The Country Music Hall of Fame announced their selections for the 2013 inductees on Wednesday morning, naming Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and “Cowboy” Jack Clement.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Rogers is being inducted in the Modern Era category, Bare in the Veteran Acts and Clement in the Non-Performer category. The last is only awarded every three years in rotation with Recording/Touring Musicians and Songwriters.
Steve Moore, CMA CEO, said “The highest musical honor achievable for a Country Music artist or industry leader is to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and these are all outstanding and highly deserving individuals. Cowboy’ has been responsible for producing many of the iconic songs in Country Music. Bobby pioneered the Country concept album and was one of the first artists to take the format to Europe. And Kenny’s crossover success throughout a lengthy career introduced Country Music to a much wider audience.”
Rogers started his career in the 50’s as a rockabilly performer and, in the early 60’s, as a member of The Bobby Doyle Trio and The New Christy Minstrels. In 1967, he formed The First Edition and went on to have hits like Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town and But You Know I Love You. Going solo in 1976, Rogers scored a long list of chart toppers in both country and pop including Lucille, The Gambler, She Believes in Me, You Decorated My Life, Coward of the County and his biggest hit, Lady.
Rogers said “When I was young, my dad said, ‘Son, you have to think big to accomplish small’ and the Country Music Hall of Fame was as big as it gets. He wanted that for me. So every record I’ve ever made, every concert I’ve performed, and every song I’ve written was done for the single purpose of achieving that goal.
“I’m sure you can imagine how special it is and how exciting it was when Steve Moore called me with the news of my acceptance. It’s not the end of my journey, but it is certainly the high point, no matter what else I accomplish. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all the members who voted for me and all the friends who encouraged and believed in me, and my dad, for his vision of success.”
Bobby Bare had his first hit by accident when he recorded a demo of his song All American Boy for singer Bill Parsons. Fraternity Records liked his version better and put it out under Parsons’ name. In 1962, he signed with RCA and had his first country hit, Shame on Me, that same year. Over the next two decades, he would score numerous country hits including Detroit City, 500 Miles Away From Home (both of which crossed to the pop top 20), (Margie’s at) The Lincoln Park Inn, How I Got to Memphis, Daddy What If and his only chart topper, Marie Laveau.
“This is big – an honor and the validation of a dream, totally unexpected,” said Bare. “Now I’ll be famous forever. Thanks to all of my supporters and thank you CMA.”
Clement is a recording artist but his biggest impact was as a producer and executive. Jack found and recorded Jerry Lee Lewis for Sun Records, wrote hits for Johnny Cash (Ballad of a Teenage Queen, Guess Things Happen That Way), owned the publishing company Jack Music and was a high profile producer for RCA where much of the country world recorded during the 60’s.
“I’ve been chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame? I thought I was already in the Hall of Fame,” said Clement. “I could have gotten in there any time I wanted. Kyle [Young] gave me a key.”
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