Country Music Broke My Brain
Page 28
As Nashville is the songwriting and country music capital of the world, one can appreciate just how tough it is to entertain the entertainers in an entertainment hub (similar to getting invited to perform card tricks at the annual International Convention of Magicians). You better be good . . . really good!
In characteristic fashion, the title of Gerry’s book draws a tongue-in-cheek correlation between his long career in the country music business and the brain aneurism he suffered in 2003 and the three craniotomies from which he fully recovered . . . or so he claims.
ALTHOUGH GERRY would gladly discuss his awards with you in person, it should be noted that he has won virtually every broadcast award possible. The Country Music Association awarded him Personality of the Year four times. The Academy of Country Music handed him seven awards. Billboard magazine, Radio & Records, and Leadership Nashville also gave him their highest honors.
The National Association of Broadcasters gave Gerry its prestigious Marconi Award for radio excellence and recently inducted him into the Radio Hall of Fame alongside Bob Hope, Larry King, and Ronald Reagan. Gerry reflects, “How this happened remains a mystery. There is a forty-minute PowerPoint presentation available if you would like to see it.” He is the only country music DJ to be inducted into the NAB Hall of Fame.
Gerry House, like the true multiple personality that he is, also lives in the music world as a songwriter. Performing-rights organization BMI has honored him with awards for No. 1 hit songs. He’s had more than forty songs recorded by artists including Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Clint Black, Trace Adkins, and many others. His hits, such as “Little Rock,” “On The Side of Angels,” “The Big One,” and “The River and the Highway,” have sold millions of records.
Gerry is first and foremost a writer. It wasn’t enough that he wrote his own daily radio material for over twenty years. He also loves putting words into other people’s mouths. He’s written stand-up jokes and TV scripts for years. The ACM Awards, the CMA Awards, the CMT Awards, and now American Idol have all had big stars delivering Gerry’s lines.
Along with his wife, Allyson, Gerry has spent most of his career in Nashville. However, he’s been heard all over the world. Four years on XM Radio and contributing to the BBC mean he’s been “on the air” everywhere. In fact, Gerry notes that “I’ve been heard more on radio in America than on any other household appliance.”
Gerry is a piano player, a guitar player, and a golfer. You are not in danger of being hit when he’s at the piano or holding a guitar. He’s a world traveler and writes either a joke or a song every day. Gerry and Allyson live in Nashville near their daughter, Autumn, son-in-law Shane, and twin granddaughters Holland and Willa. You can also find them at their other home in north Florida.
Index
A
Academy of Country Music, xv, 52, 54, 317
Acuff, Roy, 139–141
Adkins, Trace, 182, 318
Alabama (musical group), 158, 284–285
Alabama (see also various cities), 28, 79, 186, 252
Aldean, Jason, 34, 59, 187, 254
Allman Brothers Band, 73, 74
American Idol, 59, 84, 149, 163, 318
Andalusia, AL, 79
