Bobby Bones: “If You Hold On To Your Roots, You Don’t Grow.”
I don’t think that’s how that phrase goes, Bobby.
The reason much of country music, bluegrass, blues, folk, and other older genres are referred to as “roots” is because these vital influences to American music are the building blocks for most or all of the music people enjoy today. Before there was rock and roll, and before there was hip-hop, roots music paved the way for all popular music genres.
Just like a tree, without deep and strong roots, American music would have not grown as big and lush, and into the most dominant, popular, and influential music in the entire world. And without roots, American music would implode from a lack of nutrients, vitality, support, new talent, and strong ties to the history of the music that make music not just entertainment, but an intertwined experience to who we all are as people. Music isn’t just a pastime, it is part of our cultural identity.
Illustrating and explaining music as “roots” has been happening for years, and iHeartMedia morning show personality Bobby Bones couldn’t have butchered the idea more when broaching the subject as part of a broader dissertation on Sturgill Simpson’s recent comments about the disrespect of Merle Haggard.
Though generally Bobby Bones offered a measured and thoughtful approach, saying on his August 30th show, “I like Sturgill Simpson. I respect him, because he’s been able to do it pretty much independently … I also love it when artists speak their mind. I love the fact that he’s speaking out, even if I disagree with him,” Bones went on to say…
“There is no such thing as ‘actual country music.’ … That’s your definition of country music. Don’t put it on me. So I have a problem with that.”
And then he also makes the ridiculous assertion, “If you hold on to your roots, you don’t grow.”
Not only is this statement misguided, it is a bastardization of a timeless idea that has been around for eons. Dale Watson may have the most famous utterance of the phrase at the moment, pulled from his song “Nashville Rash” that goes, “You can’t grow if you rip your roots out of the ground.” The trophy of his Ameripolitan Awards is of roots extending out of a microphone to symbolize the importance of the roots of the music.
For years roots artist Ray Wylie Hubbard had a radio show called “Roots and Branches” where he regularly talked about the importance of cultivating and keeping the roots in music so the branches could grow strong and wide.
And as Tony Rice once said, “Music should be allowed to grow and flourish but at the same time hold true to it’s roots and maintain the essence of what makes it that type of music.”
And it’s not just in country and blues music. The famous group The Roots take their name from the fact that they overtly portray how jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, reggae, and other roots influences incorporate and lend to today’s hip-hop and popular music.
And it’s not just in music, either. The illustration of a tree with strong roots giving way to wide branches has been used in business, education, and many other sectors of human life to show the importance foundations play to creating long-term sustainability.
Later Bobby Bones goes on to say, “You can always remember your roots and be influenced by your roots, and even continue to do it … if that’s your thing, that’s great. But to chastise an entire format for growing, that’s not a good look.”
But without the roots of country, without the work that Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and even later Garth Brooks that helped grow country music into the popular genre it is today, there would be no format for Florida Georgia Line or Luke Bryan to enjoy, and allow them to gain superstar status.
Bobby Bones says later, “We try to focus on our show too to bring in these unsigned independent artists and try to get them deals or let them be known,” and this is true. Despite continued missteps by Bobby Bones, he has made efforts since switching over from pop to understand country music and attempt to be a positive force in the marketplace. He even invited Sturgill Simpson to appear on his show. But like he also said, “We are the biggest country morning show in the world with the most influence,” and so when he mischaracterizes the importance of roots music and for artists and formats to hold on to those roots, it can have a corrosive effect.
