Writer's Block, Part 2 - Fred Rose

Today's post is about a true giant in the world of country music: Fred Rose. He was one of the first three men inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. (The other two were none other than Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams). He penned the classic song that provides the title to this website, along with many other tunes made famous by Hank Williams. And he was the first person in the music industry to "discover" Hank Williams' talent, athough he originally hired Hank for his songwriting talents not as a singer.

Beyond discovering Hank, Fred Rose was a key figure in molding Hank's recording career. With country star Roy Acuff, he formed the hugely successful music publishing company Acuff-Rose Music. Finally, as an A&R man for MGM records, Rose oversaw recording sessions by Williams and other iconic country artists such as Bob Wills and The Louvin Brothers.

Learn more about Fred Rose at All Music Guide, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Wikipedia. Read about the special relationship between Fred Rose and Hank Williams here.

Now enjoy some fine Fred Rose compositions...

(1) The title track to this website:

Hank Williams - Setting The Woods On Fire (buy album).

(2) A perfect country song:

Hank Williams - Mansion On A Hill (buy album).

(3) A song Hank made autobiographical:

Hank Williams - I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (buy album).

(4) A classic Bob Wills number about a boy who couldn't stop eating:

Bob Wills - Roly Poly (buy album).

(5) Another Bob Wills favorite:

Bob Wills - Deep Water (buy album).

(6) One of the greatest country songs of all-time:

Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain (buy album).

(7) Another interesting version of the same tune:

Zeitgeist/The Reivers - Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain (out of print).

(8) And, finally, here's one not by Fred Rose, but about him:

Uncle Tupelo - Acuff-Rose (buy album).

[See Writer's Block, Part 1 - Harlan Howard.]