It's A New Year.......

Sometimes, I write too much.

I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those times. So, if you ever think I go a little too deep…..simply click out of this blog right now. You’ll be the better for it, and I’ll never know.

Ok, if you’re not gone, I wanted to write about a couple of things that have been on my mind. As you might have gathered by my Facebook posts this week, health is one of them. This week, there has been a little bit of a setback. It’s actually nothing life-threatening, but just something that I need to take care of. But, that’s all the details I am going to say for now.

It’s the latest in a sequence of events that have happened to me because of something I’ve battled for years – depression. I would love to tell you that it was an ex who I have to blame for those feelings, or those pair of brothers in high school (who themselves looked like someone had run over their face) who picked on me who I could blame for these thoughts. But, I won’t.

It’s my own damn fault.

Pure and simple, there’s nobody else to blame. I spent my 20s and most of my 30s thinking that I was not as good as this person or that person – that unless I was in a relationship, I was somewhat a little bit second class. While being “single” isn’t my preference, I know that’s not the truth.

I didn’t know that then.

I spent my 20s and 30s letting those feelings get to me, leaving me to feel that I wasn’t as good as this person or that person. When you don’t feel good about yourself, you don’t take care of yourself.

Therein lies the problem.

The abuse that I put myself through led to some health problems that have really bitten me on the butt the past few years. Now, with that said….most of the things that have plagued me are in pretty good shape right now. But, there are a couple of things that I need to work on. Lord have mercy, I wish I had my 30s back.

I had no idea how life was going to turn out. Most of the dreams I had when I was a teenager would wind up coming true. This April, I will celebrate twenty-five years in the business – whether as a radio programmer or a writer. I have been blessed to make friendships and acquaintances with people I never would have dreamed of. I have gotten to go to so many places in the United States – and even had the opportunity to go overseas…..Man, I need a passport.

And, I’m not done yet. My career is one of a handful of things that I feel I have done right with my life, and I have committed to myself that in 2016, I am going to try to grow that aspect of my life like never before. I hope to write as much for as many as I can. I want to put myself in front of as many people as I can in the next twelve months – even if it means coming out of my comfort zone a bit. I will be the first to admit I am not the “Intelligent Genius” that a lot of my contemporaries are in the writing world, nor am I wild and crazy with my approach. I’m about as “hip” as Eddie Stubbs. But, then again, Eddie Stubbs is pretty dang hip, don’t you think? I'm good at what I do, and I finally do believe in myself.

I wish I had known in 1996 or 2006 where life had taken me – or that I’d still be alive in 2016. As the old saying goes, I’d take better care of myself….worry less about other peoples’ opinions, and even my own opinion. But, I didn’t. However, I’m still in the game – and to be honest, from a career standpoint, I feel like I’m Joe Montana with 1:51 on the clock with Taylor and Rice on the ends at the 20. I’m going to make this work – and make 2016 the best year I have ever had……and we’ll see what happens.

One thing I know that I didn’t quite grasp then is that God is on my side. I can tell you that each time over the past couple of years where I thought I might have to do something else…..he has provided in ways that are simply amazing. I give him praise for the success….and the tough times. Looking back, they only have made me hungry to prove to any critics I have that I can do this……and I can, and will.

So, here’s to 2016. Hopefully, I will conquer the last couple of steps on the health front, continue to grow as a writer and journalist – as well as a person, and well, if God saw it to send that special person my way, well…..I wouldn’t fight it.

So, it’s 1^st and 10 from the 22. Let’s play ball! I think I can. I think I can...I think I can!

Once Again, It's Christmas.....

Let me start by saying that I appreciate all the feedback I have gotten from you concerning “The Music That Built Me Series” this year that I have tied into my radio show. I might continue that into 2016 as it seems to have worked really well, but we will see how that goes.

As of next Wednesday, we will be in the month of December, which means…..Christmas Music…..With that said, Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner will be turning on a Yuletide curve as well, with four weeks of holiday themed programming.

On December 2, the show will feature Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Rogers, who has just released his sixth seasonal collection, Once Again It’s Christmas. In September, upon the album’s release, I had a chance to sit down and talk with him about the album – as well as his other Christmas albums – all of which rank among my favorites. We’ll play a lot of the new album, but also feature a lot of his holiday music from previous years……If you’re a fan like I am, tune in…..I think you’ll like it!

