Goodbye, 2013!

In just a few short hours, 2013 will be nothing but a page in the history books. I guess like most years, you could say it was a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of good in 2013. I got to erase a few names from my interview bucket list. Got to talk and do stories on Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire – two of my all-time favorites. One day, I found myself at the home of Vince Gill and then, an hour and a half later, Steve Wariner. Talk about an unforgettable day! The job took me to some pretty cool places – Vegas to cover the ACM’s, Oklahoma to see Roy Clark on the 4th of July, back to Vegas to see Faith and Tim, and Chicago to see Trace Adkins. I consider myself to be very blessed to get to do what I do. As someone who kept to himself in his bedroom reading Country history books and Billboard Magazine – I am humbled and don’t take one day, one trip, one single interview for granted. I love what I do. I need music in the same way I need oxygen. That sounds like a dramatic statement, but it’s the truth. To be able to communicate my love of it – whether it be through writing about it, talking about it on the air, or a simple conversation, I consider that to be the one thing I know that I know how to do. There’s others that are better, but nobody loves what they do anymore. I have also been able to keep in close contact with a lot of my friends in 2013, and to even develop a few more friendships. That’s not an easy thing for me, given my tendency to shy away and be a loner, but I am glad I have done it when I have. 

On the flip side, there’s been the health. Seven days in a hospital in May / June was not how I planned to spend CMA Fest Week. And, I have nobody I can pin that on other than myself. I had to look at myself in the mirror over that one. There were reasons, sure, but I realized – or am still realizing that depression is something that I am going to have to deal with until I have front row seats to the George Jones / Conway Twitty / Patsy Cline show. One thing I have learned is that I’m not the only one. So many of you deal with your own issues, and as the old song says, “Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days Are Stone.” The only way I am going to stick this thing out, and come out on the other side – is by taking care of myself. And, I’m trying. It’s day by day. But, the good outweighs the bad. 

So, 2014. It’s human nature this time of year to say “I’m going to do this differently. I resolve to do this more or do this less.” But, by January 15 – we’re usually back to who we are. I HOPE I can get ahead a little bit financially. Though, you do what you have to do to get through with each day – whether Dave Ramsey agrees or not. I HOPE I can be a little more positive and forward in my thinking – though I tend to curl up like a ball sometimes if the least thing goes wrong. I will tell you that just like 2013, I plan on working – a lot. I hope I write as much next year as I did last year. I want to knock a few more names off my “Dream Interviews” list. I hope that my job (s) will allow me to travel more. There’s still nineteen states I haven’t visited. And – I haven’t been to Southern California since 2005.....or Dallas – except for a layover since 1998. I plan on trying to take advantage of every career possibility I am presented with that I can do...and I want to grow as a Christian. 2013 was one of growth for me. I have learned that God has a way, and if you trust in him, it will all be okay. Would love to fall in love again in 2014....(or heck, 2013 – there’s still a few hours left), but that’s actually not something you can control. It just “happens.” I don’t understand why it’s slower for me to happen than others, but I guess it will be worth it in the end. Not going to swear off Chinese food – totally, though I have cut down, the Dallas Cowboys, or anything like that.....Plan on trying to be a better person, son, father, pet owner, “Dallas” watcher than I was this year – and that’s all I can promise.....Hope all of you have a great New Years!......See you in ‘14!

Just A Request.....

..Over the past four years that I have written this blog, I have probably been guilty at times of writing a little too much. From losing a job to going through a divorce, I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. This is one of those nights. 

Whenever I have gotten down – about whatever, I have always been able to hit the road and try to outrun whatever it was that was bothering me. That might mean a trip to Denny’s to work and people watch, a trip to the record store,or just a run to Dollar General (Hey, I live in Centerville. The options aren’t plentiful past 8pm), 

But, for the month of December, it’s going to be a little bit different. Tomorrow, barring something unforseen, I will be going into a couple of walking casts. That’s due to a couple of spots I have on my feet that just won’t heal. We’ve tried a lot of things over the past few months, and this is something that was advised to me a couple of months ago. So, as I said – barring something I’m not expecting – I will be in walking casts for the month of December. I will still be able to get around, just no driving.

 Those last three words are the ones I have a problem with. There’s a part of me that wants to chicken out tomorrow, but there are many of you that would kick my backside if I did that, and with a busy 2014 around the corner, I want to get it taken care of so I can get around as good as I can. It’s for the best, but I am a little scared, to be honest.

 Scared of what? If the walls of this house get a little lonely - or the ghosts talk a little loud – I could always just say ‘To heck with it. I’ll go to Walmart.’ Having to plan things out a bit is going to be rough. Though, I will say, many have offered to get me where I need to get to. And, there are actually a couple of trips on the calendar for the month, so it’s going to be alright. I hate that I am probably going to miss some Christmas celebrations / parties, but the trade is worth it. It’s got to get better. I love my life and my job too much to do them at 45%.

 I do want to ask that you keep me in your prayers over the next few weeks. Hopefully by 2014, things will be back to normal. I can imagine that there will be a few more blog posts this month, so please indulge me. But, as someone who fights depression, this is going to be a little bit tough of a month. However, this is my chance to handle things in a different way than before, and maybe being still – or a little more still – for a few weeks will be a good thing. We will see. God is good, and he has plans for me that I have no idea about, so it’s time to trust. So, if you want to invite me out at night to ride around and look at Christmas lights, I might take you up on it....and some Nuts and Bolts....AKA Chex mix.....wouldn’t be sneezed at, either! In all seriousness, thanks for your support!