Anderson, Bill, 81, 82, 84, 202
Anderson, Lewis, 160
Anderson, Pamela, 215
Anderson, Steve: the kindest friend to never give anybody strokes, 458
Armstrong, Geoff: the man you want with you in a bar in Istanbul, 369
Asleep At The Wheel, 172
Astaire, Fred, 262
Atkins, Chet, 179, 313
Atlanta, 114
Autry, Gene, 275
B
Bacharach, Burt, 312
Bahamas, 136, 160
Baker, Ray, 260
Band Perry, The, 122
Bangladesh, 133
Banklick Christian Church, 4, 125
Barkley, Charles, 200
Barr, Roseanne, 34, 53, 121
Barraclough, Nick, 263
Baywatch, 215
BBC, 8–9, 263, 318
Beach Boys, 172
Beatles, 189–190, 288–289, 308
Beckett, Barry, 72
Beckham, Bob, 190–191, 213–214
Beethoven, 206
Bellamy Brothers, 61
Belle Meade, 68
Bennett, Tony, 270
Bentley, Dierks, 254
Berlin, Irving, 156, 210
Beverly Hillbillies, The, 270
Beyoncé, 306
Big & Rich, 57–60
“Big” Kenny Alphin, 59
Birdie, 13
Black, Clint, 157–158, 172, 318
Black, Lisa Hartman, 157
Blackstock, Narvel, xv, 53–55, 210–211
Bluebird Café, The, 32, 79, 262
BMI Awards, 149, 298, 301, 318
Bob Newhart Show, The, 77
Bobby, Preacher, 171
Bohan, Mike, aka Porkchop Peevis, aka Hambone Hawkins, aka greatest radio sidekick in history, 511
Bonamy, James, 99
Bongarten, Randy, 314
Boone, Debbie, 270
Boone, Pat, 270
Borchetta, Scott, 298–299
Bornheim, Michael, 72
Bowie, David, 42
Boxcar Willie, 59
Boxing, 12, 80, 119
Boy Scouts of America, 95–96
Bradshaw, Terry, 216, 217–218
Brandon, 138
Brandy, 135
Brantley, Nathan: Scissors Wizard, 732
Breeden, Frank, 315
Brinkley, Charlie: bank on Mr. Vol, 347
Broadway (see also New York City), 93, 144, 145, 205–211, 266
Brooks, Garth, 26, 37–42, 89, 152, 206, 214
Brooks & Dunn, 136, 203
Brosnan, Pierce, 147
Brother Carver, 126
Brown, James, 168
Brown, Jim Ed, 83, 84
Brown, Tony, 158
Bryan, Luke, 86, 89
Buffalo, NY, 89
Buffett, Jimmy, 170–173, 292
Buffett, Warren, 86
Burr, Gary, 157
Bush, George H.W., 55, 95
Bush, George W., 55, 260
C
Cagle, Chris, 290, 291–293
California, 208, 314
Calvin, 198–199
Campbell, Glen, 109, 121
Campbell, Wayne, World’s Largest Leprechaun, fab friend, 671
Canada, 138, 305
Cannon, Henry, 71
Capitol Nashville Records, 40, 87
Capricorn Records, 73, 74
Carey, John: she forgot to teach me how to read today, 649
Carey, Sue Toney Russell: World’s Greatest Aunt, 555
Carl, 263
Carlton, Larry, 220
Carole Jean, 244
Carpenter, Mary Chapin, 16, 180, 214
Carter, Billy, 177
Carter, Jimmy, 74, 106, 177
Cash, Johnny, 34, 35–36, 103, 144, 172, 192, 223
Cash, June Carter, 223
Cash, Rosanne, 36, 221
Cavaliere, Felix, 220
CBGB’s, 189
Chancey, Blake, 214–215
Chancey, Ron, 151, 214
Chapman, Will: Myrtle, 743
Charlie Daniels Band, 74
Chesney, Kenny, 75, 270, 306
Chicago, 296
Childhood, 14, 238, 274
Chimp, 33
China, 258–260
Chubby Checker, 9
Church, Eric, 89, 253–254
Churchill, Winston, 104
Cincinnati, 8, 13, 14, 126, 176, 246, 249
Cincinnati Reds, 1, 12
Clark, Guy, 156
Cleveland, 53
Cline, Patsy, 9, 71, 152, 252
Clinton, Bill, 106
Clooney, George, 163
CNN, 176, 188, 308
Cocaine, 143, 193
Cohen, And
y, 118
Collie, Mark, 170–173
Colorado, 207
Colter, Jessi, 192
Combine Music Publishing, 58, 149
Conley, Earl Thomas, 285
Cooley, Al, 149
Country Music Association, CMA Awards, 84, 203, 263, 304–306, 318
Country Music Hall of Fame, 45, 103, 106–107, 179
