,” says French. “On one hand, popular music just gets bigger and more ridiculous and produced. On the other hand, it seems to me like more and more people are searching for something else.”

It seems bands have picked up this musical philosophy as well. Weezer pays homage to Holly in their song, “Buddy Holly”. The Raveonettes created their band name by combining Holly’s song “Rave On” with the ‘50s girl band The Ronettes. The lead singer of Weezer, Rivers Cuomo, still wears the thick black-rimmed style of glasses Holly wore to compensate for his 20/800 vision. Weezer and The Raveonettes each produce a sound reminiscent of Holly’s. Their bands go against the current mainstream music.

“Not to knock it, but to me music now-a-days is all degrading and there’s no romance,” says Nichols. “There’s no heart strings being pulled. I guess it’s because I’m old and I remember that music and how it was and how good it was to grab your partner and slow dance and sweep her off her feet.”

Store shelves and online shopping web sites show no trace of licensed Buddy Holly merchandise. A Buddy Holly box set doesn’t exist in the music market, either. Family members and recording companies are still in legal limbo over Holly’s royalties and likeness. It seems the only tangible thing fans can hold onto are an imitation pair of thick black-rimmed glasses or Gary Busey’s film adaption of the musician. 

“Buddy Holly would have more of an influence on the music today if he was seen more,” says Bonjour. “It seems like out an out of sight, out of mind thing or out of sounds out of mind.”

What would the 72-year-old Buddy Holly be doing now? Prior to his death, Holly was working on developing a recording studio and producing musicians like Ritchie Valens and Waylon Jennings.

“Music was going in a different direction by the early ‘60s,” says Aquila. “It’s possible that Holly could have made the transition. He was practicing the use of strings…But who knows.”

Martin believes that Holly may have made the transition as well.

“I think he would’ve been like Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys,” says Martin. “Extremely talented, able to contribute in his writing, honing his natural music. Anybody can sing, can get up and sing a song but not everybody can write and not everybody can create.”

Holly is often reveled as the forefather of rock ‘n’ roll. It seems society misses their rock ‘n’ roll royalty. The current revival of Holly’s music may be telling of society’s musical wishes and perhaps the desire to have their heart strings pulled once more from Holly’s Fender Stratocaster because he really struck a chord in the hearts of many generations.

oh and here's an app to try on Buddy Holly's iconic glasses: http://buddyholly.me/

You look just like Buddy Holly! 

Here's another neat trick: put this bad boy:  http://buddyrul.es before a web address, and voila! Buddy Holly! Try it here: http://buddyrul.eshttp://www.fmmusiclive.com/blogs/heather-marie wowzers! 

Thank ya kindly! 

Everyone should have enough confidence to proclaim that they are, indeed, the light of the world. 

Reverend Gary Davis sure did!

Born in 1896 to a mean mean mom, he was the only child out of eight to survive to adulthood. 

That sweet guitar pickin' is solely done with with his thumb and index finger. (do we really need five fingers, anyways?) The man was ordained and could sang the blues! GLORY GLORY, check out his tunes & scope him out on the web: http://www.reverendgarydavis.com/

“The Haze”
The man has a whole album dedicated to chicken. His birthday was never recorded due to a missing family Bible, and his death consisted of a neighbor purposely trampling him with an ATV. In between, he made music, helping to spawn psychobilly and influencing bands like, The Cramps.

“Hot dogs,” “Give me that commodity meat,” and “I want your head,” were common phrases from “The Haze.” He wrote a lot about hot dogs, aliens, love, the police and chicken.

His chicken album, "Poultry in Motion," consists of the ode to chicken hits, “Chicken Hop,” “Chicken Flop” and “Chicken Wobble.

His beloved heroes were KFC’s Colonel Harlan Sanders, Hank Sr. and Lionel Richie.

What a guy!

What we learned:

Mike learned to talk from Kermit the Frog 

Heather Yoakam was an original Fraggle of Fraggle Rock

HOUR 1: THE BEARS OF BLUE RIVER + DASTARDLY @ DOC'S MUSIC HALL

Segment 1:

INTERVIEW WITH THE BEARS OF BLUE RIVER + DASTARDLY

Song List:

The Bears of Blue River - "The Joke"

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "Mrs. Henry"

Steve Martin - "Blue River Waltz"

Segment 2:

YODEL-OFF DR. NATHAN SANE VS. GABE OF DASTARDLY

Interview w/ Dr. Nathan Sane (Slim Whitman's biggest fan) + Carl 

Song List:

Slim Whitman's - "Indian Love Call"

Dastardly - "Freight Train"

Dastardly - "Fever"

The Bears of Blue River - "Celia Blue"

Segment 3:

MASTER YODELER / KILLER BEE SCARE 

"Babes love Alien Killers." - Gabe, Dastardly, Yodel-Off winnner

Song List: 

Gavin's Mom's REQUEST  - "If You Like My Body" 

(Send an e-mail to fmmusiclive@gmail.com with the name of the original artist to win a FREE TICKET into Doc's Music Hall)

The Bears of Blue River - "Yellow Belly"

