It starts with "Hello"

Every now and then your day gets the kindest surprise. I’m talking about that unexpected conversation that happens in line at the grocery store because you decided not to use the self check out, or, that person at the gas tank next to you decided to share a “hello” in the course of your day. When you travel a lot that’s what happens many times, but there are those “special times” that you always remember.

A couple weeks ago was one of those times for me. I was back in town ( Nashville, TN) and I had driven downtown to catch a baseball game at the new “Nashville Sounds” stadium with our oldest daughter who lives and works in Nashville now. I love baseball and I love her a little more:) , however, I was looking forward to a break and just relaxing for a couple hours. I love the new stadium by the way, it’s perfect. So, I got there early and sat across from the entrance at Von Elrod’s. The weather was really nice,, and the doors were open inside the bar and grill so I grabbed a stool at the bar, and did what everyone does…..got on my phone, and waited.

I noticed a couple sitting down beside me. I didn’t say anything at first. I was just in my own space and I felt they were in theirs too. However, we all do what I’m about to share next.. They say are minds make thousands of decisions and thoughts per hour or whatever it is….I don’t know for sure but what I do know is I had already decided this sweet couple were probably local, lived in the apartments close to the stadium, and were coming down, or walked down for the game. That was a logical thought. Then, it happened. I can’t even remember who started the conversation.

As it turned out, they just got to Nashville. They were traveling and living in an RV, and had been to 22 or 27 states. They actually met in Costa Rica because life took them there ( I believe I’m getting this right….it’s not like I had a notepad :) Anyway, we wound up talking for a good half hour or so. They were the best surprise of the day. I enjoyed listening to their story. How they met, things they did, and why they decided to sale what they had and travel for a while. I was engaged in real conversation which is what I love about meeting people on the road. The thing is, I was right there in town. In just a short few minutes we learned cool things about each other and it was much better than being on my phone the whole time.

As we finished our conversation, we become Instagram friends. I hope to see them again someday, and I certainly hope life on the road treats them well and they have many memories to look back on. I just have one over riding thought every time this kinda thing happens.

I wonder if we can get back to that more often….my parents or better yet, my grandparents remember a day when their front porch was that place. People actually came by unannounced and you talked with them on your front porch, and maybe invited them in, depending on what it was about, or where the conversation lead. Then we moved from the front porch to the sub divisions, to a text messages, and social media. Yeah, I know change is good. I’m just saying, there’s nothing like the real thing. So, cheers! to my “Nashville Sounds friends”

Say hey to your neighbor, you might find out something that changes everything…..or at the very least, reminds you we’re going down this road together.

Love you, Love you Big!

Reflecting, Memories & Easter

Most every day I spend a few moments reflecting. This weekend for many of us just makes that reflection deeper.

Growing up in a rural area from a small town teaches you a lot of things that are valuable, and since then, I’ve been able to meet many different types of people, and I’ve been able to go a few places. I still have several places on my list, but it’s been enough to give me those important, real, authentic moments, that lead to better understanding, and believe me, it continues.

Once you have these experiences it changes you. Just like the verse says, “the truth will set you free”.

I grew up in a small church outside of my hometown in south Alabama, and my Dad became a preacher when I was around 4 to 5 years old. My Dad is one of the most honest, loving men I’ve ever known. He came from a rare time. Like many preachers around us he worked another fulltime job then preached every Sunday, visited the sick, visited folks in the community, and all the time raising a family. There were many Saturdays I spent riding in his pick up truck down rural paved or dirt roads visiting folks.

You know, we didn’t miss church either. I mean, WE DIDN’T MISS CHURCH! And, in the church I grew up in, we didn’t miss communion. We served communion every Sunday. It was a focal point in our worship. However, I’m not writing this blog today to get into different religious beliefs, practices, or the thousands of different organized religions that exist in our world. I’m just reflecting this weekend, like many of you. Reflecting on my life, my experiences, my belief and more importantly, why I believe it.

I grew up, and just like you, that’s when I started challenging myself, silently asking “Why do I believe in Jesus?” To me it’s like the student who makes straight A’s, 4.0’s all the way through school, and maybe even gets a Doctorate. Then, they get out in the real world. That’s when all that “knowledge” gets tested. It gets real, and it gets real in a very quick minute. That’s what faith is to me. You don’t know how much you have, if any at all, or of what…. till it gets tested.

So, it’s Easter, and I asked again, “Why do I believe in the story of Jesus?” Well, it comes down to one thing for me…….. Love

It’s the hardest and the best thing. You can’t learn it in a classroom, You can’t find it sitting in the pew, and yes, even if you are there every Sunday or for every prayer meeting. You can’t receive it when you open your wallet and set aside that 10% tithe either. After all, in the story of the rich young ruler, he gave what the “law” commanded too, didn’t he? No, love requires sacrifice. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be love.

That’s the reason I believe in Jesus. Thinking about it brings me to an emotional response that I can’t totally explain in words. Love gives you “the big picture”. It brightens the room and lets you see the truth, so you can have a chance to get it right more times than getting it wrong. Jesus came and embodied love, showed it to the world and was nailed to a cross and died for it. I know there are mysteries, unanswered questions, theologies, and so many other things that have clouded our world over the past 2000 years. I’m just expressing my thoughts. My faith and why I believe it.

I make coffee when I’m home for my wife because I know she likes it. The first time I did it, if I’m honest, I really didn’t want to. But, a strange thing happened by the third time….I found joy in it. Simple I know, but that’s what love does….or it might be that call you got from a friend down on his luck, and you knew you had the ability to help “at the moment” but you really didn't want to give it, but that voice in your heart said, “you need to do this today”. So, you did. Then, a few years later, you got hit with a financial hardship you never thought would happen to you, and you needed help. That’s when you learned it’s not a “health wealth religion”. That's when you learned another love lesson called, “grace” & “empathy”.

