Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Fortunato
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:25 AM

Well, 'spaw personally I have to agree. Wilma Lee and Stoney and the Stonemans and lots more work better for me as sources and influences than as artists to listen to. Ola Belle is an exception. Pure appalachian or old timey sets easier upon my ear than the late 40's and early 50's country music that the Coopers typify for me. Of course, there were great exceptions. My late friend, Eddie Nesbit, wrote "You Pass Me By" during that period, one of the quintessential Ernest Tubb recordings. And I always preferred Patsy Cline to Kitty Wells just to listen to.

Fortunato

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 11:13 AM

Ola Belle eh? "High On a Mountain". Bet your booties I like her.

Thanks for the info on The Opry singers Shug. That is EXACTLY the kind of stuff that fascinates me.

I once had a chance to stand on that little circle in the middle of the old Opry stage at the Ryman. It was an epiphany for me, just thinking of the folks who played there. I was picturing Hank's first time...and the other Hank (Snow) as well. The night when Bill Monroe came out there with Earl Scruggs in the band and the crowd went wild. The first night that Charlie pride sang, as an official member. Uncle Dave, The McGee Bros. etc. Too much!

Rick

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 10:49 AM

you are just branching out....Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 10:40 AM

And I seem to have leaped twice...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 10:39 AM

(Spaw goes out to the end of the limb and leaps off)

Okay.....Prompted by something Banj said (a mistake) and noting Peter's last comment, this thought again comes to mind. Do you ever get a feeling that at times someone is TOO authentic? When you talk to a "modern" country fan, they have no idea who some of these people are. Yet, in many case, there is a direct linkage/lineage to artists from the 30's. And when they hear these folks, they dislike them.

I guess its true in any genre. "Wow!! Kenny G. Who's Parker and Coltrane? Gawd, they suck." That's not exactly my point, but its a side to it. Wilma Cooper has a very authentic mountain sound that is one of the taproots of Country music, and yet it turns some people off completely. It still sells on the Opry, but not over the counter.

While on vacation I read a really good book on the history of women in country music and though a lot of modern artists trace their personal roots and influences to Wilma cooper of Texas Ruby or Kitty Wells, I don't think their fans do. And again, this is probably true across genres.

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 10:38 AM

(Spaw goes out to the end of the limb and leaps off)

Okay.....Prompted by something Banj said (a mistake) and noting Peter's last comment, this thought again comes to mind. Do you ever get a feeling that at times someone is TOO authentic? When you talk to a "modern" country fan, they have no idea who some of these people are. Yet, in many case, there is a direct linkage/lineage to artists from the 30's. And when they hear these folks, they dislike them.

I guess its true in any genre. "Wow!! Kenny G. Who's Parker and Coltrane? Gawd, they suck." That's not exactly my point, but its a side to it. Wilma Cooper has a very authentic mountain sound that is one of the taproots of Country music, and yet it turns some people off completely. It still sells on the Opry, but not over the counter.

While on vacation I read a really good book on the history of women in country music and though a lot of modern artists trace their personal roots and influences to Wilma cooper of Texas Ruby or Kitty Wells, I don't think their fans do. And again, this is probably true across genres.

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Fortunato
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 09:53 AM

Rick.

I'll see your Wilma Lee and raise you an Ola Belle Reed.

Are you familiar with her?

Fortunato

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Jul 00 - 09:17 AM

This doesn't make sense. If Wilma Lee is on the Opry every week, where the hell are her albums?

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: TheOldMole
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 10:31 PM

A special favorite of mine is Wilma Lee and Stoney's "Rachel's Guitar."

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: GUEST,dizzie
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 08:59 PM

Rick, The Carol Lee singers have been the Opry back up singers since approx 1974. The group was Carole Lee as lead with a set of unique hand signals to guide the rest of the group as to when they will sing words or "ooh and aah" or when to listen. The bass singer was Herman Harper who for 13 years was bass singer for the Oak Ridge Boys. Norah Lee Allen is the alto singer, and is married to Duane Allen of The Oaks, and last but not least is Dennis McCall who sings tenor. Dennis is married to an Ottawa girl and is often up in Ontario. Herman Harper passed away a few years ago and there have been several base singers over these last years. This is probably more than you ever wanted to know Rick but they are an institution at The Opry Shug (Dizzies other half)

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Banjer
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 07:45 PM

Rick, add me to the list of wilma Lee and Stony Cooper fans. The most recent song done by her that I can recall is the gospel number, "Walking My Saviour Up Calvary's Hill" Quite often I manage to get into a discussion at work when the 'not yet dry behind the ears' crowd crows about the latest 'country' artist. I manage to get them all fired up when I announce that MOST of todays artists wouldn't make a pimple on the ass of REAL country artist! There are some, bless their hearts, like Ricky Skaggs that do their best to retain the style of the folks that taught them well. I remember seeing a show with Ricky Skaggs where he is telling about when he and his group were as yet undiscovered and playing venues such as local churches, they were doing some bluegrass gospel numbers that were largely attributed to Mr. Bill Monroe when Mr. Monroe and a few of his band walked in to the gathering. Ricky said he was scared that Bill would not take kindly his imitating him and his group, but was pleasantly surprised when he was told by Bill Monroe himself that he was flattered that anyone would even take time to try to maintain the 'old sounds' and gave his blessing to continued performances!

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 05:25 PM

She is the dark haired pretty one, Rick

DougR

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 05:22 PM

Yup Shug. A friend of mine saw her recently on the Opry. I thought that the Lea Jane singers were the Opry backups. Wonder if Wilma's daughter is one of them. I wouldn't recognize her.

Rick

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: GUEST,dizzie
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 05:03 PM

As far as I know Wilma Lee is still performing on The Grand Ole Opry on their weekend show. Her daughter Carole Lee Cooper leads the Opry back up singers and has done so for a number of years. Shug (Dizzie's other half)

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 02:36 PM

The Great Philadelphia Lawyer

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 02:01 PM

Okay -- Here's a trivia question for you Wilma fans (I've been one since I heard her LIVE -- opening for Flatt and Scruggs at a high school gym in a small town in Indiana)

Q == What song by Woody Guthrie did she and Stony record, involving an image on a windowshade?

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 01:17 PM

Count me as a fan as well. A quick check for a Stoney Cooper discography provides a list that looks as if at least some of the albums can be purchased.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 12:10 PM

Ok Peter and Kendall, we got the beginnings of a fan club.

We can call it the Wilma Appreciation Country Organisation....WACO....oops, maybe not.

Rick

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: kendall
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 12:04 PM

Wilma Lee could sing no no one I have ever heard! Ever hear her do "No one now?" She was great. Honest, right up front with no silly affectations. Love her !

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 12:00 PM

Checked out local stores: nothing, zip on either for years. Notice that the record (Deca, 1966?) is selling for 20 bucks on one of the Vinyl Museum sites. I'm telling you, this is a scandal!!!!!

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 11:19 AM

refresh.

Sheesh! Well now I know why you can't get her stuff on CD. "C'mon folks, she great!

Subject: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Huzzah!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 09:42 PM

Don't wanna monopolize ('cause I started the "Lonnie/Delmore..." thread) but how often do you open a treasure box like the one I received last week from a friend? A hundred GREAT old records! (thank God my turntable still works)

Peter T. and I, with my mandolin student Jim Tufford sat transfixed as Wilma Lee sang her heart out on "Great Speckled Bird" and "Wreck on the Hiway". Shit that woman can sing! She's got soooo much power (but never shouts)

We tried to find if any of the current distributors have their records...no luck.

Any other fans of "Miss Wilma"?

Rick