A few years before I ever heard rock and pop songs, country music was my first love. As a toddler my mom and dad’s record player belted out old Hank Williams and Johnny Cash hits that spawned my passion for that genre of music.
Looking at the calendar, this coming week is a big one for country music birthdays. On February 4th Clint Black turns 58, the next day Sara Evans turns 49 and on Friday the 7th Garth Brooks is also 58 so I thought I’d share some personal notes on each of these country stars.
CLINT BLACK– Back in 1989, Clint’s “Killin’ Time” album exploded onto the country charts with four number 1 hit songs. That’s an amazing accomplishment and yet Clint’s music since then has been equally fine with great melodies melded with well crafted lyrics. Working in country radio at US*99 for ten years I got to meet and be around Clint Black several times and always found him to be a thoughtful, friendly and dryly funny guy. (Country stars are THE most accessible of any music genre)
I’ve seen him in concert half a dozen times and never walked away disappointed. Clint has recorded so many hits and great album cuts it would take forever to list them all. My very favorite hits of his would be “Killin’ Time”, “Nobody’s Home”, “Lovin Blind”, “Like the Rain”, “A Good Run of Bad Luck”, “Summer’s Coming” and “Nothin’ but the Tail Lights.” This is not to mention strong album cuts like “The Old Man”, “Something to Cry About” and one Clint wrote with Jimmy Buffett that I’m featuring a link to, “Happiness Alone.” Happy 58th birthday Clint Black, hope to see you in concert again real soon!
SARA EVANS- Sara Evans has one of those unmistakable voices that draws you in from the get go. She had a hit with “No Place That Far”, along with self written songs like “Born to Fly” and “A Real Fine Place to Start” plus there’s the cutesy runaway girl song “Suds in the Bucket.” But my favorite Sara Evans track is one she co-wrote for her debut album, the title cut, “Three Chords and the Truth.” That song only made it to #44 on the country charts in 1997 and that is a travesty. The lyrics to “Three Chords” truly embody what country music is all about and how it affects all who listen to it. Check out this part of the song as a woman is on the road, leaving her lover, for what she thinks is forever.
“…I turned on a radio and a voice came over sweet and low and I didn’t know the tears were gonna start, what amazed me even more is I’d never heard that song before but somehow I knew each word by heart. And I don’t know why I don’t know how, but with his song he turned my life and this old car around. Just when I thought I was over you, he changed my mind with three chords and the truth.”
Years ago while working at US*99 I arranged a Sara Evans phone interview with morning host Big John Howell to promote her opening for Kenny Chesney at The Rosemont Theater. However we were stunned to learn that “Three Chords and the Truth” was no longer in her live show! John and I talked about what a special song that was and Howell asked Sara to play it for the fans. The night of the Rosemont show as she prepared to do the last song of her set, Sara called out, “This one’s for you Big John!” And her band launched into “Three Chords and the Truth.” Thank heavens Ms. Evans! And Happy Birthday.
GARTH BROOKS-
What can you say about the greatest entertainer in Country music history? Mr. Brooks records songs that never grow old and are performed with insane intensity and passion to sell out crowds all over the world. Garth is a force of nature in show-business and always will be. The two times I got to hang with Garth he treated me as if I was his best friend. That’s what the guy does with EVERYBODY! I remember us laughing til tears came out of our eyes over a promo I wrote that compared our morning show to Chinese food. After that, he ad-libbed a line on some silly Forrest Gump line I wrote up for him and again we were howling with laughter. In person and on record, there is nobody like Troyal Garth Brooks. So happy 58th birthday pal! I’ll close off with what will always be my favorite song of Garth’s.
NEXT WEEK: Some lesser known movies you should see.