Is it just me, or is Summer a lot shorter than it used to be? It doesn't seem like it was anytime at all that the kids were getting out of school for the year, and football season and the changing of the leaves seemed so far away.
I guess it's true that as you get older, time flies by. Still, I'm just a little bit shocked at how many "Back To School" displays you see when you enter a store. Can it really be that time again?
As our kids prepare for another year in the classroom, I think back to August 1980. While America was wondering who shot J.R.,and how badly Reagan would defeat Carter in November...I was getting ready to start first grade at Burns Elementary School.
I can't say that I remember too many intimate details about that day, except at one point my mother left....and I cried a lot. After all, my days were filled with Match Game and Woody Woodpecker before that, and I didn't really want my routine disrupted ...regardless of what the law said.
As my tears reached a dramatic crescendo (two words I had no idea to the definition of back then), I do remember Laverne Fisher, my first-grade teacher, telling me "If you keep crying, I'm going to start crying too." Well, who wanted to make a teacher cry? So, my tears started to slow down, and truth be told....I actually started to enjoy school.
Burns Elementary School was a magical place back in those days......except for one thing---the hallways. The hallways in the main part of that school were so tall and so wide...or at least it seemed that way when one was six years old. Still, some of the best memories and best teachers I ever had was in that old school building. There was a gym teacher there who would fire up the old popcorn machine on Friday afternoons from time to time. (That same gym teacher has been my football broadcasting partner since 1996, and also a great friend). There was my first crush--a girl named Heather, and there were teachers and principals who influenced my life in so many ways, Even prayer.....My second grade teacher, and one of my favorites still, Joan Atkeison, would lead us in the Lord's Prayer each day before lunch. (Can you imagine that today?),,,,,,And lunch....Well, even though the "Pizza Burgers" they made in the cafeteria weren't that great...Nobody, (Dickson, Charlotte, and White Bluff--that means you) made a bowl of chili better than Burns Elementary. Then, there was the fall festival. My brother Randall and I spent many a quarter on the grab boxes....even though the only thing I remember getting that got us too excited was a Bank Of Dickson cap.....Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts on recollections....Got to get a Trapper Keeper? Who sells those anymore????
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
A Piece Of Americana.....
There are a lot of things that I could write about this week. First, I will tell you that I received some exciting news a week ago when I found out that my sports broadcasting career for Dickson County High School will continue...albeit for another station---The Dove 94.5 FM. I'll fill you in on the details on that in the coming weeks, but it will be the same people that you have come to know and depend on bringing you the sports from Cougar Hill---just on another station. I am looking forward to that, but as I said...more on that later!
One of the other jobs that I am very blessed is the newspaper work I do for THE DICKSON HERALD. In one form or another, I have written for the newspaper since 2002, and it's something that I like to think I have gotten better at over the years. Thursday afternoon, the phone rang. It was Chris Gadd, the editor of the paper. He wanted to know if I could make a run to Clarksville that night to cover the Burns All-Stars in their bid to make the Tennessee Little League State Championship game. It just so happened I could make the trip, so I did. Burns played Tullahoma, and knocked them off 5-0. The win meant that there would be another trip up Highway 48 north the next evening, as Burns---my hometown----would be taking on Donelson for the big enchilada....the title.
You might think that a Little League Championship game wouldn't have the same bite as say, the Super Bowl...or the Blue Cross Bowl. I wouldn't be so sure. Have you ever been? If you want intensity, this is the place. The Burns crowd was loud and proud of their youngsters, and believe me...they showed it. Dickson Countians, as a whole, have a reputation for getting a little crazy at sporting events, and people who live (hopefully) in the next Dickson County community to get a Dollar General are no different.
Burns started off with a quick 1-0 lead, and that got the crowd going. If all these kids will still be zoned for Cougar Hill, DCHS is going to be loaded in about seven or eight years. Sadly, a state title was not in the cards. Donelson came back, and eventually won the game 6-3.
Still, finishing second in the state (after falling to the losers' bracket) is nothing to be sneezed at. It was great to see the cheers get even louder after the game was over.....Though I don't get out to many Little League games during the year....I totally get why people love the competition at the purest level. Laughter, Tears, Cheers from the crowd....you will hear and see it all...and you'll be glad you did.....Plus, the food from the concession stand is usually all that it's cracked up to be! Congratulations to these young kids who showed their stuff all season long and made Burns crowd....Just get ready for next year.....Batter up!
One of the other jobs that I am very blessed is the newspaper work I do for THE DICKSON HERALD. In one form or another, I have written for the newspaper since 2002, and it's something that I like to think I have gotten better at over the years. Thursday afternoon, the phone rang. It was Chris Gadd, the editor of the paper. He wanted to know if I could make a run to Clarksville that night to cover the Burns All-Stars in their bid to make the Tennessee Little League State Championship game. It just so happened I could make the trip, so I did. Burns played Tullahoma, and knocked them off 5-0. The win meant that there would be another trip up Highway 48 north the next evening, as Burns---my hometown----would be taking on Donelson for the big enchilada....the title.
You might think that a Little League Championship game wouldn't have the same bite as say, the Super Bowl...or the Blue Cross Bowl. I wouldn't be so sure. Have you ever been? If you want intensity, this is the place. The Burns crowd was loud and proud of their youngsters, and believe me...they showed it. Dickson Countians, as a whole, have a reputation for getting a little crazy at sporting events, and people who live (hopefully) in the next Dickson County community to get a Dollar General are no different.
Burns started off with a quick 1-0 lead, and that got the crowd going. If all these kids will still be zoned for Cougar Hill, DCHS is going to be loaded in about seven or eight years. Sadly, a state title was not in the cards. Donelson came back, and eventually won the game 6-3.
Still, finishing second in the state (after falling to the losers' bracket) is nothing to be sneezed at. It was great to see the cheers get even louder after the game was over.....Though I don't get out to many Little League games during the year....I totally get why people love the competition at the purest level. Laughter, Tears, Cheers from the crowd....you will hear and see it all...and you'll be glad you did.....Plus, the food from the concession stand is usually all that it's cracked up to be! Congratulations to these young kids who showed their stuff all season long and made Burns crowd....Just get ready for next year.....Batter up!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A Very Thankful Blog Post
Over the past few months, I have really loved doing this blog. Sometimes, it gives me something to write about other than music. Other times, it gives me a chance to express my thoughts about people who have touched my life in some way over the course of time...whether directly, or indirectly...like when Dan Miller, Michael Jackson, or Steve McNair passed away, like last week's blog.
This is one of those weeks where for some reason or another, I am having writers' block. There are things I want to say or write about...but for whatever reason....I have scrapped three or four ideas before beginning this post. What I thought I would do is offer a few thoughts on things I am very thankful for. Who knows, maybe I can recycle this for November!
A beautiful and loving wife / Shannon, in the past three years, I have learned so much from you. You believe in me a lot more than I believe in myself, and I am so thankful to have you for a partner. We don't always agree....or see eye to eye....but I don't have to guess if you're in my corner or not..I hope I return the favor to you in being supportive of you and your career, which has kept Chex Cereal in the cupboard this year!..I love you very much!
A great family / From my children, my father and Marcia, and my brother and all my many close friends....I am truly blessed and humbled to have as many people who care about me as they seem to do. I don't take it for granted!
A career I love / Notice....I didn't say "full-time job." After seeing the radio station I have worked for since 1991 close earlier this year....it has been a difficult year at times. However, whether it has been a new radio show, an interview with some of today's top artists, or covering a high school sports event for the DICKSON HERALD....I have never stopped working since March, and I am truly thankful for that.....Hopefully, the work list will grow....or maybe that "full-time" job will come along...sooner than later! But I am staying busy....And, thankfully...there's still moments...whether it's interviewing TG Sheppard or Rhonda Vincent, like I have done the past few weeks...or Ronnie Milsap---which I will hopefully get to do in a couple...where I am getting to do what I love to do!
My God and Savior----Oh, he's about to get heavy...I bet that's what you're thinking.....Well, maybe I am. Over the past few years, I think I have learned the difference between being religious....and being spiritual.....I will be the first to tell you that I did something today that was wrong, and I will do something tomorrow equally as bad....and that's not to mention what I will do on August 28.....but thanks to Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made.....I'm ok. He's always been there for me.....and as the old song says...He doesn't always give me what I want.....but I always get what I need....I just need to be a better example!
Well, that's going to do it for this week....I've got seven days to figure out what I am going to write about next week...so let's start thinking.....
This is one of those weeks where for some reason or another, I am having writers' block. There are things I want to say or write about...but for whatever reason....I have scrapped three or four ideas before beginning this post. What I thought I would do is offer a few thoughts on things I am very thankful for. Who knows, maybe I can recycle this for November!
A beautiful and loving wife / Shannon, in the past three years, I have learned so much from you. You believe in me a lot more than I believe in myself, and I am so thankful to have you for a partner. We don't always agree....or see eye to eye....but I don't have to guess if you're in my corner or not..I hope I return the favor to you in being supportive of you and your career, which has kept Chex Cereal in the cupboard this year!..I love you very much!
A great family / From my children, my father and Marcia, and my brother and all my many close friends....I am truly blessed and humbled to have as many people who care about me as they seem to do. I don't take it for granted!
A career I love / Notice....I didn't say "full-time job." After seeing the radio station I have worked for since 1991 close earlier this year....it has been a difficult year at times. However, whether it has been a new radio show, an interview with some of today's top artists, or covering a high school sports event for the DICKSON HERALD....I have never stopped working since March, and I am truly thankful for that.....Hopefully, the work list will grow....or maybe that "full-time" job will come along...sooner than later! But I am staying busy....And, thankfully...there's still moments...whether it's interviewing TG Sheppard or Rhonda Vincent, like I have done the past few weeks...or Ronnie Milsap---which I will hopefully get to do in a couple...where I am getting to do what I love to do!
My God and Savior----Oh, he's about to get heavy...I bet that's what you're thinking.....Well, maybe I am. Over the past few years, I think I have learned the difference between being religious....and being spiritual.....I will be the first to tell you that I did something today that was wrong, and I will do something tomorrow equally as bad....and that's not to mention what I will do on August 28.....but thanks to Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made.....I'm ok. He's always been there for me.....and as the old song says...He doesn't always give me what I want.....but I always get what I need....I just need to be a better example!
Well, that's going to do it for this week....I've got seven days to figure out what I am going to write about next week...so let's start thinking.....
Friday, July 10, 2009
R.I.P. # 9
If you're like me, this week has been one that you won't forget anytime soon. This past Saturday afternoon, about 3:30, my quiet weekend was interrupted by the ringing of a phone call from a friend telling me that Channel 4 was reporting that Steve McNair, the QB from Alcorn State who gave Nashvillians so many great memories had been killed.
As I turned on the TV and saw that it was true, my mind raced back to 1999...and the euphoria that the mid-state was in when the Titans made their Super Bowl run. Even though there were times that season where people wanted Jeff Fisher to play back-up Neil O'Donnell, the coach was true to his QB...and it paid off with many great memories until McNair was traded to Baltimore in 2006. Even then, Steve still had one more memorable game at LP Field, leading the Ravens to a last-second win that fall.
If you have kept up with this story at all, you know it is a very tragic one indeed. I'm not going to go into the details, because it's been talked about and talked about. I do, however, want to react to the people (well-intentioned they may be) who have had their comments this week about McNair being (or in their eyes, not being) a role model for people.
Pardon me for just a second. Above and beyond all, Steve McNair was a human being----like me, like you. He was one who ,during the course of his life, did a lot of great things for Nashville and its' citizens that we know about...but some things I am sure that we don't. Even though the Cowboys have always had my heart, as time went on...you had to develop a special place for Steve McNair and the Titans. As a football player and leader, he didn't quit.
Being a human being, however, presents its' downfalls. I guess to be honest, I have some degree of problem with people who leave it up to public figures to raise their children and be their role models. I say that, fully knowing that when I was a child, I had my heroes....and I was very much aware of the outside world.....but my parents didn't let the TV or Pop culture world raise me....though they did give me the freedom to find out what right and wrong meant....
Steve McNair owed nobody anything. He owed the Titans and their fans his best efforts on the field, but he didn't have to worry about what anyone thought about him. I would say, conditions of his death aside, he did a very good job in being an influence to people....but it was optional. I know there are some children out there who didn't have the childhood that I did. I am fully aware that sometimes you have to go outside your family or inner circle for influences.....but if you think a singer, or a TV star, or an athlete always does the right thing...you're setting yourself up for a fall.
Overall, I considered and will continue to consider myself a fan of Steve McNair. I hope and pray that his life, and maybe his death teaches us all to cease throwing stones. None of us are perfect, and that starts with me.
I will close with a little bit of a history lesson. Those who sneer when McNair has been called a leader of men this week.....keep this in mind. Franklin Roosevelt might very well have been the best Chief Executive the U.S. has ever seen, but thankfully there was no CNN or Fox News around in April of 1945 when he died in Warm Springs. Who was with him on that trip, and where was Eleanor? Does that take anything away from his leadership? I don't think so. You could pretty much take any President since then, and find places where their armor was a little rusty.....but does it take away from the good that they did? I don't think so. I am not justifying or trying to hold up anything that happened.....but if 75 news reporters were snooping around in your closet....What would they find? It's something to think about!