Still, it could be that neighbor that came over to speak to you for a minute but stayed 4 hours and ruined your afternoon because it was the only afternoon you’d had off in a month. Then later, he comes over to tell you he has cancer, and thanked you for taking the time to talk to him that day, because, that was day he found out. You were the person he turned to because he needed to talk, and now everything he talked about made sense to you. What you endured in having “your time” stolen was nothing compared to what he was about to endure facing life or the end of this one. Yes, love requires us to look for “the reasons” we can’t see when “our time'“ gets interrupted. Besides, it’s really not “our time” is it? It may be our plans but then life unfolds and it’s just all about what love demands on any given day…...

Or, we could always live for just ourselves….but Jesus didn’t…

Oh, and then there’s that business partner that put you in the worst of situations. Let greed rule the day in the name of “shrewd business'“, or it’s “just business”……left you with anger and hate. Or, better yet, maybe it’s an ex-wife or ex-husband that threw you under the bus while hiding the truth of what happened between those four walls. It could be a number of things, far worse than these…

Whatever the situation, Love says, “forgive”. That “eye for an eye” thing sure feels better, doesn’t it? But then, maybe we start thinking about it and realize forgiveness is where real power is found. Jesus said, “forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing”…. It took time but love was right again. It was right because the day came when “we” let somebody down, and we never thought that would happen, but the circumstances were out of our control and “we” needed forgiveness too……funny how love works.

Of course, we could just keep carrying that hate around until we breath our last breath and live in denial….Jesus said, “come unto me, all you are heavy in your heart”

Jesus also said, “they’ll know you’re mine by the way you love one another”. I don’t believe that Love is a photo opt, a mission trip, or a check in the offering plate or your own personal “check list” of things to do or not do… I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with an Instagram pic:) Sure, some of these things are great and may require some time, money or sacrifice. But love is a life style, not a religion. And it is most OFTEN done when no one else is looking. That’s what Jesus told us.

He seemed to like hanging out with folks like me and you. He believes in us too. I’ve heard a lot of preachers talk about Peter not having faith enough to continue walking out to meet Jesus on the water, but I haven’t heard them talk about the fact that Jesus believed in Peter enough to encourage him to take another step. Failure seems to be part of trying to love…I can personally hear him say, “take another step, I believe in you”….

That’s why I believe in Jesus. This is why I celebrate Easter, and why I feel free to share my feelings and faith with friends, and especially those friends or acquaintances that believe differently or find their faith in something else. Because, guess what? We’ve heard these words before… “Love is patient, love is kind, love does not hate, love does not envy…..Love hopes, believes, and endures all things…..and the Greatest of these is Love”

He loves us, loves us Big!

Happy Easter

Find Your Voice

When we gathered around the table and decided to produce an independent television show with the goal of national distribution, I had no idea what the journey was going to have in store for us. All I knew is we had something to say. The show had a message, and I was going to be the person to host and help share that message.

What you don’t know is before this chapter in my life I had become cynical on a few things. Life had taken away that youthful innocence a little bit at the time. I had experienced it, lived it, and it was hard to shake it. I thank God everyday for my close friends and family that endured the clouds over my head and helped me find the sunshine, and myself again.

Sandi ( my wife) and I have a unique story that I’ll share later, but she was the one that encouraged me to pick my passion back up. Let’s just say, I had gone “off the grid” for a while back then. It was in 2006 when I recorded an album project called, “That’s Enough” with muscle shoals producer Michael Curtis. Teddy Gentry of the supergroup, Alabama, even sang back up vocals on a few songs, and I wound recording one of his songs, “Barefoot”. We love that tune and added it to the set we do live for Rolling Smoke Nation. This project was fun and got me back on track. I started writing again and then we had the vision for the tv show.

The thing is, nothing ever happens like you think it will. We had no idea that the next few years would be some of the worst financial struggles anyone who is an entrepreneur, small business owner, or even some big corporate machine would face. It hit hard. I believe that the only reason we survived was passion, grace, and the fact we had a message. WE had a voice. We shot our pilot show in 2008, and filmed our last show in 2015. We achieved the goal of national distribution to over 50 million households in 2012. We always had great ratings for our independent show, and we made incredible memories along the way despite all the business challenges we faced. It was exhausting at times, but also amazing.

Today I look back and think, wow, what a journey. No, we didn’t win a big award, but then, we never had time to submit our show for one either. We were too busy working. I can tell you this, we had “award winning” moments. Our message was simple. “When you’re following your Dream, your God given Dream, you’re Always in the Right Place.” It didn’t matter who we invited on the set. An artist, a songwriter, a producer, or special guest. They opened their hearts to real conversation about their struggles as well as sharing their talent. They had found a voice too.

Finding your voice also means blocking out a lot of other “voices” and choosing to “not have” a negative voice. I can’t tell you how many times I was told I couldn’t do something. I can’t tell you how many times I was told, “you need to do or say this”. Most of the time those voices are coming from the wrong place. The place of resentment, unhappiness, insecurity, selfishness, or just plan hatefulness. We see it all the time play out in front us on our news feeds. Don’t become or let those voices get inside your head. There’s a lady that works with my wife that made this comment, and I love it…..she said, “Nobody lives rent free in my head darling”. That’s poetic:)

When you find “your voice” you really have a purpose. No matter what’s going on, good or bad, you have something that guides you. I’ll tell you something else too, there’s never a bad time to find it. Maybe you’ve been lead to this moment and it took a few years to get there, or maybe you’re young and you have experienced an extraordinary life changing event, or gone through an incredible challenge, and you’re the one that needs to step up.

