BILL BLOG
Friday February 17, 2023
Friday morning and I’ve got a guitar and a bag packed for a trip to Arkansas in a couple of hours.
We had some very loud storms off and on throughout the day yesterday. Those have finally blown through and now the temperature has dropped. After being near 70 yesterday today’s high will only be 43 in Nashville.
YESTERDAY
I was supposed to write my super talented friend Jimmy Fortune yesterday, but if you keep up with this little blog then you know that Jimmy had bypass surgery on Wednesday morning. 5 of them. That of course cancelled our little get together at his house. The really GREAT news is that yesterday he was already sitting in a chair and talking. Such a wonderful thing to hear, and I appreciate several folks in his inner circle keeping me posted on his progress. He’ll be back to doing what he does best in about 3 months…singing and writing and entertaining folks like only Jimmy can do.
Jimmy stays in demand. He loves what he does and there’s not many any better than him. He’s had to cancel a bunch of shows and writing appointments and that will give him time to rest and refire his creative juices. He travels a lot for shows, and recently finished up an amazing album/DVD with his Brothers of the Heart quartet that also features Mike Rogers, Bradley Walker, and Ben Isaacs. Here’s one of the songs on that projectthat features my friends amazing voice.
I also had an amazing singing experience with Jimmy once. Jimmy, Sydni Perry and I were writing together and when we finished he asked Sydni (who's on the road with Carrie Underwood singing and playing fiddle) to sing a song they used to sing when Sydni would got out and do road shows with him. One of my favorite songs "Ghost in this House." Jimmy's wife filmed us doing this for his online show "Jimmy Jams"...and he asked me to grab a third part of harmony. It was a thrill for me and it turned out so great for just "off the cuff" like we did it. AND it got a TON of great comments and likes on Jimmy's social networks. Watch THIS and you'll see and hear what I'm talking about.
So so glad he’s doing well.
SPEAKING OF BOOKING
Looks like NEXT February I could be just outside Orlando for a show with Linda Davis & Lang Scott. Details coming soon. Florida in February? I’m in. I can see laying over for some theme park visits.
NEW SINGLE OUT
This was a surprise. A couple of years ago I wrote a song with my friend and former hockey player-enforcer Rob Bellamy that was played at his wedding when he got married to another dear friend and co-writer Ayla Brown. The song is called “New Last Name”. Today Rob released the song as his brand new single.
Both Rob and Ayla (former American Idol star) were here chasing the dream in Nashville for several years. Both of them are from the east coast. And we wrote several songs together, and they recorded some of those as well. And then out of nowhere Ayla got an offer to be part of the country morning radio show in Boston so they moved back home. And then Rob and I actually wrote this just released single on a Zoom Call. Since their wedding, they’ve become proud parents of a little boy. And this song I think will be part of their lives now forever, and I could see some other couples wanting to use it at their weddings in the future as well. Check out the song at the link above. And thank you Rob for allowing me to write this very personal love song with you.
SPEAKING OF MARRIAGE
Here’s a funny quote from comedienne Rita Rudner. I interviewed her once out in Las Vegas for an awards show. A ton of celebrities sat down to be interviewed, but by far Rita was the funniest and the quickest on her feet. Love her. Here’s her quote about marriage.
“I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They’ve experienced pain and bought jewelry.”
VIRUS AND HEALTH NOTES
A new Northwestern Medicine study suggests that the original COVID-19 vaccine worked so well that it hurt the booster shots by “mopping up” the new shots before they became effective.
A new study in Germany reveals that those of us who drink 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day have the strongest brain structures. No wonder I feel like my cranium can lift 100-pound bar bells.
Pharmacists are warning that ALL antibiotics are in short supply.
GREAT CATCHER-AND ANNOUNCER
I was sad to hear that Cardinal great Tim McCarver passed at
age 81. He was part of my childhood. The 64-67-68 Cardinals were my baseball
team. Winning 2 of 3 of those World Series. Tim McCarver was the catcher on that
team. Behind the plate every time Bob Gibson pitched who is still my favorite
all time MLB pitcher. But McCarver was the glue. Then later on by most accounts
Tim McCarver became the greatest MLB analyst on air…ever. Hard to argue. And then he went on to become the best TV baseball analyst ever. So good he went into the broadcast wing in Cooperstown. RIP. And thanks for so many fun memories Tim.
BEWARE
For the last couple of days my Facebook page has been covered up with ads about a Keto Gummy that makes you lose weight like crazy. The ads show the stars of the hit TV show “Shark Tank” endorsing the product, and the ads also claimed the founders of this Gummy got the richest offer ever on that show’s history. That made me suspicious as I watch the show and know how Mark Cuban feels about these kinds of products. Sure enough…fake…scam…and the supposed founder was never on that show.
Keep your BS antennae’s up folks. And don’t place an order.
PRODUCTIVE FOLKS
I scanned an article this morning that gave 5 tips that help us become more productive in our lives. The two that jumped out at me were: Start your day at 4 AM. And learn to say “no”.
I’m up early…4 AM oddly enough. Part of that comes from getting up SO early for so many years doing morning radio shows. And I’m glad the habit has stuck since. I get more done between 4 and 9 AM that at most other times of the day.
And I have indeed learned that the blessing of getting older and being a little more comfortable is that it does allow one to say “no” to things that they really don’t want to do. Things they don’t enjoy doing.
NEW TREND
The folks in the “pizza know” are saying the latest trend is less pineapple on pizzas and more pickles. Yuk. Pickles on a pizza? C’mon. Remember what I just said about being in a place where you can say “no”? That would be my response if the pizza guy asks if I want a Dill on my meat lovers pie.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
Air Force Grounds An Entire Fleet of Planes Because the Tails Could Fall Off in Mid-Air. “Up up and away…goes the tail”.
TODAY
It’s off to Benton, Arkansas for the Freedom Sings USA songwriter retreat with our veterans. I’m picking up one of the writers Bobby Tomberlin in just a bit and we’ll ride over together then join the other songwriters making the trip tonight, meet our veterans and be assigned a veteran to write with on Saturday morning. Then Saturday night we play those songs in concert with those veterans sitting right beside each writer being honored for their service in front of their family and friends and anyone else who attends the free show. Always a goose-bumpy experience to say the least. So honored to be asked to participate.
Have a great weekend!
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