European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Page.16the stabs and stripes wednesday May 21,1b8b Dwight Yoakam by Jim Lewis United press International d. Wight Yoakam is a hillbilly firebrand. He has undertaken a Mission with evangelical Arvor a wants to turn the country music clock Back 40 . The Odd thing is. This Messiah of sorts is being heard and enjoyed even by the Stone hearted scribes and pharisees on Nashville s music Row. Although born in the Coal Region of kor Lueky Yoakam literally emerged Tram the desert in California and he has Many Young disciples on the West coast he says kids appreciate authenticity. He s authentic All right he s Only 29 years old but his Brand of music has not been heard since the 30s and 40s. To s More country than Ricky Skaggs. I m a hillbilly Singer he says with disarming and utter sincerity. Yoakam tried to bring his Brand of music to Nashville in 1978. But it was no use. He was Loo country. So he fled to los Angeles where he got a following of Young tans some Call them Yoakam said these fans got him on records and he won t betray them. His int Snelly is nearly overwhelming. Looked at head on he bears a disturbing resemblance to the Young Hank Williams in an interview at Werner Bros., one of the bastions of the Nashville music establishment Yoakam pounds the table to emphasize his Points and frequently launches Inlo renditions of old Lime country music to demonstrate the Way the songs should be Sung. We Are in danger of losing a legitimate american Art form which we gave the world while american hillbilly music. It s All but Yoakam said it s almost too Lale to bring it Back fully with the playlist on lha radio. They Are not going to play so percent pure country "i1 m 29 and my generation is one of the fast groups of people who will have the Opportunity to hear and earn about country music by osmosis in tha airwaves on the hillbilly music is a genre with numerous idioms. Its a Singer Dwight Yokam want it f urn the country Muic Kledt Bank 40 my. Hanky Lank Bluegrass and pure said Yoakam. So that there will be no misunderstanding he mentions names like lefty Frizzell Ray Price Faron Young. Buck Owens and the Louvon Brothers. I feel an obligation to that form and that music. I Don t want to seem too Overly dramatic but in a Way i eel very compelled to do ii. It s what i do naturally As far As music is concerned. It s such a part of my past in a cultural sense. It s an ethnic form of music. Its ethnicity is a non racial one it s cultural. It s appalachian Ozark Hill people Rural americans. But it s still an ethnic form he said. Yoakam frankly blames what happened to country music on people like Chet Atkins and the music Barons who wanted to broaden the Appeal in the 60s. He is one of the most gifted artists of All Lime perhaps one of the greatest players Ever to come along but Chet Atkins has admitted that he May have want too far in what he did to country Yoakam defined that As adding str in sections choral groups and other non country arrangements and vocals things he said which have nothing to do with technical sound. Country music also lost Young audiences in the 60sbecause of social upheaval he said. It used to be the music of Young people. In the political upheaval of the 60s, Young people were Given the perception that country music was Othle extreme right and it was embraced by the same people who did t want to have anything to do with the Honky toners of the mos and 60s. They pillaged the music jus like the corporations pillaged the Coal people have forgotten that the old time country music of Al male Rodgers came from the underprivileged White mass he said. Allol a sudden it s part Oltha conservative right Wing upper crust Bankers. Those two laced hypocrites came in Here and took even though a hat been adopted by Warner Bros. Nashville Branch the Young Singer still looks with. Scepticism at Nashville. I think the establishment has been awakened to an extent by the commercial Success of Ricky Skaggs and the others. They Are finding that country music Stilt Sells they sniff Money but i think it s too Lar gone. I feel an enormous historical obligation to this music. I did t create it. It was there created by people a Long Lime ago. I m giving it my inter Etalon. I Don t mean to sound evangelical but i have to think about it in those terms i Don t want to lose country music. I Don t want to lose the Nashville Branch. I want to Lake this music to the stale lairs i need Warner Bros in Nashville for ii determination and sincerity have anything to do with it Dwight Yoakam could turn out to be the one who saved the past. Prom Oryland to Broadway and Hollywood by Joe Edwards associated press t his summer hundreds of Young performers will be heading to Oryland Usa wit dreams of making ii to Broadway an Hollywood. The 120-acre Park Home of tha grand die opry House has 13 musical productions involving 380 College age performers singing everything from country music to Light opera. Over the years the Park has developed a reputation Lor grooming Young Talent. Cynthia Rhodes who performed at Oryland Lor four seasons in the 1970s, starred opposite John Travolta in the movie Stayert alive. She also appeared in fats dance Xanadu and Francis Ford Coppola s one from the heart. Mary Mastrantonio appeared in scar lace with Al Pacino after leaving Oryland. Actress Singer dense Lrenzo worked at Oryland in 1976 and 1977, then performed in both the National and International companies of a chorus line. She also has been in the Broadway productions of cats sophisticated ladles and 43nd Street. Other former Oryland entertainers have appeared on television specials with stars including Barbara Mandrell Dolly parian Carol Burnett Bob Hope George Burns Lucille Ball Ann Margret and others. We give these Young performers a lifetime of experience in Ona season said Bob what taker director of entertainment at Oryland. It s an Opportunity Lor them to be exposed to All facets of the entertainment Industry to my knowledge no other Park in the world does As much As we do. Many do some of these things but none does All. By going on that stage and performing for �.5 to 3 million people a Yea Rand working alongside the lop Talent in the country they learn and grow together Whittaker said. Galore the year is Over they have Learned the tricks of the Trade that Are going to make them a much better professional he said. It s an incredible experience for these Young thai year Oryland of la class held auditions in 29 cities searching for singers dancers dance captains musicians stage managers technicians and conductor pianists. They Are on Call 38 hours a week at salaries ranging from $213 a week or technicians to $512 a week for conductors pianists. Singers dancers make $251 to $270 a week. We believe All our shows Are As professional As you la see anywhere Whittaker said. The most elaborate of the 13 shows is music music music an 60-Mlnute revue of music from Nashville Hollywood and Broadway. It has 22 singers and dancers 16 instrumentalists and an 11-person Crew. It s the closest thing a have to a major Broadway production,1 Whittaker said other shows locus on country music Rock n Roll pop music from the turn of the Century and gospel. There Are even bits of jazz and Light opera in some productions. Overseeing the performers Are three directors two choreographers two choral directors and a musical Arranger technicians fill out the professional entertainment staff of 25. The Oryland Park which does have a looping roller coaster despite the emphasis on music productions includes the grand Ole opry House the 4,400-seat auditorium where the grand Ole opry is presented every weekend by top country music stars. The Young performers do not perform at the fabled opry. The Park which Fust celebrated its 15th birthday also is the site of Many live and taped network television shows. Cable television s Nashville networks located nearby. We be built this Park around music and entertainers not around roller coasters Whittaker said. We give the entertainers the Opportunity to grow and develop their Cratt and further their career. We feel we offer a real Challenge to the Young entertainer who has Basic raw Talent who May not have had the Opportunity to polish or develop it. We help this person develop a professional discipline he said. There Are very Tew opportunities elsewhere Lor the per former to have this experience. The discipline he or she achieves Here is
