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Welche Bedeutung AFN mit seinen Sendungen für die Entwicklung der Country Music bei uns und vor allem für jeden einzelnen persönlich hatte, das schildere ich in dem Beitrag "Wie es war - wie es ist Country im Radio" auf dieser Seite. In der Serie "Eine AFN-Chronologie" werden nun in lockerer Folge alle mir zugänglichen Beiträge aus den verschiedensten Publikationen im deutschsprachigen Raum wiedergegeben - Beiträge aus Country Zeitschriften, Country Newsletter etc. und auch aus eigenen Aufzeichnungen. AFN hatte seine Studios in den ursprünglich amerikanischen Besatzungszonen und in West Berlin. Die Nähe der Schweiz zum süddeutschen Raum brachte es mit sich, dass der in der Schweiz ansässige von Charles "Chuck" Steiner betriebene "Ole Hillbilly Drifters"-Club hauptsächlich die Aktivitäten der AFN-Stationen in München, Stuttgart und Frankfurt beleuchtete. Der erste Bericht dieser Serie stammt aus dem Jahr 1957. Anzumerken ist noch, dass die Clubzeitschriften der "Ole Hillbilly Drifters" anfangs in englischer Sprache erschienen, später wurden Beiträge auch in deutscher Sprache abgedruckt. Die Sendezeiten der Country-Sendungen (damals verwendete man noch die Terminologien "Hillbilly Music" und etwas fortgeschritten schon "Country & Western") sind in allen Beiträgen hervorgehoben. Ergänzungen zu dieser Chronologie sind jederzeit willkommen.
Etwa ab Anfang Oktober 1959 übernahm Jim (James F.) Carter beim AFN Munich die Morgensendung "Hillbilly Reveille" von Gary Harmon (AFN Bremerhaven). Ab 16. November 1959 brach dann eine Flut von Wünschen über Jim Carter rein. Ich holte mir meine Lieder auf diesem Wege auf mein Telefunken-Tonbandgerät und legte mir damit, da ich keine Möglichkeit hatte Schallplatten zu kaufen, den Grundstock meiner Country-Sammlung. Es verging kein Tag, an dem nicht irgendeines meiner Wunschlieder über den Äther ging. Ich war da allerdings nicht allein, viele andere deutsche Hörer machten es so.
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EUROPEAN COUNTRY AND WESTERN HITPARADE
8 TOP TUNESAt the 28th of November 1959 the Top Tunes in the Country and Western Music field tabulate as follows:
1 RAY PRICE - HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER
2 HAWKSHAW HAWKINS - I'VE GOT IT AGAIN
3 DON GIBSON - I CAN'T STOP LOVIN' YOU
4 GEORGE MORGAN - LITTLE DUTCH GIRL
5 GEORGE JONES - WHITE LIGHTNING
6 THE BROWNS - HEAVEN FELL LAST NIGHT
7 STONEWALL JACKSON - WATERLOO
8 JOHNNY HORTON - PLAID AND CALICOThese selections are based on the greatest number of requests at the "Hillbilly Reveille" of the AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK (AFN).
Aus: “Country Singin´ and Pickin´ News” der Ole Hillbilly Drifters, Vol. IV, Nummer 15, October 1959
KLUBNACHRICHTEN
Chuck und Bill Bohn haben vom 25.-29.9.1959 in Stuttgart und München unvergessliche Tage verbracht. Sie besuchten mit Martin C. Haerle u.a. die berühmte "Bavarian Grand Ole Opry", sowie AFN München und AFN Stuttgart. Sie hatten auch Gelegenheit alle unsere neuen deutschen Clubmitglieder persönlich zu treffen und sich mit ihnen mehr oder weniger lang zu unterhalten. Sie trafen Donn Reynolds, einen C&W Sänger aus Canada, Jim Carter vom "Hillbilly Reveille", und "Little" Willie und Kipper u.a.m. In München sind Chuck und Bill von "Little" Willie, Star der "Bavarian Grand Ole Opry", ausgezeichnet betreut worden. Eddie Wilson, von dem wir schon in der letzten Clubzeitung berichtet haben, trat mit seiner Band in verschiedenen amerikanischen Clubs auf, wo Chuck und Bill ihn spielen und singen hörten und auch begrüssen konnten. Martin Haerle hat viel zum grossen Erfolg des Aufenthaltes beigetragen.Aus: “Country Singin´ and Pickin´ News” der Ole Hillbilly Drifters, Vol. IV, Nummer 15, October 1959
EUROPEAN COUNTRY AND WESTERN HITPARADE
7 TOP TUNESAt the 9th of April, I960 the Top Tunes in the Country and Western Music field tabulate as follows:
1 HANK LOCKLIN - SEND ME THE PILLOW THAT YOU DREAM ON
2 MARTY ROBBINS - EL PASO
3 JIM REEVES - HE'LL HAVE TO GO
k GEORGE MORGAN - YOU'RE THE ONLY GOOD THING
5 HANK SNOW - THE LAST RIDE
6 DON GIBSON - I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU
7 WEBB PIERCE - NO LOVE HAVE IThese selections are based on the greatest number of requests at the "Hillbilly Reveille" of the AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK (AFN).
