The Million Dollar Band

Roy Clark assembled The Million Dollar Band for appearances on Hee Haw in the 1980s, attracting some of the best session musicians in Nashville. The group included Hall of Famers such as Floyd Cramer (piano), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), and Chet Atkins (guitar), as well as Johnny Gimble (fiddle), Boots Randolph (sax), Danny Davis (trumpet), and Jethro Burns (mandolin). Burns was better known as part of the comedy duo Homer & Jethro, but he was also an outstanding instrumentalist and, I have to say, he lived in Evanston.

Clark could not keep himself from clowning up the introductions, but at least he didn't make the musicians perform in overalls, which was probably their condition for participating. Their repertoire was not limited to country music, as they also played swing, jazz, and blues.

Comments

[Ediberto Roman]

Wonderful music Steve. One thing that struck me is that if you take the strings in some of the versions above, it actually sounds similar to slower versions of certain Caribbean folk music called "Bomba.' Fascinating how at our core, we are so similar, and our love for beautiful things shines no matter how we express it. Peace, and stay safe. E

[Wes Oliver]

I love the music things you post....

[Steve L.]

Thanks, Ediberto and Wes. Glad you like the music posts. I began posting music clips, every now and then, about four years ago, and now there are almost 200 of them (I think).