2,922 Days Later, I Still Wonder.......

It is a melancholy day.

Now, wait a minute. I see what’s going on in your mind. ‘He’s going back to puddleglum again.’

And, you would be wrong. Well, sort of.

As I sit here in one of my favorite “hotspots,” AKA Denny’s – somewhere in Kentucky as I am headed from one story to another, there’s a lot on the mind today. Heck, I’m even drinking coffee. (I used to think you had to be old to drink coffee. 39 isn’t quite as old as it used to be!)

Actually, today is the type of day I absolutely love. It’s on the cold side, and very overcast – with the clouds resembling a huge snow drift somewhere. Christmas is just around the corner, as evidenced by the small stack of holiday CD’s I need to listen to for review – though until Kenny and Dolly’s “I Believe In Santa Claus” first plays, it’s still not the holly and jolly time of year.

Today marks eight years since my mother passed away. In that time, there have been so many changes. Though you never “get over” it, you do put a loss – even of that magnitude in its’ proper place. But, what I am asking myself today is what would she think about some of the changes in my life – where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. (If I had the answer to the last one, I would be happy!)

I have written at length about the changes in my life. And, to be honest, even most of the bad ones I wouldn’t change. I have learned some lessons that hopefully I can do some things different on down the line. I just got off the phone with a young man who is a lot taller than I am who calls me “Dad.” (And, I’m proud and glad he does, though he loves to shine bright blue light savers in the back of the car at night while in Burns a little too much – making me think the cops are behind me!) That’s a pretty good thing. Again, not all the changes in my life have been bad!

At this point four years ago, I thought my career was just about over. Now, here I am doing what I have dreamed of all of my life, and feeling blessed every moment I am doing it. It’s ironic how things happen when you least expect them to.

But, there have been some bumps along the road that I haven’t handled well. Health is one, but I am trying to take better care of myself from a blood sugar standpoint. There are some other battles right now, but I am getting through them – one day at a time. That’s the only way I have learned how to do it. Not going to say that I handled things smartly, but I am where I am. (That’s my way of saying “It Is What It Is” - which I still don’t exactly know what that means!)

There are other parts of my life that I could do better with. Finances being one of them. Again, one day at a time, I guess. Between Obamacare and that car that I am probably going to have to get in 2014, I am a little scared to death right now of how I am going to make it. That being said, since September 5, 2011 – and I made an nine-hour, overnight drive to Tennessee that brought me “home,” God has taken care of what I need. Though, sometimes, I have this fantasy of being ‘The Gambler’ coming up with the winning card at the last minute that solves all the ills in the world, I think – while that happens – it’s all about survival – one day at a time, and through Him, I have been able to do that. (Some men compare themselves to The Godfather. I compare myself to Kenny Rogers and JR Ewing, I guess!)

The personal side still gets me down. But, I will take blame for some of that. There are two sides to every story, with truth somewhere in between. But, that’s not what that statement is about. I learned some things that will hopefully make me a better partner for the next woman – when that comes along. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow, but being alone in the Fall is not a good feeling. I am going to have to actually develop courage, though. I have interviewed just about every artist in the business, became friends with some of Nashville’s most legendary figures – but asking someone out? Talk about being scared! A publicist can say no. Sometimes, that is their job. Five minutes later, you’re over it. But getting rejected on a date? LOL....That stays with me longer than getting turned down for advertising. (There is a reason I am not full-time in radio anymore!)......

I haven’t done the right thing each and every time in my life. But, I have tried to more often than not. One day at a time, I have tried to be the best I can be – to all I can be. I know sometimes, despite the best intentions, that’s not good enough. I know of at least one person who I hurt pretty badly over the past few years. (I’m sure there are more, but I know of one) But, all you can do is try, and if you’re not given a chance to make it right – you just have to move on. But, overall, I’m in a pretty good place. I love what I do, who I do it for and with, and have a great family unit around me (Friends included in that mix, including a few little furry friends who don’t recognize the importance of sleep at night when they want their cat food!).....God is good!

Still, a “Mama’s Boy” wonders.....What would Mama think? Overall, I hope she would be proud of things, but maybe the proudest of knowing where I’m going. I hope!

Well, I guess I better cross the state line. This self-examination might be appealing to me, but my waitress is another story. On the road again!

A Couple Of Angels!

I spend a lot of time on this blog writing about either my career or the ups and downs of being single. This week, I wanted to shine the spotlight on a group of special people that deserve a huge pat on their shoulders for making this past Sunday night a memorable one.

Not too long ago, two women by the name of Emily Strope and Michelle James started an organization in Jackson, TN called Downtown Dogs Group. It is an animal rescue organization. They have devoted countless hours in saving and enriching the lives of our canine companions, helping many of them to find homes. Anyone who works with pets has my ultimate respect. I don’t consider animals to be less than humans – by any stretch of the imagination. All of the pets that I have had over the years have been not “just like family,” but have been family. I could tell you many occasions when an animal has gotten me through a tough period or moment in my life. I can also tell you the times they have made me laugh. In the past two years of my life, there have been several lonely moments – all made better by the personalities of several furry friends of mine.

