Bobby Bare’s music career almost never got started at all.
Let me explain. He didn’t have much success in his early songwriting and song selling endeavors early on so he brought a new meaning to the term ‘starving artist.’ Then, when he did get a break, he wrote a song called All American Boy for a friend named Bill Parsons. However, the record company made a mistake and released the demo originally that was originally sung by Bobby Bare. That song reached #2 on the billboard hot 100 chart, but another mistake was made. The label stated that Bill Parsons was the singer of the song when it was actually Bobby Bare himself. Oh well.
Chet Akins heard Bobby Bare and he finally got a break. He started his career at RCA with the hit record “Shame on Me”. Then he hit #6 on the charts with the big hit “Detroit City.” He followed those up with 500 Miles Away From Home based on the 500 Miles song, then Four Strong Winds.
Bobby Bare is a balladier and even now at age 75, he still goes out and performs. Younger readers of Music Video Friday here at Real Texas Blog might be more familiar with Bobby Bare, Jr. who is also a performer.
There is a twist to this week’s music videos. I ended up with 8 good Bobby Bear videos. That’s just a little too much for one post, so there will be four this week and four next week. Hope you appreciate Bobby Bare. I’ll spice it up for you a little more after next week.
Bobby Bare also wrote Ride Me Down Easy performed by Billy Joe Shaver and the novelty song Marie Laveau. Bobby BAre has been in the music business over 50 years and introduced Waylon Jennings to the RCA label.
One of my personal favorite Bobby Bare songs is Dropkick Me Jesus and since this is the opening week of Texas Football, I deem that song appropriate to start off this edition of Real Texas Blog Music Video Friday.
Trivia question…..who was the meanest man in Waycross, Georgia?
Detroit City was a huge hit for Bobby…..
Four Strong Winds written by Ian Tyson, sung by Bobby Bare….
And finally, remember Tiger Man McCool…he’s a winner.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Well now, you finally got around to playing some really good Country & Western music by a great artist.
Ole Bobby Bare – ain’t no better – Brings back memories of running down those old lease roads in a pumping pickup -checking oilwells and Bobby Blare on the radio.
Billy Joe Shaver tells in his life story (book) how Bobby Bare
stole one of the songs BJS had written. BJS has a very
low opionion of BB & claims many others in Nashville feel
the same. Can’t locate the book for more details. BB does
have a good voice, & I like lots of his music, but since reading BJS, it has sorta soured my love of his music!!
Both of us having lost sons who played the bass; I feel a
special kinship to him. ( & we both grew up in N. Texas and had to pick cotton as kids—as well as having a ruff ‘n tumble path on our spiritual journey—thank God for his GRACE!!).
Hey gang, let’s all head over to Ron’s house. He’s gotta be buying the drinks after quoting something Billy Joe Shaver said.
Ron feels a special connection with Billy Joe, but I’ll bet he’s only buying cokes these days. He drinks less than you do Warthog which is zero these days. He’s going on XX years sober. I led him down the wrong path many years ago ago, but he reformed……….I didn’t.
A special connect, I DO have with BJS. It’s as if I should have written half his songs….”my grandma’s old age pension” he sings about. I remember in the early ’50 little ol’ widow women getting their $33.00 per month Old Age Pension instituted by Gov. W. Lee (Pappy) O’Daniel. It was eventually phased out by Social INsecurity!! BJS does a free concert each Spring at the Cowboy Church in Plano held at “Love & War in Texas” bar–grill. I’ll try to give David head’s up b-4 his next visit. He can spread the Good News to folks most preachers could never reach. Then, make people laugh & dance to “if the trailer’s rocking don’t come knocking”….Gotta love it!!