I know the phrase “Finding your Voice” could mean different things to different people. For me, it means having something to say through your talent, ability, and it comes through living and experience. It means, every time you have the floor, you leave people better than when they came…..because they heard, “Your Voice, Your Message,” and got the best part of you. The part that tries every day and never gives up! Now, I believe that comes from a higher place, but whatever you believe, I’m challenging you today to think about what you’re saying, and why? Have you found “Your Voice” ?

All that and Conecuh Sausage

There used to be a grocery store located on Waters Street in Greenville, AL, my hometown. I spent a lot of my childhood inside those walls. My grandfather, B.E. Sikes, and my grandmother, Ida Sikes, owned an operated that store until they passed away. The store was in the front and the house they lived in was in the back. The neighborhood consisted of a combination of people and personalities and a time that for me, was golden.

I learned things in that store that made me who I am today. In the future I’m certain that I will talk about this more because I’m writing a short a story called “Sikes Grocery” but for today, I’m going to talk about this simple thing…. “Food.”

I’ve seen food bring people together my whole life and so have you. You add great music and entertainment, and your favorite beverage, and then you’ve got a party. The point is, we all love food, and the better it is, the better the memory, the better the conversation, and the better the mood …..I can remember day dreaming about good BBQ, a steak, or red snapper, while sitting in the middle of the woods in Ft. Sill, OK, eating an army issued meal in a bag. I never had to go overseas, so I can only imagine what those guys dreamed about in terms of food. I know that just the experiences I had, the thought of a great meal, always brought you home.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of writing a jingle for one of the staple taste in the pallet of my life that we found in my granddad’s store; Conecuh Sausage. It took me 20 minutes, and a pack of sausage to celebrate writing that jingle. It’s called “Get your Grill On”….that jingle was recorded in Columbus, Ga with two of my friends, Randy Dameron and Jeff Cummings aka ( kingbee). Jeff played the harmonica part on the jingle. We both grew up on Conecuh Sausage. They have been doing their thing since 1947, and people from all over this country have enjoyed the taste off their product.

I can tell you that everywhere we go to play music, and entertain people ( FL, AL, GA, TN, NC, SC, TX, etc) They all love that little taste of heaven. When Uncle Hound and I started Rolling Smoke Nation, we knew we had it right. We started bringing people together with an old Chevy truck, Conecuh Sausage, John Boy and Billy sauce, and Roots music. That combination works every time. We lit the grill, put strings on the guitar, and started something. And, it’s grown. We have our friends in the BBQ world, and at the World Food Championships as we make our way down “the road to Dallas, TX” for the big World Food Championships Finale in October. We found out that we weren’t the only ones that wanted to come to the table for a soul revival. Rolling Smoke Nation is you and me.

Just like my granddaddy’s store brought people together in a time where neighborhoods had small grocery stores, we get to do that in our own way. I think that’s pretty cool. By the way, we’ve got some more music to serve up too this year.

Oh, and here’s that jingle….get your favorite jeans on today, and your favorite shirt….crank that grill up too, and give somebody a hug, or invite your family and friends over for a meal…..Love you, Love you Big!

“Get Your Grill On”

I'm not a "Numbers" Guy

I know some folks that are all about the numbers. From how many people are in attendance, to how many chips are in a bag, these folks are on top of “the numbers”. I don’t typically look at the numbers first in regard to somethings value. I need to know that what we are trying to do is something that matters, before we go talk to the “numbers” guys. However, the truth is, numbers are important. I get it. I had a friend who liked to say, “You need to know what the score is during the game”. I know what he meant. You need to be present, you need to be engaged because you can’t get a clear picture of what’s going on if you’re unaware of what is happening. Metaphorically speaking, you typically don’t want to throw a pass on 4th and inches, when you have the lead and all you need is a first down. And, let’s face it, everything we do revolves around numbers. From budgets to a loaf of bread, or a tank of gas, that’s how our lives are measured. Heck, we come into the world and first thing they do is weigh you and measure you, and write down the date, time, and hour, and place you were born. Yeah, just like the old folks say, “I’m just a number”…

For kicks I decided to multiple 85 x 8750. If my calculator didn’t fail me, that would equal 744,600. That's the number of hours you and I would have spent if we live to be 85 years old. Now if we subtract 8 hours per day for sleep, and we all know some people who don’t sleep, nonetheless, that would leave you with 496,400 hours. We could also start subtracting a multitude of other “mindless task” we do every day, every week, and every year, and bring the total number of hours down even more.

The thing is, we don’t even know if we’ll get to 85. At one point in our documented history of “life expectancy” we didn’t even have a chance to get that far. We can’t escape the numbers though. They rule our life. Our calendar and clock is all we know….right?

I started thinking about it. I started asking myself questions like, “is there something that makes time “seem” to stand still?” “Is there something that makes me feel FREE from this numbers burden we all have?” Then I thought of one of my favorite lines I first saw illustrated in a beautiful picture of rain drops falling off tree leaves. The caption read “life is just a series of moments.” I like that. I like the word “moments.” So, the obvious questions are, “ What are the moments that make those hours of our lives really worth living and make us feel free and full of breath?”

As it turns out there’s quite a few. For me it’s music, writing, acting, entertainment, a cup of coffee, a great conversation, my favorite foods, dogs, bird hunting, fishing, golf, and a good drink. We can go much deeper though. It’s a hug, a kiss, significant other, your kids, extended family, and dear friends. It’s also those moments with strangers. That one brief encounter that changed the course of a bad hour into a good hour.

There’s a lot folks today that can’t stand to look at a clock and for many reasons dread the next minute much less the next few hours. I completely understand. That’s the thing about “numbers guys” that I admire. They look at the numbers and make hard decisions. Sometimes those decisions aren't so pleasant at first, but they know that if they don’t make them, they may not survive another year, or another quarter. Yeah, “Numbers Guys” come off being brutally honest. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt them in a room and I’ve just pitched what I think is one of the best songs, jingles, branding campaign, video ideas, etc…only to have them sit there stone like…. It’s quite an experience. But then, that’s where the light comes in. They don’t really want to live that stone like non-emotional life. They just do a good job of reminding you what you’re up against.

