Two Degrees of Willie's willie

I won my second BMI award in 2007 for “Brand New Girlfriend” which I wrote with Shane Minor and Jeffrey Steele. This was especially cool because Jeff won BMI Songwriter Of The Year that year.

After the Awards show, we were getting ready to leave to go to Jeffrey’s after party. Well I had to go to the restroom before getting our car. That same evening, Willie Nelson had been given The BMI Icon Award. As I approach the men’s room I see and rather burly gent standing by the door. I flash my BMI award, declaring my legitimacy, he nods at me and I go in.

Well I go in and see Willie at the urinal. Weird. He zips up, turns toward me, looks at my BMI medallion, looks up at me, sticks out his hand and says, congratulations! In the time it takes to form a thought I balance between shaking his hand knowing where it has just been OR snubbing Willie Nelsons hand shake.

Of course I shook his hand……..then washed my hand I came out of the rest room to tell my wife that story and we laughed, it still makes me laugh. Thanks Willie!

Receiving my BMI Award for "Brand New Girlfriend." Not pictured, Willie (ha)!

Receiving my BMI Award for "Brand New Girlfriend." Not pictured, Willie (ha)!

How I met Bob DiPiero (I think)

When I left Monument Records (not my choice) I had no idea what I was going to do.  Jeffrey Steele said he’d never met anyone who loved playing guitar and talking about music and playing music more than me, he said he was starting a pub co and if Ii could wait till the company was set up, he wanted to sign me.  WOWZA!!!  Ok, so now what…  I started writing a bit with Jeff, which was great but a bit scary, he’s really good, but who else? 

Well, I went to a bar called the Tin Roof one afternoon and ran into a great friend from my record days, Jaime Austen. She had just moved to town to work at Big Machine Records, a great move for her!  She asked what I was doing and I told her I was going to try to be a writer.  She asked if there was anyone I wanted to write with and said I was already writing with Jeff so I guess the only other guy I wanted to write with was Bob DiPiero.  She just smiled and proceeded to introduce me to her blonde friend with the million dollar smile and a heart to go with it, Rachel Adkins. Rachel said “I think I can make that happen.” 

WHAT?  Oh yeah, she was Bobs assistant at the time!  I’m so thankful God told me to say Bob’s name!!  I met him at his office a week or two later and we wrote our first song which was “You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl,” which became my first demo, first cut and first single. Not bad for a first write huh?!?         

Me & Bob at the 2004 BMI Awards

Me & Bob at the 2004 BMI Awards