I didnt know it but ive always been a fan of that bakersfield sound even. Mize helped stars like buck owens and merle haggard. Bakersfield music was, by comparison, rawer, twangier and rocked more than just a little. I am 37 years old and i have always liked buck owens, dwight yoakam, and merle haggard. His charm and golden voice are legendary among the insiders. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound merle haggard. When people around the country think of bakersfield they will probably think of its association with country music. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound official trailer on vimeo. He was the subject of the critically praised 2014 documentary film billy mize and the bakersfield sound. The bakersfield sound was a reaction to the early 60s sweetening of country epitomized by the nashville sound.
When billy was 3yearsold, his father, earnest forth, skipped town leaving billy. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound trailer youtube. In search of the bakersfield sound, the country music born here in the 50s and 60s. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound loving tribute. This film isnt just about a music movement its about legacy and the institution of family. While this documentary follows billy s mize s personal story, it also defines and explains the bakersfield sound. Soninlaw of bakersfield sound legend billy mize will help. Oct 29, 2017 the remaining members of the bakersfield sound including merle haggard will celebrate mizes 80th birthday party during a tribute concert. This fusion gave birth to an exciting, rawedged style of country music known for its piercing guitar and honest, downtoearth lyrics. See more of billy mize and the bakersfield sound on facebook. The result firmly defines the bakersfield sound as a gritty, visceral style of music about personal struggle, as opposed to the more formulaic and melodically elegant material produced by the mainstream nashvillebased music industry. William robert mize april 29, 1929 october 29, 2017 was an american steel guitarist, band. From these earliest days of the bakersfield scene, the upbeat tempos of swing and boogie drove many of the original songs, with twangy steel, guitar and fiddle prominently featured throughout. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music, back in the 1990s he wrote a.
Its a wonderful account on many levelson top of being a touching tribute to billy mize, it explores the rich history of the bakersfield sound and honors the people who made the music great. Billy taught himself to play and the rest was history. History of the bakersfield sound the official bakersfield. He regained his ability to sing and performed at his 80th birthday party in 2009. People say theres a literal meaning of the bakersfield sound, they know it when they hear it. As robert price states in the preface of his longawaited book, the bakersfield sound. That bakersfield sound email rockabilly hall of fame. In 2001, he was honored by the pioneers of western swing organization. Bakersfield sound star eugene moles son sent us some priceless video of billy mize, eugene moles, george french, oscar whittington and other bakersfield legends at a live show on the bed of a pick up like the good ole days.
Buy billy mize and the bakersfield sound microsoft store. Billy mize, second from left, along with fellow bakersfield sound pioneers oscar. Billy mize, center, with merle haggard, left, and bobby durham in the early 1960s, is the focus of the loving documentary billy mize and the bakersfield sound. A critically acclaimed documentary chronicling the life of mize and his impact on the country music industry was released in 2015. Bakersfield sound 1940 1974 these 10 cds will keep your ears busy picking out old and new favorites, and the accompanying book. Billy mizes story is a spectacular tale about unthinkable personal tragedy amidst a country music revolution that changed the world.
Vince gill and paul franklin break down the bakersfield sound. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. The bakersfield californian has an excellent online feature on the bakersfield sound. Archival footage, firsthand accounts, and expert opinions round out a story of high highs and low lows. However, there are so many other stories and sounds to be found in bakersfield in the period between 1940 and 1974 that the box covers. Bakersfield sound exhibit book country music hall of fame. To learn more about the documentary, please go to remember to like our.
If youre interested in knowing more about that sound, look no further than the bakersfield sound, buck owens, merle haggard and california country, an informative, wellillustrated and affectionate guide to some wonderful music and the musicians that made it. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing pbiff. Among the many interesting artists are one of the unsung heroes of bakersfield, billy mize, who was portrayed in william j. Of course, there are many theories on how the bakersfield sound developed. Mar 06, 2015 billy mize s contributions to country music shaped the industry. Retired educator and trombonist randy fendrick is just such a historian, and his book, the other music of bakersfield, tells us the story of bakersfields centuryplus love of all kinds of. The documentary billy mize and the bakersfield sound proved what a great guy the titular performer was and that the sound forged in bakersfield barrooms decades ago is still vital and relevant. The bakersfield sound became one of the most popular and arguably the most influential country genres of the 60s, setting the stage for countryrock and outlaw, as well as reviving the. Billy mize was instrumental in defining the bakersfield sound, the exhilarating, innovative movement that forever changed country music. Universally recognized as the country music capital of the west coast and nashville west, bakersfield is the birthplace for what would become known worldwide as the bakersfield sound. Weve partnered with, a webplatform that enables individuals, groups, and organizations to set up personalized screenings of billy mize and the bakersfield sound in theaters and community venues across the country.
Merle haggard, billy mize, bobby durham with matching pompadours in the 1960s. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american. Using telecaster guitars, the singers developed a clean, ringing sound that stood in direct opposition to the produced, stringladen nashville sound. Mize was a steel guitarist, bandleader, vocalist, songwriter and tv show host. Billy mize is a great bio on his life an music during the bakersfield sound days, he recently passed away, he was freinds with merle haggard, buck owens, wynn stewart, an many others were on his tv show in early 50s an 60s i loved it great video. The sub genre of country music described as a mix of twangy guitars. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music. This entry was posted in new releases and tagged 80th birthday, bakersfield, billy mize, billy mize and the bakersfield sound, cinema, country music, dave alvin, divorcee. The bakersfield sound buck owens, merle haggard, the. Find the best bakersfield sound albums on allmusic.
