The new supergroups

Remember supergroups? The 1960's concept whereby musicians who'd become famous in different bands got together to create a new bigger and better band. It hardly ever worked - anybody remember Blind Faith? - but I think it's time we bring back supergroups. Maybe the reason it didn't work before was because the members didn't have enough in common.

Bryan White, Clint Black, T. Graham Brown, Red Steagall and Bobby "Blue" Bland would make a colorful combo. How about if Mary Chapin Carpenter, T. G. Shephard, Roger Miller, Gram Parsons, Porter Wagoner and Jeff Cook got together and formed a band composed of people who sound like they'd rather be doing something else for a living?

Not surefire enough? Well, I bet you the quintet of Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Johnny Paycheck, Minnie Pearl and Charlie Rich would be bring in big bucks. Or how about a weather band - Hank Snow, Sonny James, Crystal Gayle, Edgar Winter and Charley Pride.

With apologies to Eric Burdon, wouldn't you love to see a new Animals, with Tracy Byrd, Brady Seals, Jeff Foxworthy, Skeeter Davis, Eddie Rabbitt and Don Henley? Or my favorite potential band, The Mapmakers with Sherry Austin, John Michael Montgomery, Ty England, Jim Lauderdale, Patsy Montana, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Uncle Dave Macon.

My Kitchen Cabinet band is not complete yet but so far we've got Mark Chesnutt, John Berry and Patty Loveless. The Body Parts are just starting to come together with Vince Gill, Freddie Hart and David Ball signing on.

So there you have it, the - I'm sorry, what's that? You're still wondering how Charley Pride fits in with a weather band?

Well, Pride goeth before a fall, doesn't it?