Then, on December 9, we will feature the great Rhonda Vincent, who has a brand new album on the market entitled Christmas Time. There are few female singers who are as talented and classy as Rhonda, and she’ll be sharing a lot of holiday memories and music with us.

As for December 16 and 23 – I haven’t figured out yet, to be honest with you. I know we will be featuring some classic Christmas radio specials from years’ past, and also some neat TV soundtracks featuring holiday celebrations at the Ponderosa and on Waltons’ Mountain. It’s going to be a step back in time, but I just haven’t mapped it all out yet…..

But there’s still time! I urge you to tune in to hear my conversation with Kenny on December 2 and Rhonda on the 9^th. Showtime is 1pm, and it’s all sponsored by Tennessee Properties…..WNKX Kix 96.7 FM…….I’ll save a cup of egg nog or boiled custard for ya!

The House That Built Me, Volume 26 - Exploring Guitar Country with Jerry Reed

I have really enjoyed doing this “Music That Built Me” series over the past few months on Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner. It has reminded me of a time when there were more important things than making sure I got the interview (still important) or getting to the site of a ball game quicker than the other station (not as much).

The reason that I do what I do is because I simply love the music. I always have. I remember in 1991 when I first went to work at WDKN. The station was a literal goldmine for me back then. I got to learn the craft of broadcasting – but also I got to listen to a lot of music that I wasn’t aware of. Some of it was new…and some wasn’t.

Especially in my early years at the station, a lot of my time there consisted of running the board during ball games, Church services, or the Grand Ole Hatchery, the weekly radio show the station broadcasted. I would love to tell you that I knew the score of the game, the subject of the sermon, or what was being performed on the air each and every second. But, that would not be the case.

As any radio person will tell you, that was downtime. Don’t get me wrong, I paid attention to what was going on…..but if there was a TV in the station or something else to do, chances are I would be.

More often than not, I would be listening to music off the air from the station’s vinyl collection. It was there that I heard a record that really did inspire me – Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country.

I was student of the music enough to know that Reed had several hits in the 1970s, but knew him primarily for his novelty tunes – as well as comedic turns in such films as Smokey and The Bandit. But, I wasn’t really familiar with a lot of his early work.

This album was released in 1968, and was one of his first for RCA. The album cover was simple enough – Reed on the front porch of a house strumming his guitar, to the delight of the old man sitting next to him. The music was something else. Reed went back and added his touch to such classics as “Blue Moon With Kentucky,” “A Worried Man,” and “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” Each of the tempo cuts showcased that Georgia soul – and that guitar work that made him one of the greatest pickers to ever come into Nashville – or anywhere else for that matter.

The ballads on the album were also so incredible. Next to Ray Charles’ definitive version, Reed’s take on “Georgia On My Mind” is one of my favorites. It’s just him and maybe one or two other players – not any more than that – but the track simply glistens – even today. His version of “In The Pines” was particularly effective, as well. What gets me the most about this album – all these years later – is his performance of two very different songs, each of which have been around for years.

The folk ballad “Barbara Allen” is one of the first tear-jerkers of the musical era, and Reed absolutely nailed it. The pain, the weariness, all of it. It may be the best I ever heard him. His singing is on a par with his musicianship here, and that’s truly saying something. And, then there’s the stirring version of the Gospel classic “Wayfaring Stranger.” As a child, I remember Emmylou Harris’ version being particularly moving, but there was something about Reed’s voice on the song. A man who knows the wrongs he’s committed – but also knows where he’s headed – warts and all, and he ends the track with some amazing flat-picking work. When I worked the Gospel shift at WDKN, I always tried to find some stuff that Jim Hudson or Joe Webster didn’t play. Nothing against Southern Gospel – but I couldn’t take – in 1991, or now – four hours of it. Reed was one of the first artists I played in that vein. I do remember one caller not being happy because Reed ended the record with a little bit of “scatting,” but that’s ok. I’d still play it then – or now!

Speaking of now, Jerry Reed Explores Guitar Country will be the featured Album of the Week as part of “The Music That Built Me” series on Crazy Chucky’s Country Classic Corner on WNKX Kix 96.7 FM on Wednesday, November 25 from 1-3pm. The show is brought to you by Tennessee Properties, and if you can listen, I urge you to tune in. I think you’ll be glad you did!