Country Radio Seminar, 106, 291
Covington, KY, 5
Cowboy Coco and Bullet, 117
Crickets, 190
Crow, Sheryl, 221
Crowell, Rodney, 207
Crutchfield, Jerry, 110, 218
Cullen, Sue and John, 314
D
Dallas, 113
Dallas (TV show), 271
Dave and Sugar, 256
David, Hal, 311–312
Davis, Linda, 83
Davis, Paul, 200
Dean, Billy, 92–83
DeMarcus, Allison, 296
Denmark, 305
Diamond, Neil, 126, 219, 223–224
Diamond Rio, 284
Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, 104
Dickens, Little Jimmy, 280
Diffie, Joe, 100, 180
Dion, Celine, 243
Dion and the Belmonts, 9
DiPiero, Bob, 56, 158, 280, 281
Dixie Chicks, 54–55, 214
Dixon, Paul, 14
Dothan, AL, 28, 252
Duffy, Patrick, 271
Dukes of Hazzard, 192, 208–209
Dung, Twang, 312
Dungan, Mike, 87
Dunn, Ronnie, 187, 203, 218, 222
E
Eastern Kentucky University, 103
Ebsen, Buddy, 227–237
Edison, Thomas, 266
Egypt (incl. Cairo), 249–251
Elevator, Otis, 58
Emery, Ralph, 70
England (incl. London), 167, 168, 181, 221, 249, 255, 263–264
Europe, 24, 59, 103, 120, 184, 229, 255, 264
Evans, Bud: the “Commish,” 931
Everly Brothers, 4, 9, 61, 295
Exit-In, 32
F
Fairchild, Barbara, 164–165
Falklen, Richard: the “go to” guy, 112
Fallon, Tiffany, 296
Falmouth, KY, 101, 246
Fan Fair (now CMA Music Fest), 168, 251
Faulkner, William, II: Cincinnati’s best nurse, 811
Fender, Freddy, 260–261
Flatt & Scruggs, 114
Florida, 72, 79, 271, 283, 318
Fox Network, 58, 217
Frampton, Peter, 220
France (incl. Paris), 245–246, 249, 254–255
Franchitti, Dario, 122
Frog, 13
Ft. Payne, AL, 252, 284
Furgie, 198
G
Gardner, Ava, 175
Gatlin, Larry, 58–59, 208
Gatlin Brothers, 58
Gibb Brothers, 295, 296
Gill, Vince, 40, 158, 199–200, 203, 311
Gilley, Mickey, 166
Godfrey, Arthur, 139–140
Godzilla, Inez, 290
Goldsboro, Bobby, 169
Golf
Bobby Goldsboro and, 169
Brad Paisley and, 199
Charles Barkley and, 200
Charlie Pride and, 179–180
Clint Black and, 157
Darius Rucker and, 87–88
Engelbert Humperdinck and, 280–281
Gerry House and, 318
Jon Don Rooney and, 296
Randy Bongarten and, 314
Ray Stevens and, 130
Tom Shapiro and, 309
Vince Gill and, 199–200
Waylon Jennings and, 190–192
Gore, Al, Jr., 257
Gore, Al, Sr., 257
Graceland, 103
Graham, Billy, 129
Grammy Awards, 84
Grand Canyon, 51–56
Grand Ole Opry (see also Opryland), 43, 82, 144–145, 162–163, 179, 206, 221, 255
Grandpa Jones, 227
Gratowski, Big Mike, 229
Gratowski, Linda, 229, 237
Great Pyramids, 251
Greenwood, Lee, 168
H
Haggard, Merle, 30, 194, 250
Hamilton, George, 72, 271
Hanover, 261
Harris, Emmylou, 243
Harry, 44
Hatcher, Lib, 120–121
Hawaii, 121
Hawkins, Hawkshaw, 71
Hayes, Hunter, 16, 89
Hazard, KY, 114
Helmsley, Leona, 313
Henley, Larry, 206
Herman, Pee Wee, 219
Heston, Charlton, 276–277
Hicks, Donna, 852
Hicks, Steve, 172, 314
Hill, Faith, 89, 207
Hinn, Benny, 129
Hinton, Bruce, 41
Holland, 315, 318
Holly, Buddy, 190
Hollywood (see also Showbiz), 65, 172, 263, 271, 272
Holmes, Monty, 99
Holyfield, Wayland, 119, 154
Hope, Bob, 272–274, 318
House, Allyson
author’s craniotomies and, 309–312
Broadway and, 210
concerts with, 53, 64–65
ditziness of, 77–78
Dr. Ladd and, 269
house of, 282–283
logic of, 83–84
Mafia seat and, 97
marriage of, 286–288
Masonic Lodge reading, 93
premiere of Coal Miner’s Daughter and, 68–69
Sake’s Fur, 142
travel, 180, 205, 250–262
House, Autumn
