Everyone that knows me, knows that I love
songwriters. Really, what singer doesn't love songwriters anyway...if
it weren't for them we wouldn't have anything to sing...just hum along
in a monotone with no words, rhyme or reason. I've watched the genius of songwriters, as it fulfills itself in the
creation of beautiful music, seemingly just pouring out of them like a
faucet left on full blast. Si Siman brought me and 18 year old Wayne
Carson to Nashville in 1961, staying in the old Allen Hotel on West End,
in a small room with one bed, cause Si was not known for his waste of
money. I watched as Wayne sat on the only bed in his skivvies, an
endless cigarette hanging from his mouth even then, with a steno pad and
pencil, his gut string guitar cradled in his lap, using the back of it
for a writing table, composing words that were swirling in his head, and
melodies that came out of his fingers to the guitar strings already
done and perfect. My young hillbilly self had never seen such an
example of writing talent, and watching it through the haze of cigarette
smoke and guitar chords was a surreal experience. Through the years I
have continued to watch my friend as he moved from beginner to master
wordsmith, culminating with "You Were Always On My Mind" and so many
others in a catalog of hits that is almost unequalled. Later, that same
year, when I was preparing for my first recording session, produced by
the great Don Law, I was again in Nashville, staying across the street
from the Allen Hotel at the Anchor Motel. I would sit in my room, with
the door open to the parking lot, as songwriters came with their guitars
and Wollensak tape recorders to pitch me songs for my recording
session. I sat there, a green kid from the Ozarks, who they didn't
know, but who they hoped would cut one of their songs. Here is my
memory list of writers that came over the two day period: Roger Miller,
Bill Anderson, Sonny James, Red Lane, Jimmy Gately, Harlan Howard and
Hank Cochran are some of the ones that I remember and there were more
that I have forgotten. It was overwhelming to me, as I experienced a
private concert of these great artists and songwriters with their
original songs. Seems strange now looking back, but these greats were
still hungry for cuts, still pushing every day for major label recordins
of their songs. My first record was a song written by Sonny James
called, "I Had Heaven In My Arms, But Let It Go", and the other side was
a Jimmy Gately song, "Somebody Had To Lose". All recorded in the
Quonset Hut on Music Row. This introduction to the world of songwriters
was just the beginning of a life long passion to recognize and honor
these songsmiths that have been responsible for our country music that
has captured the attention of the world and created this massive
industry called music business. In the early days that I am
remembering, it was just called "music", and the suits had not taken it
over quite yet. You song writers out there, you are the heroes of this
show biz and continue to drive the train. God bless the boys and girls
that made the noise....on the classic Music Row. -Stan
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