As music evolves over time, it’s become even more important to keep records on the roots and history to not only follow the patterns (as they say, history repeats itself) but so future generations can see where formats and styles originated. Author Sheree Homer is one of those record keepers. An inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Homer already has three books to her name, covering the career of Rick Nelson and the genres of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly. Next she enters the world of country music with her fourth book Under the Influence of Classic Country: Profiles of 36 Performers of the 1940s to Today, available via Amazon on October 8th. The 255 pages include interviews and profiles with some of country’s greats of past and present including: Ernest Tubb, Ray Price, Loretta Lynn, Bill Anderson, Mickey Gilley, Charley Pride, David Frizzell, The Secret Sisters, and more.
We caught up with Sheree to talk about her work as a music journalist and this incredible new book.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Were you always a fan of music? Who were some of your favorite artists growing up?
SH: I have always been a fan of rock and roll, thanks to my mom introducing it to me at a very early age. She frequently played music by Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino. When I was sixteen, I helped her reorganize her 45s and discovered more artists that I loved, such as Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, and Bobby Darin. I attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a concentration in journalism. A few months after I finished college, I attended my first roots music festival- the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans. There were many artists on the bill that I wasn’t that familiar with, and I knew that mainstream America probably didn’t know them at all. I then decided that I would take my talent for writing and start my own rockabilly magazine. The first person I ever interviewed was Dale Hawkins. Incidentally, he had been one of the artists at the festival. Sadly, the magazine only lasted eight issues. With a lack of advertisers, it was just too expensive to reproduce. I used interviews I had stockpiled to comprise my first book, Catch That Rockabilly Fever. Since then, I have spoken to hundreds of singers, musicians, and other notables and have had four books published. I love everything about the 1950s, especially the music, and if I could have lived during any time, it would have been then. The stories I hear from legendary acts is like time travel to me. Through them, I get to live vicariously in that era.
When I was younger, I didn’t like country music. I remember hearing “Tulsa Time” by Don Williams and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones, and both of those tunes made me cringe. I had to quickly change the channel. Today, I have developed a deeper appreciation for both songs, and I have found a lot of music and artists I like within the genre. Some of my favorites are Patsy Cline, Faron Young, Ferlin Husky, Waylon Jennings, Mickey Gilley, Ray Price, and Marty Robbins. In regard to rockabilly, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues, I love Elvis, Sonny Burgess, Ricky Nelson, Dale Hawkins, The Collins Kids, Ray Smith, LaVern Baker, and Ray Charles.
CN: What was the first album you’ve ever purchased?
SH: The first album I ever purchased was an original copy of the self-titled debut by The Everly Brothers. I am a big fan of their harmony, and that LP has a lot of their best songs featured on it, such as “Hey Doll Baby,” “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake up Little Susie,” and “This Little Girl of Mine.” I bought it from eBay for my birthday a few years ago. I think I paid $25.
CN: When did you discover your love of writing? Was it always from a non-fiction standpoint?
SH: All four of my books are non-fiction. In fact, they are biographical profiles that detail an artist’s childhood background, his/her musical influences, and tales of life on the road and in the studio. My passion lies in telling and preserving roots music history. I was a good writer in college, received all A’s and B’s, and enjoyed the English classes that I took. It was a natural progression once I attended the Ponderosa Stomp. I knew that was my calling.
CN: Who is your favorite author? Do you have a favorite book or written piece?
SH: Typically, if I read anything, it’s a biography/autobiography. I really enjoyed Peter Guralnick’s Last Train to Memphis. As for a favorite author, I’m not sure I have one.
CN: In 2009, you released your first book “Catch That Rockabilly Fever: Personal Stories of Life on the Road and in the Studio” which was finalist in 2011 for the category of ‘Best Research in Recorded Rock and Pop Music’ for an Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award. What did that mean to you, to have your work recognized as an important piece of archival information?
SH: That was quite an honor to hear that I was a finalist for an award from the Association for Recorded Sound Collections. I was rather surprised because it was my first book, and I had no idea that my publisher had submitted it to them for consideration. It made me very happy and pleased to know that my work was being acknowledged in such a profound way. Even though I didn’t win, I was still grateful, and it made me strive to improve, so that maybe another year I would win.