Bob DiPiero and, 280
Broadway and, 205
Nashville and, 318
Phil Walden and, 73–74
Sake and, 142
travel, 205, 253–263
House, Emma, 245
House, Homer, 1, 3, 283
House, Lucille, 1
House, Will, 245
Houston, 124
Humperdinck, Engelbert, 278, 280–281
Hungary, 18
Hunnicutt, Clay, 315
I
Imperials, 105, 164
Ims, John, 151
Indiana, 40, 306
Indianapolis Speedway, 306
Ireland, 305
Italy (incl. Rome), 42, 129, 180–181, 249–264
Ithaca, NY, 287
Ives, Burl, 181
J
Jackson, Alan, 89, 92, 140, 160, 220, 255
Jacksonville, FL, 49, 271
Japan (incl. Tokyo, others), 7, 249, 251–252, 304
Jay-Z, 306
Jennings, Waylon, 189–194, 208
Jersey Shore, 119
Johnson, Jamey, 166–167
Jolie, Angelina, 74
Jones, George, 30, 142–146, 167
Jones, Nancy, 146
Jones, Tom, 281
Jordan, Michael, 200
Judd, Ashley, 65
Judds, The (Naomi, Wynonna), 35, 63, 64–65, 89, 270
K
Kaempfert, Bert, 9
KDKA/Pittsburgh, 246
Keel, Beverly, 315
Keith, Toby, 55, 251, 253
Kendalls, The, 62
Kendrick, Dr. Will: the man you want to wake you up, 699
Kentucky
childhood in, 1–5, 8, 13, 15, 95, 101–103, 125, 238, 245–246
college life in, 103–104, 209
life in, 83, 287
rural, 113–115
sayings and speech from, 164, 195, 294–295
Kentucky Derby, 137
Kid Rock, 178
Kidman, Nicole, 62, 79, 80, 290
Kids Say The Darndest Things, 270
Kilgore, Merle, 223
Killen, Buddy, 158
King, John, 277
King, Larry, 318
King Kong, 270
King Tut, 251
Knievel, Evel
, 666
Kottas, Bill: he did build that, 763
Krauss, Alison, 201–202
Kristofferson, Kris, 149, 163
Kroger, 92, 102, 126, 183, 238–243
L
Ladd, Dr., 269
Lady Antebellum, 83–84
Lange, Mutt, 242, 243
Lanson, Snooky, 164
Larry The Cable Guy, 307
Las Vegas, 39, 42, 55, 127, 130, 168, 243, 281
Lasorda, Tommy, 228
Lee, Brenda, 9
Leiper’s Fork, 221
Lemon, Brother, 126, 127
Lennon, John, 156, 189–190, 207
Letterman, David, 14, 30, 53, 267
Leuzinger, Chris, 73, 75
Lewis, Jerry Lee, 166
Light, Don, 170–173
Light, Joe, 170
Linde, Dennis, 149
Lindell, Valerie, 18–19
Linkletter, Art, 269–270
Lisbon, 261
Little Richard, 8
Loggins, Kenny, 221
Lombardo, Guy, 240
Lonestar (incl. John Rich, Richie McDonald), 57, 284
Loretto, KY, 229
Los Angeles, 181, 183, 206
Louvin Brothers, 61
Love, Brother, 126–127
Loveless Café, 144–145
Lovett, Lyle, 74
Lower Broadway (see also Music Row, Nashville), 144, 145, 205–211
Lubbock, 50
Lucy and Desi, 183
Ludlow, KY, 238
Lugosi, Bela, 234
Lynn, Loretta, 67–68, 188
Lyons, Ruth, 14
M
Madonna, 4, 34, 35–36
Maharrey, Dr. Tammy: dental diva and chicken pigeons, 487
Mandrell, Barbara, 272, 313
Manilow, Barry, 39
Manuel, 39
Marijuana, 33, 74, 132
Marshall Tucker Band, 74
Martin, Steve, 251
Martine, Layng, 153
Marx Brothers, 295
Mason, Dave, 83
Mattea, Kathy, 212, 213–214
Maude’s Courtyard Café, 151, 192
MCA Music Publishing, 41, 149–150
McBride, John, 288
McBride, Martina, 159, 183, 276, 288
McClain, Charly, 165
McDonald, Michael, 221–222
McDonald, Richie, 57, 284
McEntire, Reba
catfish noodling and, 278, 279
Dick Clark and, 104
favorite song of, 62
Gerry House and, 318
Grand Canyon and, 51–56
John Ims and, 151
Linda Davis and, 83
Loretta Lynn and, 69
Narvel Blackstock and, 210
Nick Barraclough and, 263
Sheryl Crow and, 221
Will Robinson and, 158
McGraw, Tim, 26, 89, 134, 225, 257, 291
McManus, Pat, 56
Memphis, 103
Mercury Records, 52