The mystery of the Minnie Pearl Bronze Statue

Minnie Pearl Bronze Statue when it was in Centerville, TN. Photo by SeeMidTN.com

One of the great mysteries in country music is the placement of the bronze statue in honor of Minnie Pearl.  Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, who was best known around the world as the comedian Minnie Pearl, was born in Centerville, Tennessee.  It is a small town of about 4,000 not far from Nashville.

Minnie Pearl was best known for her comedic performances on Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry.  In 1975, the Country Music Hall of Fame included her in its class.  In 1996, Sarah Cannon passed away.  On her plaque at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, you will never see a date of death as Sarah always said that the spirit of Minnie Pearl will live on even when she passes.  Today, the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation and the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center has helped cancer patients within Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky.  She was presented with the American Cancer Society’s Courage Award in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan for her volunteer work.  She once said, "I think everyone of us has a social responsibility and a moral obligation to be as kind to people as we can."

In 2005, Rod Harris commissioned a 900-pound statue of Minnie Pearl to be placed in downtown Centerville at the Hickman County Courthouse.  It was privately funded, with one donor covering much of the $150,000 cost.  Per Larry McCormack of The Tennessean newspaper, "the donation came with one caveat: The statue had to stay on one exact spot in downtown Centerville, Tenn."  {USA Today Article}

Mr. Harris was disgruntled with officials wanting to move the statue.  It was creating traffic problems as those taking photos would standing in traffic to get the whole statue.  A rock wall was built to keep drivers from running over it.

In 2009, however, Rod Harris removed the statue and placed it in Linden at the Commodore hotel lobby.  To Mr. Harris, he felt that Minnie Pearl should be center-stage and not moved a few feet.  Later, he moved the statue to Grinders Switch Winery in Centerville.  He demanded $10,000 from the city to return the statue to Centerville.

Minnie Pearl at Grinder's Switch Winery - Photo by Grinder's Switch Winery

The city refused Rod Harris's demands, which then led him to move the statue to Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.  It use to sit in the main room of the Wrather West Kentucky Museum.   However, after talking to museum officials, the statue was just part of a traveling exhibit and left there over three years ago.

So where did Minnie Pearl head to?  After contacting my journalist friend, Chuck Dauphin, he was able to determine the whereabouts of the infamous statue.  He indicated that it was moved back to the historic Commodore Hotel & Cafe in Linden, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles from Centerville, in the middle of nowhere.  Sure enough, a search on their Facebook page shows the bronze Minnie Pearl statue in all her glory standing in a corner inside the Commodore Hotel and Cafe.

Minnie Pearl Statue at the Commodore Hotel & Cafe - photo via Facebook

As for the town of Centerville, they have commissioned another artist, Ricky Pittman, who has created an 8-foot statue made from chicken wire and colored bronze. It is now sitting at the courthouse square for all to see.  Click here for the Kickstarter campaign with updates on the project.

Minnie Pearl Chicken Wire Statue - photo from Kickstarter Campaign Page 

Furthermore, Mary Beth Pruett, the great-niece of Minnie Pearl announced a campaign to raise $100,000 for a life-size bronze statue in Grinder's Switch in 2013. Click here to read more about the campaign.  So far there is no indication if anything has been done since 2013 to build the statue.

Don't forget, if you visit the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, you can also see Minnie Pearl alongside Roy Acuff sitting on a bench.  No matter if it is a bronze statue, or one made of chicken wire, the legacy of Minnie Pearl alludes us all with her humor and talent.  Sometimes you never know where you will see her smile and hear the infamous greeting of "HOWWWDEEE!" in your head.

Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl Statue at Ryman Auditorium - Photo by Jessica Bray

Tom T. Hall to have estate sale of antiques and music memorabilia

Tom T. Hall speaking about the Country Music Highway in Kentucky in 2011. - Photo by Jessica Bray.

Kentucky country music songwriting legend, Tom T. Hall is having an estate sale on October 22, 2016.  He is in the process of selling his estate and his home, which is known as Fox Hollow.  Fans can bid online on items owned by Tom T. Hall and his late wife, Dixie Hall.  The estate sale by Northgate Gallery in Brentwood, TN, includes a wide variety of valuable antique items from furniture to decorative items.  There are quite a few fox related items from the "Fox on the Run" songwriter.  There are also items presented to him by the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.  Click here to view the items. 