In any case, let our thoughts and prayers go to those who truly matter at this time----the McNair family. Regardless of cause, they have lost a son, husband, brother, and father....and that's the greatest loss. Rest In Peace, Mr. McNair, you will be missed!
As I turned on the TV and saw that it was true, my mind raced back to 1999...and the euphoria that the mid-state was in when the Titans made their Super Bowl run. Even though there were times that season where people wanted Jeff Fisher to play back-up Neil O'Donnell, the coach was true to his QB...and it paid off with many great memories until McNair was traded to Baltimore in 2006. Even then, Steve still had one more memorable game at LP Field, leading the Ravens to a last-second win that fall.
If you have kept up with this story at all, you know it is a very tragic one indeed. I'm not going to go into the details, because it's been talked about and talked about. I do, however, want to react to the people (well-intentioned they may be) who have had their comments this week about McNair being (or in their eyes, not being) a role model for people.
Pardon me for just a second. Above and beyond all, Steve McNair was a human being----like me, like you. He was one who ,during the course of his life, did a lot of great things for Nashville and its' citizens that we know about...but some things I am sure that we don't. Even though the Cowboys have always had my heart, as time went on...you had to develop a special place for Steve McNair and the Titans. As a football player and leader, he didn't quit.
Being a human being, however, presents its' downfalls. I guess to be honest, I have some degree of problem with people who leave it up to public figures to raise their children and be their role models. I say that, fully knowing that when I was a child, I had my heroes....and I was very much aware of the outside world.....but my parents didn't let the TV or Pop culture world raise me....though they did give me the freedom to find out what right and wrong meant....
Steve McNair owed nobody anything. He owed the Titans and their fans his best efforts on the field, but he didn't have to worry about what anyone thought about him. I would say, conditions of his death aside, he did a very good job in being an influence to people....but it was optional. I know there are some children out there who didn't have the childhood that I did. I am fully aware that sometimes you have to go outside your family or inner circle for influences.....but if you think a singer, or a TV star, or an athlete always does the right thing...you're setting yourself up for a fall.
Overall, I considered and will continue to consider myself a fan of Steve McNair. I hope and pray that his life, and maybe his death teaches us all to cease throwing stones. None of us are perfect, and that starts with me.
I will close with a little bit of a history lesson. Those who sneer when McNair has been called a leader of men this week.....keep this in mind. Franklin Roosevelt might very well have been the best Chief Executive the U.S. has ever seen, but thankfully there was no CNN or Fox News around in April of 1945 when he died in Warm Springs. Who was with him on that trip, and where was Eleanor? Does that take anything away from his leadership? I don't think so. You could pretty much take any President since then, and find places where their armor was a little rusty.....but does it take away from the good that they did? I don't think so. I am not justifying or trying to hold up anything that happened.....but if 75 news reporters were snooping around in your closet....What would they find? It's something to think about!
In any case, let our thoughts and prayers go to those who truly matter at this time----the McNair family. Regardless of cause, they have lost a son, husband, brother, and father....and that's the greatest loss. Rest In Peace, Mr. McNair, you will be missed!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A Love Story........
It’s a natural fact that people like love stories.
Think about it for a moment, “love,” as we know it, sells everything from movies to books to TV.
It’s an emotion that keeps one buying into it, or tuning each week.
I want to tell you about a love story that I have been blessed enough to witness first-hand. You want to hear about how love changes someone for the better? Maybe one about utter devotion? This story has got both of those ingredients and a lot more.
Let me tell you the story of Thomas (We’ll just call him Tommy) and Chloe.
I have known Tommy for a couple years. At first, he was very shy. To be honest, he really wouldn’t have much to do with you. I don’t know why he had such a quiet demeanor, but it was a personality trait that he definitely owned. It seemed like if you were to get him around someone or something new, he would fold into somewhat of an emotional shell.
Then came Chloe.
Once she came into his life, a change in Tommy started to happen. While I don’t guess you could say it was overnight, he definitely started to open up…and now, well, I guess you could say the change in him is self-evident.
There’s a twinkle in his eyes whenever he gets around her, and if you want to see the definition of protective---watch his actions. He stays by her side constantly---making sure all is well with her, because as you know, you can never be too careful these days….and it’s a two-way street. You can tell the respect and adoration that she has for him due to the way he treats her.
A lot of people turn their noses on an older man / younger woman relationship, but I think that in this case….it turned out more than alright. Did I mention that he is twice her age? No matter, there’s a bond that shows every time the two are together, but there is a catch. Tommy is all of two, and Chloe isn’t quite one yet. Still, one cannot measure the impact of a small Siamese kitten on a young cat that didn’t trust people too well, for whatever reason…and that impact has been huge!
Think about it for a moment, “love,” as we know it, sells everything from movies to books to TV.
It’s an emotion that keeps one buying into it, or tuning each week.
I want to tell you about a love story that I have been blessed enough to witness first-hand. You want to hear about how love changes someone for the better? Maybe one about utter devotion? This story has got both of those ingredients and a lot more.
Let me tell you the story of Thomas (We’ll just call him Tommy) and Chloe.
I have known Tommy for a couple years. At first, he was very shy. To be honest, he really wouldn’t have much to do with you. I don’t know why he had such a quiet demeanor, but it was a personality trait that he definitely owned. It seemed like if you were to get him around someone or something new, he would fold into somewhat of an emotional shell.
Then came Chloe.
Once she came into his life, a change in Tommy started to happen. While I don’t guess you could say it was overnight, he definitely started to open up…and now, well, I guess you could say the change in him is self-evident.
There’s a twinkle in his eyes whenever he gets around her, and if you want to see the definition of protective---watch his actions. He stays by her side constantly---making sure all is well with her, because as you know, you can never be too careful these days….and it’s a two-way street. You can tell the respect and adoration that she has for him due to the way he treats her.
A lot of people turn their noses on an older man / younger woman relationship, but I think that in this case….it turned out more than alright. Did I mention that he is twice her age? No matter, there’s a bond that shows every time the two are together, but there is a catch. Tommy is all of two, and Chloe isn’t quite one yet. Still, one cannot measure the impact of a small Siamese kitten on a young cat that didn’t trust people too well, for whatever reason…and that impact has been huge!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
TIME IS GOING BY...FAST
A song that I remember from my formative years was "A Child Of The Fifties" by the Statler Brothers. In the song, there was a line that said "When Elvis Died, We All Knew That We Could Too." That was a sentiment that I remember from my favorite authors, Lewis Grizzard, when he was writing his thoughts about August 16, 1977. Of course, being a teen-ager or in my 20s, mortality isn't something you think about too much.
The past few years have changed that outlook considerably. Losing a parent is always one of the first stages of this, or so I have been told. I am also reminded of a quote by Bill Anderson that the legendary producer Owen Bradley once said about a sign of getting older is going to more funerals. Though some still say that I am a "baby" when I get worried about my career future, 35 isn't as young as it once was. But at the same time, it isn't as old as I once thought it was....if that sentence makes any sense whatsover.
Like many children of the 70s and 80s, I was saddened early Thursday morning to learn of the death of Farrah Fawcett. She enchanted so many during her career with her Texas charm and irresistible beauty. Though "The Poster" (As if you have to be told which one) came out in 1976...it still had a life of its' own in the 1980s. I was telling my wife that I remember my brother (from another Mother) Randall and I being quite the Farrah fan in the 80s. How could you not? Even after her run on "Charlie's Angels" ended, she was in plenty of movies....and even though the Catherine Bach poster was maybe a little bit bigger in the early 80s......the Farrah poster lived on!
After I went back to checking e-mails, I began to recall that there was only one time in almost thirty years of knowing him that I ever got mad at Randall. It was the spring of 1984, and we were having an Easter egg hunt at Burns Elementary School. Randall won the big prize----a Michael Jackson poster. Keep in mind that this was the age of THRILLER---which, no matter what happened in the 90s and beyond to Jackson, will always stand as one of the best Pop albums of all time. At that time, there was no one any more cool. I had my share of MJ memorabilia---tapes, trading cards, magazines...and since Randall wasn't a fan---I assumed that I would be getting the poster. However, there was a higher bidder---one of our mutual friends offered him $ 5 for it. That was the equivalent of a week's allowance back then---which could easily be redeemed for quarters for video games, or even a Stomper! So I didn't get the poster....Well, I didn't stew about it too long...and actually I smiled about that as I thought back to my youth. That was about 3:30 that afternoon or so.....
Then, about 4:30, I logged on to see the news that Michael Jackson had been taken to UCLA. Then, not too long after, came the news that the "King Of Pop" had died. While there were a lot of aspects to Michael Jackson's life that many of us may not fully comprehend--He was a era-defining artist, who (lest any of us forget) was also a son, brother, and father.
The subject line of this blog sums up my emotions of the day about as good as I can say it. It's not so much about death, because as Dan Miller (WSMV Anchorman who passed away earlier this year) was quoted as saying...."We're all in line, we just don't know where we stand at." and though I can be a wayward child of God at times, I know where I'm going....but these two deaths, as well as the events of the past few years prove more than ever that 1983 is never coming back. Not that I thought it would, but nostalgia is a sweet place to visit....if only in the mind.....
The past few years have changed that outlook considerably. Losing a parent is always one of the first stages of this, or so I have been told. I am also reminded of a quote by Bill Anderson that the legendary producer Owen Bradley once said about a sign of getting older is going to more funerals. Though some still say that I am a "baby" when I get worried about my career future, 35 isn't as young as it once was. But at the same time, it isn't as old as I once thought it was....if that sentence makes any sense whatsover.
Like many children of the 70s and 80s, I was saddened early Thursday morning to learn of the death of Farrah Fawcett. She enchanted so many during her career with her Texas charm and irresistible beauty. Though "The Poster" (As if you have to be told which one) came out in 1976...it still had a life of its' own in the 1980s. I was telling my wife that I remember my brother (from another Mother) Randall and I being quite the Farrah fan in the 80s. How could you not? Even after her run on "Charlie's Angels" ended, she was in plenty of movies....and even though the Catherine Bach poster was maybe a little bit bigger in the early 80s......the Farrah poster lived on!
After I went back to checking e-mails, I began to recall that there was only one time in almost thirty years of knowing him that I ever got mad at Randall. It was the spring of 1984, and we were having an Easter egg hunt at Burns Elementary School. Randall won the big prize----a Michael Jackson poster. Keep in mind that this was the age of THRILLER---which, no matter what happened in the 90s and beyond to Jackson, will always stand as one of the best Pop albums of all time. At that time, there was no one any more cool. I had my share of MJ memorabilia---tapes, trading cards, magazines...and since Randall wasn't a fan---I assumed that I would be getting the poster. However, there was a higher bidder---one of our mutual friends offered him $ 5 for it. That was the equivalent of a week's allowance back then---which could easily be redeemed for quarters for video games, or even a Stomper! So I didn't get the poster....Well, I didn't stew about it too long...and actually I smiled about that as I thought back to my youth. That was about 3:30 that afternoon or so.....
Then, about 4:30, I logged on to see the news that Michael Jackson had been taken to UCLA. Then, not too long after, came the news that the "King Of Pop" had died. While there were a lot of aspects to Michael Jackson's life that many of us may not fully comprehend--He was a era-defining artist, who (lest any of us forget) was also a son, brother, and father.
The subject line of this blog sums up my emotions of the day about as good as I can say it. It's not so much about death, because as Dan Miller (WSMV Anchorman who passed away earlier this year) was quoted as saying...."We're all in line, we just don't know where we stand at." and though I can be a wayward child of God at times, I know where I'm going....but these two deaths, as well as the events of the past few years prove more than ever that 1983 is never coming back. Not that I thought it would, but nostalgia is a sweet place to visit....if only in the mind.....
Friday, June 19, 2009
Unknown?
This week was somewhat of a busy week, a few Children;s appointments, a couple business meetings, a couple of interviews, mowing the grass (It's a big lawn!), and the usual stuff...so I didn't have a lot of time to come up with something to write about....so....that leads me to this piece. Earlier this year, I wrote a series of columns called "In My Eyes" that have never been published.....Some were about music, but this one,,,,is a little different. If anything else, it might make you think about those mysterious people in photos from long ago!....Hope you like!
It's kind of interesting how one word in the English language can fire up the imagination. How many words are listed in Webster's Dictionary? Well, I can't claim to know the answer to that…..but seeing just one of those seemingly endless words in print the other day kind of inspired me….and troubled me, at the same time.
I was having lunch with some friends of mine at their house just north of town, and one of them brought out some old pictures they had just recently received of their second grade class. The exposures had been redone, and the names of the students had been printed at the bottom of the picture. Everybody was accounted for in these shots from almost sixty years ago…….Everybody was identified in the picture, that is….except for one…..who was named "Unknown."
While I'm sure that in any one class at any given moment in time, someone floated into town for a year, and then was gone to another town, another city, another state….that phrase troubled me just a little. The girl, who was about six or seven, wasn't a mystery to everyone…Was she? Surely, there was someone who would remember her name….What kind of candy bar was her favorite….Who her favorite teacher was that year….But, on the picture….just one word used….Unknown.
