Curly Putman (1930-2016)

A post to mark the passing of songwriter Curly Putman. Included in his many successful songs is Dolly Parton's first hit, "Dumb Blondes", which she performed earlier this month at the Country Music Hall of Fame 2016 Medallion Ceremony with a shout out to Curly.



Also what some people consider the greatest country song of all time "He Stopped Loving Her Today".

Jolene

Dolly Parton and Pentatonix join for an a cappella version of "Jolene" 43 years after Dolly first made her song a hit.

After the Goldrush

I posted this video several years back, but it is probably my all time favorite performance of harmony singing. Plus whoever thought to add a glass harmonica to this was a genius. So here is Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt performing Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush".

Milwaukee, Here I Come

From the Porter Wagoner Show in the early '70's, Porter and Dolly—in a quite a patriotic outfit—performing "Milwaukee, Here I Come".

Jolene

Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show covering Dolly Parton's song "Jolene".

Happy Birthday Dolly Parton

To celebrate Dolly Parton's 70th Birthday today (01/19/46), here she is last year at the Ryman Auditorium performing "I Will Aways Love You", a song she wrote over 40 years age for Porter Wagoner when she left his show. The Ryman was the first stage she ever played in Nashville with her uncle Bill Owens and she was introduced by Johnny Cash (she was 13 at the time).

Hard Candy Christmas

Cyndi Lauper covering Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas".

Trio

Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris perform a trio of songs from the Trio album:

• "Those Memories of You"
• "To Know Him Is to Love Him"
• "Hobo's Meditation"

Who At My Door Is Standing

A young Dolly Parton singing "Who At My Door Is Standing".

When I Stop Dreaming

From Don Henley's upcoming album, here is the audio for his duet with Dolly Parton of the Louvin Brothers' song "When I Stop Dreaming".

Dolly Sings Dylan

Dolly Parton has written so many popular songs that she would never need to sing anyone else's, but here she sings Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice".

Dolly Conquers Glastonbury

Last weekend Dolly Parton performed before about 100,000 at England's Glastonbury Music Festival.  She also received a plaque for having sold 100,000,000 Records worldwide. Below is her performance of "Jolene" from the festival.

The entire concert is here on YouTube.

Down From Dover

This is one a Dolly Parton's sadder ballads. It was a little too dicey to get any radio play when it was originally released in 1969.

"Down From Dover"

Shine On

Dolly Parton performs "Shine On" a capella at Tammy Wynette's Memorial Service.

Happy 80th B-day Willie

Today Willie Nelson turns 80. This duet with Dolly Parton of "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" from some years backs seems appropriate.

My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy

Dolly Parton performs "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. This is was the year she become a member of the Opry.

I Will Aways Love You

This just seems like an appropriate post for Valentines Day,

Dolly Parton sings "I Will Always Love You" to Porter Wagoner in 2007, just a couple months before he died. Dolly wrote this about Wagoner in 1973 when she decided to leave his television show, and strike out on her own—a move that upset Wagoner a great deal. Eventually he forgave her, and this became one of the most successful songs of all time.

Somewhat presciently, I wrote this post on Friday night. I considered including a video of Whitney Houston's version at the time, but decided to just go with Dolly's version. Houston's recording of the song really made it the success that it has become, and given her death on Saturday I don't think I can post this without including one of her performances. So the second video is Houston's performance of the song.

Harmony

I feel like some harmony today.

Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt perform Neil Young's "After the Goldrush"



Jim & Jesse McReynolds - "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight"



Shawn Colvin and Alison Krauss perform Paul Simon's song "The Boxer"

Birds - Pt. 3

"Little Sparrow" - Dolly Parton



"White Dove" - A Stanley Brothers song performed by Peter Rowan and Tony Rice



"Yellow Bird" -The Mills Brothers

Dolly Parton - Swing Low Sweet Chariot

"Swing Low Sweet Chariot", the same song I posted last week, but this week performed by Dolly Parton.