BILL BLOG
Monday November 11, 2024
Monday morning…last day on the beach. And a very happy Veteran’s Day to all of you who serve, have served, or have family that serve our country.
And one way some honor our veterans is by wearing a poppy which seems to have originated in the UK. But I can remember seeing my Dad wear a poppy when I was very young and growing up in Missouri and not understanding why. I sure do now.
THE WEEKEND
Friday was all about getting registered for the 40th Annual Frank Brown Songwriters Festival down here in Gulf Shores before two shows on Friday. The volunteers and staff take good care of the nearly 200 writers that come and play this festival every year. They give us a great “goodie” bag complete with a new T-shirt and ballcap and our official credentials to get us in and out of the venues we all need to be in to play.
Every day at noon the festival serves up a delicious lunch and it gives all the writers a chance to break bread, hang out and have fun but everyone goes their separate ways to separate shows scattered from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and all the way into Pensacola.
SHOW WITH AN OLD FRIEND
At 5 pm I was at the Woodside Restaurant at Gulf State park with Brent Burns on an outdoor stage for an hour set.
This was the 3rd year we played on the outdoor stage at the Woodside and we had a great crowd show up. There were a lot of familiar faces in the crowd…some who make sure they come and see me and Brent every time we play together.
And it could not have been a nicer evening. We played a lot of songs we’ve written together through the years, and there were a lot of laughs added to the mix. It was a great way to start the festival.
FRIDAY NIGHT
And then I went straight from Gulf Shores over to Pensacola for a songwriter show with Wil Nance at the Warrior Beer Company. Owned by veterans…it’s a craft brew place that just opened this year.
Wil and I followed our friends Steve Dean and Mutt Cooper Friday night.
An old friend, Joe Engle who played guitar for me and my band back in the day…and for Wil as well, lives in Gulf Shores now…and he made the trip over for the show. Wil got him up to play lead guitar on a Texas Swing song of his “It Takes AllKinds” that George Strait recorded…and Joe sounded better than ever. That was a nice treat.
There was a great crowd there as well and Wil and I got a nice standing O after we finished our little songwriter set. Cool new venue in Pensacola. Glad we were one of the first to play there.
SATURDAY SHOW
Another great songwriter show Saturday night. This time with Steve Dean and we worked with Rhonda Hart for the first time who took the place of Victoria Venier in our “Hits & Grins” trio who couldn’t be here this year. Though Rhonda lives down here on the Gulf she spent time in Nashville and lived with artist Deanna Carter. And that led to her having this hit “Did I Shave My Legs For This” for Deanna that she sang to loud applause Saturday night
It was great getting to know and hear her. And thank you to the great crowd that showed up to listen!
SUNDAY
NIGHT SHOW
Last night Steve Dean, Brent Burns and I played in the Main Listening Room at
the world famous Flora-Bama.
To me, this listening room ranks as high as the Bluebird Café in Nashville as far as songwriter venues go. Audiences are so great there and last night was no exception for the three of us.
It’s just a pleasure to play that room every single time. Great audience and the 1 hour set we did flew by way too fast.
SONG OF THE DAY
Since it’s Veteran’s Day I’m going to share the song “Let Me Shake Your Hand” that was inspired by my friend Brent Burns who is a purple hear recipient. He served…I did not…and that’s what this song is all about. This VIDEO was shot several years ago when the two of us did a show down here. The lighting is not great…but you’ll get to hear his story and mine in this song-video.
STILL ON THE CHARTS
The Bluegrass Gospel 12 Chart came out this week and I’m blessed to have 2 songs on it that I helped write. “Country Faith” by Kristen Leigh Bearfield and gospel star Karen Peck is #6.
And “God Never Made A Mountain” by Kristy Cox is #9.
Always good news for a songwriter to see their songs on any chart. Thank you to my co-writers on those two songs Andrea Pearson, Josh Shilling, Kristen Leigh Bearfield & Bob Minner.
HEALTH NOTES
Australia is moving towards banning social media for kids 16 and under. Research is saying that it’s toxic for children’s mental health.
An expert says that hearing loss is the biggest disability among military veterans.
Here’s one for you. A psychologist suggest that listening to Christmas music too early can have negative effects on your mental health. (And what about those who started watching Hallmark Christmas movies a MONTH ago?
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Well...something was!
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
The face of country music has most surely changed. The leading Grammy nominees in the “Country” category this year are Beyonce’, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey and Kacey Musgraves. Nope. That ain’t your Loretta, Merle, Jones, Garth nor Patsy list folks.
SOBERING
7 people are still missing and 102 are dead in North Carolina from hurricane Helene. Beyond tragic.
IF YOU
OWN A HOME
Then over the past 5 years you’ve done pretty well. You’ve made at least
$150,000 according to those in the real estate know.
FUNNY PARENTING TIP
A Mom wrote this. “I haven’t talked to my sons for a few days so I changed the Hulu, Netflix and Amazon passwords. I heard from all 3 of them within 20 minutes.”
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
My Boyfriend Forgot I Broke Up With Him After Getting A Concussion…Now We’re Married. (I’m going to need a minute to digest that one)
TODAY
Final day here on the Gulf Coast and it will be special as I’ll be part of special Veteran’s Day show here at the festival with Freedom Sings USA. Myself and songwriters Bobby Tomberlin, Steve Dean, Wil Nance and Mutt Cooper will be on stage at the beautiful Coastal Arts Museum in Orange Beach singing songs we’ve written with our veterans.
The veteran I wrote with in Orange Beach recently, Larry Perino will there. Larry was in the middle of “Blackhawk Down” and I’ll be singing his song “Make It Matter”.
It should be a goose bumpy emotional kind of concert this evening giving all of us to say “thank you” to our veterans and veteran families.
Have a great Monday!
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