I had a basketball game to broadcast that night, then it was home to Centerville after that. I will say that I didn't lose a minute's sleep thinking about it…but the next day, some questions did enter into my mind.
First, there was the obvious….Just who was this person? She wasn't smiling that big in the picture. Why? I wondered…..Did she move away some sixty years ago because her father, who could have just gotten back from the war…found another job elsewhere? She would have turned eighteen in 1960, I figured. Was college in the cards, or maybe a trade vocation. 1960? That's the year my mother graduated from high school. Could she have known her at some point? Did she have a high school sweetheart that she married….one that joined the service immediately after graduation? If so, that would have put in within a few years of possibly having to go to Vietnam. If there was a husband, and if he did go….Did he come back? If not….How did she make it without him? If there were children….How did she raise them by herself? Did they make her a grandparent, just like the friends who had invited me to lunch that day?
Now…I will be the first to admit that there's quite a few if's in this story….and this person is someone that more than likely I have never seen. However, you never know. This person could have been a nurse in Dickson one Sunday night in 1974 when I was born. She could have been a waitress at a restaurant I ate at in Bakersfield, CA….or Mount Vernon, IL, or Abingdon, VA…..three of the towns I have been blessed to visit over those thirty-five years. I have posed several questions here , I know…..but I don't think I have raised anymore than what lies behind that one word…..Unknown. Surely someone knows!
It's kind of interesting how one word in the English language can fire up the imagination. How many words are listed in Webster's Dictionary? Well, I can't claim to know the answer to that…..but seeing just one of those seemingly endless words in print the other day kind of inspired me….and troubled me, at the same time.
I was having lunch with some friends of mine at their house just north of town, and one of them brought out some old pictures they had just recently received of their second grade class. The exposures had been redone, and the names of the students had been printed at the bottom of the picture. Everybody was accounted for in these shots from almost sixty years ago…….Everybody was identified in the picture, that is….except for one…..who was named "Unknown."
While I'm sure that in any one class at any given moment in time, someone floated into town for a year, and then was gone to another town, another city, another state….that phrase troubled me just a little. The girl, who was about six or seven, wasn't a mystery to everyone…Was she? Surely, there was someone who would remember her name….What kind of candy bar was her favorite….Who her favorite teacher was that year….But, on the picture….just one word used….Unknown.
I had a basketball game to broadcast that night, then it was home to Centerville after that. I will say that I didn't lose a minute's sleep thinking about it…but the next day, some questions did enter into my mind.
First, there was the obvious….Just who was this person? She wasn't smiling that big in the picture. Why? I wondered…..Did she move away some sixty years ago because her father, who could have just gotten back from the war…found another job elsewhere? She would have turned eighteen in 1960, I figured. Was college in the cards, or maybe a trade vocation. 1960? That's the year my mother graduated from high school. Could she have known her at some point? Did she have a high school sweetheart that she married….one that joined the service immediately after graduation? If so, that would have put in within a few years of possibly having to go to Vietnam. If there was a husband, and if he did go….Did he come back? If not….How did she make it without him? If there were children….How did she raise them by herself? Did they make her a grandparent, just like the friends who had invited me to lunch that day?
Now…I will be the first to admit that there's quite a few if's in this story….and this person is someone that more than likely I have never seen. However, you never know. This person could have been a nurse in Dickson one Sunday night in 1974 when I was born. She could have been a waitress at a restaurant I ate at in Bakersfield, CA….or Mount Vernon, IL, or Abingdon, VA…..three of the towns I have been blessed to visit over those thirty-five years. I have posed several questions here , I know…..but I don't think I have raised anymore than what lies behind that one word…..Unknown. Surely someone knows!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Just In Time For Father's Day......
Just a few weeks ago, I used this forum to pay tribute to some special women in my life to celebrate Mothers' Day. With Fathers' Day coming up this weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to do likewise concerning a few men that have been very influential in my life, as well.
RALPH KIMBRO----I remember being seven and eight years old, and becoming the sixth son of Ralph and Jeanette, due to their being parents of my "brother," Randall. No matter whatever I have needed over the years, I have always known that I could count on Ralph Kimbro. It's kind of interesting to note that before I ever knew his son Randall, he and my father were good friends. In fact, I often wondered who the "Ralph" was that was written down on the back of the old telephone books. Needless to say, I found out.
BOBBY GALYA----You know, as you grow older, you realize that life isn't always about being perfect. That could be said of Bobby, who is the stepfather of one of my oldest friends. One of the things that I have learned about him is that life isn't always about what you might have….or how you might believe. It comes down to how you are treated……….and Bobby Galya has always treated me like a second son……with one of the most irreverent senses of humor I have ever come across.
KENNY GIBBS----When I was nine or ten, I noticed this guy at my Church that I never saw in a shirt or a tie. One of the first questions I ever asked Kenny Gibbs was "Why don't you wear a coat or tie." His answer was simply "I don't like them." He probably thought I was a little bit on the smart-alecky side, and after knowing me for about twenty-five years or so…..he knows I'm on the smart-alecky side. In all that time, I have only seen him wear a coat (no tie!) once or twice….but in his case, the clothes definitely don't make the man. One of the best people I have ever met……even though if he reads this, he probably will just roll his eyes and say "Whatever!"
MIKE BORCHETTA----Over the past eighteen years, I have been very blessed to make some wonderful friendships--both in and out of the music business. Mike Borchetta transcends those lines. I remember meeting him in the summer of 1999, when he was promoting a new artist named Ray Hood. The record didn't stick, but Mike sure did! He has been one of the most supportive friends that I have----in business or out. He and his wife Martha, I affectionately call "Pop and Mom." He's someone who probably believes in me more than I do myself, and one of the best friends I have.
LARRY PETTY-----You know how some people you don't actually remember meeting? It just seems that he has always been my friend. Larry worked at one of WDKN's biggest sponsors, the Greater Dickson Gas Authority, for many years, but his friendship goes deeper than that. We all say we have people that we can call at 1pm or 1am, but Larry Petty is one of those…..Trust me, I've called at both times.
RANDY TIDWELL----More than any of the afore-mentioned people, I have known Randy Tidwell the longest. He was my P.E. teacher at Burns Elementary for several years, and also my bus driver. Now if that was where the story ended, he might still make the list…..but in 1991, I started working with him at WDKN, and for the past thirteen years, he and I have travelled to exotic locales such as Fayetteville and Paris broadcasting High School Sports. I will tell you if there is a definition of what "Class" and "Gentleman" means, it's Randy Tidwell. But don't take my word for it, just ask anybody in Dickson County…..They'll tell you! We may have called our last game together, but either way…he's one of the best!
EUGENE ESTES----God puts people in your life at the right time. In the winter of 2005-2006, I was seriously in the dumps due to the passing of my mother. It was around this time that I met a man at Church named Eugene Estes. He was already in his 70s at this point, but he became quite the big brother / grandfather figure in my life…..but you might not know it by seeing us interact. We spend most of the time talking trash to each other, whether around the table at Buddy's (a popular Burns restaurant), or me tossing a zinger his way while doing announcements at Church, he taught me to laugh at a time I needed it most….Still, if God put this angel in my life, and I believe he did…….He's a strange looking one……!
Well, that about closes this post. But there is one person to tell you about. That is my father, Charlie Dauphin, Jr. There are so many memories that I have of growing up…..Whether it be going to the old Tennessee Air National Guard and taking a tour of one of the C-130 airplanes that he worked on…………..going to Co-Op in Dickson on a Saturday morning (home of one of the coldest water fountains on the planet!)…………or him taking me to a concert or Fan Fair….He also picked up quite a few prizes I had won from WSM-AM as a child….....While those memories are something I will always cherish…..What means the most now (and something that I didn't quite grasp until a couple of years ago) is how he kept it together, and kept things moving forward. I don't know how many times there was too much month at the end of the money when a wife was sick, and a son just had to have the latest Kenny Rogers record….or needed money for school. True, he said no sometimes………but very rarely. I didn't know and (to an extent) didn't appreciate how much he did….until the shoes have turned…..and I am now a father. Dad, I thank you for all you have done (and continue to do) for me. Happy Father's Day!
RALPH KIMBRO----I remember being seven and eight years old, and becoming the sixth son of Ralph and Jeanette, due to their being parents of my "brother," Randall. No matter whatever I have needed over the years, I have always known that I could count on Ralph Kimbro. It's kind of interesting to note that before I ever knew his son Randall, he and my father were good friends. In fact, I often wondered who the "Ralph" was that was written down on the back of the old telephone books. Needless to say, I found out.
BOBBY GALYA----You know, as you grow older, you realize that life isn't always about being perfect. That could be said of Bobby, who is the stepfather of one of my oldest friends. One of the things that I have learned about him is that life isn't always about what you might have….or how you might believe. It comes down to how you are treated……….and Bobby Galya has always treated me like a second son……with one of the most irreverent senses of humor I have ever come across.
KENNY GIBBS----When I was nine or ten, I noticed this guy at my Church that I never saw in a shirt or a tie. One of the first questions I ever asked Kenny Gibbs was "Why don't you wear a coat or tie." His answer was simply "I don't like them." He probably thought I was a little bit on the smart-alecky side, and after knowing me for about twenty-five years or so…..he knows I'm on the smart-alecky side. In all that time, I have only seen him wear a coat (no tie!) once or twice….but in his case, the clothes definitely don't make the man. One of the best people I have ever met……even though if he reads this, he probably will just roll his eyes and say "Whatever!"
MIKE BORCHETTA----Over the past eighteen years, I have been very blessed to make some wonderful friendships--both in and out of the music business. Mike Borchetta transcends those lines. I remember meeting him in the summer of 1999, when he was promoting a new artist named Ray Hood. The record didn't stick, but Mike sure did! He has been one of the most supportive friends that I have----in business or out. He and his wife Martha, I affectionately call "Pop and Mom." He's someone who probably believes in me more than I do myself, and one of the best friends I have.
LARRY PETTY-----You know how some people you don't actually remember meeting? It just seems that he has always been my friend. Larry worked at one of WDKN's biggest sponsors, the Greater Dickson Gas Authority, for many years, but his friendship goes deeper than that. We all say we have people that we can call at 1pm or 1am, but Larry Petty is one of those…..Trust me, I've called at both times.
RANDY TIDWELL----More than any of the afore-mentioned people, I have known Randy Tidwell the longest. He was my P.E. teacher at Burns Elementary for several years, and also my bus driver. Now if that was where the story ended, he might still make the list…..but in 1991, I started working with him at WDKN, and for the past thirteen years, he and I have travelled to exotic locales such as Fayetteville and Paris broadcasting High School Sports. I will tell you if there is a definition of what "Class" and "Gentleman" means, it's Randy Tidwell. But don't take my word for it, just ask anybody in Dickson County…..They'll tell you! We may have called our last game together, but either way…he's one of the best!
EUGENE ESTES----God puts people in your life at the right time. In the winter of 2005-2006, I was seriously in the dumps due to the passing of my mother. It was around this time that I met a man at Church named Eugene Estes. He was already in his 70s at this point, but he became quite the big brother / grandfather figure in my life…..but you might not know it by seeing us interact. We spend most of the time talking trash to each other, whether around the table at Buddy's (a popular Burns restaurant), or me tossing a zinger his way while doing announcements at Church, he taught me to laugh at a time I needed it most….Still, if God put this angel in my life, and I believe he did…….He's a strange looking one……!
Well, that about closes this post. But there is one person to tell you about. That is my father, Charlie Dauphin, Jr. There are so many memories that I have of growing up…..Whether it be going to the old Tennessee Air National Guard and taking a tour of one of the C-130 airplanes that he worked on…………..going to Co-Op in Dickson on a Saturday morning (home of one of the coldest water fountains on the planet!)…………or him taking me to a concert or Fan Fair….He also picked up quite a few prizes I had won from WSM-AM as a child….....While those memories are something I will always cherish…..What means the most now (and something that I didn't quite grasp until a couple of years ago) is how he kept it together, and kept things moving forward. I don't know how many times there was too much month at the end of the money when a wife was sick, and a son just had to have the latest Kenny Rogers record….or needed money for school. True, he said no sometimes………but very rarely. I didn't know and (to an extent) didn't appreciate how much he did….until the shoes have turned…..and I am now a father. Dad, I thank you for all you have done (and continue to do) for me. Happy Father's Day!
Friday, June 5, 2009
ONCE A FAN, ALWAYS A FAN
This week is the favorite of many Country Music fans throughout the world as Nashville rolls out the red carpet for the CMA Music Festival. Once known as "Fan Fair," the event has grown steadily each year since its' inception. Fans come to Music City to see their favorites in concert, but also to possibly get to spend a few moments with them and get their autograph and a snapshot with them. To fans of other genres of music, it might sound a little hokey….I mean, can you imagine Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce all signing autographs and meeting fans in one place at one time?