Everyone thought that the rock and roll format would last forever and remain the most dominant format in music. Now it’s splintered, divided, and tough to define, primarily because it became the catch-all phrase for popular American music, similar to what country music has become today. Country music will always survive, but without holding on to its roots, without defining its borders, and without bringing in new listeners sustainably and in a way that teaches them about the roots and history of the music instead of luring them in for a short-term sugar high, it doesn’t matter how big your format gets. Because without deep roots holding and supporting you, it could fall over and implode in a moment’s notice.
seak05
September 6, 2016 @ 8:42 am
Hmmm, to me the only way to grow is to know your roots. I think the cool thing about country music is the variety. And people can and do think that different things are country music. I don’t really think Jason Isbell is country, but it’s ok for others to disagree, I’m probably more ok with Kelsea then others, and that’s ok for people to disagree with as well. It’s probably also important to note that country has always been varied, and this is not the first time these conversations are taking place. If a saving country music blog had existed in the 1960;’s you’d probably see a lot of the same comments, about people we now absolutely consider country.It is important for any musical genre to continue to evolve, and musical genre’s (imo) are best when you have a mixture of more traditional & boundary pushers, both succeeding.
BUT for the boundary pusher’s to be successful, for the genre to evolve, rather than die, the people doing the boundary pushing have to have a knowledge and appreciation of the roots, that has to be the foundation on which it is built. And that’s why Bobby’s comments are BS.
Tim
September 6, 2016 @ 8:47 am
I think we should be careful to use phrases like “the boundary pushers”. That to me gives a level of credibility to a group that isn’t pushing anything. They are doing the rock bottom easiest thing possible. And they are doing it with zero regard for the roots.
Why doesn’t Bones push the boundary of music row and play a weeks worth of music from Ray Wylie, Sturgill, Whitey, Jason Eady, Lukas Nelson,…. That would be growth.
seak05
September 6, 2016 @ 12:32 pm
To me Sturgill is a boundary pusher. And that’s why I gave a definition of boundary pusher. I don’t think FGL is really a boundary pusher (though Cruise might be), because I don’t think FGL has any real knowledge of country roots.
(I will say I think you can push country boundaries by making pop-country. I think musically that is as legitimate as pushing boundaries to make rock-country. Even though I personally prefer rock-country).
RevReb
September 8, 2016 @ 8:58 am
83 yr old Ralph Emery should kick Bobby Bones’ butt.
Tim
September 6, 2016 @ 8:44 am
Bobby, it isn’t growth. It is simply about money. Flat out money. Where is the money….teenagers and 22 year old bros. They have the smartphones. Spit out the shit so all you have to do is click, and each hour you have something newer/trendier than your friend.
I would argue Sturgill has gown the music far more, although in Bobby’s eyes and ears it seems he is just the same at 40 years ago.
So many of the REAL artists have grown the music. But the Bobby Bones industry types need what? To reach the teen boppers and bros, so they can have a lucrative coat tail career.
That’s just the way the industry has always worked. I get upset when guys like Bobby try to call it growth.
Two Time Slim
September 6, 2016 @ 8:51 am
From the ‘about’ section on his website for the book Bare Bones.
“Yet despite the glamour, fame, and money, Bobby has never forgotten his roots, the mom and grandmother who raised him, the work ethic he embraced which saved him and encouraged him to explore the world, and the good values that shaped him.”
Trigger
September 6, 2016 @ 8:53 am
Good find.
Kale
September 6, 2016 @ 10:29 am
Bobby Bones is the textbook definition of narcissitic personality disorder. He is nowhere near famous enough to have his own book. He thinks an uncultured, untalented, painfully ordinary pop pipsqueak can waltz into another genre he knows nothing about and decide it’s future? This guy, of all people, thinks he knows what country music is and where it should go? Face it Bobby, you’re a loser, and you know nothing about what is and isn’t country music.
MH
September 6, 2016 @ 8:55 am
Clear Channel has Bobby Bones by the root.
chuck
September 6, 2016 @ 9:10 am
So let me get this straight……so if there is no definition of ‘actual’ country in this metrosexual pop turned country poser’s view then I guess he also can’t figure out what constitutes:
‘actual’ reggae
‘actual’ classical
‘actual hip-hop
‘actual’ blues
‘actual’ tejano
‘actual’ insert genre
Fat Freddy's Cat
September 6, 2016 @ 9:14 am
Growth without roots is just a cancerous tumor.
