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Whittling On A Song...Jimmy Fortune...Peter Edward Rose

BILL BLOG

Wednesday May 14, 2025

 

Wednesday…Hump Day…all day. A rare rain-free day is on tap here in Nashville with a high of 80.

 

YESTERDAY

I spent a little more time whittling on a new song with songwriters Wil Nance and Irene Kelley out at Wil’s writing shack. Irene brought a wonderful song idea to the table last week and the three of us like it so much that we carved out some extra time to make sure we’ve got this one just right before we record a version of it next week, and then start pitching it to artists in homes it will find a home.



 

It’s got a very fun summertime feel to it, and Craig Fuller is a 4th writer on this song. The same Craig Fuller who wrote the smash hit “Amie” and sang with Pure Prairie League.



 

He also spent some time singing with the great group Little Feat.



 

I can’t give it away, but we made Craig a writer on this song because we are borrowing something from him that will become obvious to anyone who might hear this song. It’s a pleasure to have his name on this tune.

 

MORE BLUEBIRD INFO

June 25, I’ll be at the Bluebird Café for the 9 pm show with songwriters Wil Nance, Brian White, and we just added Hall of Famer and former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune to that show as well. This should be some kind of fun evening in the round with these three guys. Tickets go on sale one week before the show, and they’re gone in a heartbeat once they become available. I’ll keep you posted on when they go up for sale as we get closer to the date. But make plans to join us if you can get a ticket!



 

SONG OF THE DAY

So, I’ll choose a song that I wrote with Jimmy today. This is “How Lucky Am I” which I wrote with Jimmy and our talented friend Sydni Perry. The song was inspired by the life of my former manager and second Mom, Dean Raymer, who was so influential in my music career as well as my personal life. It was recorded by Kristy Cox, and you’ll hear Jimmy singing the high harmony on this song. Enjoy. 


 

 

 

HEALTH NOTES

Some health experts say that building muscle before old age is a key to maximizing a long lifespan. And taking creatine helps as well.

 

A new study suggests the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of heart disease for up to eight years post-vaccination.

 

Rising food prices in the US is getting in the way of healthy eating, according to a survey of Americans.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



 Good thing!

 

COOPERSTOWN?

Yesterday, Major League Baseball took Pete Rose off the bad list. He is now eligible to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Finally. After he’s gone. Seems such a shame. Nobody played the game harder. And Pete is beloved in Cincinnati…still and always.



 

If they inspected every player that’s in the Hall, they would find lots of warts. And then there’s the steroid era of players.

 

I got to be around Pete a little. Here’s a great story.

 

I was playing in the Reds Fantasy Camp one year in Plant City Florida. One day, a guy in his upper 70s is in the batting cage struggling to hit the baseball. Pete Rose, who had a place nearby, rolled up on a bicycle, stopped, and watched the guy. Finally, Pete climbs off his bike, walks around and then wraps his arms around the guy, and gives him a free lesson on how to hit a baseball.

 

Nobody loved or knew more about baseball than Peter Edward Rose. Count me as one who hopes he gets in.



 

EGGS

They’re still expensive, but the prices fell in April. The average price for a dozen is now $5.12. Last April, the cost was just $2.86. So they’re 79% higher than a year ago.

 

With crime rates being up, we’ve started locking our eggs up in our safe.

 

BARTENDERS

Bartenders see and are a part of some very weird things. They’ve all got stories. Here’s one. A Mom bartender went to break up a fight between two biker groups. (Never a good thing) She gets flipped/thrown and her leg got caught in the ceiling fan. It broke her leg, but she stopped the fight. Geez.

 

After playing in bars for a lot of years, I’ve seen a few memorable fights and scenes as well. Here’s one.

 

My band was playing in a bar in Pocatello, Idaho. The Silver Dollar Gold Room. I’ll never forget. It was a big bar and the patrons were a mixture of bikers, cowboys, and college kids. We were playing on Halloween night, and some folks were in costume, including the bartender who was dressed as a woman. We’d be playing, and see a fight break out in the middle of the dance floor. And what I saw was the bartender leaping over the bar in the back of the room and then breaking up the fight. So it looked like a woman was wailing on a cowboy from the band’s point of view.  

 

For the record…I never want to be a bartender-bouncer.

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

Here’s Why A Mom Gave Her 3-Year-Old Son A Boob Cake On His Birthday. (I wasn’t that curious…so I didn’t read the article.)

 

TODAY

I’m writing with my bluegrass buddy Tim Stafford today online. Tim and his award-winning bluegrass band Blue Highway just wrapped up a big bluegrass festival under their name over in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. A mammoth undertaking.



 I’m sure we’ll chat a bit about that before we start rhyming something new this morning.

 

Have a great Wednesday!

 

 


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