But, back to Emily and Michelle. Not only have they given of their time and energy, but also their own finances to keep the Downtown Dogs Group running. A few months ago, some of their friends decided to give them a helping hand by planning an event called Bone Appetit! A celebration of all things southern, the event featured many talented musicians, as well as food from some of the greatest chefs in the mid-South, including the Peabody Hotel’s Andreas Kisler. The music was first-rate – and the food? Wow. Personally, I can’t say that I have ever been more impressed with a food spread since the first time I had lunch at Oma Pickard’s house in Centerville! Fried Chicken. Catfish, and some of the most unbelievable brisket that I have ever had. I went down to Jackson to cover the event, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was southern hospitality at its’ finest!

Emily and Michelle would be the first to tell you this was a group effort, and many people came together for this great cause. But, to Emily and Michelle, I say thank you. I have a habit of getting very attached to animals. For years, at Christmas, I would take toys and treats to the local Humane Society. I would watch these dogs play with them, and cry all the way home. And, though my home life isn’t as neat as it would be if I didn’t have my cats....it wouldn’t be with living if I didn’t at the same time. Even those 3am wake up calls where I get lightly scratched in the nose to get up and feed them....they are still my babies.

I can only imagine how emotional their jobs are. I can also tell you that both of them are more man than I am, because there are moments I know I couldn’t handle. You gals are a couple of angels on this earth. Thanks to Madison County for coming together and helping you out. It was a great night for a great cause. But, then again, who can resist the charms of our furry angels.....or for that matter, a call from Libby Murphy? God bless you both, and all who contributed to this event...

www.DowntownDogsGroup.com

Gloria Estefan. Really?

(Sitting at Subway on a Friday night in Centerville wondering why we park on driveways....and drive on parkways!)

Tonight is one of those rare nights for me. There’s nothing pressing that needs to be done – right at this moment. Though it’s a Friday night, I covered my football game last night, and though I could get my articles done for the week after next...lol...that’s what the weekend is for. Friday night in Tennessee during the fall – a pretty nice place to be.

As I write this, this is one of those nights that I have no idea what my fingers will type. I drove to Nashville earlier to pick up some mail. You ever have one of those times when every song you hear just hits you? Tonight, it did. It’s about an hour and ten minute drive from Nashville to Centerville, and between the new CD’s that were sent to me and the tunes on Sirius – I heard some great ones. Biz Markie (You might be surprised to know I know who that is!), Carly Simon, Pink, and even a new song called “Popular,” that even though I will be 40 years old in a few months....I actually liked. Then, Sirius Love Songs played “Here We Are” by Gloria Estefan. Seriously?

OK, let me explain. That song has no personal significance to me as far as a moment in time with someone else. But, a Gloria Estefan love song – on a cool fall night – hits me much the same way a Karen Carpenter classic from the 70s does. Gorgeous...Stunning....but also Really? LOL.

As someone who is single, I can lure myself into not thinking about my romantic state for awhile. But, sometimes you hear a song, and it hits you. It’s not all bad, though. I guess it gives you something to dream about.

I have wrtitten before about the fact that for years I judged myself on if I was seeing anyone. Thankfully, I don’t do that anymore. But, I gotta admit life is a little more excitement filled when there is that someone special in it.

The difference between now and then is I am beginning to understand you have to be happy with yourself in order to truly make someone happy....Wait a minute, did I say that? Wish I had known that in 1996! And, you can’t force it. I mean, you can dress decently, shave when you need to, and stuff, but typically, the woman of your dreams isn’t going to be waiting in the Buck Owens section at Ernest Tubb Record Shop....But, oh, if she were!.....I have shown a willing nature at not doing relationships the right way for whatever reason in my life.....so next time, I am going to let it happen naturally. I don’t like being alone. But, I can handle it. That’s different.

I do believe that she is out there. Who knows, I might even know her? No, that’s not a veiled attempt to say something without saying something....or then again, maybe it is. Only my brain knows for sure. But, sometimes you’ve gotta wait.

Still, a Gloria Estefan song on a fall night with a breeze in the air – not a good thing for the single person. On second thought, maybe I do need to go write an article for three weeks from today.....Good night from Subway!

If You Happen To Be In A Bookstore.....

If you go to a bookstore this week, pick up a copy of Billboard Magazine. I shouldn’t have to tell you that, of course. For over a century, Billboard has been the foremost musical publication in America. (Biased? Who me?) But, this week’s issue (dated September 28) is pretty important to me. I have a story inside – with an interview of Kenny Rogers, focusing on his upcoming album – You Can’t Make Old Friends.

Though the majority of my work for Billboard has been in the digital sector, I have been blessed over the past couple of years to have landed a few pieces in the print edition. But, if you know me, this one’s special.

More than any other musical artist, Kenny Rogers was the one who inspired me with his body of work. Go back in time with me to the late 1970s. Some of my earliest memories of records were watching the clouds on the United Artists label go around and around while I listened to songs like “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” and “Daytime Friends.” His music was a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth. Show and tell at Burns Elementary? I took my Kenny Rogers records. (Even though one day, I thought about taking my I Want To Be Like Mr. Tidwell When I Grow Up T-shirt. For the record, I’m still trying that one too!) When I was in middle school, there was a fashion line at J.C. Penney of Kenny Rogers dress shirts. Yep, I was the only one at JES Middle School who had them....(I was so much of an individualist back then!)

