Fun
Lazy Sunday: Ken Burns’s ‘Country Music’
Dear Kay,
There have been Ken Burns sightings around Nashville for a few years now. I’m pretty much the only person he hasn’t sat down for an interview. It’s OK—there are better Patsy Cline interpreters than me. But none more heartfelt.
Tonight, Burns’s long-anticipated documentary series, “Country Music,” debuts on PBS and streaming. I can’t wait.
At this point, Ken Burns has covered a lot of ground regarding the American Experience, and it’s clear from the preview that he will be using country music as a filter for a lot of things in 20th-century history: race, class, culture, and the powerful legacy of immigrants.
They’ve posted two preview videos that are worth watching for sure. (The whole series is likely to be very strong.)
A 25-minute preview. The thing I love most about Ken Burns films is the footage he unearths. In a preview (click on “PBS Previews: Country Music” at the bottom of the page here), we glimpse a lot of favorites in grainy, black-and-white glory: Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Mother Maybelle Carter. We see Rosanne Cash, who narrates a part of the story. And it’s clear from this preview that this series is going deep into the many sources of what we call country music.
A concert at the Ryman. Click on “Country Music: Live at the Ryman” at the bottom of the page here. This is the full two-hour concert from March, stacked with amazing performers including everybody’s favorite stitcher of songs and skirts, Rosanne Cash; Grammy-winning Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops fame; MDK fave Vince Gill; bluegrass-genius-with-fine-head-of-hair Marty Stewart; denim icon Dwight Yoakam; and many more.
I’ve long believed that Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium brings out the best in whoever’s playing there. This concert proves the point.
Love,
Ann
PS Kay, I hate to break it to you, but unless there’s a big surprise ahead, I’m pretty sure “(Pardon Me) I Didn’t Knit That for You” isn’t going to be in here.
County music and gospel church songs are my sustenance. They truly move me and touch my soul…..and everything Ken Burns produces is amazing!
I watched the concert at the Ryman this week and looked for Ann in the audience. The music was wonderful!
I love when you post these things! I have watched most of what you recommend and they have all been winners. THANK YOU from my pea-picking’ heart.
The concert at Rumania was very special. I am looking forward to enjoying this series. Ken Burns is our national historian. I am thankful for his work.
Lovely autocorrect. I meant to write Roman.
Ryman?
Autocorrect obviously not familiar with the Mother Church of country music.
I LOVE Pardon Me!!! Thanks for including that. What a fine hoot!
While I’m watching Ken Burns I’ll be thinking of MDK. Hadn’t really expected that.
“Pardon Me,” May not be there but it should!
“Pardon Me” is a sturdy thread in the tapestry of our rich cultural heritage. :)))
Living a “fun run” from Bristol TN/VA I’ll be watching the series, of course.
Should you get the bug to come up this way and visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Carter’s Fold (The Carter Family’s concert venue and absolute holy ground for the preservation of old time music) in Hilton’s, Va. http://www.carterfamilyfold.org/
Come next weekend Sept 20-22 for The Rhythm and Roots Reunion. 3 days and nights and many many stages of music https://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/festival/.
Well, I think Ken Burns may have greatly erred in excluding your song.
I can’t believe Pardon me I didn’t knit this for You ,isn’t going to be featured!!!!! It is my favorite !
I can remember the first time that I heard Dolly Parton sing Jolene over 40 years ago
Pardon Me is a knitting classic! It inspired this lowly knitting singer to pen classics such as “Great Balls of Yarn”, “Lonesome Skein of Yarn”, & I Like to Sit & Knit After Midnight” to name but a few. Perhaps we need to contact Mr Burns & suggest another topic for him to film. And then, perhaps not!
Oh, golly, my Mom loved popular music and one tale with a musical tilt loomed large in her legend. She had just completed high school in her small Montana town, when, barely 18? she took a war-time job in a munitions factory somewhere in Oregon. The owner of a dancehall let her play their piano during off hours, an activity that no doubt helped her cope with all the changes and probably no small amount of homesickness. Did I mention Mom looked like Lucille Ball?
Seems Bob Wills and the band, The Texas Playboys, came to town, and heard her sing and play. He asked her to dance and promptly invited her to join the band. Now, what about that could turn out well? Mom said she declined the offer, and excused herself from the turn around the dance floor, as, the gentleman had been drinking…. RIP, Mom, you gave it a good go.
What a wonderful story!
Dwight Yoakam. . . Denim icon. . . Oh YEA ! ! !
I can’t wait for this! I recently took up banjo and am obsessed!
The t.v documentary you’ve mentioned above was absolutely spectacular. So much so, that I think it may be my parent’s Christmas gift this year. It is how I “discovered” Rhiannon Giddens. It rekindled my love of the classic Country music greats. And while I too was appalled that pardon Me, I Didn’t Knit That For You was not included, I was so pleased to see you mention it here. You have both introduced me to, and reaffirmed my love for so much music…all I can say is thank you.
I loved this series but then I could listen to Peter Coyote all day. Husband asked me why I was following it – “you don’t even like that music” – I said “for the history’ and yes, I do like some of it. Hank Williams was such a surprise, so many songs in such a short time.