Reflecting….on a rainy afternoon….Somewhere between here –
Dickson, I guess you would say….and there…Fairview, where I am broadcasting
football tonight. I am kind of in a nostalgic mood this afternoon. Though I
live and work in Centerville, I still conduct most of my business in Dickson,
and still have a lot of friends there. I try not to think about there too much,
as at times, it feels my name has been erased from the timeline there.
But, that’s neither here nor there. I am reflecting because
this afternoon, I am reminded why I got into the profession I am in. No, this
isn’t going to be a story about me listening to Keith Bilbrey on WSM as a kid,
and being inspired – LOL, I think by this point, he knows that story. In fact,
it has nothing to do with radio. All told, unless I am filling in, I do two
hours of music-oriented radio a week now, and it’s been that way for seven
years. Don’t get me wrong. I still love it, and consider myself blessed to work
for an owner like Steve Turner – who understands radio – and more importantly,
those who work in it.
Rather, this is a look into the other side of what I do –
writing. Upon doing research for something a few months ago, I figured out that
I have had at least 1,300 articles published by Billboard Magazine or the
website – alone. That’s not to mention Sounds Like Nashville, which has
graciously accepted as much work as I can turn out, and the other sites,
newspapers, and blogs I have written for. A journalist friend of mine actually
keeps track of how many articles he has done. I don’t know, I’d rather add to
the story than stop and contemplate it.
Whatever possessed me to become a writer? That’s a question I
have asked myself many times. As a profession, journalism makes radio look as
steady as being a doctor. At heart, I love telling peoples’ stories, informing
them as to why I think the story, the album, the tour, the person, etc, is
important. If I am telling the truth, it wasn’t until 2001 that I began to
think about it more realistically…..and even then, it was as a way to set
myself apart from the 2200 non-reporting (to Billboard or as it was then,
R&R) stations. Self-promotion, I guess you could call it – a wise old
fellow by the name of Medley once said ‘Those who doesn’t toot their own horn
doesn’t get their horn tooteth.’ He was right.
But, what made me think I could write – or that I had
anything to say? I remembered that while in High School English class, our
teacher made us keep journals. We had assignments that we would write about at
times, then other days, we would (a word that I had no idea how much it would
describe me)….freelance, and write about whatever. I still remember the
subjects I would write about…..Music, Television,…and Girls….(there may have
been one that I wrote about more than others, but I was a teenager, after
all!) For some reason, I got higher
grades on my journal than anything I did in class. Maybe she was generous, I
don’t know. But, I remembered how much I loved that experience. The teacher’s
name was Emma Hall. I really didn’t know her until High School, though her
parents watched me quite a bit growing up at Burns.
I also had Mrs. Hall for Sociology class as a Senior, but
nothing I did in school prepared me for life – and career – as that journal. I
have thought about transferring some of my posts to computer, but I don’t know
if anyone would find it that interesting….and some woman’s husband might come
after me for having a crush on his wife back then! But, it was learning how to
write, to elaborate – or sometimes how not to, that set me on a trek that I am
very grateful for.
A few months ago, at our ‘Boys’ Club’ lunch at Cracker
Barrel, Mrs. Hall came up and was very complimentary of the work that I have
done in my life. That meant a lot, coming from her. I didn’t realize at the
time, that Cancer – that #$%^ of a word – was in the midst of another battle
with her. She won it twenty years ago, and Tuesday morning, she won it again.
The results are the only thing that was different.
They say that we, as human beings, are on a collision course.
With what, I don’t exactly profess to know. But, I tend to think that destiny
tends to provide our roadmap. I was sure when I was twelve years old that I was
going to be in radio. There was no other option. But, writing was another
story. At times, I still feel like the kid who wandered in the back door – and Holly
and Robert know I’m there, but I try to stay as silent as I can. But, whatever
I have done in that realm, you first have to be inspired to believe in
yourself.
Miss Emma, Thank you for that belief….and inspiration.
