John Permenter
Roots - The Songs My Father Loved

Hitsound Records
© 2001

	Shotgun Boogie
	Gone, Gone, Gone

John's love of Country music comes from his father, who grew up in East Texas listening to Hank Williams on the "Louisiana Hayride" radio show. His childhood was filled with the sound of his father's favourite artists: Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roger Miller and others.

In 1973, John took up playing the fiddle after he heard Johnny Gimble playing on a Bob Wills record. Four years later in 1977, after hearing Johnny Paycheck sing "Take This Job and Shove It," he did just that, he quit his construction job and started playing and singing for a living.

Gaining his musical education in the honky tonk's and dance halls across Texas, John later traveled with Johnny Bush, as his "front man," later working as a featured singer at Gilley's nightclub in Pasadena, Texas.

In 1987 John joined Clint Black's band and toured with him for two years, before later joining Moe Bandy's band in 1990 and settling in Branson, Missouri, where he worked both as a featured performer and as a sideman for such artists as Moe Bandy, Johnny Lee, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and others.

In 1995 John decided to go solo after Liz Anderson (mother of Lynn) gave him a song, "Everybody's Gotta Run Their Own Railroad". The song was to become the title cut of his first album, which was very well received in the UK.

For the past 7 years, John spends about four months per year touring overseas, mostly in Holland and the U.K., playing the Country club circuit, Linedance venues, Festivals, and Theatres

He has always dreamed of making an album of songs that his Father introduced him to when he was young, and "Roots - The Songs My Father Loved" is it. The album was recorded in Austin, Texas and contains10 tracks of classic and well known country songs.

Kicking off with a fine version of Tennessee Ernie Ford's, "Shotgun Boogie" John takes us on a musical journey back to his childhood as he follows up with the fast paced, Harlan Howard penned "Gone, Gone Gone" a track I have previously heard by Glen Campbell, but I know has also been recorded by many others.

There's also a couple of fun songs on here as he turns in good version's of Shel Silverstein's "Marie LaVeau" a former #1 for Bobby Bare in 1974 as well as Roger Miller's humorous tale of a couple of kids trying out home made booze in "Chug-A-Lug."

Hank Williams is represented well on the album with good covers of "Lost Highway," Ramblin' Man" and one of my favourite 'Hank' songs, "Settin' The Woods On Fire." I also enjoyed John's rendition of "Whispering Pines" and "Saddletramp" a couple of tracks that should go down well with fans of the western side of the music.

Up to know, I haven't had the chance to see John in a live show, but after listening to this very enjoyable album, I will certainly be making sure I put that right at the first opportunity.