I said I wasn’t really a “numbers guy” but maybe in this way, I want to be…..I want to look at the situation with brutal honesty and still say, “No, I’m gonna take this moment and make a hard decision.” I’m going to decide to have some hope, give some love away, and make as many hours of my life as I can moments that matter. I know what the score is too….and we don’t have a moment to spare…

Here’s to the “Numbers Guys”….

LAST RIDE.....All about the music

God I love music…..it’s been my salvation. It drew me in to doing theater as little kid and it’s what fuels me today. The way I feel when I sing is the most freeing experience. It’s almost…almost as good a natural high as a night at the gulf with the love of your life. Out of everything I enjoy doing and I am passionate about, taking a song and deciding how to sing it, or how to write it, is my drug of choice.

This song, “LAST RIDE”, was a song I wrote a little over year ago. I wanted to share it today because it’s kinda of an anniversary of the recording plus it’s the first time I wrote a song with someone who is not a songwriter by trade but who had the desire to create a song out of his experience. I’m working on another song too right now with another friend who has asked me to do the same. It’s a humbling feeling when someone comes to you and says, “Will you write a song about…?

So, we collaborated. I asked him to send me thoughts about his Dad, memories, and anything that he felt captured the pictures and emotions in his heart. There were stories of fishing, the old car, the “off color”, “not perfect” but “steady Father” that he had, and of course his last wishes.

For weeks I’d think about it, and put myself there and finally a melody came out. It was that surreal, quiet, humming, road pounding intro that you hear in the song and the story that follows.

There were two guys that made this recording happen as well….Chas Williams and Hound Brown. We cut this song together and after we finished, I definitely felt I was true to song and these guys made it happen with that sound I was searching for in my heart…that sound that described the feeling. I picture him cranking up his Dad’s old car, six pack in the back seat next to his Dad’s urn, filled with his ashes heading to his final resting place. I also pictured the windows downs, his Dad’s old music playing, and maybe even smoking a cigarette for the special occasion. A man, his Dad’s ashes, and his thoughts.

I hope you enjoy the song……”Last Ride” Click on the youtube icon below & you’ll find the audio song video on the channel or copy and paste the link below:

KEVIN SPORT

LAST RIDE

Life Changing Events

We all have them….some people have had more to deal with than others, but we all have those events that shape our life, or at least shape our feelings about life.

I’ve known people who faced life threatening disease and sickness, drug addiction, abuse, loss of career jobs, devastating loss of property, bankruptcy, and a host of other things….but then, there is the big one…and that's not to say that all these other events aren’t extremely hard or heartbreaking, but when it comes to any of them causing loss of life, well, that’s the one that really kicks us in the gut, and it leaves an imprint that never goes away.

The first time I experienced this kind of heartbreak close to home, was probably just like you….an older family member. Then, I remember being in basic training at Ft. Sill, OK finally getting a chance to use the pay phone to make a call home and the only person I could get on the line was my cousin, Amelia. She told me two of my high school friends had passed away over the weekend in a car wreck. I was frozen. When I got home for Christmas I remember going to their parents house with a group of my friends to sing Christmas carols to them. Since then, I’ve lost other friends too young, or someone’s brother, sister, niece, Aunts, Uncles, or someone’s parents to soon as well.

Losing anyone you love is hard…really hard. However, I think all of us would agree that losing a child, is the worst. Maybe it’s because we feel it defies the natural course of things, but I think we probably also feel, somehow, whether fair or not, “responsible”……as if we could have stopped it because “we” are the guardians, parents, adults in the room. The thing is, whether we like it or not, we are not in control.

I was in the midst of filming the tv show and recording a few songs in Muscle Shoals on November 9, 2010. After the session ended that afternoon, I drove down to my hometown of Greenville, AL to spend the night. I’ve been living between south Georgia and Nashville for a few years now…..I’m a dual citizen:) So, making my way from one home to another is a way of life for me….

I remember unpacking and taking the take out from Kentucky Fried Chicken in the old house I crashed at, and settling in to wind down from the day. Not too long after that, I got the call. It was about 9pm Central Time. I couldn't understand a word Sandi was saying to me and had to asked her to calm down. The words, “Holt has been in a bad car accident” were the first words I understood, followed by,” it’s not good”. He had been life-flighted to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.

Even now typing these words is hard. Holt Rowland was one of our nephews and one of two boys that my brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Kim Rowland were blessed to bring into this world. He was everything you’d want to have in a son, grandson, friend, nephew, teammate, and classmate. He was also a pretty big kid. He stood 6’4 and weighed about 210. Holt was a very good baseball player. As a matter of fact he was taking home two other kids from hitting practice that night, and had dropped off one before the accident. Holt and his friend Layne, lost their lives together.

I remember driving through the night to get to the hospital and the days that followed were nothing short of life changing for our family. Holt was an amazing young man. He was the kind of kid that had a big heart, and was well liked. He was competitive too….I loved watching him play baseball. As much as we love football and sports in general, baseball was king in both our families. Holt’s grandfather, and my wife’s dad played pro baseball for the Milwaukie Braves back in the day, and he was blessed with great athletic ability, so it kinda runs in the family.

As you are reading this story, I imagine you’re thinking of your own life…..or more importantly, you’re thinking of the life changing events you’ve endured.

What do you do after it happens? I wish I had all the answers for that…..I don’t. I can only say that when life changing events happen it’s either going to cause you to eventually move forward in a positive way with scars, or a negative way with scars.

I have spoken about Holt Rowland more than one time when asked to come speak at an event. I remember hosting and performing for a big show in Mobile, AL and being asked to come by and say a few words at the breakfast for the sponsors of the event, and of course, I played a song too:) I incorporated Holts story in my speech, and the message of his short, yet powerful life.

