How my friend Kenny Powell is alot like Johnny Paycheck! I first laid eyes on Johnny Paycheck in the flesh, when I was a young man with a silly dream, and he was an older man who had lived that same dream. The big intimidating back stage was full of current Country Stars and all of them were excited as I was. You could feel a buzz in the air, knowing Johnny Paycheck was gonna perform later. Years later I got deported out of Canada in the middle of a tour because my work permit had expired, and it did not renew until the following week. So there I sat in limbo at this little roadside dive bar just south of the Canadian border called the Dixie Inn. Upon saddling up to the bar and grasping my first beer of many in that 5-6 days of waiting, I noticed the wall was just covered in Country Music stars promo pics. It was then the bartender asked if that was our tourbus parked outside. My drummer said yes, and the owner asked how many days wed be staying. I asked her why she thought we would have to stay, and she said,Well, we host a lot of Country Singers and bands that cant get across the border. We collect all of the pictures of the bands that get stranded here. Out of 5 days of stories of stranded bands and Country singers, her favorite was Johnny Paycheck she said because he was the nicest man and insisted the band set up and play for the week they were laid up there for no pay. She spoke with glazed eyes how every night she got goose bumps when he sang Old Violin. She reminisced about the magical music moments she was so incredibly lucky to experience. What was most humbling, was that she took a liking to my boys and I, and let us play on that same hallowed stage, seeing as we all shared a passion about the music and stars she admired and loved. She told me her account of spending a week with Johnny Paycheck, as well as her other days and weeks with the likes of Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins and hundreds of other big names at her little roadside, bordertown bar and grill. It reminded me of the time I ran into Paycheck and spoke to him briefly as his boys were loading out from the night before while we were mopping up the next night with our show. The kind words he spoke about the people who surrounded him hit me like an anvil. