Rolling Stones: "Exile on Main Street"

The Rolling Stones has always served as a benchmark to measure other bands. Each of their albums exemplify their extraordinary talent, however, one album has always been my favorite—"Exile on Main Street".

"Exile on Main Street" was recorded over the course of four years, 1968-1972, primarily in France. The Rolling Stones had just broken away from their label and were facing heavy taxes in the home country, England. Rather than paying these taxes, the band fled to France to record a new album—exiled from the their home country.

This album is different from prior albums in that it explores more musical genres ranging from the gospel sounds of “Shine a Light” to the boogie sounds of “Rip this Joint” to the bluesy sounds of “Ventilator Blues.”

Though this album initially received mixed reviews, it has become known as one of the band’s best albums. Even though this music is almost four decades old, it still receives much radio play today.

The only flaw that could be found with this album is the sound quality. The vocals may seem to be sloppy and drowned out by the instruments compared to previous albums, however I believe the Stones were searching for this sound. Around this time, Mick Jagger, the band’s front man, was growing bored with the Rock n’ Roll genre and wanted to experiment. His vision was to reach out to other musical genres, relying on the distinctive sounds of these genres to provide substance to the songs.

One of the most powerful songs on the album is “Shine a Light.” This is THE gospel song on the album, bringing out the soul of the Stones. This song is riddles with lyrics referencing hard times and substance abuse. The Stones do a magnificent job at capturing the audience and telling a story that much of the band's audience could relate to. However, while pointing out these hard times, the Rolling Stones put a positive spin on the song, referencing God and his power to "shine a light." Very uplifting song, demonstrating the sheer genius the band possessed.

One of the most underrated songs of the album is “Sweet Virginia.” Like several of their previous songs on other albums, this track is overflowing with drug references. However, like "Shine a Light," this song shows the listener both sides of the song. It tells the tale of these "sweet and bitter fruits," denoting the wonderful way drugs make you feel, but then going into cryptic details of their devestating consequences. Also similar to "Shine a Light," is the positive spin the band puts on the song through the chorus. This chorus basically tells the listener to break out of the prision that drugs built. This is my favorite lyrical track, however, I also found the saxophone solo to be very unique to the album, demonstrating the myriad of artistic talent the Stones’ possess.

The Rolling Stones helped define the Rock n' Roll genre. Their legacy lives on today, especially through "Exile on Main Street." This album is by far their best, their talent being exposed through the sheer creativity of their music.

CUMBERLANDS TO HOST 2009 INAUGURAL BUSINESS FORUM FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

University of the Cumberlands
6191 College Station Drive/ Williamsburg, Ky 40769

NEWS RELEASE
Contact Information:
April 13, 2009 Agnes Brown, Business Department Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: (606)-539-4254
E-mail: agnes.brown@ucumberlands.edu

CUMBERLANDS TO HOST 2009 INAUGURAL BUSINESS FORUM FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Recognizing Business Opportunities in any Economic Environment

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky—The Hutton School of Business, located at the University of the Cumberlands, is hosting its first Business Forum for Young Professionals on Wednesday, April 15.

The forum, to be held at the Hutton School of Business, will be host to four speakers, each specializing in different avenues of business. All students are invited to attend free of charge. Presentations will be delivered by Lawrence Brandstetter, President of his own architectural firm, Roy Jeffcoat, a pioneer in synthetic fuel research and leader in real estate development, Jerome Kanney, a Certified Public Accountant and General Partner in his own natural gas company, and Jim Richardson, Vice President and Director of Wealth Management at Fifth Third Bank.

Each speaker will be presenting a different business subject. Mr. Brandstetter will be teaching future entrepreneurs what they need to know in Surviving and Thriving: A Checklist for Small Business in a Tough Economy. Mr. Jeffcoat will be teaching students how to cope with troubled times in Things You Need to Be Successful in Business: Surviving a Tough Economy. Mr. Kanney will be educating those unfamiliar with natural gas in Natural Gas 101-BASIC FACTS. Lastly, Mr. Richardson will be illustrating the value of discipline in It’s All About the Discipline.

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Funding for this event was provided by Mr. J. Hunt Perkins, a member of University of the Cumberlands’ Board of Directors and President of Petro-Hunt Group, a privately-owned energy company. Mr. Perkins donated $1 million of his own money to organize the event. Mr. Perkins went on to say “I sincerely hope the forum goes well. I believe all students can find value in the words of our guests. Assuming all goes well, I believe we can make this an annual tradition.”

There will be two concurrent sessions, giving all students the opportunity to listen to two different speakers of their choosing. Each session will last approximately 50 minutes.

Registration for the event will begin at 8 am. in the Grace Crum Rollins Lobby. Opening Session will commence at 8:30 am. in the Kohn Theatre, followed by the first presentation session at 9:10. There will be a break at 10:00 am, followed by the second session at 10:10 am. The forum will close with a closing session scheduled to begin at 11:10 am.

University of the Cumberlands, located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, is a private liberal arts college in its 117th year of operation. Cumberlands offers four undergraduate degrees in 37 major fields of study, 30 minors and 9 pre-professional programs, as well as online and accelerated, non-traditional programs for adults.

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In the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness”, Will Smith plays the character Chris Gardner based on a real-life self-made millionaire. At one point in time, Gardner was homeless and raising his son on the streets. Because of his perseverance, he overcame obstacles to become a wealthy stockbroker and entrepreneur.

Perseverance is a trait necessary for achieving great outcomes in life. Without perseverance, success is bleak. This vital principle helps open up doors of opportunity for many great people, one of them being a Kentucky man by the name of Joe Lewis.

Joe R. Lewis was born on November 18, 1946 in Hyden, Ky. to Charlie and Orpha Lewis. Steady perseverance throughout his life would lead to Joe’s success and happiness.

Joe was an identical twin, one of eleven children.

He was born into a poor family, relying on the food they farmed for sustenance. Joe’s father, Charlie, worked in a coal mine to support his family. While Charlie worked to feed his family, Orpha and the children tended to livestock and worked in the garden. The children were forbidden to work in the mines after Rose, one of Joe’s siblings died while playing in a mine.

The family worked hard to make a living, even though it was an impoverished living. Joe recalled, “We had no electricity or telephones. Hell, we could only afford two meals a day.” Though this life was difficult, the family had too much pride to receive handouts.

When Joe and his siblings weren’t tending the farm they went to school—a school that was a mile away from their home. Without transportation, Joe walked to school every day usually in the tattered shoes of his older brother’s that had been handed down to him. From these hard times, Joe learned that happiness can be found in even the bleakest of situations.

It was in these same shoes that Joe and his twin brother, Jerry, escaped the classroom. Instead of going to class, the two would go fishing or watch television at a neighbor’s house. This eventually caught up to the two though, when both of them failed the second and fourth grades.

Joe would ultimately grow fond of school, however, completing high school at the top of his class. Unlike most of his classmates, Joe intended to continue his education. He had learned from the hard times in his childhood that perseverance and steadfastness were the only ways to make a decent living for himself. He applied to Moorehead University, Berea College, and Cumberland College. Joe was accepted to all three, but ultimately chose to go to Cumberland College at the behest of a Cumberland graduate’s suggestion.

Joe and his twin brother Jerry started attending Cumberland in the fall of 1966. While there he began learning how to play both the piano and the organ. Through this growing ability, Joe earned spending money and put money towards paying off student loans. In addition to earning money by playing music, Joe and his brother filled up vending machines and took on side jobs. Even with these jobs, the twins struggled. They couldn’t afford a meal plan, being forced to eat cheese and crackers for lunch instead. They also didn’t have a car, but managed to hitchhike home most every weekend. Joe was learning that hard work and patience were difficult but necessary.

During sophomore year, Joe and his brother saved up enough money to buy a used Volkswagen Beetle. This vehicle served as transportation for both the brothers throughout the rest of their time at Cumberland. Though the two brothers played music when they could, a vehicle allowed them to travel to play music, often traveling to Jellico, Tenn. to play in bars.

Because the twins were constantly practicing music, the college moved them to the basement of what is now Robinson-Cook Hall. This was where the “troublemakers” were moved. The twins definitely fit the description. Joe recalled “One time I stole a bottle of silver nitrate from the chemistry department and coated every door in the hall with it. Silver nitrate burns the top layer of skin, turning it black. The whole dorm had black hands for three weeks.”

Ironically, the administration did not kick Joe out. In fact, he was one of their brightest students despite the fact that he was constantly getting into trouble. Joe was a very determined student but still made time for happiness in his college career.

Joe’s studious side is illustrated by the fact that he graduated in three years with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology. Joe was taking 21 semester hours, working and still finding time to play music and have fun. Joe graduated with the highest GPA in his class.

Though his brother still had a year left of college, Joe desired to continue his education. He took the Air Force entrance exam, medical school entrance exam, and the pharmacy school entrance exam, scoring exceptionally high on all of them. However, he decided pharmacy school was the best route available to him.