CN: Since “Rockabilly Fever,” you released two more books: 2012’s “Rick Nelson, Rock ‘N’ Roll Pioneer” and “Dig That beat!: Interviews With Musicians at The Root of Rock ‘N” Roll” in 2015. Fast forward to 2019, and you are set to release “Under the Influence of Classic Country” this October. Given that you have covered Rockabilly and Rock N Roll, was it just a natural choice to write a book on the roots of country music??
SH: I had wanted to write a book that featured rhythm and blues acts, but it wasn’t coming together like I had hoped, so I switched gears. In my last book, Dig That Beat, I profiled a couple of country acts, such as Buck Owens and Conway Twitty, and it was well received, so I thought it would be fun and interesting to talk to some of the legends that are still with us. It’s always important to me too to showcase some of the newer acts keeping the music alive.
CN: Can you share a little synopsis about the book?
SH: It is a biography profiling thirty-six classic country and rockabilly artists. Exclusive interviews, archival reference material, and unearthed images showcase tales of life on the road, in the studio, and the genesis of landmark recordings. Some examples include Jerry Reed playing guitar on Elvis Presley’s recording of “Guitar Man;” Bill Anderson sharing the bill with Roger Miller on his first tour; Hank Cochran penning Jeannie Seely’s hit “Don’t Touch Me” after driving past a mental institution; Mickey Gilley recording his first number one song, “Room Full of Roses,” as a throwaway B-side; The Oak Ridge Boys being offered “Achy Breaky Heart” before Billy Ray Cyrus; and David Frizzell and Shelly West’s “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma” being turned down by every major record label. Never before has such a prolific set of singers and musicians- e.g. Ernest Tubb, Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, The Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn, and Faron Young- been compiled.
CN: This book includes some really interesting information on country legends across generations of the genre such as Charley Pride, Ernest Tubb, Roger Miller, The Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. Can you talk about how you conduct your research on icons, past and present? Obviously there are in person interviews and archived footage, but what other resources did you utilize for this book?
SH: My interviews were conducted via the telephone. If the artist was no longer living, then I searched for musicians who had performed with them. Sometimes, those tales are better because they provide a different perspective and are virtually untold. As far as other research goes, I cited magazine articles, books, and websites. It took me two and a half years to complete the book.
CN: How did the title “Under the Influence of Classic Country” come about?
SH: I came up with the title, Under the Influence of Classic Country, because I was including both country and rockabilly artists. I had to have a title that fit both, and the rockabilly artists that I feature were influenced by country music.
CN: Did you have a favorite moment while creating this book?
SH: One of my favorite stories that I heard involves Ernest Tubb. His steel guitarist, Lynn Owsley, recalled how one evening he, Ernest, and some other members of the Texas Troubadours decided to play a game of craps. Owsley was winning all the money, so after a while he got tired and wanted to quit. At this point, it was just a game between him and Tubb. Tubb begged him to continue, but Owsley told him that he wasn’t going to borrow back any more money. Tubb then made him an offer of his ring or guitar in exchange for money. Owsley said no to both. Tubb then asked, ‘What do you want?’ Owsley replied, ‘Your bus.’ The bus ended up becoming Owsley’s possession for two weeks before Tubb could arrange enough funds to buy it back.
CN: Will the book be available in hardcover, paperback or digital? Where will our readers be able to purchase a copy?
SH: The book will be sold as both paperback and kindle, in the US and worldwide. Amazon, Barnes and Noble (online) and McFarland Publishers are just a few of the places it will be sold. It’s already available for pre-order.
CN: Will you be hosting a book tour or any other events to promote the release of the book?
SH: I’m not planning any book tours, but I will be doing a lecture at the Zion, Illinois Public Library on October 3rd. I will be discussing my book and the history of country music in a presentation that will last an hour and a half.
Registration for Sheree’s presentation at Zion-Benton Public Library in Zion, IL, click here.
To pre-order a copy of Under the Influence of Classic Country Music, click here.
To purchase Sheree Homer’s other books, click here.
Excellent interview with author Sheree Homer.