It's truly a unique experience, and though I spend many nights up at 12 or 1 in the morning trying to come up with words that some of you might find entertaining or informative….I've got to tell you…..I wouldn't be in the business if I wasn't myself a fan at one point.
To be honest, I can't tell you where my love of the music business and the musicians who excel at it started. My parents were both music fans, but it in no way was something that either was passionate about. Well, my mother did have a crush on Marty Robbins, and my father on Barbara Mandrell (some things are just hereditary, I guess!)…..but music wasn't the big thing that commanded their interest, like it did mine. I remember so many Saturdays growing up watching TV shows like Hee Haw, That Good Old Nashville Music, and Nashville On The Road. Then, there was the music coming over the radio growing up……."The Gambler," "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed,"….songs that simply put…were classics.
Even my pre-teen reading habits were dominated by books like Fifty Years Of The Grand Ole Opry, Sing Your Heart Out Country Boy, and Bill Malone's Country Music, USA. Once I hit thirteen, and needed to be studying my school books….Billboard, Country Song Roundup, and Music City News took precedence.
I say all that to say this….Though I do consider myself to be a professional, I definitely consider myself to be very blessed to do what I do. Though the past few months have had their challenges, and I'm not totally sure where I'll be in six months career-wise, there's something very cool about what I do….that I wouldn't love as much….if I didn't love the music.
If an eight-year old hadn't gotten an autographed picture of Kenny Rogers in the mail after sending him a fan letter……If a eleven-year old hadn't won tickets to a Hank Williams, Jr. concert that his father took him and his brother to….and if they hadn't killed an hour walking in the Magnolia Lobby of the Opryland Hotel where he first saw WSM-AM DJ in action…….If that thirteen year old's father hadn't carried him to his first Fan Fair in June of 1987……I wouldn't be (for better or worse, and depending on who you ask or my bank account, there are varying answers) who I am today.
Since this is CMA Week, I thought I would share a few memories about my Fan Fair experiences. Seeing so many of the stars up close and personal was an overwhelming experience……but meeting Reba McEntire was one better than that. I was smitten for many years…..Getting to meet Keith Whitley was one of those things you don't forget. I also remember in 1993, like many at the Fairgrounds….I was scurrying over to the building where some guy named Garth was signing….I wasn't expecting to get even close to an autograph…just a glimpse of the biggest star of the day. As I was walking in that direction, I passed by the Warner Brothers booth. I saw a tall blonde who was signing autographs…albeit one I had never heard of, as her first single was still a few months from being released….I got her autograph that year, and the next year…there was a five-hour wait to spend one minute with Faith Hill. If there's a morale to the story….take time to meet the newcomers…because you never know.
You also never know about stars that are on the other end of fame as well. As I told you, Hee Haw was one of my favorite shows growing up. As I was walking around the exhibit hall back in 1987, I saw the great comedian Archie Campbell signing autographs. Probably on my way to see how long the line was for Randy Travis, I thought to myself "I would love to get his autograph….Maybe next year." Less than three months later, he was dead. The legendary Conway Twitty hosted an autograph party each year at his record store on Division…and I never went…..Those are two of my biggest Fan Fair regrets…Never turn down a chance to meet a legend, because likewise….you never know!
One of the blessings about my job (s) is that I have gotten to meet some of my heroes over the years, and in some cases…..get to call them friends. It's something that I feel very fortunate, and look forward to many more years of doing in the future.
So…welcome to Nashville, all who enter ye this week. There are things that will happen this week that you will have memories of for the rest of your lives. I can say to you first-hand that I've been there. Have a great week, but remember…bring sunscreen!.....Those CMA Music Festival / Fan Fair sunburns can hurt!
It's truly a unique experience, and though I spend many nights up at 12 or 1 in the morning trying to come up with words that some of you might find entertaining or informative….I've got to tell you…..I wouldn't be in the business if I wasn't myself a fan at one point.
To be honest, I can't tell you where my love of the music business and the musicians who excel at it started. My parents were both music fans, but it in no way was something that either was passionate about. Well, my mother did have a crush on Marty Robbins, and my father on Barbara Mandrell (some things are just hereditary, I guess!)…..but music wasn't the big thing that commanded their interest, like it did mine. I remember so many Saturdays growing up watching TV shows like Hee Haw, That Good Old Nashville Music, and Nashville On The Road. Then, there was the music coming over the radio growing up……."The Gambler," "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed,"….songs that simply put…were classics.
Even my pre-teen reading habits were dominated by books like Fifty Years Of The Grand Ole Opry, Sing Your Heart Out Country Boy, and Bill Malone's Country Music, USA. Once I hit thirteen, and needed to be studying my school books….Billboard, Country Song Roundup, and Music City News took precedence.
I say all that to say this….Though I do consider myself to be a professional, I definitely consider myself to be very blessed to do what I do. Though the past few months have had their challenges, and I'm not totally sure where I'll be in six months career-wise, there's something very cool about what I do….that I wouldn't love as much….if I didn't love the music.
If an eight-year old hadn't gotten an autographed picture of Kenny Rogers in the mail after sending him a fan letter……If a eleven-year old hadn't won tickets to a Hank Williams, Jr. concert that his father took him and his brother to….and if they hadn't killed an hour walking in the Magnolia Lobby of the Opryland Hotel where he first saw WSM-AM DJ in action…….If that thirteen year old's father hadn't carried him to his first Fan Fair in June of 1987……I wouldn't be (for better or worse, and depending on who you ask or my bank account, there are varying answers) who I am today.
Since this is CMA Week, I thought I would share a few memories about my Fan Fair experiences. Seeing so many of the stars up close and personal was an overwhelming experience……but meeting Reba McEntire was one better than that. I was smitten for many years…..Getting to meet Keith Whitley was one of those things you don't forget. I also remember in 1993, like many at the Fairgrounds….I was scurrying over to the building where some guy named Garth was signing….I wasn't expecting to get even close to an autograph…just a glimpse of the biggest star of the day. As I was walking in that direction, I passed by the Warner Brothers booth. I saw a tall blonde who was signing autographs…albeit one I had never heard of, as her first single was still a few months from being released….I got her autograph that year, and the next year…there was a five-hour wait to spend one minute with Faith Hill. If there's a morale to the story….take time to meet the newcomers…because you never know.
You also never know about stars that are on the other end of fame as well. As I told you, Hee Haw was one of my favorite shows growing up. As I was walking around the exhibit hall back in 1987, I saw the great comedian Archie Campbell signing autographs. Probably on my way to see how long the line was for Randy Travis, I thought to myself "I would love to get his autograph….Maybe next year." Less than three months later, he was dead. The legendary Conway Twitty hosted an autograph party each year at his record store on Division…and I never went…..Those are two of my biggest Fan Fair regrets…Never turn down a chance to meet a legend, because likewise….you never know!
One of the blessings about my job (s) is that I have gotten to meet some of my heroes over the years, and in some cases…..get to call them friends. It's something that I feel very fortunate, and look forward to many more years of doing in the future.
So…welcome to Nashville, all who enter ye this week. There are things that will happen this week that you will have memories of for the rest of your lives. I can say to you first-hand that I've been there. Have a great week, but remember…bring sunscreen!.....Those CMA Music Festival / Fan Fair sunburns can hurt!
Friday, May 29, 2009
It Was The Third Of June....Or Was It?
This Wednesday is somewhat of a historic day-----just how historic it is might be shrouded in mystery, however. Let me start off this post by saying that one of the most time-honored traditions in Country Music has been the story song……"The Carroll County Accident," "El Paso," "Coat Of Many Colors," there have been many songs over the years that have played with the mind and struck a chord in the imagination. The song I am writing about this week is one of those, and maybe the best example of a story song in Country Music history.
Wednesday is June 3. Some believe that in 1953, a death took place in Northern Mississippi, even though there has never been any actual proof of that fact. However, fourteen years later, you couldn't get away from a song that started like this:
"It was the third of June, another hot and dusty Delta day…."
You probably know the song, "Ode To Billy Joe," which was written by Bobbie Gentry. Whatever station you listened to back in 1967, Country or Pop, it was one of the most-played records in the United States. The song told the story of the death of Billy Joe McCallister, who jumped off the infamous Tallahatchie Bridge.
The Capitol Records release featured one of the most haunting melodies and string sections ever to be used on a song, and some forty-two years later, there has never been a definitive answer to the question of what Billy Joe and the song's narrator were seen throwing off the bridge before the character took his life.
You might say that it would make a good movie, but Hollywood tried that…..and failed miserably. In 1975, eight years after the release of the song, Max Baer, Jr. ("Jethro" himself) produced a movie that starred Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor that I don't think did the Gentry hit justice. The song was cutting edge, haunting, and featured a sizzling vocal by a lady that I don't think ever got her due for being a sensual writer and performer. Having heard some of her other story songs over her career, I think you could compare her writing to that of another great name of the South, William Faulkner. Simply put, the lady had an imagination!
The movie, on the other hand, was filled with as many Southern clichés as you could count, and some very fake southern accents that lost me about three minutes into the film. (Even though, as I have been told, my parents didn't get that far into the movie at the Pink Cadillac Drive-In in Centerville, TN……There was some baby crying nearby!)
Just as the song has conjured up many theories over the years as to what happened in the lyrics, the same could be said of Bobbie Gentry as well. She has pretty much faded from the entertainment business since the early 1980s, and in researching the song, I found little interview information about her. Just like the story of Billy Joe, there is a vein of secrecy about her, as well.
In the end, maybe that's a good thing. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Southern Gothic tales like this one and Walking Tall (the 1973 original is an underrated classic) as much as anybody, and if Hollywood chose to re-tell the story….I'd be the first in line. I've even got a few ideas of how you could freshen up the story somewhat. Some things are better left alone…..but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject. What do you think the mystery of this record was? E-Mail me at spinthehitz74@gmail.com........
What might surprise you is that Bobbie Gentry (or Capitol Records) probably never intended for there to be such interest in this story. "Ode To Billy Joe" was actually released as the "B-Side" of "Mississippi Delta," which should have been a hit, as well….but then again…we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?
While we may never know the true meaning of the song…..I think history has proven this song is a true classic. In closing, let's turn back the hands of time to 1967….imagine a seductive, raspy voice and strings galore in the background….and the story of "Ode To Billy Joe."
It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
And Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And Mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge
And Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
And Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe
And Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge.
(Ode To Billy Joe---written by Bobbie Gentry / Universal Music Publishing)
Wednesday is June 3. Some believe that in 1953, a death took place in Northern Mississippi, even though there has never been any actual proof of that fact. However, fourteen years later, you couldn't get away from a song that started like this:
"It was the third of June, another hot and dusty Delta day…."
You probably know the song, "Ode To Billy Joe," which was written by Bobbie Gentry. Whatever station you listened to back in 1967, Country or Pop, it was one of the most-played records in the United States. The song told the story of the death of Billy Joe McCallister, who jumped off the infamous Tallahatchie Bridge.
The Capitol Records release featured one of the most haunting melodies and string sections ever to be used on a song, and some forty-two years later, there has never been a definitive answer to the question of what Billy Joe and the song's narrator were seen throwing off the bridge before the character took his life.
You might say that it would make a good movie, but Hollywood tried that…..and failed miserably. In 1975, eight years after the release of the song, Max Baer, Jr. ("Jethro" himself) produced a movie that starred Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor that I don't think did the Gentry hit justice. The song was cutting edge, haunting, and featured a sizzling vocal by a lady that I don't think ever got her due for being a sensual writer and performer. Having heard some of her other story songs over her career, I think you could compare her writing to that of another great name of the South, William Faulkner. Simply put, the lady had an imagination!
The movie, on the other hand, was filled with as many Southern clichés as you could count, and some very fake southern accents that lost me about three minutes into the film. (Even though, as I have been told, my parents didn't get that far into the movie at the Pink Cadillac Drive-In in Centerville, TN……There was some baby crying nearby!)
Just as the song has conjured up many theories over the years as to what happened in the lyrics, the same could be said of Bobbie Gentry as well. She has pretty much faded from the entertainment business since the early 1980s, and in researching the song, I found little interview information about her. Just like the story of Billy Joe, there is a vein of secrecy about her, as well.
In the end, maybe that's a good thing. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Southern Gothic tales like this one and Walking Tall (the 1973 original is an underrated classic) as much as anybody, and if Hollywood chose to re-tell the story….I'd be the first in line. I've even got a few ideas of how you could freshen up the story somewhat. Some things are better left alone…..but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject. What do you think the mystery of this record was? E-Mail me at spinthehitz74@gmail.com........
What might surprise you is that Bobbie Gentry (or Capitol Records) probably never intended for there to be such interest in this story. "Ode To Billy Joe" was actually released as the "B-Side" of "Mississippi Delta," which should have been a hit, as well….but then again…we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?
While we may never know the true meaning of the song…..I think history has proven this song is a true classic. In closing, let's turn back the hands of time to 1967….imagine a seductive, raspy voice and strings galore in the background….and the story of "Ode To Billy Joe."
It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
And Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And Mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge
And Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
And Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"
A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe
And Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge
And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge.