But, it was listening to those records that lit my fuse as a music fan. I became a fan of other artists, sure, but there was always something special about when Kenny Rogers released a new record - even to this day.

Since going to work for Billboard, I wonder sometimes if I act professional enough. I post a lot of Facebook pictures whenever I meet someone in the industry – legendary or newcomer – and I’ll be honest when I say I don’t see a lot of my fellow writers doing the same thing. But, I can’t help it. I’m a fan. I wouldn’t be doing this for a living if I didn’t have the passion for it. To be a part of telling the story of the artists I get to cover is an amazing feeling – one I don’t take lightly. But, yeah, there was a kid who spent his $ 10 a week on casssettes and records at Wal-Mart as a kid, who begged his father to take him to concerts at night when it meant another ride back to Nashville after a long day’s work – I now know how those trips to Music City add up. So, if I have ever offended anyone with that I apologize. But, trust me when I say, I don’t mean it that way. A new artist, Tyler Farr, put this in perspective last week. During an interview, he talked about taking all the pictures he could with artists he was getting to meet...because you only get one time around. So, let me say I am serious about my craft, but I also love my craft, as well.

Back to the Billboard issue this week, I do hope you will seek out a copy of this one. I have to get one or two myself. This one is as much a tribute to my parents as anything else I have ever done. So many times in my life, people would ask ‘I know you love listening tp music, but what are you going to Do for a living? They always believed. And, though I am little worse for the wear, and have traveled through a few roads I didn’t plan on nor did I expect, I am getting to do what I love to do. And, by the way, Kenny’s album is really good. You need to buy it on October 8!

Later this week, I will tell you about another country artist that inspired me recently in a different way......Stay tuned!

Michael Evans Is One Smart Fellow, Says Puddleglum!

Michael Evans, you’re a lot smarter than me. That kind of goes without saying. Let me explain this statement. Michael was one of my classmates at DCHS, Class of 1992. One day, while we were in the midst of those days, he referred to me as “Puddleglum.” For a lot of reasons, I’ve had that term on my mind today. Michael had a very interesting way of looking at things, so I always assumed that “puddleglum” was a word that he came up with. To my surprise, I found out that it refers to a character in the book The Silver Chair- part of the Chronicles of Narnia series. The character is described as “rather gloomy,” and by some of the characters as a “wet blanket.” LOL, That describes my ever-positive outlook on life!

I guess “Puddleglum” fits me this weekend. As I posted on Facebook, I am going to have some outpatient surgery on Monday – sort of related to my hospitalization in May. But, also, sort of not. It has to do with a spot on my foot that was barely even there when I went in. It’s actually for the best to get this taken care of, and it’s a lot better scenario than it could have been. But, it’s still not the way one would like to start their week. The idea of slowing down – even for a day or two – is not something I like to even entertain. Some might not like that, but it behooves (don’t I have the wide vocabulary tonight?) me to stay busy....Otherwise, I think.

Again, let me explain. Today, I had a great start to the day. I drove into Nashville for a meeting with some good friends of mine who are have started a new trio. I may not be the smartest person in the world, and there are others who have made a lot better choices – but talking with people about their love of the music business and the adrenaline shot one gets by being on 16^th or 17^th Avenue in Nashville – I love it. I simply do. There are people who do what I do better than me – but nobody enjoys their career more than me. But, I’ve written that, haven’t I?

As the afternoon progressed, and I returned home to the trusty old laptop I am typing on right now, “Puddleglum” set in. Today was a beautiful day in Middle Tennessee, with gorgeous conditions and pleasant temperatures. It was the kind of day that was made for a drive somewhere with someone in the passenger seat. But, not just anyone....you know that “one.” Only thing is, she’s not there...right now.

My reaction to this fact is something that has changed a lot since 1990, when I earned that nickname...or 2005, for that matter. That’s encouraging. Being alone makes you realize some things about yourself, why you do things, and for whom you do things. I still want to find a relationship....but it’s got to be right. I don’t want to be forced into it, or feel that I’ve got to have someone to prove to people I can be in one – and that’s not a knock on anyone in my past. It’s just me stating a fact about how I approached things before. I was always so worried about making things work – even when they weren’t – because I didn’t want to look “less than.” Being alone is not how I want to spend my next twenty years – but there are worse things. Wow, that’s kind of prophetic. Plus, there aren’t many available women who have Porter Wagoner in their record collection. (Seriously, that’s not a pre-resquite, but I did see an attractive woman at McKay’s today who bought a John Conlee vinyl album....Note to self...there is hope!)

Anyway, I’m not sure what the point of any of this is, other than to say that five months shy of 40, “puddleglum” might have grown up a little bit. That’s not to say that drive through Montgomery Bell Park today wouldn’t have been more fun had I not been alone, but it’s going to happen. And, unlike the “good old days,” the next time, I’m going to enjoy it rather than worry about losing it – like I should have done once upon a time!

So, on assignment from Burns, TN, this is “Puddleglum” Dauphin signing out....and if you know a woman with a complete Kenny Rogers collection...

Random Thoughts For Today....

A lot of topics to cover in this one. Does anything really surprise anyone anymore? Seriously, sometimes you just can’t make the news up.......

CREEK WOOD WINS!

