I once saw Jimmy Buffett at a gas station. It was cool but it wasn't an opportunity.
Allison Krause came up behind me in line at a coffee shop - just a day after selling out Bridgestone Arena with Robert Plant. She was cool. Our conversation, "hey Allison how are you?" "I'm good, doing good" me to the clerk, "yeah I'd like a large coffee" "It was nice to see you" The end. Sometimes opportunity has to come at the expense of a short conversation.
I was sitting here by the pool, drinking an adult beverage, and wondering how many celebrities I've met or had short or long conversations with. I'm going to try and name them - in some chronological order.
I don't expect that you will recognize every person or every name. All good.
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Ray Ashworth - my dad. He was a star ... sort of. He was on radio and TV all the time in Nashville. The biggest shows. Still never really made it.
The Oak Ridge Boys - they were a southern gospel group at the time.
The Kingsmen - the biggest Southern Gospel group at the time.
The Goffs - again, southern gospel.
(Did I mention my dad was a southern gospel singer and minister?)
The Hemphills - massive southern gospel group. Owned a bus line later in life.
George Jones - he arrived at school to pick up my very first girlfriend in a limo.
That would be Georgette Jones. His daughter.
Which would lead to me fishing on Tammy Wynette's property.
She lived around the corner from my house. Georgette was her daughter with George Jones.
Johnny Cash - went grocery shopping together. The most decent man. The kid that lived next door to me growing up had a grandfather who drove Johnny's bus. My parents were in the music industry when not working in the factory or school cafeteria. I grew up with Johnny and saw him in a way that many didn't.
Harold Jenkins aka Conway Twitty - he lived up the road. His kids were older than me, but we still became friends. I always called Twitty "Mr. Jenkins" when growing up. His daughter Kathy and I are still random friends - and in fact I saw her not many years ago at a play that was produced about her father's life.
It was at that play I met Stella Parton (Dolly's sister) - we're still Facebook friends (very sweet person).
I also met Bill Anderson there - sorry Nashville, he might have been in a bad mood, but he treated my reporter/assistant very, very poorly. I don't care what he's done, that will define him in my life - and in generations to come because I'll be sharing that story someday.
Eddy Raven. My best friend's dad. My "godfather". The man who taught me everything I knew about the music business. His 2nd wife would cook me a special plate of spaghetti every Thanksgiving and Christmas because I didn't eat eatoufee and seafood. Was practically raised in his house because I don't recall a Thanksgiving or Christmas at my house after 10 am.
Travis Tritt - his very first radio seminar - it was still at the Opryland Hotel. He was hammered. We had a good time, just the two of us, hanging out at the bar alone and drinking and talking. Years later he would attempt to run me over on his motorcycle - while riding onto the stage at Starwood - that was an open air venue in Nashville.
That's where I met Sammy Kershaw. I was backstage ... we met.
Later I met his ex-wife. Went bowling with her. That's Lorrie Morgan. The girl can bowl. She's good.
But not as good as TG Shepherd, who she and her friend Kelly Lang brought (now Kelly's hubby) - somehow me and Kelly go WAYYYY back. But neither of us remember. I think that has something to do with a small Baptist church there in Hendersonville. Maybe. The Whites went there. Which meant Ricky Skaggs went there. My family went there. Some did. And so, maybe? I don't know. We've just always known each other. And it was nice to see them and just bowl (that was actually Thanksgiving night several years back).
Aaron Tippin - I met him so many years ago it's hard to remember. We were in the back of a limo with Eddy and his wife and Arron and his wife Thea. Aaron was going to sing the National Anthem for the WWF ... er ... WWE ... (they legally had to change the name). After we all go to some restaurant I want to remember but can't, and hang out with the entire "Cast" of the WWE ... cool night. Me and Aaron are still friends - from time to time. He's made it down to south west Florida two times and it's always good to see him.
Tracy Lawrence. I met him through my songwriting buddy Elbert West. Elbert had just had his car repo'ed and was sleeping on a couch when his "Sticks and Stones" song went #1 for Tracy. $80,000 later - he bought all his possessions back. We all used to hang out in the back yard of Judy Hoffman, a legendary songwriter and inspiration in Nashville. I learned everything from her. Elbert was a heck of a writer. I never got my Tracy cut. But I did enjoy some good Thanksgiving turkey from time to time when living up there. Elbert got a record deal of his own finally on BBR, and it was ... eclectic. He passed away recently.
