Wayne Bledsoe

• Wayne Bledsoe: Older artists find new juice on recent albums Published 06/08/2013 at 11:25 a.m.

  There was a time when Tom Jones was seen as being as dated as a pick-up line from 1969. Thankfully, time has been good to Jones and his reputation. Looking back (and past his sex symbol status), he created some ...

• Wayne Bledsoe: Songwriting 101: Dolly Parton discusses the art of song Published 05/24/2013 at 6:44 p.m.

  When some people look at Dolly Parton they see one of the world’s most recognizable celebrities. Real music listeners, though, see one of America’s greatest living singer-songwriters. Not long ago, I got to sit with Parton and talk about songwriting, ...

• Wayne Bledsoe: Bugs and beasts inhabit the Handsome Family's weird 'Wilderness' Published 05/17/2013 at 6:32 p.m.

  Husband and wife team Brett and Rennie Sparks have been releasing albums under the name The Handsome Family since 1994. In that time they’ve created modern murder ballads, love songs based on the mating habits of insects and crushes on ...

• Wayne Bledsoe: 'The last of the full grown men' is still as much a fan as a musician Published 05/11/2013 at 1:14 p.m.

  Talking with Webb Wilder always begins with catching up on his music career and ends with a spirited music nerd discussion.

• Wayne Bledsoe: Jazz returns to Market Square Published 04/26/2013 at 6:24 p.m.

  When it comes to free music, Knoxville has an embarrassment of riches. Just about any night of the week you can find great free music happening somewhere.

• Wayne Bledsoe: Turn-of-the-century songs still gorgeous Published 04/19/2013 at 6:02 p.m.

  There was a time that “music sales” meant the sale of sheet music. There are thousands of songs that were published and copyrighted and weren’t really premiered until an amateur pianist or singer sang them for friends or family — ...

• News Sentinel entertainment writer Terry Morrow dead at 52 Updated 04/16/2013 at 5:04 p.m.

  KNOXVILLE — News Sentinel entertainment writer Terry Morrow died Tuesday at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center after...

• Wayne Bledsoe: Texas songwriter Terry Allen should make Lubbock proud Published 03/29/2013 at 6:01 p.m.

  It’s pretty obvious that several decades ago something special was taking place in Lubbock, Texas.

• Wayne Bledsoe: 'The Next Day' finally brings time-traveler Bowie back to his prime Published 03/21/2013 at 4:12 p.m.

  “The Next Day,” David Bowie (Columbia): During the 1970s there was no one more ahead of the pack than David Bowie. If every album wasn’t a masterpiece (and most were) they pointed to pop music’s future — at least until ...

• Wayne Bledsoe: Ashley Monroe finally blooms with 'Like a Rose' Published 03/16/2013 at 11:18 a.m.

  Ashley Monroe is one of those artists that you keep rooting for. Ever since she was a 12-year-old living in Halls it was easy to see she had an inextinguishable talent. She sang everywhere. When she and her mother moved ...

• Father's Day: Time to listen to songs that give dads their due Published 06/16/2013 at 7 a.m.

  There are always great songs about loving your mom. Ranging from “Mother O’ Mine” (that emotive Irish ballad about how no one loves you like your mother does) to The Doors “The End” (uh, did you really need to go ...

• Wayne Bledsoe: Smoke on one end and a ... no, wait! Published 06/15/2013 at 4 p.m.

  How many iconic images are there of people smoking cigarettes? Ah, they look so cool — especially in black and white! A star takes a long drag on a cigarette and a billow of smoke issues into a dark room ...

• 'White Sugar': For British-born Joanne Shaw Taylor, the blues are sweet Published 06/14/2013 at 4 a.m.

  Listeners who hear Joanne Shaw Taylor might not think she needs a lot of improvement, but every time Shaw does improve, it creates more challenges.

• Music veteran Jon Worley ready for Cornbred to rise Published 06/13/2013 at 1:58 p.m.

  Jon Worley is recuperating from the Blue Plum Festival in Johnson City. He may be a little groggy. The festival may have officially ended on time, but Worley carried on with music and partying into the morning hours like he ...

• Band Perry ink Smokies Stadium show for August Published 06/07/2013 at 3:22 p.m.

  Country act The Band Perry will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Smokies Stadium in Kodak. Since 2009, the Greeneville, Tenn., trio has been on the of the hottest acts in country music.

• UPDATE: Dave Chappelle to perform at Tennessee Theatre; tickets sold out Updated 06/07/2013 at 4:02 p.m.

  omedian Dave Chappelle will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at the Tennessee Theatre.

• Swamp Sista: Beth McKee sings a song of the South Published 06/07/2013 at 4 a.m.

  It’s hard to leave the South — especially if you’re a touring musician from the South.

• Decisions, decisions: A suggested Bonnaroo schedule that doesn't overlap Published 06/07/2013 at 4 a.m.

  The hardest thing about attending Bonnaroo is deciding which act to see. The festival will be held from Thursday, June 13, to Sunday, June 16, in Manchester, Tenn. Tickets are still available at www.bonnaroo.com. Here’s a suggested schedule of highlights ...

• The Bonnaroo dos and don'ts: What to pack and what to leave at home Published 06/07/2013 at 4 a.m.

  Water. Water. This is the first rule to remember at Bonnaroo and maybe the second, too: You will need lots of water, because you will sweat a lot and that lightheadedness you’re feeling might not be the music, beer and ...

• Twins journeyed from 'Hollywood to Dollywood' to meet Dolly Parton Published 06/06/2013 at 2:06 p.m.

  When twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane wrote a part for Dolly Parton in a script, they didn’t realize getting it to her would turn into a quest. What it turned into was a cross-country trip that became the documentary ...

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