I wrote a country music column for several newspapers in the past. Here are some of the questions that people would write in and want answers to. I will share some of them with you from time to time.

Q. How many musicians played on A Whole Lot of Shakin Goin On?
A. Three. Jerry Lee Lewis on piano, Roland James on guitar, Jimmy Vanton on drums.

Q. Who played lead guitar on Dale Hawkins La-Do-Da-Da?
A. Joe Osborne.

Q. How many records has “Rock Around The Clock sold?”
A. Two hundred million.

Q: What it the favorite sport of country singer Jerry Reed?
A: Jerry’s favorite sport is fishing.

Q: Can you tell me where Steve Warner is from and what were some of his early influences?
A: Dottie West, Bob Luman, and Chet Atkins

Q: What is TG Sheppard’s real name, and did he at one time record for Motown Records?
A: He real name is Bill Browder. He had a hit with the “Devil In The Bottle” on Motown records.

Q: Gene Sheppard was one of he early female singers in traditional country music to make it big can you tell me who discovered her and when did she become a regular on the Grand Ole Opry?
A: Hank Thompson got Gene a contract with Capitol Records in 1953. She became a regular on the Grand Ole Opry in l956.

Q: This question isn’t exactly country, but since the Jolly Green Giant does seem SOMEWHAT country. Can you tell me who was the voice of the Jolly Green Giant?
A: The big HO! HO! HO! was the voice of Len Bresslar of Kansas City. He also did the voice of Kellogg’s Tony The Tiger and Dig-um the frog for Sugar Smacks.

Q: What can you tell me about country singer Charlie Pride?
A: Charlie Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi on March 8, l938, the same hometown of Harold Dorman. He played professional baseball for the Memphis Red Sox in l954 until he was injured, then he took up country music. He was discovered by Red Sovine, who was doing a show in Montana. Red brought Charlie to the attention of RCA Records the rest is history.

Q: Did Jerry Lee Lewis play piano on Carl Perkins recording of “Matchbox” and did he also play piano on Billy Lee Riley’s recording of Red Hot, recorded at Sun Records in l957?
A: Yes to both questions.