---Back in 2002, Creek Wood High School opened in the north end of Dickson County. Ever the kind hearted diplomat that I am, I always referred to the school as a “White Bluff” school, knowing full well that just infuriated folks in Charlotte and Vanleer. In all honesty, I wasn’t trying to be a smart-aleck, but the local radio station that covered the Red Hawks was a White Bluff one – so that was my basis for that. In 2009, the team began playing Dickson County to start off the season. The first game was semi-close, each year since – not so much. But, for a series to be a rivalry - it has to be more than one sided. This past Friday, Creek Wood got their first win over the Cougars, 17-13. It was a big night for everyone on Jones Creek. Cougar fans, there’s always next year. It was a fun night for football – regardless of which side you were on....

MILEY-GATE

----I just might let a few people down here, but I have never been a prude. However, Miley Cyrus’s appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night was a little much. I was joking on Facebook that it made Madonna and Britney Spears look like the Lennon Sisters off the old Lawrence Welk Show – and that is saying something, as some of those ladies’ performances on the same show were legendary. That being said, there actually is a line one shouldn’t go over, and Miley did that. The ironic thing is that in spite of all the ire that she raised among people, it probably did help her profile. As of tonight, two of the top ten downloaded songs on iTunes were....anyone? Miley Cyrus.

AS THE RADIO BROADCASTS

---- I got an unusual amount of feedback last week concerning my blog regarding radio. It’s something that has provided me with a lot of career highlights – and personal highlights over the past twenty-two years. Most of the friends I have made have stemmed from the fact that I have done some radio work. I miss it on a day-to-day basis, but I have been so blessed in other areas. My favorite part about being on the air is without a doubt the relationships that you make with those you work with – and ones you broadcast to. Right now, I am involved with four different stations (sort of), and I am happy to still have a toe in that water.

TWO YEARS AND GROWING

----It was two years ago this week I started my job with Billboard. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that much time has passed by. I am truly blessed to get to do what I do for a living. I have gotten to interview some of the biggest stars in the business, and made some of the best friendships I have ever made. I have often written about wondering whether I am in the class of such people as Tom Roland, Wade Jessen, Deborah Price, and others like them, I still wonder, but I am trying to earn that reputation each day. I am doing what I have always wanted to do. Nobody enjoys what they do anymore.

REALIZATIONS

---- Life has a way of letting you know certain things about yourself. Over the past few years, I have written quite a few blogs about the soul searching that I have done since my divorce. Being alone makes you learn a lot about yourself. Some of that is good. The crazy thing about finding some of those answers is that you wind up at the beginning all over again. I’m 39 years old, and have told myself all my life that I have to have a romantic relationship in order to be happy. I have learned that instead of “a,” the key word is “the.” And, believe me, that’s not taking a shot at anyone. That’s me realizing that I sometimes feel as clueless as I ever have been about the kind of person I want. Some days, you want Betty Crocker. Other days Betty Boop. I hope I find that magical combination at some point in my life – but not to prove to anyone else I can---for myself. Until then, these laptop keys are my companion. It’s not exactly romance, but it’s safe. And, safe sometimes is a pretty good place to be. It’s ok. I’m ok. And, that’s something I never thought I would have said about myself in 1997...2002, or today.

Going to close this blog by offering a word about some very special people that I have gotten to meet recently. There is a group of my friends in Jackson, TN that are organizing an event called Bone Appetit. It’s an event that will take place on October 13 at the West Tennessee Farmer’s Market. It will feature some of the greatest culinary experts in the mid-south, including the chef from the legendary Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Andreas Kisler, among others.

The event will benefit an organization called the Downtown Dogs Group. It’s a 501(c)(3) no-kill rescue that is operated by a couple of angels named Michelle James and Emily Strope. They are committed to the idea that all neglected and abused dogs, regardless of age, breed, health or temperament issues, deserve a chance to have a full and happy life with a loving family. They have never had a fund raiser before, as they have done it all themselves – even down to the finances. This is an event worth making the trip to Jackson, TN for. If you want to take a look at what they do, go to www.DowntownDogsGroup.com – Be prepared to have your heart lifted at the work they do. I know I was!

Voices From The Radio

Last week, I tipped the hat to several in the business who work in the same vocation as myself. I didn’t mention all the great writers in this town, and I didn’t even start to talk about the incredible people who work publicity. But, as I said, Nashville is full of some very talented people. Some you know, and some you don’t. With that mindset, I wanted to tip my hat to a few people who have been influential in what is my first career – radio. I have been doing it in one form or another since 1991. While I never developed one of those classic “Five in a row, back to back” voices, it’s something that I love very much. Whether it be on WDKN for eighteen years, playing the classics on WSM Radio via the Interstate Radio Network, or on my home since 2009 – WNKX, I love communicating my love of music and broadcasting to the listeners. I started to think about some of my biggest influences in the radio field. Now, indulge me somewhat – because a lot of these people / stations (seven, at least!) have ties to a certain three letters.....but that was what I was influenced by......

First of all, four names from WDKN.....

Hank Walker – To be in radio, you’ve got be trained by someone. Because, nobody walks into a station and knows what they are doing immediately. When Jackie Rhodes hired me in April 1991, this is the man who taught me. He was a very interesting person. He was handicapped, and walked with crutches, but you would never have known it. The thing I remember most from Hank Walker (if, indeed that was his name – after all, how many people are actually named “Coyote” that are on the radio?) was how to saw the call letters. It’s not “W,” it’s “Double-U”.....Radio people know exactly what I am talking about.

