Arts, Entertainment, Living Get Rhythm Kenny Chesney: Bluegrasser?
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John PizzarelliMusic critic Rich Kienzle talks with jazz guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli about his latest release -- "Double Exposure."
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Dolly Parton/Earl ScruggsCountry music critic and historian Rich Kienzle reviews "An Evening with Dolly Parton," and has an appreciation of bluegrass great Earl Scruggs.
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Carole KingMusic critic Rich Kienzle talks about a new reissue of Carole King's "Pearls: Songs of Goffin & King," and showcases other artists who had hits with the same songs.
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The Source: Pop Music's Many African-American RootsA Black History Month special edition: Music critic and historian Rich Kienzle traces the roots of many pop hits back to the black artists -- in this country and elsewhere around the world -- who originally wrote or recorded them.
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Waylon Jennings TributeCountry music critic Rich Kienzle reviews "Waylon: The Music Inside," the second volume in a Waylon Jennings tribute series.
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Cowboy Cool: Dean Martin's Country SideCountry music critic and historian Rich Kienzle explores the country side of singer Dean Martin's recording career.
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The Little WilliesCountry music critic and historian Rich Kienzle reviews "For The Good Times" -- the latest from The Little Willies.
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Roots of Rock Guitar/Keller WilliamsMusic critic and historian Rich Kienzle explores the music of the early blues, country and jazz guitarists who shaped and influenced rock guitar. P-G pop music critic Scott Mervis talks with Keller Williams.
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Scotty McCreeryCountry music critic Rich Kienzle reviews Scotty McCreery's "Clear As Day."
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George JonesCountry music critic and historian Rich Kienzle looks at the career of country music icon George Jones.
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Ray CharlesMusic critic Rich Kienzle reviews "Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles," an anthology of recordings by Ray Charles.
Kenny Chesney, of course, is appearing at Heinz Field Saturday evening. The concert begins at 4. It's a safe bet that he'll do all the tunes the fans love and want to hear. It's likely he'll perform some of the rock covers Scott Mervis mentions in his preview piece today. Whether you like his current music (including his new record with Grace Potter) or or he's too contemporary for you, there's a bit more to the Chesney story, and it involves a style of music he's not widely associated with: bluegrass.
Fans know his East Tennessee roots, that he was born in Knoxville and grew up in the nearby small town of Luttrell, birthplace of the late guitarist extraordinaire Chet Atkins. Chesney lived there until he was 12. After high school, he attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City on the state's eastern edge where he majored in advertising. But he also got serious about music during his time at ETSU by playing in the school's bluegrass band.
This video, shot to promote the University's Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music Studies, which offers a B.A. Degree, the only such degree in the nation at the moment. The school's faculty includes former Freight Hopper bassist Cary Fridley and onetime Charlie Sizemore sideman Will Parsons. The video includes cameos from Chesney and bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent. Chesney's at 3:04, Vincent at 6:24.
This offers a bit more info about the school's program.
Chesney also sang harmony on "Wait A Minute," a song by the revered Washington DC bluegrass band the Seldom Scene, revived by Eric Brace and Peter Cooper on their 2010 Master Sessions album.
All this is no more than a footnote to the Saturday concert of course, but it makes a point: some current stars make throwaway records (many of them hugely successful) where they sing formulaic songs declaring admiration for Haggard, Cash, Willie, Hank Sr. (or Jr.) and other legends. Of course, a lot of that is lip service and doesn't really mean squat.
At the same time there are a few whose most popular stuff is eons away from traditional country, but who have deeper, and very real, roots in the old-school end, more than the world at large realizes. Chesney's one of those.
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written by csf, July 02, 2011 - 02:55 PM
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