When Blake Shelton, a country music artist, on national television, said..."Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa's music, and I don't care how many of these old farts around Nashville are going 'My God that ain't country.' Well, that's because you don't buy records anymore you jackasses, the kids do." it prompted an immediate response from several groups dedicated to America's very real rural country music.
Among them was Maggie Penn, a traditional and classic country music promoter from Illinois. "We need to do something about this, I refuse to be called those vile names simply because I don't want to buy any of Shelton's records. He's quite mistaken about listening to grandpa's music. This music is the original 'country' music, and he is not only abusing the seniors all across America, he is abusing the word 'country.'
Also joining the fray is Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association. "When Mr. Shelton uttered those insults to seniors in America, he may have forgotten there are over 78-million baby boomers in America, right now who are grandpas and grandmas. They choose to buy the music they like, and if they don't happen to buy Mr. Shelton's CD's that does not make them old farts and jackasses. Mr. Shelton is also pretty much wrong about the 'kids' who buy records too. Most young people in
America today can't even find a job, much less pay off their college loans. They get their support from those same 78-million baby boomers Mr. Shelton so eloquently insulted. He must surely not be aware that baby boomers control 80% of personal financial assets in America, as well as 80% of leisure travel. They are retired, or about to do so, and they will have a large amount of money available for the music they like."
Everhart formed the NTCMA (www.ntcma.net) in 1976 to foster and 'save' America's rural country music. "All music and musical tastes go through incredible change and popularity," he said. "Nobody is saying music should remain static, however my work with the Smithsonian Institution as a preservationist finds Mr. Shelton's attitude a very unacceptable way to 'sell' a product. We work hard keeping America's very own 'rural' music alive. Country music came from rural
America from California to the New York Islands, from the Redwood Forests to the Gulf Stream waters, rural American 'country' music belongs to all of America, not Blake Shelton, or massive corporate radio owners, like Clear Channel."
Everhart has joined with Ms Penn in creating a 'senior march' on Nashville, to support America's very real rural country music, and have two petitions on the internet. (Available on Facebook) One is to protest Blake Shelton's negative attitude toward America's seniors, demanding an apology for his insults, as well as an attempt to have him removed from the Grand Ole Opry which supports family values. The second petition is an attempt to get radio stations that play 'country' music to include more traditional and classic country music in their programming. The 'march' will take place on April 17, beginning at 11am at Tony Rose Park (8 Circle Music East), will wend down Music Row, and conclude at the offices of the Country Music Association, who have basically eliminated traditional, classic, old-time, and rural country music from their objectives. Following the 'walk' a free concert featuring 'real' country music will be held. The promoters invite anyone who plays traditional and classic country music, bluegrass music, folk music, Americana, and old-time music to participate.
According to Everhart, "We are inviting every one of those 78-million baby boomers to be part of this adventure. We invite every grandma and grandpa to be with us, and we are also asking them to bring their children and their grandchildren along to support them as well."
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