From Here To There

Long story a little shorter, about a year after graduating from college, I was signed as a recording artist by Big Tree Records (a sister company of Atlantic Records) and sent to Nashville to record with producer Kyle Lehning. I didn’t know who Kyle was, nor had I ever heard of any of the musicians who were sitting there in the studio waiting to work with me. Just as well, because if I’d known who they were, there’s a good chance I might not have been able to get through the session. You see, Joe Osborn was playing bass, Larrie Londin was on drums, Steve Gibson on guitar, Shane Keister on piano, and Bergen White (in the control room with Kyle) waiting to arrange the strings and horns. Again, I didn’t know it at the time, but this was England Dan and John Ford Coley’s band, arranger, and producer (“I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You,” etc.). But it was also something else: your basic bunch of legends.

More about this later. For now, let me just say that it was an incredible experience. Kyle and every single one of those guys made a lifelong impression on me not only with their musical genius and professionalism, but just as much with their humility and kindness. What a time it was.

Enter the legal teams for both sides, and, nine agonizing months later, the entire deal went down the drain, leaving me with nothing but a bad taste in my mouth about the “music biz.” Fortunately, during this time, my attorney and friend, Peter Thall, had sent a tape of some of my songs to Susan McCusker of Love-Zager Productions. Susie liked what she heard, and invited me to come and start “hanging around” Love-Zager. I jumped at the chance and never looked back.