Remembering Glen Campbell-- Part 2: A Movie, TV Show, and More Hits

His boyish good looks got him a role opposite John Wayne in the 1969 movie "True Grit and his own TV show "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS from 1969 to 1972.

Over the years, the hits continued with songs like "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights."  And, he had lots of honors:  six Grammys, 1968 CMA  Entertainer of the Year, three American Music Awards and, later, induction into the Country Hall of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement.

However, he did not have much luck in the marriages.  He had three divorces and engagement to fellow country star Tanya Tucker.  He finally met Kimberly Woolen in 1982 and remained married to her for the rest of his life.

The end became known when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2011.

--RoadDog

Remembering Glen Campbell-- Part 1: That Old $5 Guitar Leads to Something

From the July 29, 2018, Parade Magazine by M.B. Roberts.

Glen Campbell died at age 81 on August 8, 2017 of Alzheimer's disease.

He grew up on a farm near Delight, Arkansas, about 90 miles southwest of Little Rock.  When he was 4 years old, he received $5 three-quarter-size Sears, Roebuck and Co. guitar by mail order from his uncle.  And, he immediately took to those strings.

By age 6, Glen was performing on the local radio and in his teens playing in bars.  In tenth grade, he quit school and moved to Albuquerque where he played in his uncle's band.  By the early 1960s he was in Los Angeles working with a now-famous group of session musicians called The Wrecking Tour, playing on records for Elvis, Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys (including  "Pet Sounds" in 1966) and even filled in for Brian Wilson on Beach Boys' tours in '64 and '65.

Later in the 60s, he began charting his own hits, including "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Wichita Lineman."

One of My All-Time Favorites.  --RoadDog

Glen Campbell's "William Tell Overture"-- Part 3: Ride 'Em Cowboy at the OldPuppet bar in Fox Lake, Illinois

And then, there was Glen Campbell's "William Tell Overture," the theme of "The Lone Ranger" as he rode the horse which gave us the idea for Riding the Horse.  You should really, at this point if not familiar with Campbell's version of it, go to You Tube and watch it.  How anyone could play a guitar that fast is beyond me.

Anyway, we'd explain to the people that if someone rides up to you on the stick horse and handed it to you, it was now your job to take it, ride it over to someone else and hand it off.

Now, we really had a great time doing this and some people REALLY got into riding that horse.  We'd go through a stick horse every couple months.

And, if a girl thought she'd avoid riding it by running into the bathroom, she'd be followed in to the consternation of people already in there.

(There was a cut out of an Indian brave in the women's room with a cloth loincloth.  Should a patron lift it up to see what was under, a buzzer would go off and lights would start flashing in the bar.  Some mighty embarrassed ladies would come out of the bathroom.)

Anyway, Like I Said, Ya Couldn't Beat Fun at the Old Puppet Bar.  Wish It Was Still There.--RoadDog

Some More On Glen Campbell-- Part 2: Country Crossover

He was among a wave of country crossover stars into the pop market including Johnny Cash, Roy Clark and Kenny Rogers and like many of his contemporaries, enjoyed success on television where he had a weekly audience of fifty million for his "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS from 1969-1972.

Campbell had more than 70 albums.  There was a documentary "Glen Campbell I'll Be Me" about his 2011-2012 farewell tour and his decline from Alzheimer's.

The song "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" won a Grammy for best country song in 2015.

A sharecropper's son and one of 12 children, he was born outside of Delight, Arkansas.  He learned to play the guitar at age 4.

--RoadDog

Some More On Glen Campbell-- Part 1: 45 Million Records

From the August 9, 2017, Chicago Tribune obituary by Kristin M. Hall, AP.

"In the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the Arkansas native seemed to be everywhere, known for his boyish face, wavy hair and friendly tenor.  He won five Grammys, sold more than 45 million records and had 12 Gold Albums and 75 chart hits, including #1 songs with "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights."

"His performance of the title song from "True Grit," a 1969 film in which he played a Texas Ranger, alongside John Wayne received an Academy Award nomination.  He twice won album of the year awards from the Academy of Country Music and was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.  Seven years later, he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement."