Brian Setzer. That dude's cool. I met him through a mutual friend. My old "spot" in town (when it was open) was Sunset Grille. That was THE PLACE to be if you were connected or in the industry. I met a lot of people there. Aside:
I used to see Harlan Howard there and have a couple drinks with him from time to time - unscheduled and random. I would always try and join him. Nice guy. The best writer ever. And he told me some stories ... anyhow...
Brian was opening a show for BB King. 71st birthday. My friend Ryan (Eddy's son) was working at Gipson Guitar at the time - they always gave BB a new "Lucille" for his birthday. Ryan and I went backstage. Badabing. BB King. Birthday cake.
Who else? ... hmmmmm ....
I played a college TV show one week before Alan Jackson. It was for "up and coming" artists. The tape probably still exist. I played a horrible song I'd written. Probably did a terrible job. I remember not having an outfit or a good guitar, so I borrowed all of Ryan's stuff. He wore hats and bolo ties. I felt like an idiot and not myself. It's probably horrible. Years later I was backstage at at TV taping and ran into Alan - he was the featured act. Ran into him again a year later, the featured act. Then years later I was backstage at the Grand Ole Opry when Alan was inducted. To the Grand Ole Opry. Last time I saw Alan he was getting some plaque from the CMA for 20 million records sold or something? I don't know. Nice guy though.
Was at the Grand Ole Opry for Clint Black's induction - and I want to say I was there for Garth Brooks' as well - but I'm not certain.
I've mentioned before when Taylor Swift was 14 we were at the Bluebird together. Everyone knows Taylor.
Who else ...
While Alan Jackson was tearing up the radio and the world, I was installing carpet in Nashville and met two artists - different apartment complexes ... Joe Nichols was living in Brentwood and Clay Walker was in Hermitage. They're both cool guys. Joe played a nightclub I was partner in a few years ago - and just played another club here the other day. I missed it.
My ex and I played a show with Carrie Underwood. My experience was not good - and this was right after American Idol so no one knew if she was even going to turn into anything - but apparently she thought a lot about herself.
I met Robert Reynolds and the Mavericks. Spent the day in the studio with them. Fun times.
Manuel is a suit maker. I lived vicariously through his life for about a year. You would not believe the kind of life this old guy has lived. Supermodels. Trips taken. Awards. His life was unbelievable but, considering I nearly always say him with the hottest women of all time, totally believable at the same time. He still has a shop there in Nashville.
Jerrod Newman. He's a cool guy. Met him at the Tin Roof in Franklin. Didn't expect him to do well, but go figure.
Randy Houser - used to actually hang out with this guy - and Jamey Johnson. He came down here, didn't know me from Adam. haha. Life. It's like seeing someone familiar at the bowling alley and not knowing they even bowl. Neither one would recognize me now.
Big Kenny of Big 'n Rich gave me $10,000 for my charity that I was running at the time. Said anyone match it, he would personally give them a call. Cool, cool dude. But I've never met him.
I met Flo-Rida. He's cool. Down to earth actually. I like that.
I could go on and on.
In California I got to meet and have lunch with Brandon Boyd of Incubus and supermodel (and wife to Rod Stewart) Rachel Hunter. Supermodels look a lot like normal girls, but a lot larger. They were both cool. Duke's on Pacific Coast Highway 1 heading into Malibu - great beach side place.
I let Sheryl Crow meet me. Said, "Goodbye Taylor Swift, Hello Sheryl Crow" - Taylor was leaving country music behind and Sheryl was coming in. I sometimes wonder if Sheryl remembers that moment because she's ever been heard on country radio since - and they still play Taylor every 3.5 minutes.
I might could go on and on. Some of these are highlights ... some are just, well, people I've known or still know.
Thing about celebrity is this - they're just people - no different than anyone else. Why in the world we pay attention to people who are or aren't, astounds me. But then, it's also helped me.
I use their success - their hustle - to y advantage every chance I get. They've learned lessons to get where they are. Knowing what Open Doors and Opportunity they used to heir advantage can help you have an advantage.
Was it a person? Their sheer will? A "lucky break" (don't believe in those)?
Somehow, they "made" it.
You can too.
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