[CoolVibe EXCLUSIVE!] LOCAL tie to this signature oldies song revealed!

Dennis writes,

Wanna hear a neat little story? Not long ago, I was sharing music information with a new friend of mine named Dave. I mentioned the CoolVibe radio program to him and was extremely pleased to find out that he listens to it!

Without any hint of boastfulness or pride, Dave, who lives with his long-time wife in the greater Kalamazoo area, casually told me that his wife, who's name is Sue, was the inspiration for the song, Wake Up Little Susie by the Everly Brothers.

As CoolVibe listeners, I'm sure you can imagine that I was totally floored by what he had just told me. I could hardly believe him...at first. He assured me it was true. His wife, Sue was from the South where this had all occurred back in the 50's. Sue's cousin, named Boudeleau Bryant and his wife, Felice wrote the song. Keep in mind that as Dave is telling me this, he wasn't even sure of how to pronounce "Boudeleau" Bryant's first name! "I know it begins with a B.", he said.

Dave told me that Sue's family was visiting the Bryants at their home in south-central Georgia. As the evening's  activities came to a close and Sue's family prepared to depart from the Bryant household, Sue's mother went over to her young daughter, who was fast asleep and said, "Wake up little Susie. It's time to go". When Boudeleau Bryant heard her say that, it obviously stuck in his mind and shortly afterward, he and his wife Felice went on to compose the signature Oldies song we all know and love!

That is a true story! NOW, let me take it one step further: 

Are you aware of Boudeleau and his wife, Felice Bryant (Susie's cousins)? If not, you should know their significance to not only this story, but music history!

Below, please take a gander at this partial list of songs composed by Boudeleau and Felice Bryant:

All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers

Bird Dog - Everly Brothers

Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers

Sleepless Nights - Everly Brothers 

Come Live with Me - Roy Clark

Rocky Top (Tennessee's State Song!)

Take a Message to Mary

Love Hurts (Yes, THAT 'Love Hurts' by Nazareth!)

Devoted to You (numerous performers)
And of course, Wake Up Little Susie!

...and the list goes on and on. Although no longer with us, Boudeleau and Felice Bryant wrote over 1500 recorded songs and earned 59 country, pop, and R&B music awards.

In 1972, they were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, in 1986, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 1991, into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rockabilly Hall of Fame. All I can say is, Awesome.

And as for my new friend, Dave and his wife, Sue? Well, they were willing to share this story with me and I for one, think it deserves a little "pub" and its appropriate place in the history of pop music.

Now we all know the REAL story behind the song, "Wake Up Little Susie"! Glad to share it exclusively with YOU, our CoolVibe listeners!

By the way, when I told Tim about this, he about keeled over. Couldn't believe it! BELIEVE IT, TIM!!!

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