Who are the musicians?

[Donny Hinson]

This is just idle rambling, forgive me if it's not important to you.

While watching the Opry last week, I got to thinking...who are these musicians? The credits at the end of the show give the names of the cameramen, the soundmen, the cuecard person, the stage hands, the ticket takers, the producer, the director, the floor waxer, the lighting people, the gaffers, the grips, the soda-jerk, the hair stylist (Bill Anderson, PLEASE comb your hair, you look like you just got off a motorcycle!) the nose powdering lady, ect, ect, ect....EVERYBODY BUT THE MUSICIANS!

This isn't done only on the Opry, but every other show as well. On Letterman, the only names that get mentioned are bandleader (Bald Schaeffer), and the drummer (Newton Fig, or something like that). Same on Leno, and all other shows. Do the musicians rate so low that we can't even be told their names? Would 5 seconds worth of credits rolling by be too much to ask?

They mention everyone on Austin City Limits (here I go again) why can't more shows be like that? Why can't more shows be sensitive to us musicians?

[Pete Grant]

Not only that, but the Country Music Association (based in Gnashville, and not to be confused with the Academy of Country Music based in Hollywood) has _*ONE*_ category of "Best Musician." Yeah, a fiddle is the same as a steel guitar is the same as drums is the same as... I call their show the Country Singer Awards, rather than the Country *Music* Awards. I remember back in the 80's I turned on the CMA show to watch my autoharp in the capable hands of David Lindley backing up Dolly Parton. I was stunned to see Dolly (I'm always stunned to see Dolly) with 5 excellent musicians in the *shadows* behind her. Oh, no. The musicians are, well, just musicians. David said, "Hey, Peter, did you see the Ninja band?"

At least the ACM has a category of Best Steel Guitarist, but the fact that I was nominated twice for that award raises a serious issue of credibility. Forgivingly, Buddy Emmons won both years.

[Gregg Galbraith]

Donny,
Surely by now you realize that we all have chosen a field in which, at BEST, we are doomed to second-class citizenship!

Even those among us who have attained the highest goals possible are considered to be way beneath the newest, Johnny-come-lately,p*ss-ant warbler to come down the pike!As Willie Nelson so aptly stated
long ago: "Suffer in Silence".

You can also take some comfort in knowing that your career will outlast most of today's "Flashes in the Pan!"

Very sincerely, Gregg

[kyle reid]

Donny Hinson? How do you comb a wig? {ala Whisperin Bill}

[Jerry Hayes]

Hey Donnie,
I just watched a Studio 54 show yesterday afternoon for one hour featuring the Dixie chicks. At the end of the thing it's just like you said, they even had the cleaning crew, caterers, drivers, and every one in the world but not even one musician was credited. The Chicks introduced their acoustic guitarist but no one else!

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Have a good one! JH U-12

[Dennis Atkins]

Here is a good reason for having the International Steel Guitar Convention, and others like it. The steel player is placed in front of the band, and it is his/her talent that shines forth. I know from my attendance at Scotty's that all back-up players get their recognition, from the drummer, to the piano player, to the fiddle players to the lead guitar players and bass player (Jimmy Queen, Roy Rosetta, Dean Baxter, Jenee Keener, David Russell, Bobby Caldwell, Russ Weaver on bass, as well as others).

It is my practice on our showcases here in Minnesota to give credit to our backup players as well as to any singers that may be on the program. It is a team effort all the way around, and without one of these players, the complete sound would be absent.

Let us hope that producers will start to recognize the talent that goes into making up the band.

For years and years, on record labels, no mention of who played on the session was listed. Now we see credit given to those players on CD, tapes and such, albeit, some of the same players on everything, but at least they are becoming known to the general public, especially if they read the credits on the packaging. (I know I do).

Dennis

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MSA S-10 Sidekick
Gorilla Amp with MR-1 Effects Processor
pedalman@uswest.net <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dennis Atkins on 01 March 2000 at 07:49 AM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dennis Atkins on 01 March 2000 at 07:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

[Dave Robbins]

Hey man, its that ol' enter through the back door thing! It's still exists today. You know,the "musicians are the scum of the earth thing"! Yet they can't pull it off without us, can they?

[Janice Brooks]

Dave, Jean would never survive without you

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047