European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 18, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Some performers associated with country music have become american legends figures whose voices Are recognized everywhere Willy Nelson Dolly Parton Ray Charles. As such their careers May be immune to the crisis in country music s mainstream. Other performers Are Quick to adapt to changing conditions. It s still possible for new performers to make it in country music but they have to come across in videos and they have to be really sensational live performers said Bill Carter. And let s face it a lot of the established artists who Are considered part of the Nashville sound have been doing the same show even telling the same Okes for  every pop style every generation of performer reaches a Peak and then Falls by the Wayside when it can no longer keep up with newer trends. For the Nashville sound that time has come. The Nashville sound sold uncounted millions of records and won an enormous worldwide audience beginning in the 1950s. Nationwide radio broadcasts from the grand of opry. The Success of Nashville artists and music publishers and a growing number of first rate recording studios made this City the place to be for anyone hoping to forge a career in country music. The roots of the Nashville sound extend Back into the 1930s. Roy Acuff. Whose ringing Tenor recalled his youth in the appalachian mountains was one of the earliest country singers to find nationwide Fame with the help of the grand Ole opry broadcasts. He also co founded Acuff Rose. The first music publishing House devoted solely to country music. Hank Williams radiating intense Charisma was the archetypal Honky Tonk Singer during the 40s and Early 50s he lived every heartsick note he Sang. He also helped broaden the Appeal of country music with such songs As your cheating heart Jambalaya and others that a pop audience could appreciate. Acu Williams and their contemporaries were backed on records by Small groups that included rhythm Flitar steel , and stand up Bass fiddle piano and electric Lead  were optional. But during the 1950s,1985 Many Nashville producers began to smother these rhythm instruments under Sticky Sweet orchestral arrangements and mooing vocal choruses. Country music purists did not approve but the pop oriented arrangements helped the music attract a mass audience. The roster of artists who Rose to tame and Fortune with the Nashville sound is a Long one. It includes Loretta Lynn whose autobiographical song Coal Miner s daughter was later expanded into a successful Hollywood film Dolly Parton. Who parlayed her Success As a Nashville Singer and songwriter into an ongoing career As a film actress Kris Kristofferson. An exceptionally gilted songwriter me and Bobby Mcgee help me make it through the night for the Good times who has also become a movie Star and Conway Twitty. Whose total no. 1 country hits remains unsurpassed. Stars like these have spread variants of the Nashville sound to Europe where the West German Bear family Label is the world s leading purveyor of repackaged country music classics to Africa we e country music has influenced indigenous pop styles and to Japan where groups of japanese musicians play in every country style trom Bluegrass to country Rock. In Britain country records brought Home to Liverpool by seamen were a formative influence on the . In the United states sates of records with the Nashville sound were booming As recently As 1980. When the Success of the film Urban Cowboy starring John Travolta and Debra Winger made the music fashionable nationwide. But these Good times Are gone and Lor most of the More established country stars they won t be coming Back. It s not just the Nashville sound that seems to be dying it s the Nashville dream. For More than tour decades Young people with musical Talent growing up in the South and the Middle West have dreamed of leaving Home and making it in the big time by singing playing and making records in Nashville. They re still coming to Nashville but most of them would like to be Rock rather than country stars. A new crop of outstanding Young Rock bands has brought excitement to Nashville during the past Lew years. Some of the musicians Are offspring of professional country and gospel musicians. The Nashville new wave cutting Edge. Jason and the scorchers has Lound Success in the United states and Europe opening doors for talented new Rock performers like Webb Wilder and the Bea necks walk the West and will Flambeau and the Delta hurricanes. The Young hopefuls who come to Nashville or grow up Here Aren t All rockers. Some Are new traditionalists such As Ricky Skaggs whose a Burns regularly sell around 700.000 copies. Why should i let a record producer put strings and vocal groups on my  he argues. It s the song that s Impo Nant. Big arrangements would just get in the  most of the records coming out of Nashville however ate still being made by members of the mainstream clique and Over the years their work has become increasingly routine the artists and producers have sell Era into a Luimula. And it s made the music  said Bare. It in t healthy. Any kind of music has to keep progressing moving on. Staying  everyone in Nashville agrees that no matter what happens to the artists who have Long exemplified the Nashville sound. Nashville and ils record Industry will continue to Prosper. The City continues to attract first rate engineers session players and other professionals a sure sign that he local music Industry remains resoundingly healthy Overall. Will anyone really miss the Saccharine string arrangements the note perfect but utterly Bland vocal choruses the excessive sentimentality that have become characteristic of the Nashville sound sure some people will miss it said Bare. But most of those people Don t buy  the stars and stripes Page 15