Gordon Rhodes – My first PD. I have worked under five in my career. I will tell you the biggest thing I learned from Gordon was to not sweat the small stuff. And, indeed, it’s all small stuff. There were a lot of times I would get uptight and worry about stuff going on at the station. Gordon had a language all his own. Not going to say anymore than that, but he was one of a kind. A Redskins fan, but I can’t hold that against him. I remember on Thanksgiving afternoon 1993, the Dolphins beat the Cowboys when Leon Lett touched a missed field goal attempt – giving the Dolphins one more chance. Line 3 – the studio hotline, which I was led to believe that God called in on from time to time, began to blink. I knew. Do I answer it or not? I did, and the voice said “How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!” Thanks for the memories, GR, and thanks for being a good C.S....I Mean P.D.!

Ken Loggains – I have a very scattered approach to life. I can misplace my phone while holding it in my hand. Trust me, I do things like this. But, we all have one co-worker that you just have an uncanny chemistry with. I might have two or three, but with all due respect to anyone I have ever worked with, I have never learned as much about radio – and being a professional than I have from Ken Loggains. Remember the TV Show “Mash?” Hawkeye and Trapper John / BJ made the most out of the Korean War by poking fun at everything around it. Small market radio is much that same way. You have to love it to do it a long time, and there’s things that you crack a few jokes about. If the first two hours of your day consist of four updates of the obituaries, you’re going to have a warped sense of humor. Ken, for eleven years, you were my BJ / Trapper / Hawkeye (depending on who I am!). You’re still “Velvet” in so many ways!

Marcia Campbell – Out of all the people I have worked with, nobody has taken their talent to the top any higher than Marcia, who does overnights on WSM-AM. We have known each other for over thirty years, as we used to ride Bus 51 together. (I seem to remember a bus driver who didn’t have a lot of hair who drove that bus that I have done some radio with! Well, I can drop the hair jokes, can’t I?) We have kind of been woven around each others’ lives a lot – especially since 1995. One night on her “All Nighter,” she talked about learning “so much” from me? I shudder to think what those lessons might have been....but I am proud of her, and consider her one of my best friends anywhere.

Keith Bilbrey – If I had never listened to Keith Bilbrey, I might have become a doctor or a lawyer, and never had financial difficulties because of the salaries non-performers in the business tend to make. If I had never listened to Keith Bilbrey, I would probably have never gotten involved in radio in the first place, and gone where that has led me. He would take my phone calls as a strange pre-teen, and have a lot of patience doing so. Almost thirty years later, I still find myself coming out of a song the way Keith Bilbrey does. Well, not exactly. The great ones make it seem so easy, and he is the greatest in my book!

Hairl Hensley – Of all the golden voices I have heard in my life, if I could sound like anyone – it would be Hairl Hensley. A longtime fixture at WSM Radio, Hensley exuded all the proper diction that you needed to be in radio. As great as Eddie Stubbs is, and he truly is, I still miss being that thirteen year old, and hearing that magical voice in the evening hours. Radio sounds a lot different after dark, and Hairl was the perfect voice for evenings at WSM. In ninth grade, I shadowed him for my Business class. I still remember him giving me some of the news copy from the station that day. A gentle heart – as well as a gentleman!

Mark Mabry – Again, another WSM tie here. He did afternoons on 650 somewhere in the mid 1980s. At 3:35 each day, he would host “Mark’s Trivia,” which would be the time I would be getting off Bus 51....there that comes up again! I used to run his phones ragged.....but an early influence, for sure!

WBDX – OK, going to back away from WSM for a second. White Bluff got a radio station in the early 1980s, and for awhile, they broadcast until midnight. As a kid, I remember hearing this deep-voiced jock talk about the weather in the “Bluff City.” For a kid, that was some cool stuff - especially at 11pm!

Kyle Cantrell – As a broadcaster, Cantrell is one of the best – henceforth his work on Sirius / XM. But, as a programmer, I have to admit that I stole more programming ideas from Kyle Cantrell than anyone else. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, after all. I remember interviewing him on the morning Johnny Cash died in 2003. That was a big moment – one where you realize what an impact certain people have on you.

Shannon McCombs – In the 1980s and early 1990s, there were two female voices in town that stood above the rest- Lisa Manning and Shannon McCombs. Manning was on many different stations during that period, while Shannon was “Miss 103 KDF.” She had the perfect voice, and the perfect personality. People loved her. Then, in the 1990s, she started doing some TV work, and people found out that she did not have “the face for radio,” as the old joke went. One person who is as beautiful inside as out. I get to say that I know Shannon McCombs now.....but better yet, she knows me! That’s pretty cool within itself!

And, I’ve got to tell you about that bus driver of Bus 51 in Burns, TN. Randy Tidwell is someone I’ve known since 1980. He was my PE Teacher at Burns Elementary. Since 1991, I have spent more Tuesday and Friday nights with Randy Tidwell on the road broadcasting ball games, or working the board during the games. Just like knowing Ken Loggains has made me better, there are few people that I respect more than Randy Tidwell. He is class personified, and whether it be via Frank Becker, Jim Anderson, or Ed Sheley, I always love seeing if we can come up with something on-air to make him think we’re crazy. Whether it be “Randy Tidwell Bobblehead Night,” or “Autograph Night with the ‘Voice of the Cougars,” we’ve tried some crazy stuff. And, throughout it all, he’s still a classy person. Probably thinks we are just a little bit weird, but...we are. Or, at least Becker!

