More often indirectly than directly, reading music threads on Mudcat has taught me to appreciate, value, and give credit to music and voices that don't particularly appeal to me. This thread was/is part of that education. I will probably never buy an album of an opera performance or of a classical singer. Doesn't mean anything about the quality or talent of the musicians and singers. Just means they are not to my taste.

Will say that when I was in elementary school, the music 'enrichment' portion of the weekly lessons generally consisted of lps of classically trained musicians and singers performing folk songs in a manner that belied they were folk songs. Old Dan Tucker, Sweet Betsy From Pike, etc. Bad choices for grade school kids.

Padre, all these years of reading your posts on Mudcat and somehow I missed that we are from the same place - or perhaps have forgotten. Lots of good country was around on local TV and radio in the 1950's and early 60's, including Sleepy and Magic Valley.