Tom T. Hall had seven No. 1 singles, all self-penned: 
“A Week in a Country Jail” (1969–70)
“The Year That Clayton Delaney Died” (1971)
“(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine” (1972–73)” 
“I Love” (1973–74)
“Country Is” (1974)
“I Care” (1974–75)
“Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)” (1976). 

The Grammy winner also wrote hits for others, including “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” which Jeannie C. Riley took to No. 1 on country and pop charts in 1968, as well as “The Pool Shark,” a chart-topper for Dave Dudley; “(Margie’s at) the Lincoln Park Inn" and “That’s How I Got to Memphis,” recorded by Bobby Bare; and “Little Bitty,” which was a big hit for Alan Jackson in the late 1990s. 


In total, Hall has earned 31 BMI Awards for songwriting spanning country and pop genres, and six of his songs have accumulated more than one million performances each. In 2008, he was welcomed into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  In 2011, he was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame alongside his wife, Dixie.

Fun things to see in Chattanooga for the solo traveler

Chattanooga - Photo by Jessica Bray

I recently got the opportunity to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a conference and had a little bit of free time in between sessions.  Here are a few sites that I recommend someone that is traveling by themselves should definitely check out.

United Record Pressing - creating history one record at a time

United Record Pressing in Nashville - photo by Jessica Blankenship

Upon pulling up into a parking space at United Record Pressing in Nashville, you are transformed back in time.  The modest building is buzzing with activity both inside and outside.  Behind the building is the shipping department and across the lot is a printing company that provides services of printing labels, sleeves, and jackets.

Inside United Record Pressing, I was greeted by a young man, David.  He would be our tour guide to a group of about 20.  In order to be on the tour, you have to go to their website and send an email.  They only do tours on Fridays and space is limited - so be sure to get your request in early!

In the lounge area, there are offices located to the right.  There are records pretty much everywhere - from desks to the walls and then some.  Hanging prominently in the center of the wall was a record player with a clear record.  It would be one of Third Man Records specialty products.  Inside was blue liquid, so that when you played the record, it looked like a lava lamp.  Very few were even made of this style record.

Before I forget - if you have difficulty walking steps, then this tour may not be for you.  There is no handicap access to the upstairs area or to the front of the building.

David led our group upstairs to a rather large room.  Inside was original furniture from the 1960s.  In fact, all of the furniture throughout the top floor was original with the exception of a couple of modern appliances.  

Upstairs at United Record Pressing - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

Hank Williams, Jr. signed his record contract on that table - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

Upstairs at United Record Pressing - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

David detailing the history at United Record Pressing - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

Pick a color, any color, or perhaps blend them together to make your vinyl record. - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

In the large room, many have hosted record release parties.   Hank Williams, Jr. had his 16th birthday party and signed a recording contract. Wanda Jackson filmed a music video for "Thunder on the Mountain."  You can watch the video below:

A lot of historical facts and production facts were noted.  United Record Pressing use to be called Southern Plastics.  They have been making vinyl since 1949 and moved to their current location in 1962.  The company uses 5 tons of black vinyl a day.  They press 40,000 records a day.  The machines that they use are original. There are 6 people in the world that know how to work on the machines, with 3 of them being employed at United Record Pressing.  The plant works 24 hours a day, 6 days a week.  The company has purchased additional property, as well as more machines, to expand production.  Currently they are only working with existing customers as they are so backed up on orders.

Motown Records would possibly not be in existence without United Record Pressing.  They provided the financing, as well as built a suite with bedroom and living quarters so that African Americans could record and stay at the studios in the 1960s. 

Motown Suite - Photo by Jessica Blankenship

 So how do they make a vinyl record?  Our group was lead back downstairs into the plant area.  The vinyl record making process is a scientific process of multiple steps.  The company takes your music and transfers it onto a lacquer plate.  This is used to create metal parts that become the stampers.  The stampers have ridges that put grooves into the vinyl to make the record.  In the machine, small pellets of vinyl are melted to form what looks like a hockey puck.  Labels for the A and B side of the record are placed on each side.  A heavy pressure plate pushes the vinyl puck, as well as melts it down to flatten out the record.  The press will also put the grooves into the vinyl.  Access vinyl is trimmed and placed into a garbage can.  This access vinyl is recycled to form more records.  Once a record is made, it falls onto a needle.

