I missed the first episode, but caught last nights. I'm not a huge country fan, but I am a Burns fan and I grew up on Hee Haw, and listening to the Grand Ole Opry in the truck on the way home from Grandma's house on Saturday nights. I can still remember the ads, "folks, go get yourself some Martha White, self rising flour" and "Go get a Goo Goo, it's good!" They didn't even sell Goo Goo's in our area, but d@mmit I wanted one!
Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, Buck Owens, George Jones, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, and Johnny Horton, among others, were the folks that were played in our house. Buck Owens and especially Don Rich were a real influence on me wanting to play guitar. I've always wanted a silver metal flake Tele, still do, and I'm not that big of a fan of Tele's to begin with! Later in his life, my Dad got way into bluegrass, but that was a bridge too far for me.
I missed an opportunity to see Johnny and June out in Reno at the Nugget back in 1997 while we were on vacation. We talked about going, and my wife told me we should go as they weren't getting any younger, but we were leaving the next morning and were totally wore out from exploring the area and I made the decision not to go. I still regret it...
While logically it shouldn't be, it is kinda amazing how big an influence black muscians and the the blues had on those early performers and I'm thrilled to see Burns give it the attention it deserves.
