The Cradle of the Stars: The Story of the "Louisiana Hayride"
Description:
"'Cradle of the Stars: The Story of the "Louisiana Hayride'" is an hour-long documentary narrated by well-known country music star Hank Williams, Jr., and produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The program explores the Shreveport, Louisiana roots of some of country music's most venerable stars, including Hank Jr.'s famous daddy Hank Williams, and Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Bob Luman, George Jones, Webb Pierce, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, and a host of others. Many of the stars are interviewed in the program. "The 'Louisiana Hayride' was [a] radio show that gave fresh talent a chance to perfect their distinct performance styles before a weekly live audience. During its heyday, between 1948 to 1958, the Hayride rivaled even Nashville's famed Grand Ole Opry in the number of country music careers that it spawned. "Shreveport native and country crooner Faron Young calls the Hayride 'my jumping block' - the very seed that was planted for Faron Young's career.' "Hank Williams, Jr.'s participation in this show has special significance for him. He was born in Shreveport while his famous father was a member of the Hayride cast. Hank Jr.'s own unique singing style was strongly influenced by the hard-driving, honky-tonk music played by his daddy back then. Of the Louisiana Hayride itself, Hank Jr. says 'The Louisiana Hayride has got to be one of the pillars and institutions of country music. In fact, when you get right down to it, the record shows that the Hayride and the Opry, that's where the big people came from.' "Cradle of the Stars: The Story of the Louisiana Hayride' uses old photographs, on location interviews, film clips and live transcripts of old radio show recordings to tell its informative and entertaining story. From the string band sound of the Bailes Brothers, to the rockabilly rhythms of Elvis Presley, the program is a short course in how country music grew up in the 1950s."--1984 Peabody Awards entry form.