A record will have a pressing and two employees will listen to the album for any errors.  They mark precisely on computers where any pops, cracks, or errors are noted.  They can go from listening to rap to rock to country.  If any errors occur, they look back at the lacquer plates, mother plates, and stampers to see where it occurred.  Once they complete their process, several copies of a test pressing will be sent to the musician/band for them to review.  Once the band approves, then the final product is made.

During the tour, we got to see several unreleased items.  However, prior to our tour, we signed a confidentiality agreement that we could not discuss what records we saw.  Interestingly enough, one of the records was one that I had pre-ordered.  It was pretty exciting to see something that you bought being made in front of your eyes.  On book carts like at a library, there were hundreds of record jackets on display.  They would be carted off to be shipped.  There were multiple colored records, as well as all black albums being made.  All of the workers were smiling and seemed to enjoy their work there.

Before I knew it, we came to the end of our tour that lasted 2 hours.  After seeing the entire process and learning the history, you truly understand the value of price that goes into a record.  There is a lot of time and effort to seek perfection in the quality from the moment the plant receives your music file to the final product.  In a day and age where many manufacturing plants move away from the United States, this one has remained for multiple generations.  By the looks of it, it will continue to grow and expand for many more generations for a true American product.

Below is a video from the making of Jamey Johnson's "Guitar Song" on vinyl to give you a good look of the machines and the entire process. 

 Many thanks to the staff for their kindness and to my tour guide, David, who provided such valuable historic information that I would have not gotten otherwise!

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Remembering Little Jimmy Dickens

My Grand Ole Opry Memory - Meeting Little Jimmy Dickens

Yesterday, not just country music, but the music community as a whole lost a legend.  It is without a doubt that a lot of folks can share their own story or two of Little Jimmy Dickens.  The Grand Ole Opry star passed away at the age of 94 years old.  I have been a fan of his for many years and was fortunate to have met him.

The first time I saw Little Jimmy Dickens, I was on the front row and center of the Grand Ole Opry House for an Opry performance in 2005.  I remember him looking down and waving at me.  Yep, I had to giggle because I'm sure he was waving at someone else, but for that moment I said "Little Jimmy just waved at me!"

Little Jimmy Dickens in 2005 at the Grand Ole Opry - By Jessica Blankenship

On down the years, while visiting Nashville, I always took time to do a tour of the Opry House and take a photo of his dressing room door.  In 2011, my pal, Sunny Sweeney, invited me to be her guest for one of her performances.  I told her I would come, but only if I got to meet Little Jimmy Dickens.  Needless to say, she made it happen.  Right after her performance, we walked the halls backstage and she knocked on his door politely.  Little Jimmy Dickens gave her a hug and she said that she wanted to introduce him to a friend of hers.  I stood there absolutely speechless and for once in my life (besides meeting Dolly Parton), I had no words.  I was like a kid standing there in amazement.

Meeting Little Jimmy Dickens backstage at the Grand Ole Opry

I finally blubbered, "In all my 30 years, my only new years resolution was to meet you.  And now that dream has come true and I don't know what to do!"  He cracked up and said "well bless your heart darlin'."  Yes, Little Jimmy Dickens called me darlin'. He gave me a hug and here I was trying to compose myself and not sound like an idiot.  He asked where I was from, how did I know Sunny, and a few other things.  I let him know that I was just so thrilled to meet him. Thankfully one of my buddies had my camera and took a few photos.

We said our goodbyes and I was still on cloud 9.  At another performance of Sunny Sweeney at the Opry, we thought we would catch him, but he was heading down the hallway leaving.  I remember standing there telling her that it looked like Little Jimmy Dickens took off his country music super hero outfit of rhinestones and is now off to face the world in his plain jacket, dress shirt, and jeans.