(Ode To Billy Joe---written by Bobbie Gentry / Universal Music Publishing)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
PLACES I HAVE BEEN....AND A FEW I HAVEN'T
First of all, a happy Memorial Day weekend to one and all. With the arrival of this holiday, many people begin to think about vacations. While this year, I don't know if we will be able to make a trip to the luxurious village of Shady Grove (nestled in the eastern portion of Hickman County), I can say that I am no different. There's something about going to different surroundings than which you are accustomed that is pretty neat……With that said, I offer you ten such places that I have been blessed to visit over the years that just might pique your interest!
ALBERTVIILLE / GUNTERSVILLE, AL------The appeal of the Sand Mountain area gets a lift from the beautiful Lake Guntersville in Northern Alabama. “The Shopper’s Paradise Of The South,” Boaz, isn’t that far away, as well….though many of the outlet malls that once filled the area have shut down. The towns around this area all have a quaint small town charm, yet all possess one thing that is crucial for survival wherever you go----a Wal-Mart! Well worth a trip.
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS / CHARLOTTESVILLE / SCHUYLER, VA-----As a youngster who grew up on the classic series “The Waltons,” I was always intrigued by the area that Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote and spoke of so eloquently about. Over the years, I have visited this area a few times, with my honeymoon there in 2007 being a highlight. Having been to the Waltons Mountain Museum in Schuyler, I can tell you that you must be a little bit patient. Highway 629 winds so far back off the main route that you will wonder if you are ever going to make your destination. The museum is located across from the house that was the real-life Hamner homestead, but even if you’re not a fan of John-Boy and company, the beauty of the entire region will charm you to no end, and likely make you a return visitor!
CORINTH--TUPELO, MS / SELMER, TN----Many years ago, I first became drawn to the legacy of the late “Walking Tall” sheriff Buford Pusser. That led me to many trips to the infamous “State Line,” where much of the story took place. Though some four decades have passed, there is still a sense of yesterday in Southwest Tennessee and Northern Mississippi that will entice you. First of all, besides the “Walking Tall” element, you will find in the area a spot that I think could be Heaven on Earth, Pickwick Landing State Park just to the east. Across the line, you will find the historic vibe of Corinth, as well as some of the South’s most beautiful areas in places like Iuka, Booneville (one of the most scenic small towns in the south), and Tupelo, which is the birthplace of another southern icon, Elvis Presley…..and who could resist that?
DALLAS, TX------As a lifelong fan of both Country Music and “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys…..I have to admit…there is something that is different about the Lone Star State as soon as you cross over from Arkansas into Texarkana. Everything takes on a larger-than-life mentality. Having been there on a couple of occasions, I will tell you the area is simply stunning. From standing at mid-field at Texas Stadium to walking through the halls of Southfork Ranch, one of Television’s most legendary houses…..Dallas is as big as the legends that surround it…and then some…..Plus, the restaurants are about as good as it gets!
GREEN BAY, WI-----Even though I am a Cowboys fan, I do have to admit that there is something special about places like….Lambeau Field. Three years ago, I flew into the area formerly known as Favre-land to see one of the cities and football fields that have helped to define the sport. While taking a tour of the facilities there, and eating at Favre’s Steakhouse didn’t convert me from Silver and Blue, I will say that the trip totally mesmerized me. There’s something special about the way that citizens there feel about that team----something you don’t get just anywhere. Plus, the area is visually gorgeous, and the Cowboys have played there a few times….such as the Ice Bowl in ’67, where the Packers were guilty of a false start,……just so you know!
HUNTINGDON, WV----One of the professional highlights of my career was in the summer of 2005 when I was asked to speak on a panel concerning writing about the music business in Huntingdon, WV. Surrounded by the mountains, the downtown part of the city has a historic, yet progressive touch. The bridges and the waterways that separate West Virginia from Ohio and Kentucky are intoxicating. Take this trip…..but also take a camera. Years later, you’ll be happy you did!
LOS ANGELES, CA-----I have been blessed to be able to travel some during my lifetime, and there are a few destinations that are a little bit special to me. Los Angeles is one of those. At the risk of sounding like a small-town boy, there's something that is exciting to me about landing at LAX, which is bigger than a lot of towns around Middle Tennessee. There's the Hollywood element to the city, and there's also the beach. When I first visited there in 2003, I hadn't been to the sands in about two decades…..Coming to the end of Santa Monica Boulevard, and turning on my favorite highway in America, the Pacific Coast Highway is something I'll always remember. The Santa Monica Pier, Malibu, The "Hot Dog On A Stick" stand on the beach, and sitting with one of my best friends, Ben, and eating at one of the legendary Shakey's Pizza Houses are memories I'll always cherish….Hopefully, one day I'll make it back out there.
MACKINAW ISLAND, MI----Home of one of the longest suspension bridges in the United States, this was one of my earliest vacation memories. One thing that I will always connect to this area is the Candy Shops that line the streets of Mackinac Island, just a few miles off shore. While it may not be a tourist's dream in the winter months, the cool breeze on the island even in June or July I can still feel, even though I haven't been there since 1986.
PIKEVILLE / BEREA / RENFRO VALLEY, KY----For business purposes, I had to travel to Pikeville, KY in the fall of 2004. It took me about three years, but I finally found a reason to go back when my wife Shannon and I celebrated our honeymoon. Pikeville is a city that gave the music world Dwight Yoakam and Patty Loveless, and it completely sits in the rugged mountain terrain of Eastern Kentucky. It's one of many reasons to visit the area, which also includes historic Berea, and Renfro Valley, which has a Country Music legend all its' own. The home of the legendary radio show started by John Lair, Renfro Valley still plays host to some of the format's most legendary stars, including The Oak Ridge Boys, George Jones, and Ronnie Milsap.
WASHINGTON, DC----After talking about it for a few years, my brother and I boarded a plane in the spring of 2002 and travelled to our nation's capital. I'm glad that we did. You grow up reading about places like the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln and Jefferson Monuments, and the National Mall in history books and on TV, but nothing compares to seeing everything live and up close. Probably the most compelling sight I saw during my few days there was seeing the view of downtown D.C. from the hills of Arlington National Cemetery, trying to visualize the procession that was made on November 25, 1963---the date of arguably the most famous burial in the history of Arlington.
In addition, I thought I would throw out a few places that I have never ventured to before that someday before I become history…I would love to see….
CHICAGO-------My father is from Northwestern Illinois, so you might think that I have been to Chicago many times---but you'd be wrong. Actually I was there one time, for about two hours on a layover to Green Bay. So….I would love to buy one of those $59 flights that Southwest has been hawking for years. The Sears Tower, Soldier Field, Wrigley,…there's a lot to see…..I wouldn't mind eating at Michael Jordan's restaurant, either…..They also have some nice places to shop there, don't they?
DENVER--------I would love to see the Rocky Mountains at least once before I die, and I have heard a lot about the "Mile High City." I think part of the allure about going here is that aside from California, I have never been west of Iowa, and it would be a neat trip.
MINNEAPOLIS------My brother and I talked about flying here a few years ago around the holidays to see the Mall Of America. Somehow, the $1300 that it would cost us both to go scared us off….just a little. Still, it would be a fun excursion, especially around Christmas-time….Southwest does fly there now, and that does make the fare a little cheaper. I also have a feeling they are going to be selling Brett Favre jerseys in the city soon….
OAK HILL, WV--------At some point in my life, I want to find myself in Knoxville, TN about 10pm on New Years' Eve, and make a trip to Oak Hill. The reason for this is that it was the route that Hank Williams took on his final ride, and (just like many others) that trip looms as one of the most mysterious in Country Music history. What exactly happened to Hank, and Where did he pass away? I don't think I would get any answers……but you just might run into a ghost or two along Highway 11…and that might make for a pretty good song!
VERMONT----For three years, I worked for Wayne Warner, an artist from this state, and I always talked about making a trip there….but I never did. The fact that the state is so close to Canada, another Country , intrigued me a little, and the beauty that so many talk about make me wish that I had…..Oh, well, maybe one day!
In any case, those are a few of my ideas about vacation spots….It's fun to get away for even just a few days, and the memories are well worth it….Happy Travelling!....Just buy me a T-Shirt!
ALBERTVIILLE / GUNTERSVILLE, AL------The appeal of the Sand Mountain area gets a lift from the beautiful Lake Guntersville in Northern Alabama. “The Shopper’s Paradise Of The South,” Boaz, isn’t that far away, as well….though many of the outlet malls that once filled the area have shut down. The towns around this area all have a quaint small town charm, yet all possess one thing that is crucial for survival wherever you go----a Wal-Mart! Well worth a trip.
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS / CHARLOTTESVILLE / SCHUYLER, VA-----As a youngster who grew up on the classic series “The Waltons,” I was always intrigued by the area that Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote and spoke of so eloquently about. Over the years, I have visited this area a few times, with my honeymoon there in 2007 being a highlight. Having been to the Waltons Mountain Museum in Schuyler, I can tell you that you must be a little bit patient. Highway 629 winds so far back off the main route that you will wonder if you are ever going to make your destination. The museum is located across from the house that was the real-life Hamner homestead, but even if you’re not a fan of John-Boy and company, the beauty of the entire region will charm you to no end, and likely make you a return visitor!
CORINTH--TUPELO, MS / SELMER, TN----Many years ago, I first became drawn to the legacy of the late “Walking Tall” sheriff Buford Pusser. That led me to many trips to the infamous “State Line,” where much of the story took place. Though some four decades have passed, there is still a sense of yesterday in Southwest Tennessee and Northern Mississippi that will entice you. First of all, besides the “Walking Tall” element, you will find in the area a spot that I think could be Heaven on Earth, Pickwick Landing State Park just to the east. Across the line, you will find the historic vibe of Corinth, as well as some of the South’s most beautiful areas in places like Iuka, Booneville (one of the most scenic small towns in the south), and Tupelo, which is the birthplace of another southern icon, Elvis Presley…..and who could resist that?
DALLAS, TX------As a lifelong fan of both Country Music and “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys…..I have to admit…there is something that is different about the Lone Star State as soon as you cross over from Arkansas into Texarkana. Everything takes on a larger-than-life mentality. Having been there on a couple of occasions, I will tell you the area is simply stunning. From standing at mid-field at Texas Stadium to walking through the halls of Southfork Ranch, one of Television’s most legendary houses…..Dallas is as big as the legends that surround it…and then some…..Plus, the restaurants are about as good as it gets!
GREEN BAY, WI-----Even though I am a Cowboys fan, I do have to admit that there is something special about places like….Lambeau Field. Three years ago, I flew into the area formerly known as Favre-land to see one of the cities and football fields that have helped to define the sport. While taking a tour of the facilities there, and eating at Favre’s Steakhouse didn’t convert me from Silver and Blue, I will say that the trip totally mesmerized me. There’s something special about the way that citizens there feel about that team----something you don’t get just anywhere. Plus, the area is visually gorgeous, and the Cowboys have played there a few times….such as the Ice Bowl in ’67, where the Packers were guilty of a false start,……just so you know!
HUNTINGDON, WV----One of the professional highlights of my career was in the summer of 2005 when I was asked to speak on a panel concerning writing about the music business in Huntingdon, WV. Surrounded by the mountains, the downtown part of the city has a historic, yet progressive touch. The bridges and the waterways that separate West Virginia from Ohio and Kentucky are intoxicating. Take this trip…..but also take a camera. Years later, you’ll be happy you did!
LOS ANGELES, CA-----I have been blessed to be able to travel some during my lifetime, and there are a few destinations that are a little bit special to me. Los Angeles is one of those. At the risk of sounding like a small-town boy, there's something that is exciting to me about landing at LAX, which is bigger than a lot of towns around Middle Tennessee. There's the Hollywood element to the city, and there's also the beach. When I first visited there in 2003, I hadn't been to the sands in about two decades…..Coming to the end of Santa Monica Boulevard, and turning on my favorite highway in America, the Pacific Coast Highway is something I'll always remember. The Santa Monica Pier, Malibu, The "Hot Dog On A Stick" stand on the beach, and sitting with one of my best friends, Ben, and eating at one of the legendary Shakey's Pizza Houses are memories I'll always cherish….Hopefully, one day I'll make it back out there.
MACKINAW ISLAND, MI----Home of one of the longest suspension bridges in the United States, this was one of my earliest vacation memories. One thing that I will always connect to this area is the Candy Shops that line the streets of Mackinac Island, just a few miles off shore. While it may not be a tourist's dream in the winter months, the cool breeze on the island even in June or July I can still feel, even though I haven't been there since 1986.
PIKEVILLE / BEREA / RENFRO VALLEY, KY----For business purposes, I had to travel to Pikeville, KY in the fall of 2004. It took me about three years, but I finally found a reason to go back when my wife Shannon and I celebrated our honeymoon. Pikeville is a city that gave the music world Dwight Yoakam and Patty Loveless, and it completely sits in the rugged mountain terrain of Eastern Kentucky. It's one of many reasons to visit the area, which also includes historic Berea, and Renfro Valley, which has a Country Music legend all its' own. The home of the legendary radio show started by John Lair, Renfro Valley still plays host to some of the format's most legendary stars, including The Oak Ridge Boys, George Jones, and Ronnie Milsap.
