When people around the country think of bakersfield they will probably think of its association with country music. The bakersfield sound 1940 74 new sealed 2019 10 cd. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing pbiff. This was the birth of the bakersfield sound, and one of its founding members was billy mize. The bakersfield californian has an excellent online feature on the bakersfield sound.
To learn more about the documentary, please go to remember to like our. Billy mize got his first steel guitar at the age of 15. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american. Bakersfield sound is a genre of country music from the 1950s and named after its origin in bakersfield, california. His father purchased it at an auction in bakersfield. A performer on the brink of fame, his is a spectacular tale about identity and sacrifice amidst a country music revolution. He regained his ability to sing and performed at his 80th birthday party in 2009.
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. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music, back in the 1990s he wrote a. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Billy mize s story is a spectacular tale about unthinkable personal tragedy amidst a country music revolution that changed the world. Among the many interesting artists are one of the unsung heroes of bakersfield, billy mize, who was portrayed in william j. I didnt know it but ive always been a fan of that bakersfield sound even. With willie nelson, merle haggard, ray price, billy mize. These dark thoughts occurred to me while reading a smart new book about a different california placebakersfieldand its identity as a. 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. Mize moved to bakersfield, california and formed his own band playing local gigs and.
Soninlaw of bakersfield sound legend billy mize will help. 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. Billy taught himself to play and the rest was history. William robert mize april 29, 1929 october 29, 2017 was an american steel guitarist, band. 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 was instrumental in defining the bakersfield sound, the exhilarating, innovative movement that forever changed country music. Archival footage, firsthand accounts, and expert opinions round out a story of high highs and low lows. 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. Find the best bakersfield sound albums on allmusic. Make sure you watch the end when billy joins buck on stage. Origin of country bakersfield, ca origin of country. Oct 29, 2017 the remaining members of the bakersfield sound including merle haggard will celebrate mizes 80th birthday party during a tribute concert. His charm and golden voice are legendary among the insiders.
That bakersfield sound email rockabilly hall of fame. In the 1950s and 60s bakersfield became an unlikely birthplace for a new sound the bakersfield sound. 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. He was the subject of the critically praised 2014 documentary film billy mize and the bakersfield sound. Using telecaster guitars, the singers developed a clean, ringing sound that stood in direct opposition to the produced, stringladen nashville sound. The bakersfield sound buck owens, merle haggard, the. A critically acclaimed documentary chronicling the life of mize and his impact on the country music industry was released in 2015. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound does not yet have u. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. 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. 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. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound official trailer on vimeo. This film isnt just about a music movement its about legacy and the institution of family.
How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music. First printed in the spring 2002 issue of the historic kern published by the kern county historical society. Mize helped stars like buck owens and merle haggard. This fusion gave birth to an exciting, rawedged style of country music known for its piercing guitar and honest, downtoearth lyrics. When billy was 3yearsold, his father, earnest forth, skipped town leaving billy and his mother to suffer the dust bowl depression of kansas. Close up the honky tonks will be released as the albums first single. Of course, there are many theories on how the bakersfield sound developed. 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. 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. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound home facebook. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound merle haggard. In 2001, he was honored by the pioneers of western swing organization. People say theres a literal meaning of the bakersfield sound, they know it when they hear it. Bakersfield music was, by comparison, rawer, twangier and rocked more than just a little.
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. 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. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound trailer youtube. Robert price, editor of the bakersfield californian and author of the upcoming book the bakersfield sound.
Bryce duffy dance hall days ethels old corral cafe, where a band tunes up the bakersfield sound every sunday. While this documentary follows billy s mize s personal story, it also defines and explains the bakersfield sound. 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. 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.
Bakersfield sound 1940 1974 these 10 cds will keep your ears busy picking out old and new favorites, and the accompanying book. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound is now available on dvd at. Check out this never before seen video of buck owens covering billy mize s who will buy the wine. When billy was 3yearsold, his father, earnest forth, skipped town leaving billy. The same could be said of the film itself, a fairly traditional biopic with zest provided by its central character. In search of the bakersfield sound, the country music born here in the 50s and 60s. No one in the audience knows billy has the ability to sing again. Bomar, randy poe, robert price, and dwight yoakam the. Billy mize is heard on 1949s got a chance with you and. New 2019 10cd boxset with 220page hardcover book, 299 tracks telling the story of nashville west. As robert price states in the preface of his longawaited book, the bakersfield sound. 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. Mar 06, 2015 billy mize s contributions to country music shaped the industry. Buy billy mize and the bakersfield sound microsoft store.
I am 37 years old and i have always liked buck owens, dwight yoakam, and merle haggard. Bakersfield sound exhibit book country music hall of fame. Billy mize, second from left, along with fellow bakersfield sound pioneers oscar. 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. A performer on the brink of fame, his is a spectacular tale about. History of the bakersfield sound the official bakersfield. Saunders traces the life story of billy mize, from his triumphs through his tragedies.
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. Billy mizes 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. Vince gill and paul franklin break down the bakersfield sound. To celebrate heres a billy mize original someday when it. The california town of bakersfield is rich with music and oil, and both are still pumping. Mize was a steel guitarist, bandleader, vocalist, songwriter and tv show host. 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.
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. All critics 1 fresh 1 a fairly traditional biopic with zest provided by its central character. Wynn stewart, buck owens, merle haggard and dwight yoakam. Until today i didnt really know what they had in common.
See more of billy mize and the bakersfield sound on facebook. True to mize, it creates something quite electric amidst humble origins. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. 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. 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. Merle haggard, billy mize, bobby durham with matching pompadours in the 1960s. Book and record tells story of iconic bakersfield sound youtube. Our documentary concludes with billy mize standing in front of his loved ones and singing for the first time in over 20 years.
The bakersfield sound was a reaction to the early 60s sweetening of country epitomized by the nashville sound. The trio were among a generation of talented musicians. However, the bakersfield sound is much more than owens and haggard. These families brought the musical styles of oklahoma, colorado, texas and kansas with them. 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, 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. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound loving tribute.
Mize was also the great uncle of rising country artist logan mize. Billy mize s contributions to country music shaped the industry. How a generation of displaced okies revolutionized american music, is available now. Billy mize is heard on 1949s got a chance with you and roy nichols influential guitar playing on 1950s baby blues. 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. 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. 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. Billy mize and the bakersfield sound special features include billy mize performing make it rain exclusive billy mize. Including a larger number of previously unreleased studio and live recordings, radio recordings and demos. 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. 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.
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. By jeff nickell, assistant director kern county museum. Billy mize, a major contributor to the bakersfield sound, died saturday at the age of 88. The bakersfield sound is a genre of country music developed in the mid to late 1950s in and around bakersfield, california. Country music capital of the west 19401974 on discogs.
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