 |
 |
|
|
| From the Top and Still Climbing After being on top, its hard to imagine reaching any higher. But if the high comes from just keeping the faith and repeatedly giving it a best shot, another upward step doesn’t seem so difficult. Difficult its not for Grand Ole Opry star Jack Greene, who plans to keep up the good work he has done for the past 41 years. The world of entertainment still refers to 1967 as the year of Jack Greene – a time that credits him as the first artist to ever receive four Country Music Association awards. This accomplishment has only been matched by three other entertainers: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Randy Travis. In 1967, Greene carried off practically every award an artist dreams of winning. Those awards included Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year, "There Goes My Everything." This veteran entertainer began playing the music of the mountains, like many performers, at an early age. After his first performance in junior high school, Greene was led to his first radio show on WGAP in Maryville, Tennessee, in 1947. The well-known Tennessee Barn Dance in Knoxville, Tennessee also managed to hold him for a short while before he moved on to Atlanta, Georgia. There Greene spent ten years working radio shows, TV and nightclubs until he landed the job that actually gave his career the biggest boost. Ernest Tubb was the man responsible for Greene’s recognition as a drummer, initially with the Texas Troubadours and soon after as a talented singer. After joining the band that gave him wings to fly, he finally made his way to the Opry in 1962 and became a member in 1967. Of course Greene was greatly influenced by Ernest Tubb, but his other musical influences were somewhat unique. "I was influenced by the Eastern Appalachian songs, my Irish and English ancestry," he recalls. His influences also came from his early childhood. "My Mother is still alive today," says Greene. "I guess her teaching and her molding me really gave me a lot of support." Greene’s wife June is also an important influence in his career. "She has always been very supportive of my music and now takes care of all my booking dates and everything. She is my manager in every way. It would be very hard to say where I am now with my music, without her." So what does the future hold for a man who has practically taken on every musical challenge possible? "Everything starts with a song," says Greene. There’s a lot involved in recording, especially with today’s modern technology, but the song is most important." There is still a demand for the songs that made Greene the legend he is today. Songs such as "The Last Letter," "Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me," and "Sing for the Good Times" will never be forgotten. "The fans still want to hear some of that old material," he says. "In 1984 we went back into the studio and recut six of my #1 records using the new recording technology." His blockbuster, "There Goes my Everything," was recorded 111 times, in 14 different languages. Greene also wants to strengthen ties with the Grand Ole Opry family. It certainly will not be a surprise if he is soon placed in the same category as Acuff, Tubb and Monroe. Another tie already made with the Opry is perhaps Greene’s most recent project – The Opry Legends Collection, which consists of separate albums featuring various stars of the Opry. The collection will soon be marketed through television. "I’m not afraid of anything," says Greene. He credits most of that attitude toward his return to religion. "Church is really important to me now," he says. "After being away from church for over 40 years, I now realize what I’ve missed." From the top and still climbing, Jack Greene is determined to take big steps.
Back to L & H |