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Any country music fan longing for tunes from the good old days need look no further than Kings County’s own Frank Whitty’s latest CD.
Mr Whitty’s second CD, entitled ‘Real Country’, offers up some of the classic songs that made legends of country music artists such as Sammy Kershaw, Moe Bandy and George Jones, who passed away earlier this year after a career that spanned more than 50 years.
“I put ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ on the CD,” Mr Whitty said, referring to inarguably one of the most well-known tunes by the late country music superstar.
“And I’m happy I put it on there because he was always an idol of mine growing up and all through the years,” he said.
The longtime country music devotee said the title of his latest release was inspired by the music he grew up listening to.
“The title ‘Real Country’ comes from the old-style country music by guys like Merle Haggard, Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings,” he said. “All the old guys that sang traditional country music. Not the stuff you hear these days.”
Mr Whitty said he prefers to sing the old-style country because it’s lasted throughout years, through all the changes in country music.
“A lot of the stuff you hear today is gone tomorrow. It has no longevity,” Mr Whitty said. “Whereas the songs George Jones played are still popular today.”
Mr Whitty said many of the crowds he plays to appreciate hearing the old hits because it’s the stuff they can relate to from their younger days.
“People seem to really like the older country music, back when all they had was a piano, a guitar and a steel guitar. To me, that’s what real country is, ” Mr Whitty said.
“And it tells a story,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not always a good story, but that’s what life’s about.”
It took Mr Whitty most of the winter to put together the latest collection of his favourite songs. He did it with the help of a name not unknown to the Island’s music scene, Serge Bernard.
The CD was mixed and produced by the popular Island bluegrass artist, who co-hosts ‘Bluegrass Island’ - a one-hour radio show that broadcasts every Sunday evening at 9pm on CFCY.
“For the last month or so Serge has been playing a song off the CD and promoting it on his show,” Mr Whitty said, “in preparation for its release.”
The lifelong Farmington resident has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old, eventually becoming a popular guest at many ceilidhs and benefit concerts in and around his community.
Now he travels all across the Island, performing at shows as far as Hunter River, Kensington and Seaview.
“Pretty much if the phone rings, I’ll go,” Mr Whitty said.
Mr Whitty released his first CD in 2010. It sold 1,000 copies, a number he never thought imaginable.
Since then, fans have been asking about his next release.
“I ordered 500 copies this time,” Mr Whitty said. “A lot of people see me at the shows and ask me about it (the CD),” Mr Whitty said. “So now, pretty well anywhere I go, I’ll have them with me if anybody asks for one.”
Copies can be purchased at Tina's Cut Above in Montague, the Esso in Cardigan, or by contacting Mr Whitty at frankwhitty_50@hotmail.com. They’ll eventually be for sale in local stores, too - like Home Hardware in Souris, he said.
When asked if he’s planning on making a third CD, Mr Whitty said he’ll let his fans decide.
“I’ll keep going as long as they keep wanting them,” he said.
Photo: Frank Whitty, who got his first “real” guitar when he was 12, recently released his second CD entitled ‘Real Country’. On it he plays some of his favourite old-style country songs from legends like Sammy Kershaw, as well as George Jones’ ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’. Mr Whitty’s CD is available now. Melanie Jackson photo
First appeared in The Eastern Graphic June 6, 2013
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