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Music: American Roots

Featured Film (full movie): Take Me Back to Oklahoma - 1940

Submitted by Roland Faust on Sun, 06/06/2010 - 13:49
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Wanted by the law...marked by the lawless...betrayed by his best friend...but you can't stop a Texan while there's a song on his lips...and lead slugs in his six guns!

Tex (Tex Ritter) and his friend Slim (Slim Andrews) go undercover to help Jane Winters (Terry Walker) keep her Stageline running as Mr. Storm and his gang slowly pick it apart in order to take over her business. Jane has already had all of her Stage Coaches destroyed except one. Tex gets hired as a Stage Coach Driver and when he sees that he needs help he calls in his friends, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, a country music band, who also do a concert for charity. The Ticket booth gets robbed and Tex is framed for the robbery. Its up to Tex to clear himself of the crime and bring the real criminals to justice.

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Bob Wills / Sittin' On Top Of The World - 1951

Submitted by Roland Faust on Sun, 03/28/2010 - 00:44
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The title line of "Sitting on Top of the World" was probably borrowed from a well-known popular song of the 1920s, "I'm Sitting on Top of the World", written by Ray Henderson, Sam Lewis and Joe Young (popularised by Al Jolson in 1926). However the two songs are distinct, both musically and lyrically (apart from the title).

Claims are made that "Sitting on Top of the World" was derived from the earlier songs: "How Long, How Long" by Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, a blues hit recorded in 1928, and Carr & Blackwell's follow-up song "You Got To Reap What You Sow" (1929), with Tampa Red on bottleneck guitar. It has also been suggested that Tampa Red composed the melody of "Sitting on Top of the World".

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Bakersfield music pioneer Cliff Crofford dies

Submitted by Roland Faust on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 02:53
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Reprise: Cliff Crofford & Billy Mize: Tell Him No - 1959

Weirdo Video Exclusive

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Cliff Crofford, a renowned songwriter and entertainer with a local connection, died Sunday.

A private family viewing will be held Friday in Ontario, according to Draper Mortuary.

Crofford was one of the pioneers of the Bakersfield Sound. He was a prolific songwriter and versatile musician who hosted both radio and television shows and wrote a number of songs for movies.

Born in 1929 in Rochester, Texas, Crofford found his way to Bakersfield while on a vacation to Reno in 1949.

Crofford stopped in Bakersfield after a friend suggested he meet fellow musician Bill Woods, according to Crofford's long-time friend Jiles Beam. Crofford decided to move to Bakersfield and joined Bill Woods' band, playing at Café 99 in McFarland.

They also had a radio show that ran five days a week on KAFY 500 AM.

Throughout his career, Crofford played in three bands, the Orange Blossom Playboys with Bill Woods, the Jimmy Thomason Band and the Beardsley Ball Room. He also appeared at several clubs in Bakersfield, including the Blackboard, the Clover Club and the Lucky Spot.

Crofford spent time playing clubs in the Los Angeles area and even toured with Johnny Cash through the Midwest.

Crofford made several TV appearances on the "Afternoon Show" and the "Jimmy Thomason Show." He also co-hosted "The Chuck Wagon Gang" in the mid 1950s.

Some of his greatest fame came from his work in movies, that included not only his songs, but appearance in Clint Eastwood's film "Every Which Way But Loose" and Burt Reynold's "Smokey and the Bandit II."

Crofford was 79.

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Waterloo: Cliff Crofford & Billy Mize - 1959

Submitted by Roland Faust on Wed, 01/07/2009 - 17:50
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Weirdo Video Exclusive

In this clip multi-instrumentalists and all-around talents Cliff Crofford & Billy Mize perform rollicking, stomping rendition of Waterloo. From 1959, this number is another prime example of the world famous Bakersfield Sound.

Billy Mize (Born William Robert Mize on April 29, 1929 in Arkansas City, Kansas) is a steel guitarist, band leader, vocalist, songwriter, and TV show host.

He was raised in the San Joaquin Valley of California, an area steeped in country music thanks to relocated Okies and other southerners headed for the gold in them there hills out west. He originally learned to play guitar as a child, but fell in love with the steel guitar he received for his 18th birthday.

He moved to Bakersfield, California and formed his own band playing local gigs and also working as a disc jockey on KPMC.

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