BILL BLOG
Monday June 2, 2025
Monday morning. Goodbye May and welcome to June. It’s going to get warmer now that we’re in June. Today’s high in Nashville will be 87.
THE WEEKEND
Mine started Friday morning, writing a song with these two.
Lauren Mascitti on my left, Andrea Pearson on my right. Although I write songs with both of them, this was the first time the three of us had written together, and it was the first time the two of them had met. Both were aware of each other, so it was fun watching two really great singers get to know each other, and then create a new song together from an idea that Andrea brought with her. And she always seems to bring a great idea to the table.
Lauren has a brand-new beach song EP out, and here’s her first single, “Rum Pum Pum”.
And Andrea told me she’s getting ready to go visit the homestead that’s been in her family for generations up in Vancouver, Canada, where she’s from. And while she’s up there, she’s going to make a video of a song we wrote together that was written about that old place titled, “I Call It Home”. Can’t wait for folks to hear her sing that song.
It was a great way to start the weekend.
THE BOOK
My wife Kathy got some exciting news over the weekend. Her first book ever is going to be released soon. And her publisher sent a picture of the cover and back of her book, along with a digital copy of it, so that she could really see what it’s going to look like. And it looks very cool. I’m not going to share the title of it here quite yet, but it’s fiction, about a real-life phenomenon that Kathy discovered that is wrapped around a great detective story. It’s getting close to the release date, and we are both pretty excited. I’m proud of her. She took an idea that had been rambling around in her head for years and, with hard work and discipline, made that idea come to life. And soon, a lot of folks are going to get to read it. Can’t wait!
NEW SHOW
My good friends and co-writers, Becky and Will Denton from northern Missouri, contacted me and asked if I would play a date at a Winery they are booking shows for near where they live up in Florida, Missouri.
And I said "yes". I’ll play at the Florida Winery and Resort from 4-6 that afternoon. So come if you can, enjoy their food menu and of course their great selection of wine.
FESTIVAL
That new date worked out great as I’m playing the day before, Saturday, July 5, in Louisiana, Missouri, at the “Legends and Liberty” Festival, an hour away from the winery. The festival will be held on the Mississippi Riverfront, complete with fireworks at the end to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. It’s going to be great playing in my home state for not one, but two shows now.
SPEAKING OF FESTIVALS
I’m looking very forward to returning to this event in Gulf Shores in October as a co-emcee and performer for the largest gathering of Parrot Heads you’ve ever seen.
Thank you to the folks at MOTM (Meeting of the Minds) for having me. A who’s who of Trop Rock entertainers will be performing. The schedule will be coming out soon. “Phins Up”. See you on the beach Parrot Heads.
TODAY’S SONG
Perhaps the greatest guitar player I have ever heard, Tommy Emmanuel, turned 70 over the weekend. Happy Birthday Tommy! I was VERY blessed to have Tommy play on a song that I helped write that was recorded by his fellow-Aussie Kristy Cox. Kristy, Jerry Salley, and I wrote “Finger Pickin’Good” together from that idea I had that they both loved.
When we finished writing it that day, I remember asking if Kristy knew Tommy? Of course she did. He had sat in with her band many times when both of them were still living in Australia. And I suggested that this song would REALLY sound great if Tommy played on it. So, she or Jerry reached out to Tommy, and he said “yes”. The song went on to win a Golden Guitar Award in Australia, which is equivalent to a CMA Award here.
It was amazing to watch him record his part in the studio, and really fun watching him sit in on this video that went with the song. Thank you, Tommy!
HEALTH NOTES
The FDA approved Moderna’s next-generation COVID vaccine for adults 65 or older.
A study suggests that adding more berries, apples, or adding more cups of tea to your diet may be the key to living a healthier, longer life.
Studies show that common supplements and medications could cause liver damage. Researchers warn of liver toxicity from herbal products and over-the-counter drugs.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Spell check. Whomever is in charge of changing the sign…ask them to spellcheck. Thank you.
BUZZ
Over the weekend, a truck overturned in Washington State, and the 250 MILLION honeybees it was carrying escaped. Authorities warned, “Don’t go near them”. (No problem)
They had to call in a couple of dozen beekeepers to try and recapture them. The kind of stuff you don’t see every day.
SENIOR LIVING
Caring.com just listed the states that make seniors the happiest. Health care, things to do, cost of living, etc, all figured into the choices made by seniors. And I don’t think I’d have guessed many of these states to be in on that Top 5 list.
5…Nebraska
4…Delaware
3…Connecticut
2…Idaho
And the happiest state for senior living is Utah.
I interviewed for a radio job many years ago in Salt Lake. I got the tour of the town, and they took me to lunch in nearby Park City, which was beautiful, as was everywhere I saw during that tour. I had no idea that it would be the happiest state in the country one day for seniors.
SPEAKING OF LIVING
One can now order a 3-bedroom tiny home on Amazon for under $12,000. Complete with a veranda. And it’s prewired, and the plumbing and electric are hooked up as well.
Sort of like the modern version of the houses that used to be ordered out of the old Sears and Roebuck catalog back in the day.
JOKE
This one is from the late and brilliant comedian Robin Williams.
“Never pick a fight with an ugly person. They have nothing to lose.”
ELECTRONIC DOWNSIZING
There’s a lot of discussion in my business of music and songwriting, and how AI is affecting it. Instead of going into a recording studio, a lot of creative folks are just using AI to record their songs. Many feel AI is just stealing from others. But a lot of folks I know are using it. A lot of musicians and studio singers are already losing work because of it.
And now comes this from a leading business CEO who predicts that 1 in every 2 white collar workers could lose their jobs to AI in the next 5 years. Wow.
Sort of glad I’m semi-retired.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Apple Is A Great Company, Except For When It Isn’t. (Ya don’t say)
TODAY
For the second time, I’ll be writing with hit writers Brian White, who wrote hits like “Rough And Ready” for Trace Adkins.
And Don Poythress, who wrote hits like “Stronger Than Me” for Travis Tritt.
I’m hoping some of their magic will rub off on me today.
Have a great Monday!
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