Florida Cracker: Homefires: Southern Music XVII

March 19, 2006

Homefires: Southern Music XVII

I am the Athena of Southern musical knowledge. You shall try but fail to solve my riddle:

A music legend who though blessed with a stirring voice, chose not to sing, and who though gifted with movie star looks, chose to stay out of the public eye. Although working mainly from a small hometown, this person still used music to become a millionair several times over.

**
Need another clue? This lady's always willing to shake the hand of a Texan, but might be too busy writing.

Here's her pic. Do you really mean to say you don't know her?:

**
Hamous answered correctly with Cindy Walker, the beautiful and talented lady from Mexia, Texas who is one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. Her standard "You Don't Know Me" made her a BMI triple million-air (150,000 broadcast hours, 17 years of continuous airplay), and everybody can hum "You're From Texas" (Shake hands, it's grand you're from Texas!).
She had Top 10s in the '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s. That is one successful career.

Posted by floridacracker at March 19, 2006 12:54 AM

Comments

there are a few of those, Donnah..we're gonna need
something..*quirkled* (made it up)to zero in on..

well maybe not a few..but c'mon..not even a hint ?

stirring voice, movie star looks..reclusive..hmmm

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 05:01 AM

Something "quirkled," huh? I think it's there, and then some.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 05:06 AM

up early, huh.. old habits are hard to break..

I give, who is it ? HAW HAW

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 06:17 AM

LOL. That's a good 'un.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 06:19 AM

naomi judd

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 07:49 AM

I seem to recall the Judds touring all over the country.
She is gorgeous and did quit singing, though.
But this person's whole career was pretty much spent in a small town.

Good first guess.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 07:52 AM

Um, Little Jimmy Dickens?
No that ain't right.
Lemme think a minute.

Posted by: Retired Geezer at March 19, 2006 09:56 AM

I'll try again...like shootin bats...

Mother Maybelle...

you no hint givin' bloggin' woman

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 11:35 AM

The guy who invented the jukebox!

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 19, 2006 11:42 AM

Scott's going in the right direction. He's wrong, but less wrong than anyone else.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 12:00 PM

The guy who invented the dobro???

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 19, 2006 12:41 PM

The Dobro was invented by two people, a couple of the Dopyera brothers, so no.
There's a big hint in there as to occupation.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 12:46 PM

Your blatant mis-spelling of 'millionair' leads me to believe it has something to do with radio, so it's probably some ancient DJ from WSM, home of the Grand Ol' Opry.

Dang it, you gotta give at least the half-century you're talking about.

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 19, 2006 01:59 PM

An ancient DJ? No. I didn't use the word "legend" as hyperbole. I never do.
Yep, "millionair" was a clue.
WSM is in Nashville, isn't it? Hardly a tiny town.

I can't give you a half-a-century. This is one very long career, indeed.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 02:21 PM

Owen- no, not a recluse. Just someone who didn't need to live in a music mecca to work. I reword if it's misleading.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 02:54 PM

I've been to Nashville. It ain't big, Miss Athena.

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 19, 2006 03:17 PM

Probably bigger than 7,000 people though.

Posted by: Donnah at March 19, 2006 03:22 PM

i'd just like to say i'm clueless and not going to google this one. wail on, skydogs!!

Posted by: richard at March 19, 2006 03:33 PM

I gave up after Mother Maybelle didn't show...

I can tell this is gonna be one of those 'Aw, I KNEW that..' deals..

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 04:51 PM

Completely bumfuzzled, dear. She is pretty. Keep throwing hints.

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 19, 2006 05:07 PM

I know who it is, but I have to wait for my wife
to come back, to remind me....

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 19, 2006 05:40 PM

well..she didn't know..

I would suggest bumping it, give us her last name
and we'll help you figure out who she is...

Posted by: Owen Crosby at March 20, 2006 09:23 AM

Bette Nesmith

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 09:31 AM

Cindy Walker!

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 10:51 AM

Hometown Mexia, Texas which is also the hometown of the lovely and talented Anna Nicole Smith ;-)

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 11:03 AM

There ya go, Hamous, the incredible Cindy Walker.

Posted by: Donnah at March 20, 2006 11:15 AM

Except now I've got "You Don't Know Me" stuck in my head (the Ray Charles version) but I guess its better than having this song stuck in your head!

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 11:56 AM

Oops, I guess no links allowed?

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 11:57 AM

This song:

http://hamous.org/sounds/bananaphone.mp3

Posted by: Hamous at March 20, 2006 12:00 PM

Don't you think Scott from Texas should be punished for not knowing this one?

Posted by: Donnah at March 20, 2006 12:01 PM

I can guarantee you I feel stupid...

Posted by: Scott Chaffin at March 20, 2006 12:29 PM

Well, don't. I think a lot of people know her songs, but not her name. Willie Nelson's trying to fix that with his latest record of all Cindy Walker songs. She's an amazing woman.

We used to sing "You're from Texas" in music class all the time when I was growing up.

Posted by: Donnah at March 20, 2006 12:35 PM