The Bears of Blue River - "Good Spark"

HOUR 2: THE BLACK BELLES @ CENTER STAGE

Segment 4:

INTERVIEW WITH THE BLACK BELLES 

Song List:

The Black Belles -"Lies"

The Black Belles - "What Can I Do"

Duane Eddy - "Theme for Something Really Important"

Jeff the Brotherhood - "Shredder"

The Damned - "New Rose"

The Ventures - "He Never Came Back"

Segment 5:

INTERVIEW WITH TY HOWELL, CENTER STAGE PROMOTER,

T.Y. Booker (don't let that catch on)

Song List:

Neil Young - "Tonight's The Night Pt. II"

The Smiths - "This Charming Man"

Stephen Stivs - "three"

Casey Reid - "Underbelly Limbo"

Segment 6:

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS ELLISON, owner of Center Stage, & TY "The Tie" HOWELL

OUTRO:

Woody Gutherie - "This Land is Your Land"

Greetings FM'ers! 

I'd like to send your way a friendly reminder to sign-up for our FMMusic Live newsletter! It's packed with goodies from our FMMusic Live's FMRoots Radio featured artists, upcoming Doc's Music Hall shows and coupons. I try to make it real pretty too! 

The next one we'll be sending your way includes an interview with The Black Belles following their performance at Center Stage. Local favorites and now Chicago inhabitants, The Bears of Blue River played a lovely set at Doc's Music Hall and joined us for the radio show as well. 

Both bands have recently released new albums.  The Black Belles Self-Titled Debut Album + The Bears of Blue River "Dames"

The show will air Monday, Feb 13th, 10 p.m. to midnight on MAX 93.5 + 96.7. Be sure to tune-in! 

You can be a part of the live recording as well! Join Mike Martin, Graham Phantom Watson and myself (Yoakam) for a riveting time at Doc's Music Hall 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the recording of FMRoots Radio. Directly following the recording, Doc's Music Hall hosts MAX MUSICIANS MONDAY'S, DOC'S MUSIC HALL, FAMILY JAM!  Come out every Monday and see the local talent and show your local talent.

Short but sweet but got to sleep! 

Just a quickie update. 

With love, 

Yoakam 

Greetings FM'ers! 

Mikial Robertson was our featured artists for this edition of FM ROOTS Radio. Please check out the video on our home page of Mikial Robertson's live performance during the radio show! (I played some egg here and there) 

Robertson is a Muncie gem, with infuences ranging from the talents of John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix to the complications of jazz greats like Bill Frisell. Robertson is a real one-man show, perfect looping effects, beautiful guitar licks and stimulating lyrics. His most recent EP is entitled Fireside Philosopher Act 1. A fireside + philosphical talk = the perfect relaxing and intellectual experience. 

Robertson is heavily involved with the local Muncie music scene. Robertson gives guitar lessons at Cornerstone Center for the Arts and has received rave reviews from former and current students. The most interesting review was from Ian McCarthy, frontman for Conservative Man, Recording Artist and Multi-instrument who has studied with Jazz greats such as Pat Martin0 and Jimmy Bruno, but considers Mikial Robertson his secret weapon, a perfect description of this philosophical gem of an artist. 

Check out Mikial Robertson's music @ Reverbation.com/MikialRobertson

Buy his album at Doc's Music Hall 

See his LIVE PERFORMANCE September 3rd at Doc's Music Hall with Kwanzaa Popps & The IRB Sound 

and of course during MUNCIE MUSIC FEST: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 on Walnut St in HISTORIC Downtown Muncie 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

Stay tuned for new shows featuring exciting artist from MUNCIE MUSIC FEST as we trek on through the FM ROOTS RADIO COUNTDOWN TO MUNCIE MUSIC FEST! 

- Heather/Yoakam. 

Howdy! 

Sit back and enjoy a big whiff of tonight's show! (airing on MAX 93.5/96.7 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.)

Hailing from Marion, this week's local artist is Glostik Willy [progressive funk]. Mike and I were mesmerized by the ty-dyed trio, consisting of Jameson Bradford on guitar, Buddha Aguilar on bass and Ralf Mowf Bradford on drums. Nicholas Rage taped the festivities and we'll hopefully be streaming video of the radio show from Doc's Music Hall! 

Tune into tonight to listen in on the shenanigans, confusion and dead air that you've come to love so dearly.

Plug into our local artist, Glostik Willy via their web site: www.glostikwilly.com

This year Smokey Willy and enRAGEd Studios will present Stik NIte Music Festival, a three-day feste dedicated to environmentally conscious music  at The Waterbowl in Muncie, IN. October 14th to 16th. "A music festival aimed to reproduce energy, enthusiasm, and love for musical growth."                Tickets $25 presale/ 30 DOS. Get your tickets and information at Stiknite.com

The FM ramblers had some good laughs this episode, even though our featured comedien, Adam Fisher, was crying. We made a fish cry, a first on the show! You can check out Adam Fisher around the Muncie parts every once awhile during Comedy Night at Doc's Music Hall every Monday from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and at The Comedy Mosh-PIt at Be Here Now every Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

Here's my picks for this week's episodes of FM Roots Radio airing every Monday from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on 93.5/96.7 MAX:

She Put the Wamee on Me by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Originally a ballad, the song resulted in drunken abandoment and pure magic. You've got to admit, that man has charisma! 

