BILL BLOG
Monday September 9, 2024
Monday morning and I’m back home in Nashville from Marion, Illinois. Sunshine and a high of 84 today here in Music City.
THE WEEKEND
Thursday I made the three hour trip up to Marion, Illinois for our Freedom Sings USA songwriter retreat with songwriters Bobby Tomberlin, Steve Dean, Irene Kelley, and Don Goodman.
Marion is in southern Illinois…beautiful town and the folks who organized the event were so kind and passionate about honoring their veterans. Friday night they had a “meet and greet” in a beautiful old church where we had a great dinner and then played a show for all of those who attended. The Mayor, the organizers and the veterans.
Each songwriter met the veteran they were going to write with that night. This is mine. His name is Art Fager.
More on Art in a second.
FRIDAY
Friday morning we gathered in yet another church for early breakfast and then
each songwriter sat down with their veteran to write their story into a song.
Mine, Art Fager joined the National Guard after flunking out of college and
that led to over 23 years in the service. 4th generation military in
his family. His Great Grandfather, his Grandfather, his Dad, himself, and now
his son all served in the military.
He told me about his one year tour in Iraq where as a Major he commanded 151 folks from southern Illinois. It was a big deal as it was the first unit sent over from southern Illinois and they were celebrated by local folks. Every single day his armed unit were on the streets of Baghdad. He said his goal was that he wanted to bring 151 of them back. All but one got home. He was killed when the young man just shy of 21 volunteered for a mission that he didn’t have to volunteer for. He was in the lead armored unit that day when the bomb claimed his life. And Art Fager feels he’s to blame, even though he himself was not on that particular mission. And of course he was not to blame.
To this day Art wears a bracelet with that soldiers name on his wrist. Sgt Brian Romines. So 151 left, 150 got home. And his song is titled “151”.
Art’s a tough guy. You can tell that. A natural leader. But when I played him his song the first time, he cried. And that’s a compliment to any songwriter because you know then that your veteran loves his song. Here’s one of the verses.
When we got back home I dismissed those boys who’d done me proud
I thanked them all for everything they’d one
Then 150 caps were tossed into the air but what I’d give
If they'd have tossed 151
FRIDAY
NIGHT
Our group gathered at a great listening room in Marion “Little Nashville” owned
and operated by a singer-songwriter. Once again we were treated to a great
dinner and then we did another songwriter show to a packed house full of
veterans and those who love music.
Don Goodman who is a co-founder of Freedom Sings USA, who wrote “Ole Red” for Blake Shelton, and “Angels Among Us” for Alabama celebrated his 80th birthday. And they brought out a small cake to honor our friend.
We heard some great local songwriters as well and just had a great time.
SATURDAY
What an incredible Freedom Sings USA concert Saturday night in downtown Marion.
There must have been over 400 people gathered to honor those veterans we wrote songs with. And even my old bass player Mike Herndon showed up. Mike played in my band “The Shortline Express” back in the day in Missouri and I had not seen him FOREVER. Turns out he lived in that area, saw that I was going to be there and came out and surprised me. And what a pleasant surprise! I could not have hugged him any harder.
Mike is the one standing. To my righ is David Powelson who went on to play guitar for Billy Crash Craddock, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell and Brenda Lee. And to my right is Randy Wright who played drums and became Barbara Mandrell’s band leader back in the day of the old Barbara Mandrell TV Show, became a recording artist on MCA Records, and then ran his own talent agency for a long time. I had totally lost track of Mike so what an incredible bonus to an unforgettable evening.
THE VETERANS SHOW
Too many highlights to mention. But here’s the biggest personal one for me.
The song I mentioned above “151” that I wrote with veteran Art Fagel is all about Sgt Romines, the only one if 151 soldiers that didn’t make it home alive. In the audience Saturday night was his Mom Melinda…a Gold Star Mom. We brought her on stage and she heard Art AND her son’s song for the first time before that big “live” audience who gave her a thunderous ovation.
Many tears. She gave me a big ole hug, crying, and told me how much she loved the song. I’ll never be able to describe how special that moment was. I cried as well.
Every song was incredible…and the audience was on their feet a lot.
So thank you Marion, Illinois for such an incredible experience. We can’t wait to come back and do it all again next year.
SONG OF THE DAY
Today I’m going to choose a parody song that I co-wrote with Cledus T. Judd titled “Luke Bryan”. Cledus sent me asked me to help him write this parody of the Alan Thicke pop hit titled “Blurred Lines”. And so I did, and they turned the song into a very funny video and also added Colt Ford to do a “rap” section in the middle of this parody. Click the link and have a good laugh.
THIS WEEK
I’ll be right back on the road for a few days. Thursday evening I have a show in Lufkin, Texas at the Pines Theater with Linda Davis and Lang Scott and our “Evening in the Round” show. 7 pm start.
And then we’re going to make run to Bossier City, Louisiana where Linda is going to sing the National Anthem at the Louisiana Downs racetrack for their Super Derby.
So a 4 day or so run on the road is about to happen starting this Wednesday.
ON THE
CHARTS
It was nice to see that song “Never Too Lost” from Troy Engle is #4 on the
Bluegrass Today Gospel Chart this week. This song we wrote together has been to
the #1 spot a couple of times and it’s still hanging on the chart and getting
airplay. It’s been kind of a surprise hit in that world, and both Troy and I
are grateful for that.
HEALTH NOTES
Some health folks say eating pumpkin gives you a more youthful appearance and helps with weight loss. Good timing as we are in pumpkin season now.
A Missouri resident is the first person in the US to be infected with bird flu despite having no contact with animals according to the CDC.
A woman who just reached the age of 100 had clear lungs. She gave up smoking at the age of 95.
PANTS HOLDER
Football is back. And with that comes this picture.
I’m no expert but I think if you have to wear suspenders to hold up your football pants you might want to consider some other sport.
CLEAR MICE
Here’s one for you. They say that there’s an ingredient found in Doritos and other goodies that can turn mice transparent. I don’t even want to see an un-transparent mouse…much less a transparent one.
SLITHERY YOGA
In California they now have snake-yoga. Yep. Just like it sounds. You can throw out your little rubber mat, wrap a snake around you and do your stretches. Uh…no. And no again.
I have no idea if you have to bring your own snake. Don’t wanna know.
SIX PACK SURGERY
The word is more men are having surgery to help them get six-pack abs. Geez. I don’t have six pack abs but I do have a keg…does that count?
BACK TO SCHOOL
Parents will spend 39 BILLION dollars on back to school stuff for their kids this year. 39 BILLION. All I remember packing was a sack lunch, a pencil that was the size of Stuckey's pecan log, and the ole Big Chief notebook. Anyone remember those?
Pretty sure the PC police wouldn’t allow me to take one to school today.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
Ex-Pentagon UFO Chief Says Non-Human Bodies Have Been Found On Earth. (Wait…we have a UFO Chief?)
TODAY
Back to the writing table with my buddy Steve Dean. His friend Shantell Ogden will join us and she’s trying to write a Christmas song to land in an upcoming Christmas movie. I’m taking some hot chocolate and marshmallows to get us in the right frame of mind for this one.
Have a great Monday!
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