In the aftermath of losing a child in our family we established the Holt Rowland Foundation. Holt had the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic for missionary work thru his love of baseball. He was deeply moved and made a real connection with the people there. Through the help of family, friends, and many donors the Holt Rowland Foundation has done some good work and recently established “Holt’s House of Hope”…..Feel free to visit ( www.theholtrowlandfoundation.com ) to learn more.

At the start of every year, I try to recommit to certain things….one of those ideals is to try and live every day like it’s your last. It’s not easy….there are good days and bad days but as a buddy of mine says, “you can chose to live the bad days as good as possible”……I like that!

So, those life changing events effect us, don't they? . They effect us every day and could be the reason you are not living “today” as well as you can, or as my buddy says, “good as possible”.

If you need help, find it….if you need to talk….find someone who will listen. Whatever you need to do, please do it. Do it for the ones that love you but more than anything do it for you! Because “YOU” make a difference to everyone around you!

Love you, Love you Big!

It's a Wonderful Life

George Bailey is one of my all time favorite characters and I’m betting a lot of you feel the same way. I just love him and I never get tired of watching this movie every year. George speaks to all of us. If you don’t think your life matters, I suggest you watch this movie today.

Here’s a guy who gave up on his own dream because of his love for others, and then life dealt a series of tough blows, and he felt he was at the end of his rope. We know the story right? He was going to jump off the bridge himself but wound up jumping in to save the old man that was actually an angel sent to show him the way.

George Bailey is the gift that keeps on giving played out in front of us every year and has saved me more than one time. How many times have you asked yourself Why I’m here?, What’s the point?, or Do I really matter? I guess I could go on and on about the movie because I’m a big fan but ol’ George makes me realize every year that it’s really a wonderful life. Notice I said “wonderful”. I didn’t say easy, stress free, without heartaches, pain, or deep sorrow……I said softly, “it’s a wonderful life”. I like this definition of “wonderful” the best:

“Inspiring excitement & wonder; astonishing.”

George Bailey thought he’d basically thrown away his dreams. Like most of us, he didn’t realize when he was at his lowest point that living a life where you sacrifice for others is without a doubt, the most wonderful life and it DOES matter….it matters to everyone around you! There a few things said in this story but one thing stands out to me. You can’t experience love without sacrifice. It ain’t sexy. It won’t help your bank account. It won’t ever be easy…..but at the end of it all… it will fill your heart with “Wonderful”.

So, this year, I’m not only wishing us to have an incredibly happy, fun, & successful lap around the sun, but I’m wishing everyone to have an “Inspiring Exciting Wonder, & Astonishing” New Year….because,….YOU truly are “A Wonderful Life”

Every Step you take...Rolling Smoke Nation!

Not too long ago I told you part of the story of how Rolling Smoke Nation came into existence. This journey has been nothing short of incredible! I remember driving through the night after a gig in Jackson, MS to be in Bentonville, AR for the Sam’s BBQ tour Championship the next day. It wasn’t long after that gig that we were in Nashville, TN meeting with Mike McCloud and the World Food Championships. Then, we capped off this year with performing for the Biggest Food Fight on the planet in Orange Beach, Alabama at the Orange Beach Event Center 4 nights in a row, and spending the whole week, each day meeting new friends and sharing great food and great memories! It was electric! It was a culmination of many steps, songs, meals, friends, and lots of miles:) Fast forward to Today!

In a few weeks we’ll be in 2019, and for us, well, we don’t want to rush the days, but we’re already there! It’s like this…..you guys made it possible for us to share our Roots Music served up with the best food, the best tailgate party, the best folks anywhere, in the biggest competitive atmosphere in the World! We’re going to DALLAS Baby in 2019! We’re also going to be stopping at some special places along the way! So fire it up, turn it up, and EAT It UP! We’ve got plans to share music and videos that you won’t get anywhere else!

Since inception, this has been a grass roots, backyard, soul food, feed the soul, step by step, mile by mile, song by song, event by event, amazing ride and we love you for loving us back!!

So, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and keep us on your radar because ol’ Uncle Hound and I will be sharing more news after the new year!!

Love you, Love you Big!!

The stocking stuffer

Last night Chris “Pianomaestro” and I hosted the 4th Annual Eagle Station “Homecoming Christmas” show. It was a sold out night and we look forward to this every year. The first year, we didn’t even have a raised stage. It was just me, Chris, a baby grand, my guitar, and a room full of folks enjoying a meal together and sharing some music and stories.

By the second year, we added a raised stage, lights, decorations, sound, and before you knew it we had a Christmas Show that resembled what our dream and vision were leading us to create. We have very talented folks in the community perform and share their talent with us, and with their friends. Last night was no exception, and it seems to get better every year. I personally enjoy watching people engaging with each other, and as I walk around to each table from time to time during the show, a few of them decide to take me up on sharing a Christmas story, or just “a story” about life. It’s a homecoming and by the end of the night, we’re all family.

As our night closes in, I share one of my favorite Christmas stories. I said last night I stole the story, but that’s not entirely true:) However, I did steal part of it, and added a few thoughts. I love stockings at Christmas. I love them because it’s a surprise. Unlike some of our gifts for the kids or even each other, that we kinda fish around, or even plan to get, I like to be surprised. That’s why I like those little gifts stuffed in the stocking.

A few years ago, I was at a corporate event and the speaker was talking about how important the Christmas stocking stuffers really were, and how those things we put in the stockings for that individual were personal, and were intentionally thought out for just you! I started thinking about that thought and added a little more to it.

What if everyone you met during the day, the week, the month, the year, had a stocking attached to them? I wonder what we would leave in their stocking? Would it be a smile, a kind word of encouragement, a hug when they needed it, or maybe a few dollars you had to spare to help someone who was in a tight spot? We could be the surprise that they were hoping for but didn’t think would ever happen.

