Born Country
Page 22
The Great Band: Megan Mullins, John Bohlinger, Chuck Tilley, Kim Fleming, Aaron Mason, David Ridley, John Howard, Wade Hayes, Steve Mandile, and Steve Peffer.
To everyone in country radio: for playing the music and for Country Cares.
A big thanks to Allen Rucker: for his help assembling my ramblings on this book.
The guys in Alabama and the magic we created.
Everyone at the Bowery in Myrtle Beach, S.C.: who are a part of my history.
All the road crews, stage crews, drivers, record label staffs and techs: whoever worked for Alabama.
Ralph Seagraves and T. Wayne Robinson at RJ Reynolds: who took the music to places impossible to go without them
Chief Jordan and Billy Bullock: who told me to “stick to it.”
Tommy Arrington: who gave us our only bonus.
The lady who fired us at the Thunderbird Motel.
Sonny and Linda Reece: whose encouragement was pivotal.
All the friends who worked all over the Grand Strand: who encouraged me to write and sing.
Greg Fowler: unofficial member of the band and co-writer of songs.
All the great promotion teams at RCA: I know I wouldn’t be here without them.
All the writers of all the great songs I’ve gotten to sing.
Kelly’s mom, June, and dad, Jim, and her family: and for June’s Lemon Blueberry Bread. I’ve tried really hard to take good care of their little girl and their three beautiful grandchildren, Alison, Heath, and Randa.
Harold Shedd, the quiet genius, and all the studio guys—Jim Cotton, George Clinton, and Joe Scaife—and the pickers who grooved to a bunch of hits.
All the producers: Rick Hall, James Stroud, Barry Beckett, Josh Leo, Emory Gordy Jr., and Garth Fundis.
The fans: I don’t have enough thank-you’s to say—just know that nobody could ever appreciate more the support you have given me.
The book people: Roger Freet, Mel Berger, Allen Rucker, and Suzanne Wickham.
My buddies who were classmates at Adamsburg Junior High, Fort Payne High School, Northeast Alabama Community College, and Jacksonville State University.
My brothers at Pi Kappa Phi: our lives have touched and I’m better for it.
My mother: who was my preschool teacher and all the incredible teachers and professors I’ve had.
The president at Jacksonville State University: who gave me permission to graduate absentee, to go to Myrtle Beach to join up again with whom was to become Alabama.
Waylon Jennings: for the talks after the shows.
Johnny and June Cash: for that day at the restaurant in Paso Robles.
Conway Twitty: for the phone call about “Lady Down On Love.”
Loretta Lynn: for the lipstick messages.
Tammy Wynette: for being so real.
Dolly Parton: for the June Jam, and for “Holding Everything.”
Willie Nelson: for the June Jam.
Hank Williams Jr.: For recording “Tennessee River.”
Ralph Stanley: for “Thomas.”
Roger Miller and Mel Tillis: for the funny stories in the studio.
Garth Brooks: for the June Jam.
Reba McEntire: for the “Presentation.”
Alan Jackson and Neal McCoy: for playing the most June Jams.
Barbara Mandrell: for the TV show.
Jo Walker Meador: for the CMA.
Bob Romeo and the ACM.
Bob Johnson: Channel 9
Jerry Hayes: Channel 19
Merle Haggard: for the stories after the shows and for “Sing Me Back Home.”
Chet Atkins: for liking my vocal.
Del Bryant and Everyone at BMI.
Buck Borders: for taking care of my family financially.
Everyone who helped at the Fan Club.
Bill Scruggs, Mike Milom, Keith Fowler, and George Moffett.
All the volunteers at all of the June Jams and to everyone I left out unintentionally.
Eddy Arnold: for offering to help financially.
Frances Preston: for the writer’s advance—BMI.
Charley and Rozene Pride: still close friends and for the encouragement on “Tennessee River.”
Moe Bandy: for the kind words on “My Home’s in Alabama.”
Jerry Bradley, Joe Galante, Butch Waugh, Tony Brown, Sheila and Benny Shipley, and Cynthia: RCA/BMG.
Mariam Williams: for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dick Clark, Bill Boyd, Gene Weed: my dear friends in Los Angeles, CA, for their work with the American Music Awards and the ACM.
The Southern Rockers: who influenced my approach to the stage show—Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, CDB, and the Allman Brothers Band.
Rascal Flatts for the Medallion Ceremony; Sawyer Brown for the Medallion Ceremony; Kenny Chesney for singing “Lady Down on Love” at the Medallion Ceremony—and for “My Home” in Birmingham’s performance.
THE CAREER OF RANDY OWEN
As the lead singer of the legendary group Alabama, Randy Owen would appear to have seen and done it all—73 million albums sold, countless miles on the road touring, a warehouse full of awards, and a coveted spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Yet this singer/songwriter/entertainer/rancher/family man is embarking on a new path—a solo career with a new album, One On One, set for a November 4, 2008, release; a national tour with a ten-piece band; and an attitude that rivals that of a brand-new artist.
“I’m as excited about this as I’ve ever been,” said Randy. “Before I decided to do the solo thing, we put a band together and did some dates late last year to see if the fans were still out there. When I came back I was totally convinced we needed to do this.”
Randy teamed up with John Rich to produce One On One for the powerhouse indy label Broken Bow Records. The multi-faceted Rich, who has produced Gretchen Wilson, his own duo Big & Rich, James Otto, Jewel, and John Anderson’s critically acclaimed Easy Money album, jumped at the chance to work with the legend. “John’s so smart about what he wants to hear,” said Randy of the experience. “And the musicians he works with in the studio understand what he wants. We really took our time with it and didn’t rush it, and I’m really pleased with what we came out with.”