Well, that does it for my look at my radio influences. I appreciate you indulging me, but I wanted to share some of my memories with you!

Nashville - It's A Town Full Of Talent!

I am very blessed to be able to cover the careers and lives a lot of talented people. So many artists that I consider myself to be a big fan of, I have gotten to talk to. Then, there are the newer acts that are just starting up. Those are always fun – because you simply never know if one of those that you cover wind up being superstars down the line. To be a part of that story is always something you don’t take lightly.

But, what people don’t realize is there’s a lot more to it than you might think. What I mean by that is there are tons of talented people in this town who you don’t know – unless you grew up like I did – reading liner notes or Music City News or Country Music.

First of all, there are the publicists. These people are the ones that writers work with about as closely as any in the business. Over the past few years, many of these have become among my closest personal friends. Their job is to gain the most coverage for their clients – and it’s not always easy. Whether you are a superstar, a legend, or a newcomer, there are always more demands for your time than you can deal with. That’s what publicists do. They weigh everything out, and try to give that artist the maximum coverage for their time. Some of their job requires what journalists don’t like to hear – saying the word “No.” An artist is just like the rest of us – they have their good days, their bad days, they get sick, they have arguments with their significant other, and may be not on their game that day. They have to decide when an artist can or shouldn’t talk to the media. The juggling act they balance is pretty amazing. I’ve witnessed it first-hand, and you have to have one heck of a psyche to survive. Journalists can be a moody bunch of people (not including me, of course. I’m always a pleasure to be around!), so you have to make sure they are taken care of, and I have seen a few artists get upset with their PR teams as well. They earn their checks, and do it well. Do I have a favorite publicist? Of course! It’s that one that got me my most recent interview! Seriously, they may not write or sing a song that gets on the charts, but the talent is as much there as it is for anyone else.

Then, there are my compadres, if you will. One of the most enjoyable aspects of what I get to do is the company I keep while doing it. This town is full of some of the greatest journalists anywhere. I have to admit, sometimes I feel like I just stumbled in through the back door, and if I don’t tell anyone I’m here – I just might be able to stick around for awhile. But, the fact that Robert K. Oermann, Wade Jessen, Tom Roland, or Holly Gleason knows who I am is pretty cool. I sometimes wonder how I represent myself because I don’t consider myself to be in the class they are. I am a fan, first and foremost. Don’t get me wrong. I take what I do seriously. I think I’m ok at it. But, I enjoy getting to interview people like Reba, Kenny Rogers, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood because....I am a fan. It influences every word I write. I was ten years old, and spending my allowance on the $4.96 cassette rack at K-Mart.

I consider it an honor to be able to communicate my passion to you the reader – and friend. Whether it be the retro feel of a project like Lee Ann Womack’s There’s More Where That Came From or Bakersfield -the latest masterpiece from Vince Gill and Paul Franklin – to talking with Carrie and Tim about their latest albums, I love telling you about projects you need to know about. The biggest compliment I get isn’t about how great or eloquent my words are – if you’ve ever read the afore-mentioned Ms. Gleason, she can do things with words that I can not only not do – but never will find out of their existence, but it’s when someone tells me they have sought out a record because of something I’ve written about it. That’s cool. Because, that was me. I may not be the greatest....but don’t doubt my passion. Whether it’s the Oak Ridge Boys 40^th Anniversary Tour, Sheryl Crow’s upcoming Country album, or the unbelievable experience of seeing Keith Urban in concert, it’s there.

And, there are so many great writers in this town. I mentioned four, but there are so many more – Vernell Hackett, Deborah Price, Bob Paxman, Jessica Nicholson, and I could go on and on....At the end of the day, it’s all about passion, and this town exemplifies that word....more than the average fan has any idea! I’m just honored to be in the mix. Now, I’m going to the back of the room – just so nobody knows I’m here!

Reporting from Jonesboro, Arkansas, this is Chuck Dauphin - a Keith Bilbrey wanna be!

Cowboys Stadium Has A Name

After four seasons, Cowboys Stadium is no more. Team owner Jerry Jones last week announced that the naming rights have been acquired by AT&T.

The jokes have already started.

You know how the communications giant brags about having fewer dropped calls than any other carrier? (Well, unless you live in Hickman County, Tennessee or Bacon County, Georgia – two places I am very familiar with.) Not too long after the announcement, someone posted on Facebook “Will there be fewer dropped balls in the house that Jerry built?”

I know that person. It was me.

OK, before my fellow Cowboys fans – like Rosie Bradford – disown me – let me say this: You have to possess a sense of humor to be a Dallas supporter. At least since 1996 - the last year the ‘Boys won a title. Since then, we have witnessed the following: Michael Irvin laying motionless at the Vet while the classless Eagles fans cheered his career-ending injury, Dave Campo. Quincy Carter. “Bobble-gate” at Seattle. The 2007 13-3 season that ended, thanks to the “New York Football Giants.” (The only time I will reference them that way.), and that doesn’t include the heartbreaking losses of the past five seasons. Typically, Dallas does not play bad much of the time. They are just uneven. Tony Romo can go 27 for 38 for 376 and 4 scores for five weeks straight. Then, with 2:13 on the clock – and from the five-yard line, his pass to take the lead against the Redskins / Giants / Eagles is in the end zone---and it is INTERCEPTED!