WASHINGTON, DC----After talking about it for a few years, my brother and I boarded a plane in the spring of 2002 and travelled to our nation's capital. I'm glad that we did. You grow up reading about places like the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln and Jefferson Monuments, and the National Mall in history books and on TV, but nothing compares to seeing everything live and up close. Probably the most compelling sight I saw during my few days there was seeing the view of downtown D.C. from the hills of Arlington National Cemetery, trying to visualize the procession that was made on November 25, 1963---the date of arguably the most famous burial in the history of Arlington.
In addition, I thought I would throw out a few places that I have never ventured to before that someday before I become history…I would love to see….
CHICAGO-------My father is from Northwestern Illinois, so you might think that I have been to Chicago many times---but you'd be wrong. Actually I was there one time, for about two hours on a layover to Green Bay. So….I would love to buy one of those $59 flights that Southwest has been hawking for years. The Sears Tower, Soldier Field, Wrigley,…there's a lot to see…..I wouldn't mind eating at Michael Jordan's restaurant, either…..They also have some nice places to shop there, don't they?
DENVER--------I would love to see the Rocky Mountains at least once before I die, and I have heard a lot about the "Mile High City." I think part of the allure about going here is that aside from California, I have never been west of Iowa, and it would be a neat trip.
MINNEAPOLIS------My brother and I talked about flying here a few years ago around the holidays to see the Mall Of America. Somehow, the $1300 that it would cost us both to go scared us off….just a little. Still, it would be a fun excursion, especially around Christmas-time….Southwest does fly there now, and that does make the fare a little cheaper. I also have a feeling they are going to be selling Brett Favre jerseys in the city soon….
OAK HILL, WV--------At some point in my life, I want to find myself in Knoxville, TN about 10pm on New Years' Eve, and make a trip to Oak Hill. The reason for this is that it was the route that Hank Williams took on his final ride, and (just like many others) that trip looms as one of the most mysterious in Country Music history. What exactly happened to Hank, and Where did he pass away? I don't think I would get any answers……but you just might run into a ghost or two along Highway 11…and that might make for a pretty good song!
VERMONT----For three years, I worked for Wayne Warner, an artist from this state, and I always talked about making a trip there….but I never did. The fact that the state is so close to Canada, another Country , intrigued me a little, and the beauty that so many talk about make me wish that I had…..Oh, well, maybe one day!
In any case, those are a few of my ideas about vacation spots….It's fun to get away for even just a few days, and the memories are well worth it….Happy Travelling!....Just buy me a T-Shirt!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Way To Say Goodbye
Last Monday was an exciting one in the Dauphin household, with the season finale of the FOX-TV series "House." Going back to my younger days, there was always something exciting about television series during the month of May. Since the days of "Dallas," and the question "Who Shot J.R.?" back in 1980, series have loved to leave us guessing. Each May, there are always a few classic series that fade into television history. Some leave the air in a way that makes you scratch your head, while others go off in a classy manner! Here are ten of the best series finales of all time!
10. MAGNUM, P.I. (1988)----In the series finale, longtime bachelor Rick tied the knot (or did he?), and Thomas Magnum went back into the service. The ever-popular series actually ended with a cliffhanger, of sorts----Was Jonathan Higgins actually the mysterious Robin Masters? Two decades have passed without the answer!
9. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (1984)---When an evil businessman buys the town of Walnut Grove, Michael Landon and company blow up all the buildings in the town, which served as a rather explosive ending to one of the warmest shows ever on TV.
8. KNOTS LANDING (1993)----Longtime viewers had to smile when the conniving Abby moved back into the cul-de-sac---next door to Gary and Val, whose marriage she had broken up a decade earlier. Michele Lee's double take to the camera in the final frame seemed to say to the viewers, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
7. TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (2003)---A show that could always bring tears, the big question during the nine-year run was whether Monica could earn her wings. The final episode had that answer, with the angelic Roma Downey doing just that.
6. HAPPY DAYS (1984)----Some shows just end right, with the Fonz adopting a child, and the marriage of Joanie and Chachi, which brought back nearly the entire cast, even Ron Howard.
5. HAWAII FIVE-0 (1980)----Throughout the entire run of 5-0, the criminal known as Wo Fat eluded arrest by Steve McGarrett. However, in April 1980 after a twelve-season run, he finally booked him! If nothing else, the show was worth watching for the theme song alone!
4. M*A*S*H (1983)----Still the most-watched television episode ever, the scene where Hawkeye sees B.J.'s goodbye spelled out in rocks still chokes me up. Alan Alda's portrayal of Hawkeye's nervous breakdown at the episode's beginning was also brilliantly played.
3. NEWHART (1990)----One of the best sitcoms of all time took a page from the Ewings of Dallas, when it ended with the premise that the entire eight-season run of the series had been a dream of Dr. Bob Hartley, Newhart's previous character on "The Bob Newhart Show." The shock when Bob turned over in bed to see Suzanne Pleshette was one of TV's funniest moments.
2. THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1977)---Sometimes, a show goes longer than it should, but Moore's decision to end her series was just the way to do it. The final episode had everything---emotion, farewells, and a little bit of irony. WJM gets sold, and who was the only one to keep their job? The insufferable Ted Baxter, played to Emmy-winning perfection by the late Ted Knight. Since then, how many series finales have had a group hug, or had a character turn out a light? It all started here!
1. THE FUGITIVE (1967)-----I have seen this one only in reruns, as I was seven years in the making at the time. Over four decades later, "the day the running stopped" for Dr. Richard Kimble still stands as one of Television's most exciting hours. The fight between Kimble and the infamous "one-armed man," not to mention his shooting by Lt. Gerard was part of the highest rated TV episode for over thirteen years, when J.R Ewing's attacker was brought to Texas Justice on "Dallas."
10. MAGNUM, P.I. (1988)----In the series finale, longtime bachelor Rick tied the knot (or did he?), and Thomas Magnum went back into the service. The ever-popular series actually ended with a cliffhanger, of sorts----Was Jonathan Higgins actually the mysterious Robin Masters? Two decades have passed without the answer!
9. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (1984)---When an evil businessman buys the town of Walnut Grove, Michael Landon and company blow up all the buildings in the town, which served as a rather explosive ending to one of the warmest shows ever on TV.
8. KNOTS LANDING (1993)----Longtime viewers had to smile when the conniving Abby moved back into the cul-de-sac---next door to Gary and Val, whose marriage she had broken up a decade earlier. Michele Lee's double take to the camera in the final frame seemed to say to the viewers, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
7. TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (2003)---A show that could always bring tears, the big question during the nine-year run was whether Monica could earn her wings. The final episode had that answer, with the angelic Roma Downey doing just that.
6. HAPPY DAYS (1984)----Some shows just end right, with the Fonz adopting a child, and the marriage of Joanie and Chachi, which brought back nearly the entire cast, even Ron Howard.
5. HAWAII FIVE-0 (1980)----Throughout the entire run of 5-0, the criminal known as Wo Fat eluded arrest by Steve McGarrett. However, in April 1980 after a twelve-season run, he finally booked him! If nothing else, the show was worth watching for the theme song alone!
4. M*A*S*H (1983)----Still the most-watched television episode ever, the scene where Hawkeye sees B.J.'s goodbye spelled out in rocks still chokes me up. Alan Alda's portrayal of Hawkeye's nervous breakdown at the episode's beginning was also brilliantly played.
3. NEWHART (1990)----One of the best sitcoms of all time took a page from the Ewings of Dallas, when it ended with the premise that the entire eight-season run of the series had been a dream of Dr. Bob Hartley, Newhart's previous character on "The Bob Newhart Show." The shock when Bob turned over in bed to see Suzanne Pleshette was one of TV's funniest moments.
2. THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1977)---Sometimes, a show goes longer than it should, but Moore's decision to end her series was just the way to do it. The final episode had everything---emotion, farewells, and a little bit of irony. WJM gets sold, and who was the only one to keep their job? The insufferable Ted Baxter, played to Emmy-winning perfection by the late Ted Knight. Since then, how many series finales have had a group hug, or had a character turn out a light? It all started here!
1. THE FUGITIVE (1967)-----I have seen this one only in reruns, as I was seven years in the making at the time. Over four decades later, "the day the running stopped" for Dr. Richard Kimble still stands as one of Television's most exciting hours. The fight between Kimble and the infamous "one-armed man," not to mention his shooting by Lt. Gerard was part of the highest rated TV episode for over thirteen years, when J.R Ewing's attacker was brought to Texas Justice on "Dallas."
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Boys Are Back, Indeed!
For the past few weeks that I have been doing this blog, I have tried to resist the urge to write about one of the topics that I usually do---the music business. I figure that between NEW MUSIC WEEKLY, Music News Nashville, Limewire, and all the other music publications I write for, I get plenty of chances to delve into my thoughts on the music that I hear. I like getting to write about different things going on in life besides what seems to be the obvious.
With that being said, this is one of those weeks that the subject matter is a little bit hard to come by, and one of the things that has inspired me the most has been....music. You would think that eighteen years of being in the business, and being a fan for more years than that, the thrill of the mail delivery each day would begin to be a little less. It hasn't. People that I have worked with over the years, even my wife, have poked fun at the fact that I take the mail run each day seriously. I have to admit.....I do. There's something about the thrill of getting manila envelopes stuffed with CD's from record companies that I just love. There's a thrill about hearing something brand new for the first time...especially if it's good. A lot of times, it might be a new act. I still remember the first time I heard acts like Lee Ann Womack and Brad Paisley....and brand new acts like Due West and Bulls Gap, both of whom I think have the potential to be huge.
Sometimes, it's a legendary act that brings out the fire in me. I love hearing when an older act steps out of their comfort zone a bit. It may not be their most commercially successful recording, but hearing someone like Kenny Rogers and a song like "The Last Ten Years," latter-day recordings by Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, or some of the more recent recordings by Dolly, there's something refreshing about an act who is still out there creating new art for fans to enjoy.
That leads me to this week's reason to be excited about the music business---The Oak Ridge Boys. I have just heard their new album entitled THE BOYS ARE BACK, and I must admit that to call it an artistic statement is something of an understatement. It's also one that comes from a little bit left of center. Dave Cobb, who has done an awesome job as Shooter Jennings' producer, guided the project...which features some of the group's biggest musical risks in years. The Oak Ridge Boys recording a song from Shooter? Check. Neil Young? Check. The White Stripes? Check again! In fact, the group's version of "Seven Nation Army" is one of the best things they have ever dome. Songs from such revered writers as Jamey Johnson, Paul Kennerly, and Dallas Frazier also are included on the disc.
Of interest to fans will be the title track, written by Shooter Jennings, which is a tribute to the history and legacy of the group from their beginnings with Wally Fowler back in the 1940s. Shooter proves himself to be a great student of history on this track, which has that unmistakable four-part harmony that could only come from the "Mighty Oaks." As an aside, I will say that not making Shooter Jennings a star in his own right is one of the biggest sins that Music City has committed as of late....But this is about the Oaks, right?
The album comes out May 19, which is a week from this Tuesday, and I urge each of you to pick up a copy. You will be glad you did. I will be writing more about this album in my usual forums, but I wanted to let you know that it's one of those albums that both entertain and inspire you....at the same time. If you want to hear some of the album, tune in to Kix 96.7 this Thursday from 1-3, as I will be interviewing Richard Sterban of the Oaks...and we'll be talking more about it then....but I just had to let you know....The Boys Are Back.....in a big way!
With that being said, this is one of those weeks that the subject matter is a little bit hard to come by, and one of the things that has inspired me the most has been....music. You would think that eighteen years of being in the business, and being a fan for more years than that, the thrill of the mail delivery each day would begin to be a little less. It hasn't. People that I have worked with over the years, even my wife, have poked fun at the fact that I take the mail run each day seriously. I have to admit.....I do. There's something about the thrill of getting manila envelopes stuffed with CD's from record companies that I just love. There's a thrill about hearing something brand new for the first time...especially if it's good. A lot of times, it might be a new act. I still remember the first time I heard acts like Lee Ann Womack and Brad Paisley....and brand new acts like Due West and Bulls Gap, both of whom I think have the potential to be huge.
Sometimes, it's a legendary act that brings out the fire in me. I love hearing when an older act steps out of their comfort zone a bit. It may not be their most commercially successful recording, but hearing someone like Kenny Rogers and a song like "The Last Ten Years," latter-day recordings by Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, or some of the more recent recordings by Dolly, there's something refreshing about an act who is still out there creating new art for fans to enjoy.
That leads me to this week's reason to be excited about the music business---The Oak Ridge Boys. I have just heard their new album entitled THE BOYS ARE BACK, and I must admit that to call it an artistic statement is something of an understatement. It's also one that comes from a little bit left of center. Dave Cobb, who has done an awesome job as Shooter Jennings' producer, guided the project...which features some of the group's biggest musical risks in years. The Oak Ridge Boys recording a song from Shooter? Check. Neil Young? Check. The White Stripes? Check again! In fact, the group's version of "Seven Nation Army" is one of the best things they have ever dome. Songs from such revered writers as Jamey Johnson, Paul Kennerly, and Dallas Frazier also are included on the disc.