I’m afraid sometimes, if everyone had a stocking attached to them, it might be empty, or worse than that, it may have some rocks inside. Hey, we’re not perfect people, and we all have bad days, but maybe we could just stop for a moment this time of year and try and carry it over as we move into another year. We can do better….can’t we? I think I’m gonna keep trying a little harder…. Wishing all of you…Peace, Joy, and Love!

What’s in your stocking?

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

My Wish for Thanksgiving & the Holidays

I have always had mixed emotions when it comes to the end of the year holidays. I have a feeling that you can relate. I remember years ago I worked at a place called “Peaches Music and Video” in Mobile, Alabama. I was going to college at South Alabama University trying to figure my life out in the usual head strong, independent, yet laid back manor that my friends know all to well….

That particular year I had to work through the holidays. It was cool though. It was better than washing dishes or waiting tables which I had done my share of….and that place was so incredible. I know I’m sharing part of my timeline that certainly dates me but I don’t care about all that. It was, as Sinatra would say, “ A very good year”……We had Tom Petty, the Eagles, the Beatles, and Muddy Waters all on CD compilation gift packs. We were the only store to carry Vinyl Records and 45’s too. The store was pretty big and located on Airport Boulevard.

It was the day after Christmas and to my surprise we had a busy day until about 4 or 5 pm. It’s funny how some moments in your life you remember details. The store was empty and this one guy comes in and starts mulling around. Being the young, naïve kid that I was, I walked up, smiled, and said, Merry Christmas, happy New Year, “Can I help you?”

The man looked at me and said, “No, this is the worst time of the year, and there’s really nothing you can do to help me, but thank you”. He was so somber with just a touch of sarcasm, but sincere. He wasn’t being rude. He was being honest.

I replied, “I’m sorry you feel that way”. He said, “well, I’ve had a lot of loss in my life and the holidays are just depressing. I thought I would give music a try.” I said, “well you’re in the right place for that, please let know if you need help finding anything.” He wound up buying 325 dollars worth of music and he had great taste. He left me though with an experience I will never forget. Not everyone looks forward to the holidays.

It normally takes a few years, but we are slowly in danger of losing all our innocence, and that youthful child fades away. Oh, it’s true isn’t it? The older we get, or whenever heartache strikes, which can be at any age, we get chinks in our armor. Sometimes we don’t even get chipped away, we get blown away all at once. Whatever your battles may be, we all have them. We all feel the same pain at some point.

So, what is my wish for Thanksgiving & the Holidays? Well, after a few years of living, I have come to this crossroad with our traditions. I have a wish for me, and a wish for you no matter what your beliefs are shaping up to be.

I’ve said in previous blogs that I have a diverse group of friends and acquaintances, and the one thing that draws us together is love, and the commitment to try to live and work with that as a principal guide. I am a believer in Jesus. I personally love reading the stories of his interaction with people. No matter what you believe though, the stories are good……and, there’s truth in them.

At the end of every year many people suffer through the holidays with overwhelming mixed feelings of emotions and it can be suffocating. It can cause deep depression and anxiety. I turn to music, and creative things, because it’s what I do, and because it’s such a gift, and we try to turn those mixed emotions into something positive. The Christmas shows we do are a reflection of that, but I am all too aware that someone in the audience is struggling. It could be a loss of a loved one, a loss of a job at the worst time, a child struggling with no telling what, or an illness, and everything around them during the holidays has the potential of turning those feelings into overdrive.

My wish is simple. I love the story of Jesus and the children. I love what he says to his disciples in that story. “Let the children come to me”, “Be like a child”…….

Oh, I know there’s someone reading this that immediately says, “not everyone has a good childhood”…..that’s true but that’s not where I’m headed. All I’m saying is, before life hurt any of us, we were kids. Kids don’t live in the past to long. They don’t hold grudges, they forgive quickly, and they love freely. They embrace the good over the bad, and they look to the future with optimism. Before we had the chance for life to “beat us down” we were just little kids, and even if it was a short moment, we all started out this way.

My wish is for all of us to find that kid inside us, and share it with someone during this holiday season. There’s someone that needs a light, and it could come from us.

My story behind Rolling Smoke Nation

I believe some decisions are made for you. I mean, as in, this is what God is lining up and no matter what you do, it’s gonna happen. I might get a little push back on that by some of my friends but hey, that’s ok. That’s what I love about my friends. We don’t have to agree all the time:) Besides, if we did, how boring would that be. And, guess what? We still love each other….isn’t that a novel idea. Agree to Disagree……but I digress

After we finished our last season on RFD tv with the Right Place tv show, we were in the middle of reorganizing a few things. It was a new season in our journey, and life was moving on. I mentioned to you in another blog that I met Hound Brown on a tour bus. It was John Berry’s Christmas tour, and I was able to do an opening spot for him that year. It was cool experience. I will always enjoy those memories. Little did I know that one brief moment in time would lead to what we call “Rolling Smoke Nation”.

The truth is always best right? The truth is we had very little to do with any of this…..Hound was going through a transition too. After burying his Brother, his Mom, and his Dad, he came back home to Nashville with his dog Sambeau. Hound offered for me to stay at his house when I was working in town.

So, there it was…..one day Hound was watching R Kelly “Trapped in the Closet” for a mental break one afternoon, plus it’s hilarious….then, we were always cooking something, grilling, chilling, or whatever your phrase is; that’s what we do at the end of long day, or week, or maybe it’s a long season in your life. The oldest form of creating the best atmosphere for taking the stress down a notch and communicating your feelings is breaking bread.

