The Marty Stuart Show

Episode 83 airing February 4, 2012

Guests: Connie Smith and The Sundowners

This show was a tribute to Connie Smithe and her latest album Long Line Of Heartaches. The show opened with Marty saying, "Hi everybody, I'm Marty Stuart. Stay tuned if you will. We have a very special episode of our show. We're celebrating the music of Connie Smith and her band The Sundowners and her project Long Line Of Heartaches. You don't wanna miss it." There was a montage of photographs and video of Connie and Marty's voice saying, "As the title of her song says, she was born to sing. Constance June Meador Smith arrived in Nashville in March of 1964 and began her recording career at RCA Victor Studios by making history. Connie's 'Once A Day' became the first debut single by a female country artist to reach #1 where it remained for an unprecedented eight weeks. Fifty-two albums later and after a thirteen-year absence from recording, Connie Smith returned to Nashville's historic Studio B to record what has been called a truly modern masterpiece from one of the most influential singers in the history of country music. Long Line Of Heartaches is truly Connie Smith at her best."

Eddie Stubbs said, "And now, please make welcome Miss Connie Smith and all The Sundowners." Connie sang "Anymore."

After a commercial break, Eddie promoted Connie's Long Line Of Heartaches album. After another photograph and video montage, Marty said, "Welcome back to The Connie Smith Show. I'm Marty Stuart. Glad to be Mr. Connie Smith, too." Connie said, "Thank ya, I'm glad you are." Marty said, "Yes ma'am. Yes ma'am. I love your band The Sundowners." Connie said, "Me, too." Marty continued, "One of the last of the great country bands in this town. How 'bout a hand for The Sundowners. Mr. Rod Hamm, Mr. Gary Carter, Mr. Ric McClure on the drums, dangerous Rick Wright on the guitar, with a little help from Mark Casstevens, one Superlative Apostle Paul, and how 'bout a hand for the Superlative Strings in their Manuel clothes. Wonderful. Well my opinion is every band needs a theme song." Connie said, "Yes." Marty continued, "And I noticed The Sundowners didn't have one so I wrote one." Connie said, "I love it." Marty said, "Is that okay?" Connie said, "I love it." Marty continued, "Well, Kris did the strings. She arranged the strings and did a beautiful job so how 'bout I get out of the way and Mr. McClure will take us off and we'll do a brand new piece for the first time, ladies and gentlemen. The Sundowners theme .... 'Waitin' On Sundown'. How 'bout it, ladies and gentlemen."

Marty said, " 'Waitin' On Sundown'. Sundowners, the Superlative Strings." Audience applauds and Marty is on stage with Connie. "All right. How 'bout you do that song that took us about fifteen years to write baby." Connie said, "Let do ... you mean the one called 'Blue Heartaches'?" Marty said, "That's the one. Sing it like ya mean it."

After a commercial break, Marty and Connie were on stage. Marty said, "Welcome back. If you're just joinin' us, I'm Marty Stuart. This is Connie Smith. And our sponsor for the show is the great state of Mississippi. The Governor made you an honorary Mississippian, didn't he?" Connie said, "He did." Marty said, "How 'bout a hand for the Gov's big decision. Mississippi's considered the birthplace of America's music. The state hosts an impressive array of historical stops that run throughout on the Blues and Country Music Trails. Nearly 200 places and counting. Connie, one stop that I'm a little partial to ... the Blues Trail Marker in honor of Pops Staples that stands in Winona, Mississippi. I love Pops and all the Staples family. Now Winona is in Montgomery County. Seventy-five miles down the road is Neshoba county which is the county seat of my hometown of Philadelphia. Also the home to the Mississippi band of Choctaws. I'm a little partial to the Choctaw Reservation, too. That's where I saw you the first time and fell in love on the spot." Marty laughs. "We have lots of friends there, don't we." Connie said, "We do." Marty continues, "Have a new friend that I'd like for us to send our well wishes to. Chief Phyllis Anderson, the chief of Mississippi's band of Choctaws. Phyllis is in the American history books now as the first woman to ever lead the tribe. Chief Anderson loves her people and that's what matters the most. So how 'bout a hand for dear ole Mississippi, Pops Staples, Chief Anderson, our friends the Choctaws and all the good people of Philadelphia, Mississippi." Connie said, "Yes." Marty said, "You know what I'd love to hear?" Connie said, "What's that." Marty said, "I'd love to hear you and The Sundowners do a song right now. Would you go over there and get your mike ready and talk about The Sundowners." Connie said, "I'd love to. This is one called 'The Pain Of A Broken Heart'."

Connie said, "Oh yeah." Eddie Stubbs said, " 'The Pain Of A Broken Heart'. Marty Stuart and Connie Smith wrote that together. Of course Connie doin' a great job with it today. Gospel music through the years has been an important part of Connie's music, her stage shows, but more importantly, her life. Here's Connie Smith with some very special guests." Connie said, "Thanks, Eddie. We do have some very special guests today. It's my daughters. My daughter Julie, Jodi and Jeanne. They're gonna help me out on this song." They performed "Take My Hand."

After a commercial break, Eddie promoted Connie's Long Line Of Heartaches CD. Eddie said, "And now back to Marty Stuart and Connie Smith." Marty said, "Thank you, Eddie Stubbs. Connie, that may be one of the biggest Connie Smith fans in the world. How 'bout a hand for Mr. Eddie Stubbs." Connie said, "We love him. He's part of our family." Marty said, "Yes he is part of our family. Sure enough. And so are The Sundowners and Julie and Jeanne and Jodi and the Superlative Strings and Apostle Paul and Mark Casstevens. How 'bout a hand for everybody on the show today. Eddie Stubbs calls you the Rolls Royce of country singers. I go along with that. And I tell ya what, I know from lovin' you and livin' with you that when you sing, good things happen. Different things happen. And I'm so proud of your record Long Line Of Heartaches. Honored to be a part of it.And there's one song in particular on here that we both have a fondness for, right?" Connie said, "Yes, our friend Johnny Russell wrote this song." Marty said, "It's called 'Ain't You Even Gonna Cry'. To close out our show tonight, how 'bout a hand for Miss Connie Smith and all the Sundowners, ladies and gentlemen."

Marty said, "Yeah. That's great, Constance. On behalf of Connie Smith and The Sundowners, all the cast tonight, I'm Marty Stuart sayin' thank you for comin'. Don't forget Long Line Of Heartaches. Great job, baby. "


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