Longtime country-music singer Del Reeves, best-known for his million-selling single "Girl on the Billboard" in 1965, died at age 74 after a long illness, reports the Associated Press. "Girl on the Billboard" is an all-time-classic truck-driving song, with these final lyrics that warm the hearts of Mother Road fans: On Route 66 from the billboard … Continue reading Country singer Del Reeves dies
Category: Music
“Phantom 309” and Pee-Wee Herman
I know a Red Sovine trucker song and Pee-Wee Herman seem like a strange combination, but bear with me. First, trucker tunes are part of the Route 66 traveling experience, or should be. At some point while traveling the Mother Road, you should have Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road" and "Truck Drivin' Son … Continue reading “Phantom 309” and Pee-Wee Herman
Jamming with Harley & Annabelle
Canadian singer-songwriter Melissa McClelland has posted part three of her documentary from her Route 66 trip this summer. You can view the podcast here (Internet Explorer 6 and broadband are needed). In it, you'll see Rooster from the Luna Cafe in Mitchell, Ill., a waitress in Lisa's Diner in Granite City, Ill., scenes from Galena, … Continue reading Jamming with Harley & Annabelle
Harley & Annabelle Experience goes worldwide
Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka The Mediocre Music Makers, of the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla., were kind enough to send me an article in the Sayre (Okla.) Record-Democrat newspaper about how their act has gained national and worldwide attention. The picture above is of Harley and Annabelle on the awning of their store. … Continue reading Harley & Annabelle Experience goes worldwide
A “Cars” collage
Kutz63 has posted on YouTube a collage of scenes from "Cars" with Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone," which is part of the original soundtrack. It's a nice way to relive some of the scenes from the film. SPOILER ALERT: A few of the scenes might reveal too much of the plot. So if you haven't seen … Continue reading A “Cars” collage
Part 2 of Melissa McClelland podcast is online
Melissa McClelland, the Canadian singer-songwriter who traveled Route 66 this summer with a film crew, has posted the second part of her podcast. "Guardian Angel of Route 66" Angel Delgadillo and longtime Pig Hip restaurant owner Ernie Edwards get a lot of time in the eight-minute segment. McClelland performs "Solitary Life" behind the historic Wagon … Continue reading Part 2 of Melissa McClelland podcast is online
More Harley and Annabelle
Here's a short clip on YouTube of Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka the Mediocre Music Makers, performing "Route 66" at their Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla. The person who posted the video listed them as the "Singing Hill Billy's." Doggone it, they're not hillbillies, they're rednecks. They do live in the "Redneck Capital of … Continue reading More Harley and Annabelle
Another man is going to walk Route 66
Jay Link, lead singer for the Los Angeles rock band Death and Taxes, weighed as much as 550 pounds just five years ago. He's lost 200 pounds with diet and exercise, and wants to lose 200 more in the next two years. Link recently wrote me to announce that in March, he would start walking … Continue reading Another man is going to walk Route 66
“Cars” soundtrack gets Grammy nods
John Mayer's performance of "Route 66" from the "Cars" movie soundtrack was nominated for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance of the Grammy Awards, which will be Feb. 11 on CBS. For a complete list of Grammys, go here. UPDATE: Sheesh. I missed two other nominations. "Our Town," written by Randy Newman, was nominated for Best … Continue reading “Cars” soundtrack gets Grammy nods
Spirit of Aviatrix Ballroom revived
Carlton Scales, a former big-band leader, started the Aviatrix Ballroom on Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, in 1939. The venue drew such performers as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Dorsey. Sadly, the Aviatrix closed in 1988 after business dwindled for years. Now the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required) reports that Scales' daughter, Maggie, 49, … Continue reading Spirit of Aviatrix Ballroom revived