It was a perfect wind coming through “Plowhaus”. That’s what Hound named his house. That old house is situated just off of Jefferson Street in downtown Nashville. It was built sometime in the 1920’s and we teased about it having a good ghost. We also recorded our first “Rolling Smoke” Album in that old house, but of course that was later in the story… So the creative winds started blowing.

Carl the cook is a long time friend of Hounds. They grew up together in Eastern North Carolina, around the Goldsboro area. Carl is an incredible cook. He makes the John Boy and Billy Grillin’ Sauces, owns a steak place in Goldsboro ( Carl & Chelles Grill Room), and you will hear him from time to time on the John Boy and Billy show. He is also a North Carolina Pit Master. He’s the real deal and he’s a lot of fun! Carl along with many other BBQ enthusiast, competitors, and all around back yard BBQ folks use the phrase, “Rolling Smoke” to refer to the cooking, grilling, and passion that comes with the lifestyle. That’s it. One phrase on one day sparked a joke, only, I didn’t see it as just a joke. I decided to take it for a spin. Hound teases me about that still…

Hound wrote a parody rap song for fun ( possibly inspired by him watching R Kelly) called, “Rolling Smoke.” He wrote the song about grilling, and cleverly did what Hound does best and not only wrote a parody rap song about grilling, but enjoyed making fun of all of us including himself. He wrote that song with our young talented friend Cameron McClaren. I had the pleasure of adding one line to the song as I got out of my truck from driving back in to Nashville. I walked in and sung “Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, Rolling Smoke”. There it was…Rolling Smoke.

After the song was done, I immediately wanted to do a video…..we HAD to do a video….and with the help of Ross Jaynes, a young, talented producer in Columbia, TN we were able to do just that…..On a cold January day in the square in Columbia, TN and even featured some friends at Variety Records. There’s a common thread to all this….”friends helping friends”…..there are some details I will leave out and save for a book one day:) The point is, you can’t do anything good without some help.

From that point on, we were walking through the doors. We were invited out to John Boy’s Boogar Branch, and we were set to go on the Big Show. Hound and I enjoyed playing our music for John Boy’s guest out at his place. John Boy is certainly an iconic radio personality but he’s also a music enthusiast. He loved our original tunes. Hound and I have been singer/songwriters for years and it’s always good to share music. Just us and our guitars. As we went on the show that particular week, John Boy took the opportunity to tell the world that we were in the middle of producing a new Album. A collaboration of Roots music geared toward the BBQ world. So, we left knowing that we had to do it!

What would follow would be a truck stage we named, “Holy Joe”, “The Conecuh Sausage Truck stage” ( 1965 C30 Chevy) and booking events all over the southeast. We brought the tunes, grilled that hickory smoked Conecuh Sausage, and produced our first Album, “Rolling Smoke”.

The months that followed lead us to Bentonville, AR to perform at the Sam’s Club BBQ championship. It was at that event where we met, Mike McCloud. Mike is the guy behind the World Food Championships. He liked what we were doing. He liked the reason behind the music as well. He invited us to perform at the World Food Championships in Orange Beach, AL and of course we said yes.

It’s rare that things come together, but when they do, it’s nothing short of amazing. From John Boy & Billy, to Carl “the Cook” Lewis, to celebrating 23 years of John Boy and Billy grillin’ sauce, creating the tent revival around the Rec Tec trailer, and cooking up Conecuh Sausage & Savannah Classics hush puppies for the biggest Food Fight on earth! We capped off each day by performing a full band show in the packed out Orange Beach Event Center for the World Food Championships Award Banquet! We even pinned a song called “Eat it Up” just for the WFC! It was fantastic and filled with great moments we won’t ever forget.

We were there with friends who volunteered to come help with the event, and we would not have been able to pull it off without them. That is the essence of our message….Soul Food & Roots Music bringing folks together. We met new friends too! From 43 states and 13 other countries! For a moment, we celebrated life. The Good Life….One Bite at a Time.

Stay tuned….& Fire up the Grill and crank up the tunes….I believe Rolling Smoke Nation is just getting started!

Here by the Hardest

I was lucky to know my grandparents on both sides of my family tree. I have memories of both grandfathers and they were both unique in their own ways. The one I lived closest to was naturally the one I spent the most time around, and he was an extremely positive, head strong individual. He and my grandmother started out as share croppers in south Alabama. He actually did walk to school, plow with a mule, and simply put, he didn’t have much time to be a kid.

He was drafted in 1942 with one child and one on the way, and left a little piece of land called Petrey, Alabama to find himself on the other side of the world fighting a war. Later on, he sold the plot of farm land they worked so hard to acquire, and moved to another town, which would become my hometown, Greenville, Alabama, to run a grocery store.

I have much more to say about by granddad in a story/screenplay I’m writing, but there’s one thing I wanted to share in this blog. Often times when he was asked how he was doing, he would reply with, “I’m here by the hardest”. That line has stuck with me my entire life. At first it kinda sounds negative or pessimistic. However, if you knew him, you had no doubt that wasn’t the case. He was one of the most positive moving persons that’s ever influenced me. He did not take no for an answer to something he was passionate about doing.

The other day I was talking with Sandi and uploading a show to my youtube page. Our guest was Billy Joe Shaver. We have so much material over the past few years too, to upload for you, and we will get that done:) Anyway, it was a great memory and a great conversation and just plain real, raw, and unfolded in such a cool way.

We were filming the show at Workplay Theater in Birmingham, and this was back in 2010 or 2011. I love WorkPlay too! It’s a great venue. I remember how the day unfolded. We didn’t know for certain that we would be able to have Billy Joe Shaver as a guest until the week before the shoot. The reason was he was scheduled to play another club in Birmingham, and the owners of Workplay, being the class act that they are, didn’t want to upstage or cause a conflict with the other club. So, we called them and simply asked if they wouldn’t mind if Mr. Shaver came over to do a closed interview with us a day before playing their club. They said it was no problem.

