Calendar
March 24th at the museum
Saturday, March 24, 11:00am
Panel Discussion: Together Again: Pioneers of the Bakersfield Sound
Special Program
Musicians who were active at the dawn of the Bakersfield Sound (1940s-1960s) discuss their involvement in California's country music scene. Songwriting legend Dallas Frazier began his career in Bakersfield, where he was mentored by Ferlin Husky and appeared on the television show Cousin Herb's Trading Post. Fiddler Don Maddox is the only surviving member of Maddox Brothers & Rose, one of the first country acts to attain widespread popularity in the Golden State. Rose Lee Maphis appeared on West Coast TV broadcasts with her late husband, Joe Maphis, with whom she recorded "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (and Loud, Loud Music)"-a classic inspired by Joe's visit to Bakersfield honky-tonk the Blackboard Cafe. Buddy Mize, brother of Bakersfield luminary Billy Mize, worked on the Trading Post (on and off camera) before achieving songwriting success with "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" and other hits. Country Music Hall of Fame member Jean Shepard topped the charts in 1953 with "A Dear John Letter," the first national hit created by Bakersfield songwriters and musicians. Known as the Bard of Bakersfield, Red Simpson wrote over forty songs for Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, while charting with his own recordings of "I'm a Truck" and "The Highway Patrol." California-based music journalist Scott B. Bomar will moderate. The program will be streamed live on CountryMusicHallofFame.org. Included with Museum admission and free to Museum members.
event detailsSaturday, March 24, 2:00pm
Bakersfield Opening Programs: Together Again: Pioneers of the Bakersfield Sound and Under Your Spell Again: The Sounds of Bakersfield
Special Program
March 24, 2012
Several musicians with ties to California discussed the origins of the historic music scene in Bakersfield, California, during the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's gala opening weekend for its new exhibit, The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country.
March at the museum
Saturday, March 03, 1:30pm
The Life and Music of Chet Atkins by Dr. Richard Hood with guest guitarists Ben Hall and Eddie Pennington
Special Program
Chet Atkins scholar and fingerstyle guitarist Dr. Richard Hood illustrates Chet Atkins's life and legacy in this multi-media presentation. Hood will guide listeners through Atkins's story, from his impoverished childhood to his prominence as a world-renown guitarist and an influential record producer. Guitarist Ben Hall and Eddie Pennington, both winners of the National Thumbpicking Championship, will perform selections from the Chet Atkins catalog. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Additional support provided by GAC. Included with Museum admission. Free to Museum members.
event detailsSaturday, March 17, 1:30pm
Panel Discussion: Chet Atkins, Record Producer: Behind the Scenes at RCA
Special Program
March 17, 2012
Friends and colleagues of the late Chet Atkins remembered the guitarist with fondness and admiration during a panel in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum's Ford Theater on Saturday, March 17, 2012.
Saturday, March 17, 3:30pm
Special program: The House that Chet Built: A Chet Atkins tour of Historic RCA Studio B
Special Program
As RCA Nashville's manager of operations, Chet Atkins was pivotal in convincing RCA Records to build a Nashville studio in 1957 and in making Studio B one of Music City's landmark recording facilities. After the studio opened, Atkins logged many hours at "B" as a musician and as a producer, cutting records that helped to define the classic Nashville Sound. This unique guided tour will show how Atkins worked in his longtime recording home. Led by Atkins acolyte and museum staffer Ben Hall. Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company. Additional support provided by GAC. Tickets can be purchased as an add-on to museum admission or for $9 for museum members. Reservations are required, and seating is limited. The shuttle departs from the museum promptly at 3:30 p.m. For information call 615-416-2001.
event detailsFriday, March 23, 12:00pm
Book Talk: The Bakersfield Sound
Special Program
Southern California music journalists Scott B. Bomar, Randy Poe, and Robert Price will discuss essays they wrote for the Museum's new exhibition companion book, The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country. Free. Pick up a $7 box lunch at the Museum's Two Twenty-Two Grill & Catering before the program. To place your order in advance, please call 615-291-6759.
event detailsSaturday, March 31, 12:30pm
Book reading and Autograph Signing: Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins
Special Program
Diane Diekman will read from her new book, Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins. This is the first in-depth biography of country music artist and NASCAR driver Marty Robbins. Through extensive research and interviews with Robbins's family and surviving band members, Diekman tells the story of a successful and well loved man who was always searching for inner peace. Diekman grew up on a South Dakota farm and is a retired Navy captain. Her previous books include Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story, and Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born. "Cowboy Joe" Babcock and special guests will perform songs of Marty Robbins. Babcock was a member of Marty Robbins's band and wrote several songs for him. Babcock later co-founded vocal group the Nashville Edition which appeared regularly on Hee-Haw and recorded background vocals on thousands of songs for artists such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley and Charlie Rich. Followed by a book signing. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.
event details