Joe applied to Mercer University Pharmacy School, one of the nation’s best pharmacy schools, both then and now. The university was impressed with his application and asked him to come in for an interview. Joe later stated “They knew more about me at the interview than I did. For one reason or another, they saw something in me and accepted me into their program.”

Though Joe was unsure of himself, he made the unfamiliar journey to Atlanta, where he became a student in a class of ninety-nine.

Joe was immersed in an environment that was strange to him. All of his classmates seemed smarter than him and he wasn’t used to the hustle and bustle of city life. However, this only drove Joe to outwork his classmates that considered him unintelligent because of his country roots. Over the course of four years, Joe fought against this stereotype, ultimately graduating third in his class of forty-nine.

Upon graduating from Mercer, Joe returned to Hyden to work at Mary Breckenridge Hospital. Joe wasn’t only working at the pharmacy. As soon as he graduated, Joe began helping his brother manage a nightclub in Vicco, Ky. Within a year, the two brothers amassed enough money to buy the nightclub. In addition to this, the twins opened up a vehicle body shop and three apartments adjacent to the club property. Joe’s perseverance was finally paying off and he was happy.

Around this time Joe met his first serious girlfriend, Roxanne Amburgey. Roxanne was from Albuquerque, NM and had met Joe as a nurse practitioner at Mary Breckenridge Hospital. The two became infatuated with each other, Joe traveling to New Mexico every other weekend to see her. After four years of dating, the two got engaged. To celebrate the engagement, Roxanne’s father bought the couple a tract of land neighboring his in New Mexico. However, the engagement would not last. Roxanne did not want children while Joe did. Though heartbroken, Joe knew the relationship could never work and ended the relationship. Joe would never see Roxanne again.

Getting his mind off of the broken engagement, Joe put his energy toward self-improvement. In 1974, Joe earned his scuba diving license and began going on diving excursions in various locations across the eastern seaboard.

Joe also campaigned for a seat on the Leslie County School Board during this time, winning by a landslide. Joe would remain on the school board for sixteen years, before retiring from his duties in 1990.

In addition to joining the school board, Joe began traveling across the United States. Joe stated, “ I believe visiting other cultures is the best education one can receive. It changes your perceptions on life.” However, it was during the time Joe spent in Kentucky that he would meet his future wife.

Joe met Barbara Redmond while working at Mary Breckenridge Hospital. Barbara was a dietician and had visited Joe to consult him about dietary nutrition. This conversation sparked a relationship that would last ten years, the two marrying in 1984. While married, the two would create a child, Derek Lewis.

However, this relationship was also not meant to be. The two filed for divorce in 1986, citing irreconcilable differences. The two shared custody of Derek.

During this time, Joe went through a depression. He quit his job at the hospital and would only do relief work for other pharmacists. This was a dark time in Joe’s life, but his determination emerged. He preoccupied himself by challenging himself.

• 1986—Joe learned how to play the guitar.
• 1988—Joe earned his pilots license and traveled the U.S. by plane.
• 1989—Joe bought a Sea Ray boat and learned how to water-ski.
  
• 1990—Joe began investing in the stock market.

However, Joe’s biggest accomplishment would come in 1992, when he opened up his own pharmacy.

Hometown Pharmacy opened its doors to the public on July 7, 1992. Joe asked Doug Morgan, another pharmacist and close friend, to be his partner. According to Morgan, “I agreed to take on the partnership with Joe because I knew it would be a success. Joe is very professional and hard working. I was certain that our business would thrive from his background knowledge of the field."

The pharmacy utilized a low cost strategy, providing the community with the most affordable prices on medicines. Joe beat competing pharmacy chains by volume rather than price, establishing customer loyalty. According to the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, Hometown pharmacy currently does three times the volume the other local pharmacies do—combined.

Even with all of his success, Joe remains true to his roots. He remains humble, watching his son grow and continuing to serve the people of eastern Kentucky the best way he knows how. Joe has reached his full potential through determination and perseverance and is happy with his achievement.

Willie Nelson

My next example of true country is Willie Nelson. Here is how he meets the criteria:

First Criterion--Background:

From a very young age Willie learned how to play various instruments--the guitar being his favorite. According to his biography, Willie wrote his first song when he was seven. Willie grew up with music and pursued it once he left home. He got his start as a songwriter and climbed his way to the top by playing in honky tonks. His biggest claim to fame came from the outlaw country movement.