Little Jimmy Dickens - by Jessica Blankenship

I will never forget the time my mom told me about meeting Little Jimmy Dickens.  A while back, we had an "amusement park" type deal called Tombstone Junction, just past Cumberland Falls in Corbin, KY.  A lot of entertainers would perform, from Conway Twitty to Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash.  My mom was helping out a relative sell fruit and veggies at a roadside stand on the way to Tombstone Junction.  She said that a bus pulled up one afternoon and here comes Little Jimmy Dickens off the bus.  He ends up buying a watermelon off of her.  I still crack up thinking that my momma sold a watermelon to Little Jimmy Dickens.

We will all remember his jokes, his laughter, his stories, his music, but most of all, his kindness.  Little Jimmy Dickens outlived so many in the country music world - from Hank Williams to Patsy Cline to Waylon Jennings to Johnny Cash to George Jones.  In fact, Hank Williams, Sr. was the one that gave him the nickname of "Tater."  Little Jimmy's impact on the music community will be felt for a long time and will be dearly missed on the Grand Ole Opry.

Rest in peace Little Jimmy Dickens.  

Top 10 songs of Dolly Parton

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I am a fan of Dolly Parton and was fortunate to have met her years ago.  I have been writing freelance work for both Examiner.com and AXS.com for over 5 years.  AXS just published my article on my top 10 songs of Dolly Parton.  Take a look at it by clicking here.

Beyond the Music: Cody Hixon of Great Point Custom Leather Works

Cody Hixon of Great Point Custom Leatherworks

A songwriter’s canvas is the paper that he is writing on. For Cody Hixon, his canvas is the leather he is working with. Over fifteen years of hard work and lessons learned have shaped his skills as a leather craftsman. With his business, Great Point Custom Leather Works, Hixon has outfitted many legendary celebrities from Shooter Jennings to Charlie Daniels, and most recently Toby Keith. His impressive work showcases intricate details as each piece is unique in its own. Hixon is becoming one of the most sought-after leather craftsman from Knoxville, Tennessee.

Cody Hixon began learning on his own after purchasing the Waylon Jennings custom shop model that Fender released. "My ex-wife ran off with it when she left and wouldn't give it back. So I said, heck I'll just make my own. I called up a guy in Montana and got some leather. It was definitely trial and error," Hixon noted on his humble beginnings. The first item he was commissioned to make an item was Waylon's son, Shooter Jennings. "I done a guitar for Joe Perry of Aerosmith back in 2005 and then after that, it was Shooter, doing the telecaster for him." Soon with word of mouth from Shooter plus his band members helped with business gaining new customers.

These days, you can see his work on a wide range of celebrities, from Johnny Knoxville and a custom belt, to Jamey Johnson. Johnson currently released, "The Guitar Song," and fans can see photos that include Hixon's guitar strap being used in advertisements. In recalling seeing the advertisements, both in print and on television, Hixon said, "basically with the commercials on TV on the time, it is pretty amazing." His work has also made it to the stage with other performers, with clientele such as Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Chad Warrix, Billy Joe Shaver, and many more.

A lot of hours are placed into each order for the detailed and quality of work in each piece. Hixon noted that it normally took 20-25 hours for a guitar strap, 40-50 hours for an electric guitar cover and for an acoustic guitar cover, it usually takes over 80 hours. All the work is out of Cody's home.

Looking back, Cody's favorite piece is the Waylon Jennings guitar that he completed for Shooter. "It got everything going and connections that shoot out from there. The fact that he's still playing it and proud of it is really great."

Beyond music items, Hixon's work is featured on the front desk of the Surrey Hotel in New York City. "That was about a four month projects. It was four big eight foot panels that were tooled and six thousand tacks. I did each one by hand, so that was quite a big ordeal." He also completed custom leather purses, wallets, cuffs, belts, portfolios, and even wall hangings for the home or business.

One of the biggest yearly competitions is the World Leather Debut held out in Sheridan, Wyoming. "I received third place in 2008 out of quite a few hundred. It's basically the Super Bowl of Leather." The World Leather Debut features educational and innovative products from leather craftsmen from across the globe.

To order a custom leather item, you can contact Cody Hixon through his website at www.greatpointcustomleatherworks.com. Give him an idea of what you would like to order. From there, he will sketch it out, email it to you, and then the process is started once he confirms what you want.