Evolution of the Opry in Circles...

An Opry Staple...



Recently, a friend told me to check out Stevie Ray Vaughn on Youtube playing solo acoustic 12-string. I did the search and immediately found him performing his staple "Pride and Joy". The links under the related videos drew a startling circle right back to the journey I've been on; exploring some of the greatest American music in our history.



First, I found a link to Bonnie Raitt, performing "Pride and Joy" at a tribute to Stevie. Her slide solo is perfect. Her effortless singing is the reason for my recent obsession with "Miss Bonnie" and her roots, as well as her connection to Gram Parsons, Little Feat, and of course, John Prine. Here is that version:



"The Tennessee Waltz" was written in 1947 by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King. It was made popular by Patti Page and of course Les Paul and Mary Ford. I listened to the Les Paul version while on my trip through Tennessee. The link that stuck out to me from the Raitt's "Pride and Joy" was Bonnie and Norah Jones performing "The Tennessee Waltz" together. How perfect. Here it is:



There were a ton of links from there, Norah playing a tribute to Johnny Cash, playing with Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. There was also a link to a tribute to Lowell George, where Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt singing "Blowing Away". On the Bonnie Raitt quest, I've been listening Bonnie with Little Feat as well making all of these links exciting finds. I've also recently starting reading the book "Hotel California: The true-life adventures of Crosby, Stills Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles, and their many friends" by Barney Hoskyns....full circle. Here is Norah and Dolly, as well as Bonnie and Linda Ronstadt:





I've also discovered the young Gram Parsons and his magic in the short time he was alive. Listening to Gram's "Love Hurts" with Emmylou Harris as well as his work with the The Flying Burrito Brothers proves the true power of brilliant songwriting and the musicianship backing it. Another link is Norah Jones at a tribute to Gram, joining The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards to sing on his painful and delicate ballad "Love Hurts" :



And here is Gram with Emmylou:



So, what started this "Youtube journey" was this 12-string "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughn and of course the great Bonnie Raitt. I've also been seeking out the music that came from the Stax and Muscle Shoals world. One of my favorite new albums on heavy rotation is Albert King's "Jammed T (With Steve Cropper & Pop Staples)" a Stax creation.

Context: Here is Stevie Ray and Albert King together doing "Pride and Joy"...Enjoy!