so i’m sittin’ in the kitchen pickin out a little diddy on my guitar one night, when my aunt val calls me up. “i wrote a song about brett favre, and i want you to put some music to it music to it!” she said. i suspected she may have had a couple cocktails and almost thought it was gonna be a joke. “then I want you to record it and send it to me so i can show all of my friends!” i stay pretty busy, so… uh… “anything for you aunt val!” she read me the words and i was so moved, i took what she had written over to kelly schoenfeld. kelly is my friend and co-producer of my 2006 album, “proud”. he is not only an incredible talent, but a die hard packer fan. he too loved the song, so we put some spit polish and shine to it. i talked to my talented guitar playing friend, tim teague, and my songwriting/ drummer friend stan saxon and we set to gather at the studio on march 13th. here’s some pictures from the session. i also created a slideshow of some great favre pictures, it is on the “videos” page. i have always admired the way that brett carried himself and the spirit with which he played the game. my first favorite player was tony dorsette, then john elway, then brett favre. i don’t know who it will be now. i do know that I am honored to be a part of such a great project, for such a worthy guy, and i am so proud of how it turned out. the song is called, “it was all about the game” check it out!
ALWAYS MAKING NEW FRIENDS: scott hacker from smokin grapes music publishing has been being really great to me here in the last couple of months. one of my biggest goals especially here in nashville, is to write with the best writers that i can. he had me over to his beautiful office right on music row, and we visited for a while. a couple nights later he took me to a nashville predators hockey game. he has set me up to write with 3 of the writers that work for him, billy ryan, nicole broussard, and david kroll. they are some of the best that i have written with, and i am grapeful, i mean grateful to be hangin’ out with such talented people. take a minute to listen to some of the great music that they are putting out.
I GUESS ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS HAVEN’T SETTLED DOWN: thursday, march 27th after two writing sessions down on music row, i went to code blue to see kingbilly play. they were incredible as always. i knew that my buddies, stoney larue and the arsenals were coming into town to play a show the next day. turned out they were hangin out next door at a little local joint called, “losers” i tell jesse fritz (bass) and stoney everytime i see them, “it does my heart so much good everytime i see you fellas” not my liver so much, but my heart! we do love to raise hell! not like any of us went to jail or anything. we just overindulged a little, and only got thrown out of one bar. coincidentally the same one that they were playing at the next night. rowdy bastards! i was glad to see that they let us back in the following evening. along with jamey johnson, david nail, and halfway to hazzard they raised a ton of money for st. judes. jamey played his new release “in color” and after the first verse i knew that it was my new favorite song. it is one bad ass country song! go listen, trust me!
A COUPLE OTHER NOTABLES: been doing a lot of writer’s shows lately and loving it. not only getting to play some of my newer stuff out, but hearing some really talented writers do their thing. my dear friend and co-producer of “proud” dave fowler, has had me to two of his writer nights at code blue. i also played a benefit for the “forget-me-not foundation” at the nashville palace on sunday april 6th. that was really cool. billy block was the host of the show, and glenn sweitzer from fresh film and design was on hand to get some video footage. i did a radio interview on 103 WKDF, and heard some great artists, all the while donating to a great cause.
EASTER SUNDAY: i said my first prayer at the dinner table. there has always been someone more qualified than me in attendance, and i have always been glad for it. i felt myself taking a big step as i spoke to the lord on behalf of myself and my loved ones.
-we should never count on anyone but ourselves, to get what we want out of life. the help of others is just a gift.
The whole prayer at Easter dinner thing, CONGRATS!! you are a song writer but sometimes a prayer is oh so much harder. I am sure you did a great job.
Pushing Forward, with only a glimpse back,
Carrie
And your hard work and ever willingness to help others in need is appreciated. You continue to be an inspiration to me. Thank you.
Michelle in Indy