But, this is not an attack on Romo. We have a running back named DeMarco Murray, who has a clause in his contract that he can only play six games per season because he likes being on the injury report. Then, there’s the defen....Oops...Well, last season was better from a cornerback point of view. In 2011, I could have scored on the secondary. They have gotten better, but even in my post-surgery state this summer, I think I could put up a 100 yard game against the front – take away the play of DeMarcus Ware – arguably the best lineman in the league. We do have Jason Witten, and for all of his early struggles, I’ve got to say Dez Bryant had a great season in 2012, and hope that he can continue.

But, Tony Romo, it’s time. Did Troy Aikman deserve credit for every win he tallied as the Cowboys’ signal caller? Well, he did have that back named Smith whose 32-yard run to midfield with 4:32 left in the fourth seemed always to seal the deal if it wasn’t already. And, when the other team had the ball, they had to deal with names like Charles Haley, Darren Woodson, and a cornerback named Deion. However, when he had to deliver....he did.....By his fourth season, Aikman had his team in the Super Bowl. And, if he or another team member made a mistake, you didn’t see him sitting on the bench with a half-smile and a cap turned around backwards.

But, that was yesterday. The Cowboys open up their pre-season on Sunday night against Miami at Canton. Football time in America. Yipee!

But, let a couple of heartbreaking losses pile up, and I guarantee you that I won’t be the only one comparing the Cowboys to their stadium namesake’s slogan. AT&T Stadium – Where you have more dropped balls than any other NFL Stadium. Ha Ha Ha. (Hey, I’ve got to laugh. It’s how we cope!)

A Place (and an Album) Called Bakersfield

It’s a “place called....Bakersfield.

Today, MCA Nashville rolls out what could very well be the most important album release of 2013 with the new effort from Vince Gill and Paul Franklin called Bakersfield.

OK, Einstein, you might be asking? Why is this album so important? Well, let me tell you. The music from Nashville is very good these days – maybe as diverse as ever. I’m not one who considers myself a doom and gloomer that ‘Country Ain’t Country’ anymore. (Honestly, I could do a blog about how Country Music has never been “Country Music,” but I digress!)

But, there is still something magical about the history of the business for which I work in. And, to me, nothing stands apart more than the era of Country Music so richly defined by acts like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. It was Country Music...in technicolor. The guitars were a little twangier, and so were the vocals. The harmony was so richly (a play on words as a tribute to Don Rich!) defined on those great Capitol Records that featured the name of Owens. And, let’s face it, Merle Haggard was....and is the best singer-songwriter that has ever come down the pike. Just like with a Don Rich telecaster riff, when you heard the Strangers kick off a Haggard record – you knew. Whether it was crusiing down the four lane, or Saturday night in a club, the Bakersfield sound just made you feel good.

That’s why this album is so important from a musical and historical level. What we are doing now is great, This and deserves to be celebrated. But, there’s an old saying that says ‘To know where you’re going,you’ve gotta know where you’ve been.’ Preach it, brothers! This music deserves to be heard by the masses, and kudos to the artists and the label for releasing it. It would have been just as easy for Vince Gill to have released a contemporary album in hopes of getting airplay – which would likely sound amazing as it would have been for MCA to turn this project away at the door. But, label head Mike Dungan and staff didn’t do that.

Instead, fans can head to the store – or click online today, and be taken back in time. And, that’s a good thing, because people need to know this music – and the artists who made it breathe. Bakersfield. Vince Gill & Paul Franklin. Add it to your collection today! I plan on buying a copy – even though I have one. It’s THAT important.

So, why are you still reading this? Seriously, it’s that good!

Just Around The Corner....

A change is in the air.

You can feel it in the Mid-South this morning. I, for one, welcome that change. If you haven’t noticed, the temperatures around here have been very pleasant over the past couple of days. It almost reminds you of....Fall.

I say that very well knowing that it’s going to be a permanent thing – at least for the moment. There’s no need to break out the turtlenecks or the sweaters just yet.

But, it is around the corner.

In the south, (and it is likely true of other places, but I have never lived there!) there is a beautiful energy about the time of year that takes place from September on. Football is back in full swing, the weekends typically see many on the road to enjoy the cooling of the temperatures and the changing of the colors. There’s such things as hayrides and chili suppers, and if your nose doesn’t pick up the scent of apple in some form or fashion – your sense of smell is likely impaired somewhat. In addition, slowly but surely you see the infiltration of Christmas colors in stores everywhere. I think what always attracted me to the fall in the past was that in my former line of full-time work, the world slowed considerably in the summer. That has not been the case this summer. It has flown by. Work-wise, the past couple of months have been the best – and busiest of my life.

Lord willing, adding my newspaper work that picks up in the fall, I will stay as busy this fall. I am definitely looking forward to it.

But, alas, it is July 29. This weather, as glorious as it may be, will not last. Highs are forecast for the 90s by the end of the week. But, one can look forward to what is just around the corner, can’t they?