Wichita's Blog

Happy Halloween...

The way it used to be...

I got a TV show...

I got a TV show over at BlueHighways TV.  Here's the press release:

Podcast Star Inks TV Deal

Podcasting’s first breakout star and hillbilly savant, Wichita Rutherford, has once again achieved a first in podcasting.  He was the first podcaster to get a deal with SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the first podcaster to produce a video comedy series and soundtrack (Van Heffer) for the net and iTunes and now its official, he’s the first Podcaster to get his own TV show.  Thursday morning, October 26th he finalized a TV deal with Blue Highways TV.  “I’m so happy I can’t hardly stand it!” says Rutherford.  “Stan Hitchcock and them over at Blue Highways TV have been so good to me and they’re my kind of people.  I’m proud to be a part of what they’re doing.”   BlueHighways TV’s original content is comprised of unique programs that reflect the diversity and spirit of our nation. Viewers can choose from roots music offerings, including bluegrass, gospel and traditional country, as well as entertaining programs about the neighborhoods, art, festivals and celebrations that, interwoven together, define America’s vivid culture and character.   BHTV launched it’s virtual network online last week at BlueHighwaysTV.com and are considered heavy players in the Bluegrass and Country music demographics of the cable and satellite TV markets. “He’s ugly, but he’s funny.”  Says Stan Hitchcock, chairman and CEO of BlueHighways TV.  “All kidding aside, we feel very lucky to have Wichita Rutherford on our team here at BlueHighways TV.  He understands our demographic, fits in perfectly with what we’re doing, and let me just say he’s a lot smarter than he looks.”   What’s the name of Wichita’s new show?  “The Grand Old Time Machine” of course.  The show premieres this summer and will focus on interviews and humor with Bluegrass and Country stars as well as NASCAR drivers.   “The title says it all…” Touts Wichita.  “I don’t think you’ve seen this kind of show before.”  If you're not familiar with "His Preciousness" you can learn all about him at 5MinutesWithWichita.com and WichitasBlog.com.

Philosophy...

Here's something my Dad told me. When he runs across stuff like this he passes it on to me:

   "IF YOU SUCCEED IN LIFE, YOU MUST DO IT IN SPITE OF THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TO PULL YOU DOWN.   THERE IS NOTHING IN THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.

  PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO HELP A MAN WHO CAN'T HELP HIMSELF, BUT AS SOON AS A MAN IS ABLE TO HELP HIMSELF, AND DOES IT, THEY JOIN IN MAKING HIS LIFE AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE."

                                                                                                                                                                                                     E.W. HOWE

The Bluegrass Way...

Sometimes its hard to tell who’s knocking ----
opportunity or temptation.

God helps the man who helps himself.

We all like the person that comes right out and admires us.

My Logo...

There's a fella named Bob Ostrom and oh my goodness gosh amighty me he can draw up some of the most wonderful things you've ever seen.  I get lots of email about who does my logos.  Well, its Bob.  I wish I could say "Well I told Bob I wanted this and that and to do this so 'the people' would understand it and..." but that's not what happened.  I just said "Hello, I'd like a logo please."  And boom!  A few days later here it came.  He does illustrations  for books, comic books and all kinds of things.  Then, I got some good news, which I'll be telling you about next week, and I asked him to do me a logo for it.  We talked and talked and he said "I think I've got it" and BOOM! A few days later here it came.  Perfect!  I can't wait for you to see it.  If you get a chance go over and see what he's done and what he can do.  I'm gonna be having a contest soon and the winner is gonna get a logo done by Bob. Now THAT will be something to win...

Blue Highways TV...

Looky here.  Stan Hitchcock and them over at Blue Highways TV went and gave me my own spot on their site. They law, my mother is gonna lose her mind!  I'm so glad and proud to be a part of what they're doing over there.  They're such good people.  Go watch the stuff they've got showing online. Its really good.  I can't quit...

2 Banjo Poems...

Here's a couple of poems about the Banjo I wrote:

Banjo oh banjo,
you rule my life.
If it weren’t for you,
I’d still have a wife.

Metal rings and metal strings,
should mean pangs, should mean pings.
Add steel and ivory and a cat skin head,
After an hour of that you’ll wish you were dead.

Wichita Rutherford

Stick man Bluegrass Bands...

I can't paint but I can draw a stick man.  Here's a stick man Bluegrass band.  Draw a stick man version of your favorite Bluegrass band or artist
and email it to me and I'll put it on here and everybody can see it.  There's a lot of famous Bluegrass artists that read this blog every day so maybe the artist you draw will see it...

The LAST impression...

Here's the last time I try to do my impression of Ricky Skaggs for anybody.

The Bluegrass Way 10...

Reputation is precious, but character is priceless.

When you’re on stage watch what you say.
Everybody else does.

Always take plenty of time when making a snap decision.

A Bluegrasser with a well rounded character is square in all his dealings.

The Bluegrass Way 11...

A good past is the best thing a person can use as a future reference.

In Bluegrass there’s 3 ways to get a job done:
1.    Do it yourself.
2.    pay someone to do it.
3.    Tell your kids not to do it.

Sign in front of a church:
“The competition is terrible, but we’re still open.”

The Bluegrass Way 9...

A music critic is someone who would have you write it or play it like he would… if he could.

If you’re gonna climb, grab the branches not the apples.

New bands hurt some ears like new shoes hurt some feet.

The Bluegrass Way...

In Bluegrass there are so many great musicians these days that the ladder to success is turning into an escalator.

If you're gonna climb, grab the branches not the apples.

The best cure for a short temper is a long prayer.

Think little, and you’ll stay little.

The Bluegrass Way...

Don’t embarrass your children of front of other people.

Always close you eyes when you kiss your wife/husband.

Tell somebody you like their laugh.

WELCOME! YOU MADE IT!

                                          

I'm so glad you made it!  I'm gonna give away 5 of these 5MinutesWithWichita.com clocks to 5 people out of the first 50 people to subscribe by email.  Just look over in the left column and you'll see the little box to put your address in.  The clockis  as big as a small pizza (10") and it comes with a AA battery.

Your pal,

Wichita

The last of the videos from the IBMA Award Show

This is the last video from the IBMA Award Show.  It features Alison Krauss.

The film they didn't show at the IBMA Awards...

This is one of the short films I did for the IBMA that they didn't have time to show.  See if you think  I look more like Ricky in this one...

The Crib

Look at what the nice folks over there at TheSheepCrib said.

Is it TRUE? Or just a RUMOR?

This is another film bit I did for the IBMA Awards Show.  This is the first of the "Is it True?  Or just a Rumor?"'s.  See if you can guess the right answer before Ricky tells you...

Your pal,

Wichita

IBMA Video things

The IBMA asked me to do some little video things to entertain the audience at the awards show.  Here's the first one...

I forgot to add Cyndi's picture : )

Cyndi Wheeler at the IBMA awards pre-show party.  Here's what CMT said...

We had the best time this year! It was wonderful.

We had the best time at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass this year.   My favorite singer, Cyndi Wheeler, sang at the pre-awards show party and Ed Morris over there at CMT wrote about her at CMT.com.  Here's her picture.  The band that played with her was the same band she's been recording with, Blue Highway along with the rhythm section of Sam Bush's band.  Oh it was so good and there was a big buzz about here all weekend long.  Sorry I've been out of pocket. I've just been swamped with listening to Bluegrass bands all weekend.  Things will be back to normal this week.

Wichita