A PLACE CALLED FONTANEL

This past weekend (July 17), my wife and I went to the Fontanel grounds just a few miles from Nashville. Formerly the home of Barbara Mandrell, the complex features the home where the Hall of Famer once lived, a restaurant, a gift shop, and an amphitheater. Now open to the public, the first major musical event was held there last weekend---"Songwriters Sing For Nashville," and what an event it was!



Comprised of many members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall Of Fame, the afternoon was a reminder of why people do the crazy things they do to get into, or stay in, this business. While maybe from a sonic level,the voices aren't quite the same. There's an honesty about the performances that seem to come through.

One of the writers present there was Hugh Prestwood. Back in the 1990s, he wrote a classic for Trisha Yearwood called "The Song Remembers When." With that said.....I thought I would offer my thoughts about the times and places that some of the songs that were performed at the benefit took me back to...if you will indulge me....

"Ghost In This House,"----Having Marty Raybon in studio with me at one of the radio stations I have worked at, playing some of his past work, including this Prestwood classic. Talk about cool!

"Midnight Train To Georgia"----Believe it or not, until I was fourteen, I didn't listen to anything but Country. So, one night, I was coming back home from Nashville, and I heard Gladys Knight's classic version of this Jim Weatherly tune. The next time I was at the record store, I bought a Greatest Hits CD of hers, if that tells you anything!

"I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool"----I have said it before, and I will say it again. Even in Dickson, TN....you were made fun of back in the 80s if you talked too loudly about being a Country fan. I was then, and am now, and am proud of it.Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan nailed this song. I think about those feelings, and I also think of seeing Barbara Mandrell's One Hour Photo Shops all over town back in the 1980s.

"Smoky Mountain Rain"---Another song from the Fleming / Morgan tablet. I think about how many times I played this song over the airwaves of the Interstate Radio Network. I don't know if you can call it a trucking song or not, but it was one of the most-played oldies that we had in the system.

"Country Bumpkin"-----It's funny, and downright strange how you can remember when you heard a song for the first time. I couldn't have been ten years old when my mother bought a tape that had this on it at Woolco's in Terre Haute, Indiana. Don't ask me how I remember, but I do....

"I Can't Make You Love Me"----I remember when Mike Reid recorded his version of this, I thought 'That's as good, if not better than Bonnie Raitt." I still do. He's just that good.

"Elvira"------Back in the first and second grades, we got to take records (?) to school and the teacher would play them. I don't think there was any more played than this one. I remember the rainbow of the MCA logo going around and around on this one.

"There Goes My Everything"-----On a trip to Illinois to see family, I remember riding through one heck of a rainstorm in Bloomington, and this song playing on the radio....Again, it proves you don't select a memory...it selects you!

"If My Heart Had Windows"-----Watching Patty Loveless being inducted into the Opry on TV with my grandmother.

"Strawberry Wine"------Deana Carter jumping into Ricky Skaggs' arms when she won the CMA Award...and the look on his face.....Priceless!

Well, that's a few of my thoughts.....I will say that attending this was a really cool thing. It reminded me of why....in spite of the check sometimes never being in the mail, being let go from a record company job the first day back after Christmas, and all the crazy things we all go through.....at the end of the day, I wouldn't take anything for it......