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Pensacola Songwriters Festival...Freedom Sings USA Event....Back To School

BILL BLOG

Tuesday September 3, 2024

 

Labor Day weekend is over. Back to work y’all. It’s Tuesday. And…we have pleasant temperatures all of a sudden. 84 for a high today.

 

YESTERDAY

Well it was Labor Day but I wound up working anyway. That is if you call writing a song work. This work was done with my Knoxville friend Tim Stafford online. And it was a good thing to be writing with him on the world wide web hook-up because Tim is just getting over a bout with COVID. His third time around he told me. (Anyone NOT had multiple rounds?)

 

But he was in more than good enough health and spirits to bring a great song idea that we wrote and that he’s already pitched to a noted bluegrass artist who’s looking for songs. Always a pleasure to get to write with Tim who stays busy writing and playing festivals and shows with his great group Blue Highway.



 

PENSACOLA SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL

The schedule rolled out for that yesterday. It’s been several years since I’ve had a chance to play this one so I’m looking forward to doing a couple of songwriter shows on the beach with a couple of great songwriters Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley.

Larry Cordle has written a ton of hits including "Highway 40 Blues" for Ricky Skaggs, "Against The Grain" for Garth Brooks, and "Murder On Music Row" for Alan Jackson and George Strait



And Jerry Salley has written song for Chris Stapleton, John Anderson, and "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" for Reba.


 

 

So you can see I've got my work cut out for me to be able to hang with these two talents. We have an 8 pm show Friday October 4 at the Native Café Listening Room.

 


 


 

Then a 7:30 pm show together the next evening Saturday October 5 at the Casino Beach Bar & Grille.



 

I’m packing shorts, flip flops, sunglasses and a guitar. See you on the beach. 


 

 

UP NEXT ON THE CALENDAR

That would be a trip to Marion, Illinois this Thursday with Freedom Sings USA as myself and 4 other Nashville songwriters will sit with a veteran from that area and write their stories into songs that will be performed at an outdoor concert in downtown Marion this Saturday night. It’s free and open to the public and it’s always moving to hear those songs and honor those veterans. Come join us for a very Red, White and Blue event if you can.



 

SONG OF THE DAY

Today I’ve chosen “Ain’t Ever Saying Never” that American Idol star Alex Miller put on his last album that I wrote with him and Josh Shilling who brought in this wonderful idea of “I ain’t ever saying never to forever again”.  Another friend Jerry Salley produced this song for Billy Jam Records and it turned out so good. Thank you Alex.


 

 

And come the first of the year Alex is going to release a duet Emily Ann Roberts who won “The Voice” on Team Blake a couple of years ago that’s truly a fun country song. Stay tuned for that.


 

 

HEALTH NOTES

Health experts are warning against wearing “fashion” braces. Uh huh. They’re not being put in to help straighten…younger folks are wearing them because they look cool and trendy. Experts say they because of the unnecessary heavy metal they can cause tooth damage, misalignment, or oral infections. Who knew?



 

Meanwhile “cardio drumming” is being touted as a way to relieve stress, strengthen bones and foster community. Turn a bucket upside down and whack on it with a pair of drumsticks. (I’m going to have to ask my YMCA if they provide buckets and sticks next time I’m in)


 

New surgical technology is on the way that can ‘light up’ bacteria in wounds, helping to prevent infections.

 

 

WISDOM ON A BASEBALL CAP


 



 BACK TO SCHOOL

It’s that time of the year when the yellow and black school busses get busy picking up kids for school. Get this. In a survey 80% of teachers say that kids are less prepared for school than they were several years ago. Parenting is critical they say. Times change. There was a day I had to look up answers in an Encyclopedia. Remember those ancient things?

 

These days you can get the answer to anything with a quick Google search. So, I’m not sure how important preparation for school is anymore. I like to say that in this era we are living in that there’s no excuse for stupid.

 

EVERYTHING BARBIE

You have to hand it to Krispy Kreme. Someone is sitting in an office getting paid to make up great ideas for “themed” donuts there. The latest?  These bad boys.



 

Yep…a Barbie collection of sweet treats. Order up a dozen and a Kup of Ken coffee and you’re good to go for the morning.

 

YIKES

Just 3 days until voting season for the Presidential and other elections.

 

And that leads to this political joke. Question: Why do thieves never target politicians homes? 

 

Answer: Professional courtesy.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

This one from comedian Jay Leno.

 

Here’s Something To Think About: How Come You Never See A Headline Like “Psychic Wins Lottery’?

 

TODAY

I’m back online writing this morning with Troy Engle up in Pennsylvania who’s celebrating having quite a bit of success with his new album that has a couple of songs we wrote together on it.


 

 

Have a great Tuesday.


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