Southern-fried Tuneage: The South does it again

I was raised on country music.  I was raised on it enough that I could work in my late teens as a country DJ at a popular AM radio station, in a prime weekday afternoon drive time slot, and I knew what I was talking about.  I think I appreciate the songs I grew up with and used to play back then a lot more these days.

I appreciate the sounds of a steel guitar and some good fiddle playing and some fine guitar pickin'.  I don't go so much for the "cheatin' songs," although they tell true-life stories that many people can relate to, which is part of their appeal.

That hat you see me wearing off to the right side of this blog page in my profile ... well, that's not just for show.  That's a part of my attitude as well.  When my mood's right, I'll pull out one of my hats -- felt or straw -- that I asked to be styled as much as possible like ones that Charlie Daniels would wear himself, and I'll place it on my head with pride.

Deep down, I'm a long-haired country boy, one who loves country music for its genuine, down-to-earth qualities.  I also love hearing it when I'm in a more rowdy mood and I feel like having a good time.

I love those country songs that are about the South, or make you think about the South one way or another.  They're songs with that Southern attitude, that Southern flair.

They're states of mind.

Charlie Daniels and Travis Tritt together ... what a show!

Out of all the concerts I've had the chance to see in my lifetime, the greatest number of them by far have been shows put on by country music artists.  That's mostly because covering country music concerts at the annual state fair used to be a part of my job, and it got me right up to the stage to see many big names.  One of the greatest, most rocking concerts I've ever had the chance to witness came when Charlie Daniels played a show one night with Travis Tritt.

Between Charlie's Southern rocking style and Travis Tritt's ability to wail away himself, they had those fairgrounds rocking.  In fact, they played so long and so loud together that I had to finally leave just a touch before I wanted to in order to get back to the office with a morning newspaper deadline to try and meet.  As I walked quickly through the fairgrounds, you could hear the music still playing from far away.

Me along with my mother, Betty, and my sister, Lynda Kay.  And my first Charlie Daniels hat.

Charlie's always been a style setter for me.  I started wearing cowboy hats styled like his back in my late high school days.  In fact, I'll let you see it right here.  It's styled just like something Charlie Daniels would wear.  And if you take the time to look at the photo of me that goes along with my profile, you'll see me wearing a brown felt hat.  It was shaped by a true craftsman.  When he asked me how I wanted it styled, I said just two words:  "Charlie Daniels."  That's all it took.  The hat craftsman went right to work.

Individually, Charlie Daniels and Travis Tritt have a style all their own.  Together, in that one night when I got to hear them rock at a state fair, they can be pure dynamite.