The Senator
September 6, 2016 @ 9:20 am
He’s a corporate tool, nothing more, nothing less. Of course the corporate types want to cut any roots connections out. It makes it much easier to promote monogenre flavor of the week “artists” within a planned obsolescence model for maximum short term profit if there are no standards to hold the art to, no reference points to draw upon, no traditions to uphold, and no lineage to trace. All you have to do is find a photogenic young singer, fire up the protools and autotune, and grease the wheels. When authenticity is seen as a detriment to “growing the brand,” the brand no longer means anything.
Bobby Bones can take a long walk off a short pier.
Amanda
September 6, 2016 @ 9:29 am
Bobby Bones is a fucking idiot.
Rob
September 6, 2016 @ 9:32 am
People think we don’t want music to change at all. Change is good, just don’t pull your roots out of the ground and throw them behind. I want country music to evolve over time, but it still has to be actual country music. Doesn’t mean it all has to sound like Hank Williams. I wouldn’t like for it to all sound like him
karl
September 6, 2016 @ 9:37 am
The thing is, changing country music to sound pop is not growing.
The Senator
September 6, 2016 @ 9:51 am
He’s not interested in growing the art, he’s interested in growing the brand.
Tom Smith
September 6, 2016 @ 10:18 am
Could you imagine someone in Jazz or Bluegrass making an idiotic statement like that?
BwareDWare94
September 6, 2016 @ 11:03 am
Well fine then, mr. Bones. I’m going to record a Swedish Melodeath album and call it country and if you actually believe the shit that comes out of your mouth, you won’t refute my claim.
Corncaster
September 6, 2016 @ 1:42 pm
If we follow Mr. Bones’s logic, all traditional music is by definition “stunted.”
What a dumb idea of culture.
Pass.
Mike W.
September 6, 2016 @ 2:05 pm
Well, the people who actually like mainstream, modern Country music at this point probably are pretty dumb. So, I guess he’s just playing to his audience.
There was a time that using the excuse “well, people just know what they are exposed to” I actually bought. Now though, with virtually everyone having a mini-Computer in their pocket that is capable of playing music from wherever, whenever or whomever, there is simply no excuse to listen to mainstream Country music unless you enjoy your intelligence being hammered with a sledgehammer every 3 minutes.
Lucas
September 6, 2016 @ 2:14 pm
I am perfectly fine with some changes made to country music. For me, variety is what makes country music great from dark tales to upbeat jams to heartbreaking songs. The problem is though, there is such as thing as making too much changes to the point where it’s not country, which is why I disagree with Bobby Bones’ comment. If I want to order a steak, I want to be served steak. I don’t want to be served something like broccoli instead. That would be really stupid.
Corncaster
September 6, 2016 @ 2:29 pm
Did Bones grow up touching the actual soil? Could he tell a pea vine from Virginia creeper? His idea of culture is what you get when you lose contact with cultivation entirely.
Jen
September 6, 2016 @ 2:59 pm
What a dumbass…without roots, you DON’T GROW! But please, Bobby…HOLD ON TO THOSE ROOTS, BABY!
Jen
September 6, 2016 @ 3:35 pm
This from someone who thought it was cute to make his assistant DJ, AMY eat something off Lunchbox’s ass! ON LIVE RADIO! They thought that was hilarious…needless to say, I changed the station!
Harpo
September 6, 2016 @ 4:20 pm
Piss on this clown
Erik North
September 6, 2016 @ 4:22 pm
Bobby Bones is obviously as nutty as a fruitcake, because he either doesn’t know, or seems to be totally oblivious to, country music’s rich history of evolution while staying true to its roots, which, up until this present time, it has been able to do. During at least one of those times, namely during the first onslaught of rock and roll in the 1950s, it pretty much HAD to evolve in order to stay alive, but it never lost sight of the soil from which it sprang, and it grew and prospered.
