Last Friday night as I sat on my comfy sofa in my air conditioned house, I turned to my Darling Beloved and said, “Do you know where we would have been at this exact time four years ago?” “In a football stadium somewhere sweating to death?” “Something like that.” August is the worst climatological point … Continue reading Retired band parents
Carlton's senior portrait I’ll spare you the passage of time cliches and just leave it at, “I am astounded that my youngest son will begin his senior year of high school this week.” There are still many miles to go on this journey, but I cannot pretend this week doesn’t mark another significant milestone. It’s … Continue reading Back to school part one: Carlton’s senior year
I'm not quite sure how we managed to do this, but we crammed not one but two life-giving experiences of live music into our packed schedules in the last seven days. While the ticket prices may have made us poorer in the short run, the head-clearing, hand-clapping, jaw-dropping wonder that swelled our hearts definitely made … Continue reading From Steep Canyon Rangers to Samara Joy
I’m not a complicated man. You can get me to part with my money in a hurry if you follow this simple formula: ‘90s country music star + Texas-born singer/songwriter + intimate venue = sale. It’s a pretty straightforward algorithm, and the internet has figured me out. Back in the late spring, Spotify sent me … Continue reading A night out with Radney
They say what happens in Nashvegas stays in Nashvegas. Well, I’m not sure that’s exactly how it goes, but either way, I’m about to spill most of the beans about a recent trip Carla and I took to the home of country music and rival to Atlanta for the title of capital of the South. … Continue reading 68 hours in Nashville
Musical talent runs in my family. Mom plays piano and sings. Dad played trumpet and sang in the church choir. Both of my brothers play guitar, and Lee plays piano, saxophones of various shapes and sizes, leads choral singing and sings. My oldest son plays trumpet, drums, guitar and conducts marching bands. My middle son … Continue reading The talent I wish I had
New South Essays 