The Stories Behind the Music
I am not a famous songwriter, however, most songwriters that have written for a while experience how deeply personal it is to open up and write songs. We all draw from inspirations, memories, emotions that stem from good and bad situations. We have the honor to put these into 3-4 minute stories with melodies for our friends, family and fans. It's very hard to open up and do this, but very rewarding to end up with an album of music people listen and relate to. I have written 6 studio albums over the span of 40 years and I thought I was finished. Then “Leaving Laurel” inspired me! Most albums I've written took anywhere from 1-2 years to complete, this started in December of 2023 and I wrote the last song in January 2024! Finally released in July, 2024 as I was waiting on performers to add to the project.
My saxophone player, Michael Huddleston passed away recently. He began in January of 2024 to write sax parts for the songs but wasn't able to get into the studio as he was recently married and very busy. I was able to use Facebook Live posts of him playing sax, record them then use technology to be able to add them to the album on “Without You” and “The Last Goodbye”.
The Songs
“Leaving Laurel”
This is a band name that would come up on XM Radio in my car over and over for a couple of months. So I was wondering, “who is Laurel? A girl or a town? Why would he leave Laurel?” It inspired me to write this song I emotionally wrote in two hours. The song has 4 different acoustic guitar parts and is written in “Drop D”. I did not write this with anyone in mind, in fact I have never known anyone named “Laurel”.
“Don't Look Back”
The last song I wrote for the album then it was the thread for all the songs to be linked. I had someone I deeply cared for over a 40 year period recently let me know I wasn't important to them anymore and wrote me off for no reason. So I had to come to a place where no matter what I won't look back and remember what I felt. There is a refrain to explain I'm not trying to be mean, “it might sound cold that I could turn away, but all I have is already gone”.
“I Guess I'll Never Know"
I originally wrote this music for a Bible reference for church 15 years ago, I always thought it was kind of haunting, very unique and different from all the other songs on the album. It references someone from my past that I've lost contact with and wonder how they feel. I do wonder if someone from my past could hear these songs would it make a difference and cause them to contact me.
“My Way Home”
I wrote this originally for my sister 30 years ago, could not find the words so it's updated telling a story about my own time of feeling lost and how good it feels to have any sense of “home”. One of my closest friends heard this song for the first time, it reminded him of his father and cherished times together. I love getting stories back from friends that listen to my music.
“Without You”
Many songwriters have songs that are almost finished but needed something more, we just don't know what it is. I did not write this with anyone in mind but it grew into referencing someone special I knew and had a dream about. The sax in the song adds to the sadness someone feels when they have lost someone.
“Carry On”
I've been a storm chaser for 40 years to the point of traveling across several states just to chase, video and report tornadoes. I was born in Oklahoma so it's second nature for me. Many times I would be coming home from Western Oklahoma late at night with storms chasing me home with tornado warnings just behind me. Through determination I've beaten several storms home where I was safe. This song features and actual tornado warning out of Kansas.
“Restless”
Most men my age are ready for retirement but what I've found is they get bored. You can only do so much relaxing, vacations and golf. I've also encountered people expecting me to stop singing and performing because I need to relax and slow down, even some feeling that continuing to perform is somewhat ridiculous. So the song goes against the norm of what others expect, in fact the opposite is true I will be “restless” without regard to age.
“Just Before the Sunrise”
I've had this little song sitting there for a very long time, it's the song I use to test a guitar for tone. When I can hear a great balance between the low and high tones, great resonance and I can use the guitar with excellent dynamics I know it's the best guitar for me, Taylor 814ce. So the song grew from just this simple exercise. The song title came from playing this at an apartment where I lived, built into the top floor of a mansion in Lucas. I would play this song there and the sunrises were spectacular.
“Heart to Heart”
Based on a very bad relationship I had when I lived in Austin. Very self explanatory as we have all had relationships that were toxic and impossible to continue.
“Hold On”
Written for someone from over 15 years ago that was going through a very difficult time. I had kept in touch for years but we were never able to have a relationship, the timing just never seemed right. The last time I gave this a chance her situation wouldn't allow us to be together and she asked me to “hold on”.
“The Last Goodbye”
I was at a New Year's party where there were many couples dancing, drinking, enjoying the evening. There was this one beautiful woman there in a white dress, crying as her and the guy she was with were arguing. The song was inspired from that sad feeling I had, I just felt so sorry for her. So the story turned into the case of being taken for granted, left alone wondering if this relationship will be able to work out. Then a change comes and she's done, no more second chances. The sax and the wind leaves this song with that feeling of desperation when you know no matter what you can't get her back.
Performers:
Michael Huddleston- Saxophone
Larry Cox- Bass
Robert Perry- Lead Guitar
Denise Egdorf- Background Vocals