We did not advertise him being at Workplay at all. Zero. What happened that afternoon was just incredible. As I prepared for what I thought would be a closed door, private interview with some performance shots later, took on a whole new dimension around 5:30 pm. Folks started coming in for happy hour inside the bar area, and they just kept coming. Word at gotten out that Billy Joe Shaver was at Workplay. By the time we were ready to shoot there was a big crowd outside the doors leading into the smaller theater room. I remember sitting on the stage and everyone asking me what to do. I asked Mr. Shaver, and he smiled, then I said, “well, let them in”.

As they came in to sit down we let the cameras roll. It was one of the best shows we ever had and I was just along for the ride. I didn’t mind the audience being there. As a matter of fact, I preferred it, but I hadn’t planned on it. Consequently, the other club was packed out the night after as well, so there wasn’t a conflict on that front either.

As I uploaded the show, I began watching it and as always, I started critiquing myself. Hosting a show is very different than performing yourself. It’s a role I love, but at the same time, I’m far from perfect. It’s funny isn’t it? I can’t tell you how many nice messages I received over the years of hosting “the right place” and it meant and still means a lot to me, however, as the saying goes, “we’re our own worst critics”, and sometimes, we need to take a step back, look back, and put away the clip board of honest constructive notes, take a deep breath, soak up the memory, and say, “you know, I did alright”.

I think about that phrase, “I’m here by the hardest” and this is what it’s come to mean for me. I think that anytime you show up with your best planned intentions, do your best in that moment, then that’s the “Here” part of the phrase. It also takes a strong person to embrace the “Hard” part of life too. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING comes easy that’s worth doing. Next time you need a phrase to describe your current state of being, you might want to steal this one too. Just smile and say, “I’m here…here by the hardest!

Friends

I spend a lot of time on the road doing the things we do. I enjoy it. I really like to be around people most of the time because it gives me energy. Now, that’s not to say that I don’t need or enjoy some time to myself too, because we all do. The thing is when you have time on the road driving, or flying, or whatever your mode of transportation may be it usually frees up the creative side of your brain. There is actually scientific proof of that….hence, that’s why you think of great ideas in the shower, mowing the yard, washing dishes ( for those of you who don’t use the dishwasher for anything but a dish rack:)….It frees up the creative side, and shuts down the editing side because you’ve occupied it with a task.

So, I was driving and a friend called. My closest, lifelong friend. As Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton sang, “You can’t make old friends”. That’s a great song by the way but I will continue my story…..I’m talking to my friend, and it always makes my day better. I get off the phone and I had this crazy thought. My thought probably was somehow brought on by Hound’s book, “Funeral in the South”, nevertheless, I was picturing my own funeral. I know, it’s a morbid thought, but hang with me for a minute. Don’t tell me you haven’t had thoughts like this either, because I know you have, we all do.

If something happened to me now, obviously most of my friends are still here in this world, and more than likely some of them might be able to come bid me farewell…..and if so, what if they all gathered around a table and chatted it up about me later? What would they say, what would they learn from each other, and most importantly to me, would they come away feeling like they knew me?

That’s what lead me to have this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Friends are the most important gift this life has to offer. It’s value is immeasurable. Think about it. I can’t imagine going through, or having survived this long without them. I have multiple stories of just that fact on every level. That also lead me to this realization about friends. Don’t feel bad about the reality that you have friends that experience different sides of you, or in some cases, all sides of you. That is the way it’s supposed to be. We’re supposed to bring out different characteristics in each other; hopefully to grow in a positive way. So, here’s my personal summation of friends….

I’ve got friends I laugh with, play golf with, hunt with, fish with, drink with, sing with, write with, perform with, worship with, live with part-time( lol), work with, do business with, pray with, travel with, confide in, believe in, and share my deepest thoughts on the planet to…..and much more.

Some of my friends are family, and some of my “family” started out as just friends. It’s also great when your “better half” is your best friend. And, sometimes you’ll show all these sides to a handful of the chosen few. One thing seems to be certain, whatever, whoever, or however, our friends make up our lives, it’s the most precious gift you’ll ever have while living here…..so, to all my friends…THANK YOU & much Love!

Passion

There’s a lot of passion these days. All you have to do is pick up your phone and thumb through your news feed, or your favorite news channel, sports channel, food channel, and on and on it goes….one thing is certain and it’s something I’ve learned over the years without passion, you won’t get too far and you won’t achieve too much.

The thing is, passion can be your best friend or you might choose to bottle it up and never use it for fuel. I guess it’s up to us.

From the time I was a kid I’ve been on stage. Whether it was theater, sports or music. I’ve gone down a few roads and found myself always coming back to what I was passionate about. In some cases I found that passion was the only thing that was going to keep things going, and I bet you have too. So, if you’re reading this blog, then you can expect this subject to come up a few times.

It’s obvious that I grew up without the new “world of social media, technology, etc” So, as the world changed I had to adjust. For me, this blog is my personal space, you know? Kinda like what I’d do if I could pick up the phone and chat about life for a while, or asked you to catch lunch with me. I might share a number of things through this avenue, but one thing I can probably say without changing my mind later…..You know that old saying, “never say never”

There’s a very good chance I will never get political on my blog. Of course I have strong opinions on multiple subjects and I’m still evolving, growing, and searching my heart for what I believe to be truth. However, I’m not a political pundit, and I’m not in the political arena, at least not yet…

No, really, I just want to be myself and share something positive at the end of the day. When we created the “The Right Place” tv show we all agreed that the most important thing for a person to have was “hope”. Without hope, faith, or a Dream…..we really have nothing. We might be breathing, but we are not living. So, go find that passion and find the courage to try again. Since this is my first blog on my new website, I’d like to start and end with with tag line from the “Right Place”….”When You are Following Your Dream, Your God given Dream, You are Always in the Right Place”