We are not talking sports, but in regards to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Back in my old radio days that began in 1954, I spent the latter part of it, the late 60’s and into the 70’s in country radio. I also had my own talent and booking agency as well that allowed me the honor and privilege of working with some of the biggest names in country music at the time. Move ahead to the mid 90’s  and we published the Q105 Country Trends Magazine here in Tampa Bay that got Nashville’s attention. Needless to say, country music holds a very special place in my heart. Watching the Grand Ole Opry 95^th Year Celebration this past Sunday night really took me back in time with a lot of smiles and memories.

Then I came across this article about 20 country music stars that have been snubbed by the Hall of Fame. I had to wonder why, when they are certainly deserving of their place in this hallowed hall to the greats of country music. If you are a country music fan, and I know some of you are, you are probably wondering why also. Here are just a few of them and at the end I will give you the link so you can see the entire list. It will definitely surprise you.

Tanya Tucker –She has been a mainstay in country music ever since her debut at age 13 in 1973. I was at the big Columbia Records shindig in New York City when they signed her and introduced her to the media.  Even at that young age, we all knew a star was being heard. She has sold out concerts worldwide, has gold and platinum records, Grammy awards, CMA awards and nominations, ACM awards and nominations, and various other nominations and awards in the industry. Yes she had an alcohol problem for a period time but got clean (as did others). She was considered an “outlaw” like Willie, Waylon and the others, but still never lost her popularity. In the past couple of years she has returned front and center with award winning releases and performances sounding better than ever. Yet with that resume she is not in the HOF. That, my friends, is a huge slap in the face to a performer who has given fans her all for close to 50 years.

Freddy Fender – Here is another artist who opened doors, brought a new sound and captured country music lovers with his unique style. I was fortunate to do several shows with Freddy back in 1974 and 1975 and he was a fun , friendly, down to earth guy with an amazing voice with a much bigger range than one might think.  He brought a multi language, Tex-Mex country sound that fans grabbed onto right away. In his career especially between 1975 and 1983 Freddy charted 21 country hits, including million sellers like “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights”. His crossover appeal was very evident in his sold out shows with the mix of fans of all ages and ethnicities. He won numerous awards, besides the gold records and is certainly deserving of his place in the Hall. Unfortunately we lost Freddy to lung cancer in 2006. I hope one day his plaque is also on the wall at the Hall where it belongs.

Shania Twain – This Canadian songbird burst on the country scene in 1993 and immediately redefined the genre of pop-country. Granted it was not the traditional country music so many think of, but the times were changing, music was changing and Shania spearheaded that change in country. Million sellers, gold records, sold out concerts, awards and nominations she has captured it all in close to 30 years in the business. Like Linda Ronstadt Shania was a trailblazer and opened new doors for females in country music with her county/pop/jazz/rock fusion that works so well. Today she continues to present one of the best shows (when COVID doesn’t interfere) in concert. There is no denying the fact that a lot of the new, young female up and comers in country music have taken a page out of Shania’s book to get where they are. In addition Shania Twain is one of the best selling female country artists of all time and rightfully deserves her place in the Hall.

Crystal Gayle – This one has a very personal touch for me. I booked her into a club in New Jersey in 1972 in one of her first live appearances and it was obvious from her first song that this was a star in the making even before her hair would grow to almost floor length. I still remember her and her husband/manager Bill Gatzimos (and yes they are still married) showing up in a beat up Mustang with the speakers strapped to the roof of the car. Since that time Crystal has had a long string of charted songs, number ones,  million sellers, gold records, Grammys, awards from ACM and CMA, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, has her own production company, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, CMT’s list of “Greatest Women in Country Music” and much more. She was a trailblazer with her crossover appeal that still resonates today. So why isn’t she enshrined like her big sister? Oh yeah, she is Loretta Lynn’s little sister.

Linda Ronstadt – Your typical female country artist? No, Linda was much more than that but what she brought to the country genre was fresh, new and different and struck a chord with country fans everywhere. Her style was more folk country, but with fellow country artist Rodney Crowell with her in those early days she made her voice and style known and had a number of big hit country songs. However, Linda was much more as she proved with her albums of standard ballads, doing Broadway, doing operettas, jazz, Tex-Mex music and so much more. Along with the gold records, Grammys, all of her awards and appearances, the one thing missing is her plaque on the wall of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Today at 74,  she suffers from progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative disease which has taken away her beautiful and full range singing voice. I would hope that next year the powers that be will enshrine this very special talent who gave the country, and music world in general, so much.

I could tell personal stories on just about all of them on the list, but the pages would never end. At any rate those are my comments and feelings regarding the performers I highlighted. Hopefully the Hall will right the wrongs in the coming years for all these artists have given to wide world of country music.

Now check out the link for the entire list of twenty, go to: https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/the-biggest-acts-snubbed-by-the-country-music-hall-of-fame/ss-BB18yZ9P?ocid=U506DHP&li=BBnbfcL#image=1 I thank you for keeping up with this weekly column.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN