Singing all over Nashville and the southern United States. Jerry Bridges and The Waylors (Waylon Jennings' band) played for me on many occasions (see photo above). Tom T. and Dixie Hall became friends and musical cheerleaders; I shared the stage with Tom at Deerwood Amphitheater, along with TNN’s Ralph Emery & country legend, Dottie West, Georgia Massey (& Floy) and son Wayne Massey ("One Life to LIve") and his wife Charly McClain (country artist) were awesome collaborators!
Sang at southeastern festivals which also featured appearances by guest soap stars Kassie Wesley ("Guiding Light") and Michael Corbett ("The Young & the Restless") and Brenda Dykgraaf national aerobics team champions. Jeff Sermon wrote “Building Bridges to the Heart,” one of my favorite songs to sing, good thing because we've sung it A LOT! We have done many speaking/singing engagements together, and Jeff is just one of my FAVORITE people!
Played Nashville Ch4 WSMV TV "Morning Show" with Tom Grant; and was winner/semi-finalist on both TNN talent competitions "You Can be a Star" and a couple of years later, "Be a Star." Chatted with Vince Gill back stage at Fan Fair when I was working for a newspaper, and the next year shared the stage with him at a Franklin, TN benefit concert.
Played many AMBEST Great American Trucker events all across the country, got to meet lots of fun folks including artists Marty Stuart, Evangeline and Orrall & Wright, as well as playing a show the day Waylon and crew were there! And then, of course, there's "my boy, Lee Roy" Parnell backstage at the Grand Ole Opry -- one of THE best balladeers, not to mention a great rocker with a mean slide guitar!
Jerry Bridges (my music partner, check out his link, he's amazing!) and rockin' Robby Turner (who has worked with Waylon, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Chet Atkins,Frank Sinatra) played on this album, and it features timeless arrangements by Randy Kartchner (who has worked with Gladys Knight, The Lettermen, The Osmonds, Marilyn McCoo, LaToya Jackson and many others). Silk ‘N Steel features awesome guitar by Reggie Young (who played with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, George Strait, Merle Haggard and hundreds of others) and amazing sax and flute by Jim Horn (who played with the Beatles, the Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys, Elton John, Eric Clapton, the Carpenters and hundreds of others). And the FABULOUS Christine Parris helped me get the project going!
Our song "O Holy Night" was selected to be on the CD in the back of 'A Country Music Cookbook' along with many other artists including Pat Boone, Michael Peterson, Ronnie McDowell and the Jordanaires. It is published by Random House and sold on Amazon, with proceeds going to charity. We promoted it singing at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame!
"A Silk 'N Steel Christmas" was featured in its entirety and included interviews on Red Bay, AL's WRMG TV-12 with host Jack Ivy.
Watch here to see clips from the WRMG TV Silk 'N Steel Taping (2003):
I had the opportunity to work with the incredible Mike Ulvila on the "Right Where I Am" album in 2008. Formerly a member of Savannah Jack, he's a multi-talented arranger, mixer, singer and musician who plays guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and a myriad of other instruments! He helped me put music to my lyrics for the title track to add to this collection of easy listening "life" songs. Loved having some of my friends come into the studio and sing on the chorus of "FRIENDZ": Rob Grzech, Michelle Bennett, Mike Ulvila, Alycia McClurg, Kari Stolworthy, Lynn Grzech and Christine Parris. With this group, HILARITY ENSUED (but that's a story for another day)! My buddy, Kari Stolworthy and I with Savannah Jack after a Nashville show.
The 20th Anniversary Release of "A Silk 'N Steel Christmas," (delayed until 2021 due to COVID-19) features *NEW* bonus tracks recorded with Grammy Award-winning musician/arranger, Barny Robertson and guitarist extraordinaire, Fred Newell (both formerly of The Waylors). The existing songs include Tennessee Christmas, Mary Did You Know?, Silver Bells, O Holy Night and Bells of Bethlehem (+ 5 MORE) from the original recording. TWO *NEW* bonus tracks are, Do You Have Room? by Shawna Edwards and Home for Christmas Medley. Listen to samples at the tab above.