But we are now in that era where we have a whole generation that has never known Hank, Merle, Johnny Cash, Willie, or Waylon as anything other than punch lines or name-drops in a song, by performers who seemingly haven’t a clue as to the history of the music they are allegedly involving themselves in. And regardless of the independent artists he may spotlight on his show, Bones, with that crassly ignorant attitude of his, seems to me to be as much a contributor to country music’s problems as all the faux R&B/rap/hip-hop/EDM/pop-with-twang artists, and those dreaded caps-on-backwards Bromeisters with their obsessions about drinking gallons of beer with hot chicks on tailgates choking up airspace on the radio….not to mention those dirt roads too, with all that dust.
So country music must “evolve”? Mr. Bones, it has in the past, but it isn’t doing so today; and a lot of listeners realize that. I doubt that YOU do, however.
And while we’re at it–for a good case to be made for country music’s “evolution”, try the TRIO collection by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, three of the most influential women in any form of American music over the last fifty years, coming out this Friday. .
indk
September 6, 2016 @ 5:13 pm
The same brain-dead dumbasses that watch the Kardashians and made them famous listen to the Bobby Bones Show.
albert
September 6, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
”I am perfectly fine with some changes made to country music. For me, variety is what makes country music great from dark tales to upbeat jams to heartbreaking songs” .
If you START with a country song- a country lyric/narrative / sentiment – then sure …you can dress it up a little and take it out . But if you DON”T even have a country song to start with , a banjo ain’t gonna make it one ( ….I’m looking at you Mr. Urban ) .
albert
September 6, 2016 @ 6:41 pm
Its interesting to hear industry bottom feeders try to defend what’s happened with radio when half of the ACTUAL artists involved in the creative and performing end can’t defend it…… and are even slamming it. When did a DJ’s perspective become more credible than REAL artists’ making REAL roots-based country music ?
Rod Johnson
September 6, 2016 @ 8:22 pm
I’m sick of this dickbag.
Waylon van smack
September 6, 2016 @ 8:42 pm
I have a root Bobby can hold on too.
HayesCarll2323
September 6, 2016 @ 11:32 pm
Well, I have no problem with this being all about money. This is nothing new. The radio and most performers exist in order to make money. I am all about the free market. If there is a demand for this type of music, then so be it. What kills me is this douche bag trying to get deep and explain stuff and justify things. I’d rather him just say, “Hey, the kids like it. People want it. It makes money.” I would actually have respect for him.
Mike
September 7, 2016 @ 10:46 am
My hatred for this goddamned prick grows by the minute. Bobby Bones and his BCG’s can go play in traffic!!!!
WestTexasRain
September 7, 2016 @ 11:37 am
Bobby bones who? I’m from Texas so I have no idea who this person is. Is he trying to be famous or something? Anyways country music radio is trash has been for years. You’ll never hear Mo Pitney,William Michael Morgan, Michaela Ann,Etc,Etc actual country singers on the radio. Hell Black Stone Cherry (I love Black Stone Cherry) is more country than what you hear on country radio….. Mainstream music of all genres is screwed…
Texas country/Red Dirt is where it’s at if you want actual country music that sounds like country music.
Bradley Olson
September 7, 2016 @ 4:03 pm
William Michael Morgan does have a song on the radio, I Met a Girl.
Bradley Olson
September 7, 2016 @ 4:03 pm
William Michael Morgan does have I Am A Girl on the radio
Marky Mark
September 8, 2016 @ 5:50 am
I agree re Black Stone Cherry. Both there last album and recent album had country style songs. In particular, someone interested in hearing this should check out The Rambler from the new album and Hollywood in Kentucky off Magic Mountain. That’s the way to mix rock and country right.
Melissa
September 7, 2016 @ 8:27 pm
I hope this guy comes back in his next life as a tree.
