Over the years I have gotten to know, or
meet or hang out with, what I call ‘famous people’. From movie stars,
politicians, world champions, athletes, writers and moguls. Often it was
just circumstance. Other times it was an intentional connection. Like
being invited to be on ABC’s first DOLLY PARTON SHOW. What I remember is
how small she was in person and how she could play guitar with such
long fingernails. She was also very kind to Little Richard, who couldn’t
get his song right after 25 takes!
Or
when I sent the manuscript of my first novel, “HEY COWBOY, WANNA GET
LUCKY?” to five authors I most admired’ Tom Robbins, Thomas McGuane,
Hunter S. Thompson, Dan Jenkins and John Nichols. I didn’t realize the
disposition of unsolicited manuscripts…the trash can! But…Tom Robbins
(“EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES”) wrote me back, quoted me to myself and
gave me his agent!
I took a shot in
the dark and gave the Sunbeam Clipper salesman a cassette of songs I’d
written because he claimed he knew Lynn Anderson. Months later, Red
Steagall…the real Red Steagall, called me and said he liked one of my
songs. He didn’t know about Lynn Anderson but he said the Sunbeam
clipper salesman gave it to him. Red has become one of my best friends.
He introduced me to Reba McEntire when she was driving a Chevy van with a
pick-up band. They did a show together in Ft. Worth Stockyard. I held
her horse. Jack, Red’s bus driver, got to hold Red’s horse. Jack claimed
to be the cowboy in Gordon Snidow’s Coors painting. Gordon denied it.
Ed
Bruce (wrote “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”),
took pity on me. He got me on the Ralph Emery Show. After the show we
went to dinner. They asked if there’s anything else that could make it
better. I said it would be nice if somebody famous would record one of
my songs. His wife said, “Every poet thinks he’s a songwriter, every
songwriter thinks he’s a singer, ever singer thinks he’s an actor…why
can’t you just be happy with what you’re good at!”
I
walked into a restaurant in Denver, and saw Denny Gentry, the man who
literally made team roping the most popular rodeo sport in the world! He
drew out his plan for the USTRC on an envelope. “Whattya think?” he
asked. I said that I didn’t think any two team ropers could ever agree
on something that good and walked off. He sold it for multiple millions
20 years later.
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