Buck Owens and ‘Hee Haw’ inspired Tracy Chapman to learn to play the guitar.
He and his colleagues devised “Send in the Hound”
a classic film-inspired tour recap. His team filmed some of their favourite fan moments from life on the road over the past year, shot and directed by the amazing Emma Delevante with assistance from Tyler Cooper.
The recap allows viewers experience a little bit of the magic from a Tyler Childers show, from fans trying to claim that near spot in the pit to crowd members singing out the words to songs to Childers enjoying his off days in a park and behind-the-scenes interactions with the crew.
The blurry footage is intercut with a live performance of “Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven” from Red Rocks in September, with Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps bringing the song to life on stage.
The movie concludes with clips of Childers playing with a dog in a park, implying that we can actually bring our dogs to heaven.
Tyler Childers had a wonderful year in the Food Stamps in 2023, and I am confident that the Mule Pull ’24 Tour will be just as excellent, if not better. Here’s to more great things from Childers and his team in 2024.
Tracy Chapman was named an award-winning country songwriter last year.
The famous vocalist earned the 2023 CMA Award for Song of the Year for her 1988 hit, “Fast Car,” when Luke Combs recreated it on his 2023 album Gettin’ Old, bringing renewed recognition not just to the song but also to Chapman herself.
The notoriously secretive singer remained mainly out of the public eye as her hit found new life in country music, however she did issue a statement after Luke’s rendition of “Fast Car” hit #1 on the country charts:
“I never expected to be on the country charts, but I’m grateful to be there.”
“I’m delighted for Luke and his success, and I’m grateful that new fans have discovered and embraced ‘Fast Car.'”
And, while she may not have intended to finish up on the country charts, it may make more sense than you think, given her motivation for picking up a guitar in the first place.
In a 2009 interview with NPR, Chapman was asked why she wanted to learn to play the guitar, and she gave an unexpected response:
“Well, it’s hard to say but I think that I might’ve been influenced by a country variety show called Hee Haw.”
Hee Haw, of course, was the show that aired for nearly 30 years and included country music and comedy from singers such as Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Buck Owens, Grandpa Jones, Little Jimmy Dickens, and many, many more.
While it may be strange that Chapman, who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, would be affected by the Nashville-based country music show, she claims that her mother watched it and grew to adore the performers on her screen:
“I think my mother really liked the show, so she basically had control of television, but I loved the music, which featured Buck Owens and Minnie Pearl, I believe her name was.”
And they had these wonderful, extremely decorative guitars. And I’m not a fan of the decorative guitar, but I remember being pulled to it as an eight-year-old or seven-year-old for that reason, and I simply loved the sound of it, so I asked for a guitar.
I used to have a ukulele when I was younger. I’m not sure what happened to it, but I believe that was part of it, being inspired and wanting to attempt to play an instrument that sounded wonderful to me.”
After busking in the Boston region throughout college, Chapman went on to release her self-titled debut album at the age of 24. Over the course of her illustrious career, Chapman won four Grammy Awards and received countless more nominations, becoming widely considered as one of the best singer/songwriters of the 1990s.
And who would have believed Hee Haw was the reason behind it all?
And they had these fantastic, highly decorated guitars. And I’m not a fan of the decorative guitar, but I remember being drawn to it when I was eight or seven years old for that reason, and I simply loved the sound of it, so I asked for a guitar.
When I was younger, I had a ukulele. I’m not sure what happened to it, but I feel that being inspired and wanting to try to play an instrument that sounded amazing to me was a factor.”
Chapman released her self-titled debut album at the age of 24 after busking in the Boston area throughout college. Chapman won four Grammy Awards and got numerous nominations during her remarkable career, becoming widely regarded as one of the best singer/songwriters of the 1990s.
And who would have guessed Hee Haw was the catalyst for it all?
A woman named Jane Doe, who used to be a member of Allen’s management team at Wide Open Music, filed the claim in federal court in Tennessee in May. The woman claims that while she was managing Allen, he routinely raped her and sexually assaulted her for 18 months.
Allen has rejected the allegations and has even countersued his accuser, as well as a separate complainant in another case who says the singer sexually abused her.
While he stated in a statement that he intended “to mount a vigorous defence” against the claims, his attorneys urged the court to dismiss the case, stating that Allen is “unable to comply with the terms of his engagement.”
Baker Donelson lawyers Jonathan Cole and Katelyn Dwyer say that their ethical requirements oblige them to quit the case since Allen is “unable” to meet the terms of their agreement to represent them.
However, the attorney representing the alleged victim claims that she has already worked with three different legal teams for Allen in the last year, and that his practice of hiring new legal teams is simply his means of avoiding having to give over evidence to his accuser.
Elizabeth Fegan, the accuser’s attorney, stated in a response to the court:
“Allen has a history of working through solicitors.” These methods are part of Allen’s ongoing pattern of behaviour to obstruct Plaintiff’s right to obtain discovery in order to pursue her claims.”
She also alleges that Allen’s current legal team has already gathered essential information for the case, but that they do not intend to send it up before withdrawing from the lawsuit.
Allen’s public relations manager Dria Baum, for her part, disputes that the troubled musician is stalling, telling The Tennessean that he simply “decided it was best for his case to bring in new legal counsel at the beginning of the year.”
It’s the latest in a string of drama for Allen, who announced last year that he and his wife Alexis were divorcing before disclosing last summer that they were trying to “work through things as a family.”
In any case, Allen’s claimed victims will have to wait a long time before their day in court, with his former manager’s case against him not slated to go to trial until November 2024.
Tyler Childers Recaps 2023 Live From Red Rocks With “Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven”
Timmy Tyler made it clear to fans that he is back, and still eating big time, by continuing his tour for his 2022 album, Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?, releasing Rustin’ In The Rain, and closing off the year at the iconic Rupp Arena.
Childers sold out show after concert in 2023 and is on the same route for his Mule Pull ’24 Tour, where he will perform at some of the country’s major arenas. But, before we get to those dates, like most of us do at the end of the year, Childers paused to think on the great experiences he had in 2023.
He and his colleagues devised “Send in the Hounds,” a classic film-inspired tour recap. His team filmed some of their favourite fan moments from life on the road over the past year, shot and directed by the amazing Emma Delevante with assistance from Tyler Cooper.
The recap allows viewers experience a little bit of the magic from a Tyler Childers show, from fans trying to claim that near spot in the pit to crowd members singing out the words to songs to Childers enjoying his off days in a park and behind-the-scenes interactions with the crew.
The blurry footage is intercut with a live performance of “Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven” from Red Rocks in September, with Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps bringing the song to life on stage.
The movie concludes with clips of Childers playing with a dog in a park, implying that we can actually bring our dogs to heaven.
Tyler Childers had a wonderful year in the Food Stamps in 2023, and I am confident that the Mule Pull ’24 Tour will be just as excellent, if not better. Here’s to more great things from Childers and his team in 2024.
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