Caravan Palace - Milkshake - Wagram Records 

It don't mean a thing if ain't got that French Electro-Swing! Paris, the land of romance, and the hometown of Caravan Palace. In 2005, the musicians were hired to create background music for silent porn films (How Romantic!) by 2007 the band was playing the Django Reindhart Jazz Festival. The band's influences range from Django Reindhart to Daft Punk, woo! 

Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) - Good Vibrations - Smile album 

Here's a neat radio interview with Brian Wilson discussing the album Smiley Smile. Echo chambers, 1967 album promotion & a Beach Boy's charm. 

Plus a listen to "Wind Chimes"!

The Black Angels - Bad Vibrations 

Texas Psychedelic band! I strongly recommend getting your hands on a copy of The Black Angels latest album, Phosphene Dream. Drone machines, songs of Vietnam, revivalists, thinking music, feeling music from Austin, TX. The band has shared a bill with my personal favorite revivalists, The Raveonettes.

In other news, our dearest Shedtown Larry set sail for sunnier pastures (I'm not sure if he's on land or water). We hope to hear back from him soon. He's such a joy. I think Graham has been babysitting the phone-dialing gerbil. 

Tune in next Monday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on MAX 93.5/96.7. Come visit us every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Doc's Music Hall as we record!

I'll be seein' you, 

Billie H & Heather C

Greetings FM'ers, Here's a little gem for ya! 

Les Paul and Mary Ford! ('50s love birds/sweet music makers/husband and wife duo/ awesome)

Gene Autry played cupid/love connector for the couple in 1946 and the two little dumplings married three years later. 

Hopefully, you FM'ers are well-acquainted with the name Les Paul via the Gibson Guitars, but here's a few more licks you might not have known about the original rock 'n' roller: 

- Les Paul invented the design for the modern-day harmonica holder at the ripe little  age of eight, in order to play his guitar (that he could play at eight) with the harmonica (the he could play at eight). 

- In 1948, Les Paul shattered his right elbow (the arm he needed to strum his guitar.) The doctors told Paul he would be unable to regain movement to the arm. Paul asked the doctor to put his arm in his stint at an angle that would allow him to continue to strum his guitar while in the cast. He recovered in two years. 

- In the '40s, Paul was creating 8-layer overdub recordings, multi-tracking in the '40s! 

- Les Paul and Django Reindhart were good pals! 

- Les Paul learned his quick licks on a non-electrical guitar (because, y'know, he had to invent that.)

- Les Paul has a stand-alone exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

- The Les Paul Show was a radio program hosted by Paul in 1950 via NBC. 

- The Les Paul and Mary Ford Show aired '54 to '55, and showed the couple in their living room playing top of the pop chart hits including "Little Rock Getaway," "Vaya con Dios," "Tiger Rag" and "In the Mood." 

Here's a little snippet from The Les Paul and Mary Ford Show, check out the shred!

Greetings FM'ers! This week was the "Festi Edition" of FM Roots Radio with special guests Turtle Matt from the Dancin in the Dark Jam Fest, Matt Parkison from Catch Curtis, Marcus Gordon from Ride The Vibes Indoor Music Festival & Busnectar!  The best quote of the show goes to Shedtown Larry for screeching, "Ring of fire, ring a bell?"

Here's some great events to ring your bell: 

The Dancin in the Dark Jam Fest willl take place in good ol' Muncie IN at The Waterbowl. (located at 6811 N State Rd. 3). The festival begins Friday April 15th and ends Sunday April 17th. Acts include: Apathy Wizards, When, Not If, Embryonic Fluid, Electric Jug Band, Catch Curtis, MC Sparkplug and many more! Presale tickets are available at Wishbone Gifts, The 420 Underground and Doc's Music Hall (10 Presale/ 15 DOS). Busnectar will transporting festival participants to the Waterbowl for free, so jump on it! 

Take a tour with Turtle Matt: 

Find out Busnectar routes & schedules via their Facebook group page  

Ride The Vibes Indoor Music Festival will take place inside Doc's Music Hall on Friday April 15th ($5). The line-up includes Bradley Thomas & Friends, Catch Curtis, Bonzo Terks and The Coop. 

Shredmaggedon 2011 is Saturday April 16th at Doc's Music Hall and you still have time to sign-up & compete! Sign-up sheets are available at Doc's Music Hall and the entry fee is a mere $10. Shredders (or acoustic pickers) will be judged on originality, creativity, technical proficiency, stage presence and versatility. The winner will receive 100 dollars, a trophy, three 10-hour days of recording at Reber Recordings and a hug. Check out the shredtastic rules and shredddd!

Stick with us for more coverage and information on all the events! Thanks for tuning in! 

My FM Roots musical fixins: 

The Waterboys - This is the Sea

Bakers at Dawn - Undefined 

Echo & the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon 

Sayonora!