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Is Emmylou Doing All She Can (to Induct Gram Into the Hall)?

Originally Posted by Will James on September 26, 2009 at 2:18pm in No Depression Gram Parsons Petition Project Group

So to kick it off: Question: Being as (I believe) Emmylou Harris was a member of the Board of the CMA and she was herself inducted last year into the Hall, do you feel she has done enough to get her mentor, that is, Gram Parsons, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame? (Note: I'm have always been a huge fan of Emmylou, esp the album Wrecking Ball produced by the great Daniel Lanois, ever since Gram discovered her and they became the greatest duet ever.)

Tags: boston, emmylou, gram, harris, nashville, parsons, petition

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Permalink Reply by Will James on December 13, 2009 at 8:43pm: I wonder if the CMHOF is indeed independent of "all things Nashville" when it's run by the CMA. Shouldn't such a great American museum *be* independent?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Randy on April 10, 2010 at 5:58am: as a big fan of Emmy and GP I am glad to see this subhect getting some attention. Nashville is notorious for ignoring folks when they are struggling and then later (usually after someone dies) they come forward with all this hoo-ha about how great so-and-so was and what an influence they had on Nashville, and on and on. Elvis is a great eaxample - intitially shunned and looked down on by the Music City establishment, ignored and ridiculed for his freewheeling attitude and his melding of black music styles (another thing Nashville was once good at; exploiting black music but thats another story), then after he's dead and gone its all, oh Elvis what an influence he was on Nashville. The usual music business thing of one guy does something completely unique and the next thing you know everybody and his brother are copying and trying to get in on the action. Those who are truly unique and original alwasy have this happen in the music biz. Hank Sr. and Jr. are other examples and a closer look will uncover a bunch of similar stories of "outlaws" who refused to be anything but themselves, made a mark for themselves on music, and cared not about who, what, where, when, or how but only for their art.
I doubt Gram Parsons gives a flip whether the HOF recognizes him or not. He's already in the building there (a small exhibition near the museum exit has some GP memorabilia and a brief bio along with a Rolling Stone page that highlights none other than Jerry Garcia. Maybe some kind of country/rock exhibit or special display but as for a formal induction, does it really matter? If we could just let go of the whole idea that "recognition" by some percieved "authority" like the CMHOF will somehow "justify" the influence or stylings of a particular artist and realize that it is enough that real folks who enjoy real music played by real people on real instruments with real emotions & feelings is what matters most. Awards are really meaningless; what counts is heart, soul, honesty, and integrity, things that Emmy and Gram had in overwhelming quantity thank goodness; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Will James on April 10, 2010 at 8:26am: Thanks for joining the Group, Randy. Obviously I don't agree. I think Parsons, who would have turned 65 next year, would be proud to be in the CMHOF, but then, had he lived, I have a feeling that institution would be a bit different. Again, this seems to be that old joke, "I wouldn't be part of a club that would have me as a member." Grant Alden has already pointed out that I'm wasting my time, and I responded that it's mine to waste. Gram will be in the Hall one day, if not 100 years from this day. For more, see that infamous blog which I'm moved over to the GPPB Group here.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Will James on June 20, 2010 at 8:52am: Jack White, Emmylou Harris Join Nashville Music Council - From Paste magazine:

Emmylou Harris, Jack White and Kix Brooks have joined the 46-member Nashville Business Council. Karl Dean, Nashville's mayor, recently put together the council to help the city's prestigious music scene thrive. Comprised of producers, professors, singers, songwriters, agents, publishers and label managers, the council will oversee and advise Dean on issues like the expansion of the CMA Music Festival, the construction of a downtown amphitheater and the cultivation of music education.

Like Seattle's City of Music Initiative, the Council's formation is an acknowledgement on the mayor's part that music is essential to the city's economy. A 2006 study commissioned by Belmont University and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce showed the music industry has a $6.38 billion impact on the city and creates roughly 35,000 jobs.

Speaking with the Tennessean, Harris said, "There's so much going on here, musically, and we're trying to put a spotlight on that. There are a lot of good people in this community, with lots of good ideas. I'm just saying to the mayor, 'Put me in, coach.'"; ▶ Reply to This