RIP: the "Wagonmaster"

[Chevy454]

You bluegrass/rockabilly fans out there probably already know this, but Porter Wagoner passed away Sunday after a losing battle with lung cancer. Porter was from over in West Plains, MO, which is a mere 30 miles west of us here in Alton, and where the majority of folks around here have to go to work & shop. In part to his recording career and 50+ year member of the Grand Old Opry, Porter is also responsible for discovering/signing the "talented" Dolly Parton.

Here's a video of Porter doing his thing on Ozark Jubilee (http://www.ky3.com/news/local/10796961.html?video=YHI&t=a), an old tv show out of Springfield.

[Dad will get a kick out of this post when he sees it, because of a story about a couple guys who ran into Porter at Opryland while on their Senior Trip...but that's another story, for another post. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif]

[ORIGLS6]

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Porter was from over in West Plains, MO, which is a mere 30 miles west of us here in Alton, and where the majority of folks around here have to go to work & shop.

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I saw the article in this mornings paper and mentioned it to my wife. Told her that's where Ray Morrison lives. About a half hour later she calls me on my cell to tell me she was listening to KMOX and heard Porter Waggoner had died and that he was from West Plains, MO. "Isn't that where Ray Morrison lives?"

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif I wonder who I was talking to this morning. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

TRUE STORY! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Xplantdad]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[SmallHurst]

I remember that most of our Saturday night entertainment centered around 'The Porter Wagner Show' and 'Hee Haw'. As corny as those shows seem in hindsight, they were filled with good music (we play both kinds of music... Country and Western). They don't build them like him any more!

[Schonyenko2]

I believe I saw him in concert in about 64. or 65. Think I was about 12 or 13. I saw them all back then. Hank Snow, Hank Thompsen, Little Jimmy Dickins, Roger Miller, Sonny James. They used to play at the Masonic temple in Davenport. My dad was a big fan so off we'd go.First couple bands I played in were both country, and western.
Hee haw had Buck Owens (saw him too). He had some cross over/covers with the Beatles. (progressive country).
Amazing where it's all gone, and the transition it's made.And since we can't discuss politics anymore all I'll say is thank God they don't wear Nudie suits anymore, and bless the Dixie chicks little pea pickin hearts.(Tennese Ernie Ford). http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Belair62]

There is no Country music anymore. Maybe it's time we got back...to the basics... Go ahead Schoney...finish it.

[Mr70]

..of love.
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"Four-car garage and we're still buildin' on"..-WJ

[Schonyenko2]

I ain't goin to Lukenbock Texas with Willie or Waylen. Willie used to be a regular guest on the Hank Snow show. Looked a lot different then.
You can have Dolly, Reba, Shania, all of em.
Just let me put on a little Patsey Cline. And while I like Bocephious, you can't beat the man from Montgomery, ole Hank hisself.
Damn near makes me want to sit in a smoky bar, and start drinkin again. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif
"the moon just went...behind a cloud...

[PeteLeathersac]

I watched that tribute show a few months ago w/ Merle, Willie and Porter...he didn't look well but pulled off his numbers pretty well.. Hafta' admit I was tuned in more for Asleep at the wheel...I never get enough of big Ray and appreciate how he's kept the western swing sound alive!.
Today's Country music has a few exceptions but for the most part is a Fart Brooks/Shania way of doing things now...keep pumping a buncha' dough into something to keep the kite afloat while pretending it's a wonderful thing and people buy it anyway..
RIP Porter...hope your enjoying a few drinks w/ Ernest Tubb and jamming w/ Buck, Hank, Chet, Bob Wills and the boys!.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[71-LS6]

Rob, Porter Wagner was my dad's cousin. That half of the family was all from Howell county MO. or Fulton county AR. Every time his TV show came on, my old man would tell me stories about Porter when he was a kid in West Plains.
After I grew up, I married a girl whose grandmother is Roy Clark's cousin. Our daughter is 26 years old now and has not exhibited any desire to start a country music career, even though her mom resembles Dolly Parton too! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Schonyenko2]

Let me correct that. Willie was on the Ernest Tubbs show, not Hank Snow.
Pete you mention Bob Wills, the king of Texas swing. I've always been facinated by how different areas of the country spawned their own style of country. Texas swing is a perfect example of that. Very unique blend of several types of music to create it. Hank Thompsen also shared that style and added the waltzs.

The moon just went...behind a cloud...and I'm so lonesome I could cry.

Belair you flunked. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[737Driver]

Porter was a car guy. He ordered a new 67 427/435 Corvette coupe from Capital Chevrolet. It was Marina Blue with bright blue interior and had a tele column and bolt-on wheels. I was the first owner outside the state of TN. I ended up getting a copy of the original bill of sale from the TN DMV.
Mark

[Chevy454]

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Rob, Porter Wagner was my dad's cousin. That half of the family was all from Howell county MO. or Fulton county AR. Every time his TV show came on, my old man would tell me stories about Porter when he was a kid in West Plains.

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Dang, Hodges, I thought you acted like you had a little Hillbilly in your blood! LOL!! I'd just always heard Porter was from "Howell County", but since West Plains is the only thing worth mentioning in Howell County they kind of adopted him...seems like he was from the southern part of the county, around Moody or Bakersfield or Lanton or somewhere? Any of those ring a bell? Fulton County is directly south of Howell County...what towns are your family in, Starkey, Camp, maybe Viola or Gepp?

Mark: what happened to his 'Vette? Pretty cool car to order new!

[Chevy454]

Schonye: good point...also add Buck Owens and what he brought out of Bakersfield...in our neck of the woods we start getting pretty heavy into the bluegrass part of the world, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs & Union Station now.

Little bit of trivia, the idea/inspiration for the Grand Old Opry supposedly came from a show in Mammoth Spring, AR, which is about 17 miles south of us here in Fulton County...every year they have a "Solemn Old Judge Days" festival in honor of George D. Hay, the creator of the Grand Old Opry.

[John Brown]

All this talk about hillbilly music got me hungering for some classic country (and western) to listen too. I'm originally from Missouri and a transplanted billy myself. I've been listening to Rick Jacksons Country Hall of Fame, buy it's only three hours a week, and about the only thing I can stand on regular radio. So I looked around and found this internet music station out of Branson. Now I don't have to change the station when they start playing music with lyrics I can't understand or relate to.

Heartland Public Radio ~ Classic Country Music (http://community.loudcity.com/stations/hpr1-classic-country/files/show/)

Non commercial and just what I've been looking for.

Porter, old buddy, Rest in Peace.....

[737Driver]

The last I saw his Corvette, Unique had it up for sale. When I had it, it had a hit motor in it. I knew where the original was, but, couldn't work a deal on it. It was finally re-united with the car. Had the car been originally equipped with sidepipes it would have been a super big money machine.

I purchased a new Corvette ZR1 from Capital Chevrolet in 1990 from the general manager who was a salesman in 1967 and sold Porter the blue/blue 435.

[71-LS6]

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Dang, Hodges, I thought you acted like you had a little Hillbilly in your blood! LOL!! I'd just always heard Porter was from "Howell County", but since West Plains is the only thing worth mentioning in Howell County they kind of adopted him...seems like he was from the southern part of the county, around Moody or Bakersfield or Lanton or somewhere? Any of those ring a bell? Fulton County is directly south of Howell County...what towns are your family in, Starkey, Camp, maybe Viola or Gepp?


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Down 17 hiway to south of Lanton, but north of the state line. Take a left (east) for 3-4 mi. You'll be deep in the woods and surrounded by my kind. My grandpa was actually a real good fiddle player in those parts back in the 30's and 40's.