His long connection with his fans is the exact reason he titled the album One On One. “I feel like this album is a real personal thing—me to you,” he says passionately. “The song ‘One On One’ is one of the most personal songs on the album.”
Randy wrote or co-wrote seven of the eleven cuts on the new album, and one of the songs, “Braid My Hair,” came to him in a very creative manner. Writers Chris Gray and Brent Wilson—who never had a song released as a single—knew Randy Owen was the man to cut the song but ran into brick walls on every avenue they used to get the song to him. Chris finally tracked down the address of Randy’s mother’s house and sent the song to her. She listened to the song, liked it, and passed it along to her son.
“I said, ‘Mama, I’m so sorry people send you these songs,’ and she said, ‘Well, you might want to listen to that one,’” recalled Randy. “So I listened to it four or five times, and I thought ‘Wow, what a song.’”
The writers generously agreed to donate 100 percent of the publishing proceeds from the song to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “How much more loving and compassionate can you get than that song?” asked Randy. “It’s so real, and I’ve seen this lived out over and over at St. Jude. It’s an incredible story done in song. To kick this album off with this song is definitely the right way to go.”
“Like I Never Broke Her Heart,” written by Shannon Lawson, Mitzi Dawn, and J. T. Harding, is the album’s first single released to radio. “When I first heard this I thought it was one of the greatest titles I’d ever heard,” Randy admits. “This is one of those great songs I like to wrap myself around and really get into.”
For over twenty-five years Randy has been the front man and lead vocalist of one of the most prolific groups in the history of music. The band signed
a recording contract with RCA Records in 1980, launching a career that to date has resulted in twenty-one gold, platinum, and multiplatinum albums; forty-two number-one singles; and, again, over seventy-three million albums sold. Alabama received over 150 industry awards, including eight country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards, and their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music in 1989 and Country Group of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999. In November 2005, Randy and his Alabama band mates received country music’s highest honor, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“I’m very proud of everything we accomplished, and I hold what we did with Alabama as a very sacred part of my life,” Randy concludes.
Randy’s passion for helping others is evident through the types of causes he and the band choose to support. Alabama played an integral role in raising millions of dollars for schools, public service organizations, hospitals, youth ranches, and scholarships. But no organization is dearer to Randy’s heart than the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In 1989, Randy was asked to address the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville following the death of Danny Thomas, who was to be the seminar’s keynote speaker. Inspired by the dreams and determination of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital founder Danny Thomas, Randy offered a challenge to those in attendance to accept Danny’s dream of eradicating childhood cancers and other catastrophic diseases. Randy delivered the message well, and country radio accepted the challenge with passion. “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids” was born.
“I called it the ‘Miracle on Beale Street,’” said Randy, referring to St. Jude being based in Memphis and the city’s most famous street.
The national radiothon program is today the most successful radio fundraiser in history. Hundreds of radio stations and the entire music industry have joined hands and forces to fight the never-ending battles of childhood cancer and other diseases. The events have raised an astounding $345 million since Randy’s challenge in 1989.
For Randy’s efforts, Tony Thomas, son of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, presented him with the prestigious Founder’s Award—an honor Danny only bestowed on very special occasions—last year. In accepting the award, Randy acknowledged the fans of country music, the men and women of country radio, and the country music industry for embracing Danny’s dream.
In addition, Randy was honored to receive the Paul G. Rogers Award for Public Service and also received a prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor this year. In June, he accepted a National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Service to America Award on behalf of St. Jude for their “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids” radiothon program.
When not on the road promoting his music career, Randy can be found operating his successful working cattle ranch, named Tennessee River Music, on the grounds of his Lookout Mountain boyhood family farm. Tennessee River Music has garnered many national, regional, and state championships in the registered Polled Hereford Breed. In May, Randy hosted his twenty-fifth major cattle sale at his ranch. Each year he performs at the event, and all concert proceeds are donated to the Hereford Youth Foundation, which is dedicated exclusively to scholarship and educational support of youth in the business of raising Hereford cattle.
No one would blame Randy Owen if he decided to sit back and enjoy his legendary status as one of the founding members and lead vocalist of the Recording Industry Association of America Country Group of the Century, yet his heart still burns to take new music to the fans who have been touched by his words and his music. One On One—both on radio and on stage—is sure to give back to the fans what God has given him.
“I still love to get out and play. I’m head over heels into this album, and I’m in it for the long run.”
About the Author
For over twenty-five years RANDY OWEN was the front man and lead vocalist of Alabama, one of the most prolific groups in the history of music and the biggest country music group of all time. The band has had twenty-one gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, forty-two number-one singles, and has sold more than 73 million albums. Alabama has received more than 150 industry awards, including eight country music Entertainer of the Year honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards, and their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were named the Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music in 1989 and Country Group of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999. In November 2005, Randy and his Alabama band mates received Country Music’s highest honor when they were inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame. Randy’s first solo album, One on One, is being released in November 2008 concurrent with the publication of this book.
Visit the author online at www.randyowen.com.
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Credits
Jacket design: The DesignWorks Group
Copyright
BORN COUNTRY: How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home. Copyright © 2007 by Randy Owen. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub © Edition OCTOBER 2008 ISBN: 9780061980374
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