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for August 11, 1967-- Part 4: "Baby I Love You"

25.  ZIP CODE--  Five Americans   #36   Dallas-based band.  Remember when we got Zip Code?  2:30 of pure pop.  I especially like the beginning of the song.

24.  BABY, I LOVE YOU--  Aretha Franklin   #4   Follow up to her #1 hit "Respect."  From 1967-1968, she had 9 Top Tens.

23.  LONELY DRIFTER--  Pieces of Eight   #59   Classic Beach Music.

22.  HEROES & VILLAINS--  Beach Boys    #12   Follow up to"good Vibrations" which went to #1.  And, Glen Campbell, who died earlier this week took the place of Brian Wilson on tours.

21.  ODE TO BILLY JOE--  Bobbie Gentry   #1  Her only Top 40 in pop.  But what a Top 40.  Her biggest hit by far.  Born Roberta Streeter in Mississippi.  She had three songs make the Billboard Top 40 Pop with Glen Campbell.

Name That Tune (from above songs).  "It Was the Third of June, Another Sleepy, Dusty delta Day."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Ode to Billy Joe"

Glen Campbell's "William Tell Overture"-- Part 1: A Big Part of the Fun At the Old Puppet Bar in Fox Lake

Back in the 1980s I was deejaying on a regular basis at the old Puppet Bar (Eagle Point Park) in Fox Lake, Illinois, on the Chain of Lakes' Pistakee Lake.  We sure had a great time there and I played all sorts of music, the more different the better.

Of course, the place got its name from the 100+ puppets we had that would be activated whenever one particular polka song was played.  That was a lot of fun, but not for the people working there.  You could only hear that song "Mr. Polka" so many times and then it would be ad nauseum.

We had all sorts of little things we'd do during the course of an afternoon or night including playing Connie Francis singing "God Bless America" where sparklers would be passed out and a big U.S. flag would be pulled down from the ceiling and everyone singing as loudly as they could and cheering "Blackhawks-style" at the end of it.

I am sitting here right now listening to her sing "God Bless America" on You Tube and it is bringing back memories.

I'll write about Glen Campbell's "William Tell Overture" the next post about him, after I finish the WLS Top 40 for August 11, 1967.  I promise.

The Puppet Bar, a Real Good Time!!  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Glen Campbell-- Part 3: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

I just took it for granted that Glen Campbell must be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  But, NO!!!  He isn't.

Just for his playing with the "Wrecking Crew" alone should earn him a place, not to mention his playing with the Beach Boys.

Then, how about a primarily country artist having 36 songs in the Pop Top 100, including two #1s, three other Top Tens and twenty-one Top 40s.  These all came between 1961 and 1981.

I checked Google to see if he was in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and there were sure a lot of people saying that he should be there.  Maybe those who pick who is going to be in it wake up and do the right thing.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Glen Campbell-- Part 2: A Remarkable Solo Career

He then toured with the Beach Boys as Brian Wilson's replacement.

And then, as a solo artist he had twenty Top 40 hits on the Pop Charts (considering that he was primarily a country performer this is amazing.  Among them were two #1s:

Rhinestone Cowboy  1975
Southern Nights  1977

Other big hits:

Wichita Lineman  #3-1969
Galveston  #4- 1969
It's Only Make Believe  #10-1970

He hosted the Glen Miller Good Time Hour on CBS from 1968-1972.  Appeared in the movies "True Grit" and "Norwood."

Won six Grammy Awards and was nominated for 11 more.  Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2012, Country Music Hall of Fame 2005.

Music Deaths: Glen Campbell-- Part 1: Member of the "Wrecking Crew"

GLEN CAMPBELL, 81

Died August 8, 2017

We knew it was coming, but it is still hard to take.  This was one really talented fellow.

Born in Arkansas and became a studio musician with the world-famous "Wrecking Crew."  As studio musician played on a lot of big hits, some are included here:

Viva Las Vegas--  Elvis Presley
Mr. Tambourine Man--  Byrds
Strangers in the Night--  Frank Sinatra
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling--  Righteous Brothers
Fun, Fun, Fun--  Beach Boys

Just these would make him a huge player in the music I loved growing up.  But there is more.