Wanderers in Wonder

John Ritter display – Texas Country Music Hall of Fame (TCMHOF).

Wandering about the lovely village of Carthage in the ‘Piney Woods’ of East Texas and who do we encounter…John Ritter? Los Angeles born and raised John Ritter. Hollywood lifer, John Ritter. A double take was taken.

Went on to have a pleasant chat with John’s first cousin Tommie Ritter Smith. Tommie was born and raised in the Carthage area. She is a cofounder of the TCMHOF and the current director. Tommie’s uncle and John’s father was one of the legendary Hollywood ‘Singing Cowboys’, Tex Ritter. Tex grew up in another small Texas town about ten miles south of Carthage. John and his family were big supporters of the museum. His widow and children still try to make the annual celebration in August.

Hollywood’s ‘Singing Cowboys’ were popular in film from the 1930’s into the 1950’s. Tex scored big when he was asked to perform the song High Noon for the movie of the same name released in 1952. Singing cowboys on film were on the way out, but Country Music was becoming all the rage on radio.

John Wayne turned down the lead in the movie because he felt the story was veiled criticism of the ‘Hollywood Blacklist’ during the McCarthy Witch Hunt era. Wayne fully supported McCarthy, the Witch Hunt and the Blacklist. Wayne would insist throughout the years that High Noon was the worst Western ever produced.

Well, Gary Cooper won the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Sheriff Will Kane in High Noon. Dimitri Tiomkin’s career was set with his Oscars for Best Musical Score and Best Original Song, High Noon. Tex Ritter hit the charts big time for his rendition of High Noon. Tex’s radio singing career took off. The movie also garnered an Oscar for Best Film Editing. Oh, and the lovely twenty-one year old Grace Kelly was introduced to the film going world. Grace played Sheriff Kane’s young wife Amy in the movie . 

Some of Hall of Famers…

And, of course Willie and Bobbi Nelson.

AIl ‘Hall of Famers’ must have been born in Texas. I asked Tommie how the museum could leave out Texas music immortals Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. After all, when Willie was once asked who were the greatest Texas born Country Song writers, he replied, “Kris is number one, even though while being born in Texas he grew up in California. Townes and Guy would be two and three in no particular order”. Tommie told me Guy Clark was on their list but had not yet made the cut and Townes was not on their list yet. I suggested that the judges take a serious listen to the work of both Townes and Guy.

Carthage, TX is also the hometown of ‘Gentleman Jim’ Reeves whose silky smooth voice scored him hits with songs such as He’ll Have To Go, Four Walls, and Welcome To My World. Jim’s career was cut short at the age of forty when he died in a small plane crash. ‘Gentleman Jim’ was the pilot. Texas performers just seem to have bad luck with aircraft…Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Jim Reeves, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.