Aus: “Country Singin´ and Pickin´ News” der Ole Hillbilly Drifters, Vol. V, Nummer 16, January 1960
PETE´S VICE-CHATTER
Say Partners,
......Yes, you are right, we`re a bit late this time, but still - here we are and I hope you'll be satisfied with our work. If not, by cracky, don't hesitate to reach for pen and paper to let us know, and even if you like this issue of "Country Singin´ and Pickin´ News" we don't mind at all your telling us so. Don't forget, we are always so real glad to hear from you and it certainly won't take too long 'til your postman will drop a line or two from Switzerland in your letterbox.Oh, one reason why we're late with printing this issue is the travelling Chuck and I did through Germany from December 26th to January 4th. We called it: A Hillbilly information trip. No doubt you'll read all details about it in the Editors' Page. We saw and heard such a lot that we'll hardly manage to tell you half of it.
One of the special thrills, however, was our visit at Jim Carter's DJ-show, The "Hillbilly Reveille", on New Year's morning. You know that very time when yours truly got interviewed at 6.25 a.m. might be that I was still half asleep when Joe Arbeiter drove us through silent Munich town to the AFN Studios, but, golly, I tell you I was awake in a second when Jim suddenly called on me and wanted me to step up to the microphone. Well, that was one of those things occuring when you go out for adventures.
It was really interesting, by the way, to see how things work when Jim spins his discs from 6.05 to 6.30 every morning Monday through Saturday, and for that very morning he'd prepared a fine program while his "special guests" were sitting on the sofa near his desk. Some new recordings had arrived shortly before, so we were lucky to hear Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Rock" and Hank Snow's "Chasin´ A Rainbow" for the first time and from so close. The top anyway, and nearly a little sensation for us was to learn that the Theme-Song for the "Hillbilly Reveille" is Bill Clifton's "Cedar Grove", and not some Don Reno and Red Smiley instrumental as we had thought before. Of course, we wrote Bill (Clifton) immediately about it and here's what he answered:
"Happy to learn that the AFN "Hillbilly Reveille" has been using our "Cedar Grove" as a Theme-Song for the past year or so. We use it as our own Theme-Song on stage following one chorus of "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues". Johnny Clark plays the 5-string banjo on this number, as he does on all of our records except about 7 or 8 tunes that Ralph Stanley (of the Stanley Brothers) helped out when Johnny Clark was not able to make the session with us. Johnny was tickled to death to learn that his banjo-pickin' opened and closed the "Hillbilly Reveille".
Now, neighbors, the "Hillbilly Reveille" is still the one and only C&W request program we can listen to. We are up (nearly!) every morning at 6, and have both ears wide open to hear requests from you. But how rarely and seldom it happens that your name is mentioned! There were times when we thought of giving up and considered staying in bed to roll over once more for another hour's sleep. But we couldn't because Jim's show is to good and honest we would have missed it.
How about you know? I bet you are as good members as to send a request to AFN's "Hillbilly Reveille" from time to time. Here's the address:
"HILLBILLY REVEILLE"
c/o ASp Jim Carter
AFN Munich, APO 108, US Forces
Munich GERMANYPlease don't omit to put a dedication for the "Ole Hillbilly Drifters" as this helps to recognize your request and you can be sure to read in the following journal when Jim has played your tune. Not only we over here in Switzerland would be proud of you but Jim also will be thrilled to receive your cards and letters from all over the worldo Okay? Okay! So, we'll keep getting up at six and you won't disappoint us, will you?
Bye for now.
Peter R. Gisin
Aus: “Country Singin´ and Pickin´ News” der Ole Hillbilly Drifters, Vol. V, Nummer 16, January 1960