Jean Shepard

Q: I remember hearing the country song “The Tip of My Fingers” when I was a young’un in Upstate South Carolina 50 years ago. I’m old enough to know by now, but shouldn’t that be “Tips”? Thank y’all very much. A: As we’ve written before on the blog, song writers are allowed a lot of leeway in the way they use English. Bill Anderson wrote “The Tip of My Fingers” and released it as a single under that title in 1960. And we won’t fault him for it, even though most people would say “tips of my fingers.” But the original title has apparently bothered some of the artists who’ve recorded the tune over the years. It’s been recorded by Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, Jean Shepard, and others—sometimes under the original title and sometimes as “The Tips of My Fingers.” In fact, singers haven’t always pronounced the title the way it reads on the record label or album cover. For instance, on the album “Roy Clark Sings The Tip of My Fingers” (1963), Clark very distinctly says “tips,” and so do his backup singers. So you’re in good company if the original title bugs you. Here’s an excerpt from Teresa Brewer’s 1966 recording of the song (she says “tip”): I reached out my arms and I touched you With soft words I whispered your name. I held you right on the tip of my fingers But that was as close as I came. Check out our books about the English language

Filed under: Classic Rewind

Nashville, TN -- Country’s Family Reunion, which celebrates the greatest performances, stories and songs of Country music, will debut its newest series this May on the RFD-TV network. Recognizing the long-standing cornerstone of Country music, "Salute to the Opry," will feature performances by Roy Clark, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson, Jan Howard, Jim Ed Brown, John Conlee, Gene Watson, Jean Shepard, Riders in the Sky, George Hamilton IV, The Whites, T. Graham Brown, The Opry Square Dancers, Ray Pillow, Billy Dean, Jimmy C. Newman and Jeannie Seely. These artists will share their personal stories and reminisce about their moments on Country music’s famed stage. "Country’s Family Reunion would be remiss if it did not showcase the legends of Country music’s grandest family," said Larry Black, creator of Country’s Family Reunion. "The ‘Salute to the Opry’ series celebrates these traditions by bringing some of the most prolific members that have graced country music’s most famous stage together in one room to share