BILL BLOG
Monday September 30, 2024
Monday morning…back home in Nashville for just a couple of days before re-packing bags for a Gulf Coast trip. Sunny with a high of just 76 here in Nashville today. Perfect.
It’s been a fun filled couple of shows on the road over this weekend…lots to share.
THE WEEKEND
Friday night I was in Woodlands, Texas with Linda Davis and Lang Scott to play Dosey Doe’s for the second time. What a cool venue.
We had a bunch of Aggie fans there in the house, many of them Linda’s family and friends as she’s a Texas girl and they turned out for one of their own as they always do. And we had a great opening act in Delaney Ann who’s a Texas native as well. In fact Linda invited Delaney up to sing her #1 smash with Reba “Does He Love You” with her.
It was a dinner show…and the food was awesome and the management gifted us with their signature Dosey Doe coffee which is so good. And yesterday was National Coffee Day…so they helped me celebrate that!
Everyone we dealt with Friday night were great pros who took good care of us. From our terrific sound guys, the management team…all first class.
THE GENERAL
I had a special moment as I talked about working with Freedom Sings USA the group that writes songs with our veterans. I told the story you’ve read about here before if you read this Blog “151” written with Major Art Fagler in Marion, Illinois who lost 1 in 151 of his men when they were in Baghdad for a year and how he to this day wonders if he could not have done more to somehow have brought all 151 men back with him.
After the show a retired General approached me with tears in his eyes. He could hardly talk but told me how he so related to that song and thanked me. No, thank you General for doing all YOU could do to protect those young men under your command in Viet Nam.
It was quite the moment to say the least.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Another great show…this one in the town of Corsicana, Texas about an hour south of Dallas.
We played at the old historic Palace Theatre that’s been there since the early 20’s. Once up for demolition, the city decided to restore this “gem” as my musical partner Lang Scott would say. Good decision!
And what an incredible show we had.
The sound and lighting guys were as good as we’ve ever worked with. So good that when I sang my veteran’s song “151” the bathed the stage in red, white and blue lights…and put a spotlight on the nearby American flag. Unreal.
Linda had a friend get up and sing with her…couple of friends as a matter of fact. And my friend Randy Brooks showed up and had the entire audience singing along on that Christmas classis he wrote “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” That was pretty special to say the least. And if you want to see that performance just go to my Facebook page and you’ll find it. Thank you to Randy and his wife for joining us making this fun moment happen.
And it was great getting to see my old manager at WMIL FM106 Radio in Milwaukee Brian Ongaro and his wife Barb. Brian hired me to be his morning guy in Milwaukee and I had a great six years there working with and for him. Such a bonus to get to spend some more time with the two of them and their friends that they brought to the show.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’m so lucky to get to do what I get to do…hanging with talented dear friends like Lang and Linda. Thank you Corsicana for everything!
NEXT EVENING IN THE ROUND SHOW
That would be October 18 at the Effingham Performance Center in Effingham, Illinois. A 7 pm show for me, Linda Davis and Lang Scott. Details are available on my website in the “Tour” section.
SONG OF THE DAY
Today I’m choosing “Deeper In Love” a song I wrote with Josh Shilling that was recorded by Carley Arrowood a young and now noted bluegrass artist…fiddle player. Josh knew her, knew she was looking for songs and sent her that song of ours and she fell in love with it. And then she just recorded the heck out of it. I’ve yet to meet her in person, so THANK YOU Carley for such a great recording on our song.
HURRICANE SEASON
The bad news is there are more disturbances out in the Gulf that could develop into hurricanes as well. Buckle up. It’s hurricane season. 4.5 million without power. And the devastation from the flooding is unreal. Some of the pictures from North Carolina make you catch your breath with unbelief. 100 dead and counting. Already they’re saying 100 BILLION in damages from Helene.
I have a lot of musical friends in east Tennessee…and North Carolina who are trying to make sense of it and deal with it. Gosh. Nothing ever good comes out of a hurricane.
HEALTH NOTES
Some experts are saying that drinking alcohol is linked to six types of cancer. “It’s toxic”.
Moderate caffeine consumption associated with lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, a new study finds.
The US is now investigating potential human-to human bird flu transmission.
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
What a loss. At 88 one of the greatest songwriters of all time passed. An Army Ranger, an actor, a singer, and most of all a gifted lyricist who wrote iconic hits like “Bobby McGee”, “Why Me Lord”, “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and many more.
He elevated the game of songwriting in this town with his choice of words.
He was
a member of “The Highway Men” with Waylon, Willie, and Cash”. He once landed a
helicopter in Johnny’s Cash’s backyard to give him a tape of his song "Sunday Morning Coming Down"
Cash went on to record several of Kris's songs.
He started as a janitor at a record label on Music Row. He was a Rhodes Scholar.
Tough to replace folks like that. RIP
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
I saw that sing on a sidewalk in Corsicana, Texas this weekend and walked in and asked, “Can I feel beautiful”. And they said, “uh…no”. I think “Beautiful” had the day off.
RATS
In New York City they’re trying to get rid of the rats…or as many as they can. They’re now considering birth control for rats. That’s right. Birth control pellets would be distributed hoping the rats will eat them and not be able to have little rat babies.
If that works, I want them distributed to snakes as well.
I NEED ONE
My friend Gary Rivers in my hometown of Montgomery City, Missouri sent me a VIDEO of this little guitar-car. And now I know what I want for Christmas Santa!
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
Woman Caught Smuggling More Than 700 Pounds Of Bologna At Texas Border. (Must have been an interesting conversation with border patrol.)
TODAY
Today and tomorrow are all about re-setting for a couple of events this week down on the Gulf Coast.
This Wednesday and Thursday I’m in Orange Beach, Alabama to write songs with veterans for Freedom Sings USA.
Then Friday and Saturday I’ll be playing the Pensacola Songwriters Festival. You can check their website or mine to see when and where I’ll be playing on the beach there.
Have a great Monday!
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