When billy was 3yearsold, his father, earnest forth, skipped town leaving billy and his mother to suffer the dust bowl depression of kansas. Book and record tells story of iconic bakersfield sound. The film billy mize and the bakersfield sound explores a singersongwriter in california who did more than almost any other to challenge nashvilles dominance of the country music scene. By jeff nickell, assistant director kern county museum. No one in the audience knows billy has the ability to sing again. These families brought the musical styles of oklahoma, colorado, texas and kansas with them. With willie nelson, merle haggard, ray price, billy mize. Bryce duffy dance hall days ethels old corral cafe, where a band tunes up the bakersfield sound every sunday. The california town of bakersfield is rich with music and oil, and both are still pumping. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the album will be donated by yoakam and new west records to the buck owens american music foundation a charity devoted to the preservation of the bakersfield sound and the buck owens legacy. More precisely buck owens and merle haggard may come to mind as just occurred while i was talking to a client in new mexico this week. Robert price, editor of the bakersfield californian and author of the upcoming book the bakersfield sound.
The bakersfield sound is a genre of country music developed in the mid to late 1950s in and around bakersfield, california. Bakersfield was the first genre of country music to be significantly influenced by rock and roll, and as a result, the first to rely heavily on electric instrumentation and a defined backbeat. The same could be said of the film itself, a fairly traditional biopic with zest provided by its central character. All critics 1 fresh 1 a fairly traditional biopic with zest provided by its central character. Saunders traces the life story of billy mize, from his triumphs through his tragedies. Billy mize s story is a spectacular tale about unthinkable personal tragedy amidst a country music revolution that changed the world. Book and record tells story of iconic bakersfield sound youtube. Winner of best history in the category of best historical research in recorded country or folk music in the 2019 association for recorded sound collections awards for excellence. Vince gill and paul franklin break down the bakersfield sound last year, country superstar vince gill left his record label, mca, after more than 20 years. Billy mize is heard on 1949s got a chance with you and. Our documentary concludes with billy mize standing in front of his loved ones and singing for the first time in over 20 years. Close up the honky tonks will be released as the albums first single.
Billy mize with bill woods and his orange blossom playboys pusan. However, the bakersfield sound is much more than owens and haggard. Bomar, randy poe, robert price, and dwight yoakam the. The bakersfield sound 1940 74 new sealed 2019 10 cd. Billy mize s contributions to country music shaped the industry. This was the birth of the bakersfield sound, and one of its founding members was billy mize. One of the established facts, no matter whom you talk to, is that the bakersfield sound was created in the honky tonks. Mar 19, 2015 billy mize s contributions to country music shaped the industry. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound does not yet have u. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound special features include billy mize performing make it rain exclusive billy mize. His father purchased it at an auction in bakersfield. Mize moved to bakersfield, california and formed his own band playing local gigs and. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
Jul 14, 2015 you would say billy mize is part of the bakersfield sound, and literally he was, but he wasnt playing that buck owensstyle music. Check out this never before seen video of buck owens covering billy mize s who will buy the wine. Saunders is the soninlaw of bakersfield sound legend billy mize and the father of joe saunders, the man behind the acclaimed 2014 documentary, billy mize and the bakersfield sound. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound is now available on dvd at. Performers such as cousin herb henson, bill woods, billy mize, oscar whittington, eugene moles, jelly sanders, johnny cuevelo, and a host of others crafted their trades within the smokefilled honky tonks in and around. Bakersfield sound is a genre of country music from the 1950s and named after its origin in bakersfield, california. The trio were among a generation of talented musicians. Mize was also the great uncle of rising country artist logan mize.
The records he made with his band, the strangers, sported lean, twangy arrangements that aligned him with the bakersfield sound popularized by singers like stewart and buck owens. Billy mize, a major contributor to the bakersfield sound, died saturday at the age of 88. Country music capital of the west 19401974 on discogs. Origin of country bakersfield, ca origin of country. In the 1950s and 60s bakersfield became an unlikely birthplace for a new sound the bakersfield sound. A performer on the brink of fame, his is a spectacular tale about identity and sacrifice amidst a country music revolution. Billy mize got his first steel guitar at the age of 15. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound april 6, 2016 after looking through all our footage with merle and billy ive found a few clips that never made it into the documentary. This is billy mize and the bakersfield sound official trailer by william j saunders on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. He sang very smooth, more like the nashville country that was more popular in his time. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music, is available now. To celebrate heres a billy mize original someday when it. Jun 14, 2014 billy mize and the bakersfield sound adopts this path, charting the rise of a unique style in the mid50s southern california country scene, but more importantly it highlights one of the. Until today i didnt really know what they had in common.
Through billy we can see the impact bakersfield made on our culture. Make sure you watch the end when billy joins buck on stage. Who will buy the wine billy mize decca records, 1956 written by billy mize billy mize was one of the earliest pioneers of the bakersfield sound, alongside bill woods and herb henson. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound shows that what billy mize might not have fully achieved in notoriety as a solo music act, he left a legacy in his influence. First printed in the spring 2002 issue of the historic kern published by the kern county historical society. These dark thoughts occurred to me while reading a smart new book about a different california placebakersfieldand its identity as a. True to mize, it creates something quite electric amidst humble origins. Including a larger number of previously unreleased studio and live recordings, radio recordings and demos. New 2019 10cd boxset with 220page hardcover book, 299 tracks telling the story of nashville west. Billy mize is heard on 1949s got a chance with you and roy nichols influential guitar playing on 1950s baby blues. Wynn stewart, buck owens, merle haggard and dwight yoakam. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound home facebook. A performer on the brink of fame, his is a spectacular tale about.