St. Pat's Day...Canadian Writing...Hall of Fame Tomorrow

BILL BLOG

Friday March 17, 2023

Happy Friday and Happy St. Patty’s Day.  Makes me want a corned beef and a Guinness at McGuire’s in Pensacola! 55 for the high on St. Pat’s Day here in Music City.

 

 

YESTERDAY

I had the pleasure of meeting, writing, and teaching Brian Smyth who lives in Regina, Canada in the province of Saskatchewan. Brian found me on Songwriter Pro, a great songwriter service that my friend Brent Baxter owns that’s full of help for songwriters and more importantly for those who want to learn more and get better at songwriting. So Brian signed up.

 

First of all I could not help but notice how cook it was that his last name “Smith” is spelled with a “Y” as in Smyth. And my last name of “White” is spelled with a “Y” as in Whyte. So we had something to laugh about right off before we dove into a song idea he wanted to write about someone taking a chance, leaving home, and moving to Nashville to chase that dream that so many dream about. Bryan doesn’t even play an instrument. He just writes lyrics but he’s curious and wants to learn all he can because he just loves it. So we wrote his song and had plenty of time to chat and get to know each other a bit.

 

He's in his sixties now and has made his living in technology. In fact he told me his son has some sort of digital thingy that has to do with parking cars on college parking lots. Above my head. But he also talked about going to “Parking Conventions” and I had to laugh. Because THAT is proof that there is a doggone convention for anything you can think of. Who knew?

 

I had great fun and made a new friend online yesterday in Brian.

 

ODD CONVENTIONS

So after hearing Brian talk about a “Parking” Convention, I got curious and looked at other odd conventions held in the states.

 

How about the Abraham Lincoln convention held in Columbus, Ohio where a whole bunch of folks show up dressed like Abe.

 

 

Or the World Clown convention where everyone wears big shoes and red noses.

 

And then there’s a mermaid convention in California. Bring your fins

 

NEW SINGLE

My friend Troy Engle in Pennsylvania has recorded a great new record for the Pinecastle Bluegrass Label and the first single is a song we wrote titled “Back Home”. Here’s a little TEASE of what the song sounds like. It will be released next week on March 21. Thank you for loving and recording the song Troy!

 

 

VETERANS RETREAT

Next Monday and Tuesday I’ll be writing with a nurse who served as a veteran in the Armed Forces along with several other Nashville songwriters for Freedom Sings USA. I got a little more information on this yesterday and the poster you see here will give you all of that. There’s a free concert on Tuesday night where every songwriter will sing the song they wrote with their veteran with the veteran sitting on stage with that writer. Always a memorable moment for the veterans and all who attend the show.

 

 

HEALTH NOTES

A combined study from researchers in both Canada and Britain reveals that if one takes a Vitamin D supplement it helps lessen the chance of having dementia. A 40% less chance.

 

The American Cancer Society says that 1/3^rd of cancer can prevented by taking the right steps. They list the following 5.

 

That would be good as Alzheimer’s diagnoses are reportedly expected to reach nearly 13 million of us by 2050.

 

Cut down on drinking or eliminate it all together

 

No smoking.

 

Know your family history with cancer.

 

Manage your weight.

 

Use sunscreen and avoid tanning beds.

 

FUNNY SIGN

 

 

Uh…I think I’ll skip the demonstration. But thanks.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The government will pay you to live in one of these 9 cities in the US. True.  Those cities are The Shoals in Alabama, Rochester NY, Topeka KS, Tulsa OK, Morgantown WV, Newton Iowa, South Burlington VT, and West Lafayette Indiana.

 

Anybody want to move?

 

TECH TIP

I am so going to try this. I have no idea if it works but I read that if you says “Sir…remember I parked my car here” when you arrive to a parking spot it will help you find your car by saying “Siri, where’s my car”. It puts a pin on a map, and that helps you relocate it. Cool.

 

LET EM EAT PIE

Last weekend was such a great time playing at Dollywood for the songwriter series going on there for several more weeks that celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of Dolly’s song that bought Dollywood “I Will Always Love You”. We did three shows on Friday and three on Saturday so the schedule was so tight we had no time to really get out and see the park itself. Had we had time we might have found a 230-pound apple pie for sale!  It will set you back $230. 

 

TODAY

I’m writing with Rick Lang who’s in town from Maryland. He and I have written a lot of bluegrass songs and bluegrass gospel songs over the past couple of year, but I think this might be the very first time we get to sit the same room and write together. Bout time.

 

THE WEEKEND

Tomorrow at noon I’m on stage with Steve Dean at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum inside the beautiful Ford Theater. I think this will be the 4^th time we’ve had the pleasure of playing this 45-minute songwriter show in front of the tourist that includes a Q&A session. If you’re in Music City by all means come and catch the show. Free with your museum ticket.

 

 

Have a great St. Pat’s Day and a great weekend!