where do country singers get their names

Subject: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,java
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:24 AM

There's a thread on Ferlin Husky, which started me thinking - where do these extraordinary names come from?
for starters:

Ferlin Husky (of course)
Dwight Yoakum
Merle Travis...

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:31 AM

Hank Williams
George Jones
Connie Smith
Willie Nelson

.............yeah............I see what you mean..............

Spaw

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:49 AM

Dick Miles

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:51 AM

Thdey get their names from their mamas.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,java
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 10:04 AM

from their mamas!!! are you kidding!

chet atkins
hoyt axton
star de azlan
dierks bentley
felice and boudleaux
hillous boutrum.......

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 10:30 AM

From their mamas. Wikipedia is a good place to look.

Chet Atkins: Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 - June 30, 2001)
Hoyt Axton: Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 - October 26, 1999)
Ferlin Husky: Ferlin Eugene Husky (December 3, 1925 - March 17, 2011)
Dwight Yoakum: Dwight David Yoakam (born October 23, 1956)
Merle Travis: Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 - October 20, 1983)

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 01:11 PM

Thank you, spaw and Jeri.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: alex s
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 01:14 PM

I think your missing Guestjava's point here, Jeri.
It seems to be more about the unusual origins of these names than who gave them: "where do these extraordinary names COME FROM"

We are increasingly hearing names which are unusual/bizarre (TiaRianne, McKayler etc) but the names above are generally of older people and therefore very unusual.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: Les from Hull
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 02:58 PM

I thought Willie Nelson was a wrestling hold!

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,999
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:10 PM

"from their mamas!!! are you kidding!"

Yes!

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:34 PM

I thought Willie Nelson was a wrestling hold!

It is Les and definitely a submission hold!

Spaw

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: Arkie
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 03:34 PM

Where country performers get their stage names could be an interesting topic but stage names, even odd ones, is not unique to country and is not anything new. "Lady Gaga", "Madonna", "Kid Rock", "Scissors Sisters", etc. etc.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 04:06 PM

Going on from Les and Catspaw - I thought Box Car Willie was a medical complaint .

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 04:07 PM

Hank Wangford

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 04:10 PM

From a village in Suffolk in the last instance.

Hoot

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:46 PM

where do country singers get their names?

out of a hat

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,java
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 05:51 PM

The point being that these aren't stage names, which makes them even more unusual.

I'm interested in the origins of language, so where DO they come from?

How many other Hoyts, Merles and Ferlins do you know?

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: Joe_F
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 06:10 PM

Perhaps they are named after racehorses or rock groups. %^)

H. L. Mencken took note of a region of the US, which he called the "fancy names belt" & which includes Oklahoma & northern Texas, in which it is customary for parents to give their children (esp. their daughter) fanciful names.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,Paul Slade
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 06:25 PM

Same rule as porn stars: first pet and your mother's maiden name.

Subject: RE: where do country singers get their names
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 07:05 PM

Paul - We bow to your knowledgeable comment.
Mind you - In the highlands and Islands telephone directory (Scotland) it didn't list ( early 1980's) a Mac or McTavish - which was an archetypal name for a Scotsman in kids comics and early TV comedy shows.
There was however a couple of Donald Ducks.
Whats in a name Eh? Would Englebert thingy got noticed by his voice alone ????