Ray
September 8, 2016 @ 9:09 am
I agree with some of the comments BB made. If rock music held on to its roots, everything would still sound like Elvis and The Beatles. I am not a fan of a lot of today’s country, but I think the pendulum is moving back to be more traditional. ZBB is going back to their “Foundation” roots. Chris Stapleton has knocked down a few doors. People like Sam Hunt were NOT even acknowledged at this year’s CMA nominations. I would love to see a few more success stories, like Margo Price.
Trigger
September 8, 2016 @ 9:20 am
Country music has always been about preserving traditions and mores, while rock and roll has always been about breaking traditions and mores. That’s what separates the two genres historically. It doesn’t mean one is wrong or right, but that’s a fundamental difference between the two.
Stringbuzz
September 8, 2016 @ 10:36 am
This is funny to me.. I jumped in the car yesterday morning, wife had radio on, and I caught like the final seconds of some BB segment..
All I thought I heard was And thank you Luke Bell for coming into the studio.
I almost shyt, I couldn’t believe BB would be giving some time to Luke Bell.
I vowed to try and find it after..
Well, it wasn’t Luke Bell 🙁
It was Like Pell from the freaking Bachelorette
Of course it was..
PimpinJoy
September 9, 2016 @ 12:15 am
I didn’t even finish reading all of these comments because everything I read was nothing but judgmental name-calling. I’ve heard enough of that out of Hillary Clinton & Donald Trump the past year to last me several lifetimes! Not to mention, you are talking about someone that I would venture to say none of you have even met in person to know what he’s like. Do you want people taking something you say out of context and crucifying you for it?? I doubt it!! You all want to talk crap about Bobby Bones and say that he doesn’t know anything about county music, its history or its roots. He didn’t say we should throw out or cut off the roots. He simply said “if you hold on to your roots you don’t grow.” Has anyone ever thought maybe he just meant you have to be flexible and willing to move around?? No, because you’re too busy blasting him to make yourselves look “cool”. Good for you all as you do your part to continue the downward spiral of society by shaming people and and having unkind hearts. Bobby Bones, his entire crew, as well as numerous artists (who are happy to help any time he asks them to) have raised MILLIONS of dollars for charities such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, cancer research, flooding victims in Louisiana & Texas, tornado victims in several states, numerous animal shelters and even our military men and women, just to mention a few. What have you all done for these groups or just to help out your neighbor in their time of need?? If we could all just quit judging each other and be a little more kind, the world would be a much better place! Can we not just all enjoy the music we love and freaking BE NICE?!?!???
The Senator
September 9, 2016 @ 7:58 am
For someone who castigates others for “judgmental name-calling,” you sure seem to engage in quite a bit of it in your rant. I’m not criticizing him to make myself “look cool.” I don’t think anyone here on this anonymous comment section has that as their goal.
You say that we bring about the downfall of society by “shaming people and having unkind hearts,” and then turn around to shame us for not being as prolific in charity work as we should and assuming that everyone here is operating out of malice.
It’s nice that Bobby Bones is involved in charity. That doesn’t mean we should let him off the hook when he says something that hurts the music we love.
Mike
September 10, 2016 @ 7:14 am
I am curious, Joy, what department of the Clear Channel Radio offices do you work at?
the pistolero
September 12, 2016 @ 6:40 am
No, because you’re too busy blasting him to make yourselves look “cool”.
No, we’re all blasting him because he’s a pretentious, arrogant tool who doesn’t really give a crap about country music beyond the extent it fills his pockets, much like most mainstream “country” artists these days.
Well, “tool” might not be so accurate to describe him, because a tool is defined as something useful, and Bobby Bones is the furthest thing from such.
thatguy
September 11, 2016 @ 10:10 pm
Bobby plays current rap and pop hits during his airtime, blasting your speakers with some lame rap song, he does not acknowledge those unsigned so easily, he wants a certain amount of pop in it, and sales apparently, look at what he did to “buy me a boat” launched a career alright, but he does not answer mails, tweets from unsigned artists, or suggestions from people about unsigned artists. I would know. He is controlled like any other radio puppet out there doing what he is told to do by his boss, format managers etc.