Giving Norman Blake, Jerry Reed, Killer Kowoski & "The Voice" Don LaFontaine Their Due

Comments Below: 0

Norman Blake isn't dead (everyone else in this post is).

He's alive and well down on the farm in Rising Fawn.

But this week, a new film debuts in Chattanooga on his musical legacy.

Blake is a world-class musician (playing just about anything with strings), but does his own hometown appreciate him?

He's managed to balance art and commerce in the music business.

He paid the bills as a top session guitarist for the likes of Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan in Nashville.

Check out this clip from the Johnny Cash show in 1970  (Skip ahead about 5:00 in to get Norman's showcase where he takes four solos on 4 different instruments).

While at the same time, indulging his love for old-time music on a series of albums for Flying Fish, Rounder and Shannatchie Records.

He was part of the John Hartford/Vasser Clements "hippie-grass" generation that inspired much of today's acoustic music that's so popular with the PBS crowd.

And of course he got some long-overdue recognition for his part in the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack.

That's the story that "Green Light on the Southern" tells.

Filmmaker Fred Landry died before he could complete the project.

So locally based Nature Films & Barry Cammon (a News 12 alum)  stepped in to finish it.

You can see the finished product Thursday night (Sept 4th) at Rhythm and Brews on Market Street.

Here's the schedule:

6 - 7 PM     Social Hour, with music by the Old Factory Pickers

7:00 PM     Introduction by filmmaker Barry Cammon of Advanced Video Solutions

7:15 PM     World Premiere of "Green Light on the Southern: The Life and Times of Norman Blake"

8:30 PM     Music by the New Binkley Brothers (formerly the Hill City String Band)

Tickets are $10 at the door.

---

Jerry Reed died at the age of 71 in his hometown of Atlanta on Tuesday.

Of course, we remember him for his hammy movie roles like Smokey and the Bandit.

And his humorous songs like Amos Moses, When You're Hot, You're Hot & You Got the Goldmine (and I got the Shaft).

He also gave Elvis two hit songs in Guitar Man and U.S. Male.

But while you've got to love his larger-than-life personality, I'll remind you younger folks that Mr. Reed was also one serious guitar player.

Take a look at this clip with Chet Atkins.

---

Edward Walter Spulnik died over the weekend at the age of 81.

But sports fans of a certain generation knew him better as Killer Kowalski.

He was a giant pioneer of professional wrestling.

He was the ultimate bad guy and wasn't afraid of a little blood.

You didn't dare ask him if pro wrestling was fake.

He'd tear your face off!

Just ask the wrestler who lost his ear to Killer in the ring, or the TV talk show host that got the Claw applied to his face for asking.

I've got a couple of tributes for you.

First, a vintage match from the 50s.

And now this history of Killer Kowalski's career and his legacy to wrestlers of today, like Triple H.

---

We also lost Don LaFontaine this week.

You wouldn't recognize the face, but you can't forget The Voice.

LaFontaine was a legend in voice work.

You've heard him in countless Movie trailers.

He's done thousands of them over the years.. from The Good, The Bad & the Ugly to Independence Day.

And the folks at Geico recently put a face to The Voice in one of their ads.

Here's a tribute where Don tells his stories and other voice actors pay homage.

You probably first heard about such classic movies like The Godfather or Terminator II from Don.

But The Voice could even make really bad movies sound oh, so good.

Here are a few examples.