Of interest to fans will be the title track, written by Shooter Jennings, which is a tribute to the history and legacy of the group from their beginnings with Wally Fowler back in the 1940s. Shooter proves himself to be a great student of history on this track, which has that unmistakable four-part harmony that could only come from the "Mighty Oaks." As an aside, I will say that not making Shooter Jennings a star in his own right is one of the biggest sins that Music City has committed as of late....But this is about the Oaks, right?
The album comes out May 19, which is a week from this Tuesday, and I urge each of you to pick up a copy. You will be glad you did. I will be writing more about this album in my usual forums, but I wanted to let you know that it's one of those albums that both entertain and inspire you....at the same time. If you want to hear some of the album, tune in to Kix 96.7 this Thursday from 1-3, as I will be interviewing Richard Sterban of the Oaks...and we'll be talking more about it then....but I just had to let you know....The Boys Are Back.....in a big way!
Friday, May 1, 2009
A Hall Of Fame For Mothers
Where is this year going? We are already one-third done with 2009, and the year refuses to slow down. I guess that's what you call time going by. Well, since the second Sunday in May is here, I thought I would share a few thoughts about the upcoming holiday known as Mother's Day.
I have made no secret of the influence that legendary Virginia writer Earl Hamner, Jr. has had on me over the years. Of course, a lot of that influence stems from his creation of the legendary TV series THE WALTONS, but I also have been a big fan of his writing over the years. His most recent work is a book titled Generous Women, a collection of stories about how various members of the fairer sex have been influential in his life. I thought I would take a page from "John-Boy" once again, and pay tribute to a few women that have had a part in my life.
JEANETTE KIMBRO-----The first in a long line of "Second Moms" in my life. I can not tell you how many spaghetti dinners I have had in the Kimbro house over the years. You see, her youngest son Randall is my "Brother From Another Mother." She has always been a pretty straight-forward person as most Country people are. I don't get to see my second set of parents as much as I would like, as life takes everyone in a different direction for each day of the week, but I love them very much. One thing I always remember about dinner around the Kimbro table is how much they used to have the radio on….especially that station that their son and I would prank call on their "Swap & Shop" program. How days go by………
ANN GALYA---Another of my friend's mothers who has been influential in life. While I knew her son, Bobby, since the first grade, I didn't get to know her until a few years later when we were in Middle School. One thing I will carry with me about her is how you should always be true to yourself……no matter what people think. Due to a lot of reasons, change happened to her in a great way in the 1980s, but she responded……and reacted to it. Her husband, Bobby Galya, was one of the first influences I ever had about stepping into the parenthood shoes in mid-stream. I didn't know it then, but the lessons came in handy.
BETTY GIBBS--I first met Betty when she started to date a guy at Church that I looked (and still do) up to. The two of them became my listening rods during my teenage (and early 20s) years when I didn't want to go to my parents about love and life. Her frank answers sometimes weren't what I wanted to hear…..but in some cases, she was right. Thanks for the Sunday night dinners over the years…..even though I didn't get many of the "Donut Sticks" that belonged to someone else.
MARY BAKER---One of the dearest people I have ever met. When I started in radio in 1991, she was one of the first listeners that I ever got to know real well. She, as well as her children, Terry, Vickie, and Helen, became my first "second family" I got to know in adulthood by myself. You know those people who always make you feel real good about yourself? She's one of them! If you find me in Centerville, I'll play you an Alan Jackson song!
MARCIA DAUPHIN----Change is not something that I always respond to very well. I will tell you this, though. Sometimes it's worth it. In the past three years, Marcia has made my father very happy, and that's been very important to me. Also, she has become a very good friend to me over time….and that's something for which I'm grateful. Plus, you have to love anyone who loves animals…..and her heart speaks volumes on this! You've become exactly what you said you wanted to be that February night two years ago....a friend!
JOANNA (or is it Joanne) GIBSON-----There are a hundred---Make that two hundred songs about how awful a "Mother-In-Law" is. I have to count myself very blessed to have one that is a "pretty cool chick." In fact, she's cool enough to let it slide one of the names I referred to her as...she can't stand! As to which one? Aek ger and maybe she will tell you...…..Well then again, maybe not! Seriously, she has made me feel very accepted over the past few years, and I am glad to be her Son-In-Law….Just make sure you feed the cat. Ah, the beauty of inside jokes.
SHANNON DAUPHIN------While you're not a mother figure to me, you have been a very influential woman to me. I love you more with each passing day. I have depended upon you for a lot of strength jumping into the father fray over the years, but also when the world is seemingly coming to an end….you convince me that it's not so. We might not agree on everything….(Men are from Mars, you know), but I love you very much…….With All That Is Yada….Or As Bella Calls It Yoda!
And, while all these people are still very much among us, there is one more that I have to write about. Growing up an only child, I have to admit to being a "Mamma's Boy," and I say it loud and proud. Paulette Dauphin was not perfect, by any stretch of the margin…..but I will tell you that to me, her influence is and will always be felt to this day. Whether it was Saturday morning trips to the mall, or yearly visits to Christmas In The Country in November at the High School…….she was the best. I'm not going to get too maudlin here, (Shannon says I can't help it though!), but I guess my mother was the closest person to me that I have ever had to pass away. I always thought people to stretch the truth when they said they would think about someone every day for years and years after they are gone……Almost four years have gone by, and I still think about her each day. Thankfully, the majority of these instances are positive ones now! I love you very much, and your influence lives on in me.
Well, the word clicker says 1,040 (as of this word), so I better get going…..There's a Tracy Lawrence interview to do this week, as well ballgames to cover, and a radio show to plan. To all the Mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day, and if your Mom is still out there, (In the words of the legendary Alabama coach "Bear Bryant)….."Don't Forget To Call Your Mama…..I Wish I Could Call Mine….(also written by the late, great Southern treasure Lewis Grizzard, but I couldn't bear to put his Georgia Bulldog name side by side with someone from the Crimson Tide!)
I have made no secret of the influence that legendary Virginia writer Earl Hamner, Jr. has had on me over the years. Of course, a lot of that influence stems from his creation of the legendary TV series THE WALTONS, but I also have been a big fan of his writing over the years. His most recent work is a book titled Generous Women, a collection of stories about how various members of the fairer sex have been influential in his life. I thought I would take a page from "John-Boy" once again, and pay tribute to a few women that have had a part in my life.
JEANETTE KIMBRO-----The first in a long line of "Second Moms" in my life. I can not tell you how many spaghetti dinners I have had in the Kimbro house over the years. You see, her youngest son Randall is my "Brother From Another Mother." She has always been a pretty straight-forward person as most Country people are. I don't get to see my second set of parents as much as I would like, as life takes everyone in a different direction for each day of the week, but I love them very much. One thing I always remember about dinner around the Kimbro table is how much they used to have the radio on….especially that station that their son and I would prank call on their "Swap & Shop" program. How days go by………
ANN GALYA---Another of my friend's mothers who has been influential in life. While I knew her son, Bobby, since the first grade, I didn't get to know her until a few years later when we were in Middle School. One thing I will carry with me about her is how you should always be true to yourself……no matter what people think. Due to a lot of reasons, change happened to her in a great way in the 1980s, but she responded……and reacted to it. Her husband, Bobby Galya, was one of the first influences I ever had about stepping into the parenthood shoes in mid-stream. I didn't know it then, but the lessons came in handy.
BETTY GIBBS--I first met Betty when she started to date a guy at Church that I looked (and still do) up to. The two of them became my listening rods during my teenage (and early 20s) years when I didn't want to go to my parents about love and life. Her frank answers sometimes weren't what I wanted to hear…..but in some cases, she was right. Thanks for the Sunday night dinners over the years…..even though I didn't get many of the "Donut Sticks" that belonged to someone else.
MARY BAKER---One of the dearest people I have ever met. When I started in radio in 1991, she was one of the first listeners that I ever got to know real well. She, as well as her children, Terry, Vickie, and Helen, became my first "second family" I got to know in adulthood by myself. You know those people who always make you feel real good about yourself? She's one of them! If you find me in Centerville, I'll play you an Alan Jackson song!
MARCIA DAUPHIN----Change is not something that I always respond to very well. I will tell you this, though. Sometimes it's worth it. In the past three years, Marcia has made my father very happy, and that's been very important to me. Also, she has become a very good friend to me over time….and that's something for which I'm grateful. Plus, you have to love anyone who loves animals…..and her heart speaks volumes on this! You've become exactly what you said you wanted to be that February night two years ago....a friend!
JOANNA (or is it Joanne) GIBSON-----There are a hundred---Make that two hundred songs about how awful a "Mother-In-Law" is. I have to count myself very blessed to have one that is a "pretty cool chick." In fact, she's cool enough to let it slide one of the names I referred to her as...she can't stand! As to which one? Aek ger and maybe she will tell you...…..Well then again, maybe not! Seriously, she has made me feel very accepted over the past few years, and I am glad to be her Son-In-Law….Just make sure you feed the cat. Ah, the beauty of inside jokes.
SHANNON DAUPHIN------While you're not a mother figure to me, you have been a very influential woman to me. I love you more with each passing day. I have depended upon you for a lot of strength jumping into the father fray over the years, but also when the world is seemingly coming to an end….you convince me that it's not so. We might not agree on everything….(Men are from Mars, you know), but I love you very much…….With All That Is Yada….Or As Bella Calls It Yoda!
And, while all these people are still very much among us, there is one more that I have to write about. Growing up an only child, I have to admit to being a "Mamma's Boy," and I say it loud and proud. Paulette Dauphin was not perfect, by any stretch of the margin…..but I will tell you that to me, her influence is and will always be felt to this day. Whether it was Saturday morning trips to the mall, or yearly visits to Christmas In The Country in November at the High School…….she was the best. I'm not going to get too maudlin here, (Shannon says I can't help it though!), but I guess my mother was the closest person to me that I have ever had to pass away. I always thought people to stretch the truth when they said they would think about someone every day for years and years after they are gone……Almost four years have gone by, and I still think about her each day. Thankfully, the majority of these instances are positive ones now! I love you very much, and your influence lives on in me.
Well, the word clicker says 1,040 (as of this word), so I better get going…..There's a Tracy Lawrence interview to do this week, as well ballgames to cover, and a radio show to plan. To all the Mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day, and if your Mom is still out there, (In the words of the legendary Alabama coach "Bear Bryant)….."Don't Forget To Call Your Mama…..I Wish I Could Call Mine….(also written by the late, great Southern treasure Lewis Grizzard, but I couldn't bear to put his Georgia Bulldog name side by side with someone from the Crimson Tide!)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Getting The Letters Right....
Being 35 years old, there have been many adjustments in life that one makes. Getting used to being in school as a child is one. Making the jump into marriage and fatherhood is one that has happened to me over the past few years.
Another such change happened to me over the past month. As many know, a chapter of my life came to an end with the decision by the owners to close WDKN. After eighteen years at one place, it's quite different to realize that you are a free agent. It's scary, and to an extent, heartbreaking----but also kind of exciting.
It has been a month, and I am still looking for a full-time opportunity, but thankfully, the Lord has provided me with some work. I have been doing a lot of writing for the DICKSON HERALD, as well as a few music sites, and am in the process of pitching stories to some other magazines and periodicals. So...I am staying busy.
One of the best things that has happened to me is my association with WNKX / Kix 96 in Centerville. Since I first met Steve Turner back in 1993, I have had a tremendous amount of respect for him. One of my friends, Mickey Bunn, has been there since about that same time, so I have known about the station and liked them for some time. Mickey's wife "Sheila B After 3" has also been a longtime friend. Steve has always been someone that I would have liked to work for. It has just so happened that if he was looking to hire....I was satisfied where I was, and if I was looking...he was full of people on air.
To make a long story short. As I was loading all the CD's I had kept at WDKN into the house, it occurred to me. "What am I going to do with my THE BEST OF FERLIN HUSKY CD?....After all, there's not enough time to listen to everything I had in my collection." So, I contacted Kix 96 about doing an Country oldies show for them. Steve literally made me feel like a member of the WNKX family by inviting me in.
My first show was April 9, and the listeners have responded well. I have had a few of the former Dickson listeners call in, and I will be honest when I say that it feels good to have someone excited about having you as a part of their team. Granted, it's just a weekly two-hour show (for now, but I could see it expanding very soon!), but the people in Centerville have been really nice.
The change in radio stations leads me to something that anyone who has ever worked at more than one station will identify with---call letters. If you have any experience in radio, you know that when you turn the microphone on.....you will say the call letters of your station quite often. For me, it was at the beginning of every song....(That's something I learned from Ken Loggains, a former co-worker and a better friend...also one of the best radio voices you will ever hear!) I still remember giving the call letters of WDKN, as well as the phone number when I was doing overnights on the Interstate Radio Network a few years back....
Well, it's been three weeks, and so far I haven't uttered my old call letters into the microphone.....though I about gave out the WDKN phone number out last week. You know what Hank Williams, Jr. said about "Old Habits." Well;, let me tell you it's the truth!
