The current issue of Country Music (October
/ November 1999) slights the greatest singer in the world, Eddy Arnold.
On the cover of the issue is the following:
"THE 12 GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME"
They go on to say the following:
"In this issue, CM strives to spotlight the voices that most define country music."
"We polled music journalists, critics and industry insiders, tallied their picks with ours, and came up with a definitive dozen".
Country Music's choices are as follows:
(01) Hank Williams
(02) Patsy Cline
(03) Ernest Tubb
(04) Lefty Frizzell
(05) Tammy Wynette
(06) Johnny Cash
(07) George Jones
(08) Dolly Parton
(09) Loretta Lynn
(10) Merle Haggard
(11) Willie Nelson
(12) Vern Gosdin
The magazine then lists their choices for "HONORABLE MENTIONS."
(01) Marty Robbins
(02) Bill Monroe
(03) Jimmie Rodgers
(04) Emmylou Harris
(05) Eddy Arnold
(06) Conway Twitty
(07) Faron Young
(08) Webb Pierce
(09) Buck Owens
There you have it. They list Eddy as number (05) under "HONORABLE MENTIONS."
I find it difficult to understand the publishers and editors logic in not recognizing Eddy Arnold as one of the top twelve singers since he is responsible for contributing so much to broaden the scope of country music.
By the way, why isn't Jim Reeves mentioned?
I have no problems acknowledging the talent of the 21 people mentioned as I believe all of them to be very talented. But to omit Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves from "THE 12 GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME" is ridiculous.
Bill Comer
An Excerpt From The Eddy Arnold Biography
Written
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All-Music Group
(www.allmusic.com)
"Eddy Arnold moved hillbilly music to the city, creating a sleek sound that relied on his smooth voice and occasionally lush orchestrations. In the process, he became the most popular country performer of the century, spending more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist. Arnold not only had 28 number one singles, he has more charting singles than any other artist. More than any other country performer of the post-war era, he was responsible for bringing the music to the masses, to people that wouldn't normally listen to country music".
Underline added by Bill Comer