Second Criterion--Wide-range of musical talent:

As previously stated, Nelson was able to play a wide range of musical instruments. Personally, I find his style of guitar playing to be exceptionally enjoyable. Aside from playing instruments though, Willie has always been a very gifted song writer. Several artists from Patsy Cline to Faron Young bought Nelson's songs. This along with his instrumental ability, establishes his musical talent in my book.

Third Criterion--Innovative:

Willie Nelson was innovative in the fact that he was different. He challenged the status quo of Nashville, singing the songs he wanted to, how he wanted to. He never conformed to anyone and I believe this paved the way for other artists to rebel against recording labels, recording the music the way it was meant to be heard.

Overall, I believe Willie Nelson will go down as one of country music's greatest assets. His music is a benchmark that modern country artists can only dream of matching.

Ralph Stanley

Moving from Hank Williams, I'd like to examine another favorite artist of mine, Dr. Ralph Stanley. Ralph Stanley is one of the biggest names in the bluegrass genre. He earned his title of Doctor from Lincoln Memorial University, where the university awarded him with an honorary Doctorate of Music.

First Criterion--Background:

Stanley was born in, grew up in , and still resides in rural McClure, VA. At a young age, Stanley's mother taught him how to play banjo. This sparked an interest in Stanley that could not be extinguished. As soon as he could, he formed a band with his brother, Carter.

Second Criterion--Wide-range of musical talent:

Ralph Stanley has a very distinctive style voice and style of playing (as I will discuss later). He is a phenomenal banjo player and guitar player. Through this talent, he put the Stanley Brothers Band on the map. Beyond his instrumental talents, Stanley has a memorable singing voice. My favorite Stanley performance is actually his acapella version of "O Death," which earned him a Grammy Award in 2002.

Third Criterion--Innovative:

Ralph Stanley provides the perfect example of innovation through his banjo picking style, literally called the "Stanley Style." Though I lack the technical knowledge of musician, this style is very distinctive to me as a listener. The picking tends to be very fast in comparison to other bluegrass styles. All in all, I don't believe one could be more innovative than inventing his own style of playing music.

As one can see, Ralph Stanley clearly fits the definition of a true country legend. I look forward to reading his autobiography, Ralph Stanley: Man of Constant Sorrow.

Hank Williams, Sr.

If one was to ask who the father of modern country music was, the answer would surely be Hank Williams, Sr (1923-1953). Hank’s music has influenced a wide-range of music, from country to rock to blues to gospel. But is he truly the epitome of country music? Lets look at the criteria I outlined in my previous entry.

First Criterion--Background:

Hank's songs revolved around hardships in life, broken hearts, and good times. If one simply glances over his biography, one can easily see that his life was filled with hardships, love affairs, and certainly good times.

Second Criterion--Wide-range of musical talent:

I challenge you to listen to some of his songs and tell me he doesn't have musical talent. His voice is very distinct, and aside from his grandson, his voice has yet to be matched. In addition to his vocals, Hank was a very skilled guitar player. Probably his biggest talent though was song writing. Though his lyrics are somewhat simple by today's standards, they touch the heart and soul of the listener. 

Third Criterion--Innovative:

Hank revolutionized the country genre with his music. No one sounded like him. His music pulled on the heartstrings of anyone who heard his music. His music soared to the top of the charts. Today, one can find countless cover versions of his songs. According to CMT in 2003, Hank Williams was listed as the 2nd greatest country music artist, topped only by Johnny Cash . Unfortunately, alcoholism and drug use ultimately consumed him. He was found dead in the back of his Cadillac on his way to a show. He lives on through his music.

So is Hank Williams, Sr. truly the country music icon everyone makes him out to be?

Of course he is.

Criteria

Before I begin writing about actual people, I want to outline criteria that I believe all country artists should meet.

The first criterion is having a background that serves as the inspiration for the songs the artist sings. This background is made up of the environment the artist grew up in and the life experiences that ultimately influenced the person as a whole. In other words, musical artists shouldn’t be singing about things they know nothing about or can’t relate to.

The second criterion I believe these artists should possess is a wide-range of musical talent. Of course singing ability is important, but artists should be able to play instruments as well. This ability allows them to be more hands-on with the band, stimulating creativity, improving song quality, and generally improving band cohesiveness. In addition to being able to play music and sing, artists should be able to write their own music and song lyrics. This doesn’t mean that 100% of songs recorded should be created by the artists, but rather the artist should have a repertoire of his or her own songs.

The last criterion I believe to be essential is being innovative. I believe true country artists should bring something to the table. Through innovative ideas, all music genres, not just country, have the potential to grow.

Though this criteria is rather broad, I believe it establishes a basis to use in future blog entries.