In any case, I invite you to tune in this Thursday from 1-3 on WNKX / Kix 96.7 FM. We'll be celebrating the upcoming 50th birthday of Randy Travis, and playing quite a few of (hopefully) your all-time favorites....on W....I mean, Kix 96!.....(Keeping the streak alive!)
Another such change happened to me over the past month. As many know, a chapter of my life came to an end with the decision by the owners to close WDKN. After eighteen years at one place, it's quite different to realize that you are a free agent. It's scary, and to an extent, heartbreaking----but also kind of exciting.
It has been a month, and I am still looking for a full-time opportunity, but thankfully, the Lord has provided me with some work. I have been doing a lot of writing for the DICKSON HERALD, as well as a few music sites, and am in the process of pitching stories to some other magazines and periodicals. So...I am staying busy.
One of the best things that has happened to me is my association with WNKX / Kix 96 in Centerville. Since I first met Steve Turner back in 1993, I have had a tremendous amount of respect for him. One of my friends, Mickey Bunn, has been there since about that same time, so I have known about the station and liked them for some time. Mickey's wife "Sheila B After 3" has also been a longtime friend. Steve has always been someone that I would have liked to work for. It has just so happened that if he was looking to hire....I was satisfied where I was, and if I was looking...he was full of people on air.
To make a long story short. As I was loading all the CD's I had kept at WDKN into the house, it occurred to me. "What am I going to do with my THE BEST OF FERLIN HUSKY CD?....After all, there's not enough time to listen to everything I had in my collection." So, I contacted Kix 96 about doing an Country oldies show for them. Steve literally made me feel like a member of the WNKX family by inviting me in.
My first show was April 9, and the listeners have responded well. I have had a few of the former Dickson listeners call in, and I will be honest when I say that it feels good to have someone excited about having you as a part of their team. Granted, it's just a weekly two-hour show (for now, but I could see it expanding very soon!), but the people in Centerville have been really nice.
The change in radio stations leads me to something that anyone who has ever worked at more than one station will identify with---call letters. If you have any experience in radio, you know that when you turn the microphone on.....you will say the call letters of your station quite often. For me, it was at the beginning of every song....(That's something I learned from Ken Loggains, a former co-worker and a better friend...also one of the best radio voices you will ever hear!) I still remember giving the call letters of WDKN, as well as the phone number when I was doing overnights on the Interstate Radio Network a few years back....
Well, it's been three weeks, and so far I haven't uttered my old call letters into the microphone.....though I about gave out the WDKN phone number out last week. You know what Hank Williams, Jr. said about "Old Habits." Well;, let me tell you it's the truth!
In any case, I invite you to tune in this Thursday from 1-3 on WNKX / Kix 96.7 FM. We'll be celebrating the upcoming 50th birthday of Randy Travis, and playing quite a few of (hopefully) your all-time favorites....on W....I mean, Kix 96!.....(Keeping the streak alive!)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Feels Like School Spirit
This past weekend found my wife and I in Chattanooga Friday afternoon. I will admit that the trip was mostly pleasure, a chance to see my brother for the first time since Thanksgiving. At the same time, it was also work-related, as I was down there on assignment for THE DICKSON HERALD, covering Lady Cougars Softball for the newspaper.
Over the past three years, I have lost count as to how many athletic contests or scholarship signings that I have covered for the newspaper----not to mention the thirteen years of covering sports for WDKN, the former "Voice Of The Cougars." It's something that I have enjoyed a lot over the years.
You might think that Dickson County High School holds a special place in my heart, and you would be right. Though, I will have to admit to you----the amount of school spirit that runs through my veins over the years has increased over time.
I won't say that my High School years were the worst of my life. They weren't. But basically, the only proof that I was a student at the school from 1989-1992 is my name on a diploma. I just wasn't that interested in school for the most part---unless you count those members of the opposite sex that I never had a chance with! By the middle of my junior year, I was already employed at the radio station, and that was the part of life I was concentrating on.
Then, in 1996, I began to cover sports broadcasts at the school, and it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the job. I became amazed that the same teachers that I thought were so different as a student were actually....human! I remember one night, I was interviewing Coach Eve Hamilton at a ballgame on a night where inclement weather was about to move in. I asked her at the end of the interview, "I bet you're not hoping for snow tonight, are you?" I was serious. She was too, when she said "Are you kidding? We want out as much as the students." I guess people over the age of 18 actually like sleeping in on cold mornings as well.
Now, I know better.....and becoming friends with people like Coach Eve, Kevin Tuck, Bobby Burgess, Jackie Bledsoe, Dennis Fussell, Shelby Rye, Jerry Pearson, and my last broadcasting partner for Basketball at WDKN, Jay Powlas....is something that I feel blessed for. Shane Buchanan, softball coach on Cougar Hill, told me this afternoon when I was interviewing him for Wednesday's HERALD how much he and Coach Newberry appreciated me being there to cover the tournament. That meant a lot, but....Coach Buck....The pleasure was all mine!
I say all this because I want to say "Thanks" to everyone at Dickson County High School. Over the past thirteen years, I have made some of the most cherished friendships of my life with many of you, as well as many of the parents and grandparents over the years! You have made me feel like family, which is exactly what a graduate of a High School should feel like....except try telling that to an eighteen year old! Now, if only I could earn a letter jacket.....
Over the past three years, I have lost count as to how many athletic contests or scholarship signings that I have covered for the newspaper----not to mention the thirteen years of covering sports for WDKN, the former "Voice Of The Cougars." It's something that I have enjoyed a lot over the years.
You might think that Dickson County High School holds a special place in my heart, and you would be right. Though, I will have to admit to you----the amount of school spirit that runs through my veins over the years has increased over time.
I won't say that my High School years were the worst of my life. They weren't. But basically, the only proof that I was a student at the school from 1989-1992 is my name on a diploma. I just wasn't that interested in school for the most part---unless you count those members of the opposite sex that I never had a chance with! By the middle of my junior year, I was already employed at the radio station, and that was the part of life I was concentrating on.
Then, in 1996, I began to cover sports broadcasts at the school, and it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the job. I became amazed that the same teachers that I thought were so different as a student were actually....human! I remember one night, I was interviewing Coach Eve Hamilton at a ballgame on a night where inclement weather was about to move in. I asked her at the end of the interview, "I bet you're not hoping for snow tonight, are you?" I was serious. She was too, when she said "Are you kidding? We want out as much as the students." I guess people over the age of 18 actually like sleeping in on cold mornings as well.
Now, I know better.....and becoming friends with people like Coach Eve, Kevin Tuck, Bobby Burgess, Jackie Bledsoe, Dennis Fussell, Shelby Rye, Jerry Pearson, and my last broadcasting partner for Basketball at WDKN, Jay Powlas....is something that I feel blessed for. Shane Buchanan, softball coach on Cougar Hill, told me this afternoon when I was interviewing him for Wednesday's HERALD how much he and Coach Newberry appreciated me being there to cover the tournament. That meant a lot, but....Coach Buck....The pleasure was all mine!
I say all this because I want to say "Thanks" to everyone at Dickson County High School. Over the past thirteen years, I have made some of the most cherished friendships of my life with many of you, as well as many of the parents and grandparents over the years! You have made me feel like family, which is exactly what a graduate of a High School should feel like....except try telling that to an eighteen year old! Now, if only I could earn a letter jacket.....
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Farewell To A Friend I Never Met
One of my good friends, former Dickson County Cougars football coach Jerry Pearson, once told me that there was no good reason for the phone to ring late at night. I have found that to be a fact that rings very much true. Last Thursday, April 9, was one of those mornings. Though the kids were already on the school bus, 7:30 is not the time of day when the phone typically rings around the Dauphin household.
I answered the phone and it was one of my friends, Bo. He asked me if I had heard who had passed away. Working in morning radio for the bulk of eighteen years, I was always on top of these stories, and as morbid as it might sound to some....you kind of have a list as to who you might expect to pass away----it's never that way. I asked "Who," thinking that I would hear the name of a Country Music star, and he told me "Dan Miller." Needless to say, there was a wave of shock that still is running through me....five days later.
Dan Miller, for those that don't know, was one of two dominant news anchors in Nashville during the past four decades, with the other being Channel 5's Chris Clark. Back in the days when Middle Tennesseans only had three television channels, Miller was one of the biggest stars in local TV. His low-key, relaxing way of giving viewers the news made him one of Nashville's most beloved public figures. Though I will admit to being a Channel 5 viewer more than Channel 4 growing up, "The Scene At Six" was must-see TV, long before NBC coined the phrase. Whether it was talking about the issues of the day, or cutting up with fellow personalites like weatherman Bill Hall or sports anchor Rudy Kalis, he was always a joy to watch.
In reading many of the tributes to Miller over the past few days, many have brought up his Sunday night program MILLER AND COMPANY. Each week, he would interview a local celebrity, whether it was a music star or a local legend, like Nashville's "Mr. Television," Jud Collins. That same style of anchoring also led to some of the more memorable interviews I watched anyone do growing up. He brought that same format to TNN for a time in the 1990s, as well.
In 1986, after seventeen years, Miller accepted a job with a station in Los Angeles. You would have thought people had lost a son or a brother. A few years later though, he was back---staying until passing away from a heart attack last week in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia--while showing longtime friend Kalis his stomping ground growing up.
For a lot of reasons, his passing has affected me very much. There's people that you take for granted----that they will always be there. I felt very much the same way when Conway Twitty or Waylon Jennings died. A few years ago, I had the idea to invite all three of Nashville's top anchors on my radio show----but I simply lost the nerve. "Why would Chris Clark or Dan Miller want to talk to me," I reckoned. Even though I had interviewed many Hall Of Fame members or Entertainers Of The Year....these men were stars...that came into my home every night, like they did yours.
With that said, I never met Dan Miller--though I did see him one time. I was eating lunch at the Pie Wagon, close to Music Row. He came in with his wife for lunch that day. Even without meeting him, you just could sense the kind of person he was----which is why so many Middle Tennesseans have been hit hard by his passing.
I close this introductory blog by inviting readers to log on to his blog:
http://www.wsmv.com/danmillersnotebook/index.html.
Many times I have read and been entertained by reading his thoughts about random subjects....though it will be with somewhat a tinge of sadness. Hopefully, Channel 4 will keep it up as a tribute to the man who helped to define the station since arriving there in 1969. Dan Miller was 67 years old, which I'm quickly finding isn't as old as it used to sound......
I answered the phone and it was one of my friends, Bo. He asked me if I had heard who had passed away. Working in morning radio for the bulk of eighteen years, I was always on top of these stories, and as morbid as it might sound to some....you kind of have a list as to who you might expect to pass away----it's never that way. I asked "Who," thinking that I would hear the name of a Country Music star, and he told me "Dan Miller." Needless to say, there was a wave of shock that still is running through me....five days later.
Dan Miller, for those that don't know, was one of two dominant news anchors in Nashville during the past four decades, with the other being Channel 5's Chris Clark. Back in the days when Middle Tennesseans only had three television channels, Miller was one of the biggest stars in local TV. His low-key, relaxing way of giving viewers the news made him one of Nashville's most beloved public figures. Though I will admit to being a Channel 5 viewer more than Channel 4 growing up, "The Scene At Six" was must-see TV, long before NBC coined the phrase. Whether it was talking about the issues of the day, or cutting up with fellow personalites like weatherman Bill Hall or sports anchor Rudy Kalis, he was always a joy to watch.
In reading many of the tributes to Miller over the past few days, many have brought up his Sunday night program MILLER AND COMPANY. Each week, he would interview a local celebrity, whether it was a music star or a local legend, like Nashville's "Mr. Television," Jud Collins. That same style of anchoring also led to some of the more memorable interviews I watched anyone do growing up. He brought that same format to TNN for a time in the 1990s, as well.
In 1986, after seventeen years, Miller accepted a job with a station in Los Angeles. You would have thought people had lost a son or a brother. A few years later though, he was back---staying until passing away from a heart attack last week in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia--while showing longtime friend Kalis his stomping ground growing up.
For a lot of reasons, his passing has affected me very much. There's people that you take for granted----that they will always be there. I felt very much the same way when Conway Twitty or Waylon Jennings died. A few years ago, I had the idea to invite all three of Nashville's top anchors on my radio show----but I simply lost the nerve. "Why would Chris Clark or Dan Miller want to talk to me," I reckoned. Even though I had interviewed many Hall Of Fame members or Entertainers Of The Year....these men were stars...that came into my home every night, like they did yours.
With that said, I never met Dan Miller--though I did see him one time. I was eating lunch at the Pie Wagon, close to Music Row. He came in with his wife for lunch that day. Even without meeting him, you just could sense the kind of person he was----which is why so many Middle Tennesseans have been hit hard by his passing.
I close this introductory blog by inviting readers to log on to his blog:
http://www.wsmv.com/danmillersnotebook/index.html.
Many times I have read and been entertained by reading his thoughts about random subjects....though it will be with somewhat a tinge of sadness. Hopefully, Channel 4 will keep it up as a tribute to the man who helped to define the station since arriving there in 1969. Dan Miller was 67 years old, which I'm quickly finding isn't as old as it used to sound......
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