Oral history interview with D Kilpatrick; 1995 October 16; interview conducted by John W. Rumble. 1995 Oct. 16.

ArchivalResource

Kilpatrick, D;. Oral history interview with D Kilpatrick; 1995 October 16; interview conducted by John W. Rumble.

Oral history interview with D Kilpatrick; 1995 October 16; interview conducted by John W. Rumble. 1995 Oct. 16.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58841242

Music industry executive D Kilpatrick talks about his experiences as manager of the Grand Ole Opry during the late 1950s. Discussion includes the decision to accept the position at WSM, Nashville; WSM's relationship with Jim Denny; the impact of the Philip Morris Show on the Opry; the impact of rock & roll on country music and how he responded as Opry manager; acts he brought to the Opry, including Stonewall Jackson, Johnny Cash, and the Louvin Brothers; special promotions he ran for the Opry; advertising accounts he brought to the Opry; attempts at selling the Opry to television; the formation of the Country Music Association (CMA); Harry Stone's hiring to manage the CMA; early CMA goals; the role of Connie B. Gay and Wesley Rose in establishing the CMA's role within the industry; the development of the Acuff-Rose Artist Corporation and comments on artists managed, including Don Gibson, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Carl Butler; an overview of his move to Warner Brothers and later to Philips Records; his responsibilities as the country sales and promotion director for Mercury in Nashville, including his work with Shelby Singleton; his independent label Athena Record; and highlights from his work with Hickory Records.

3 sound cassettes (2 hours, 28 minutes)

Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center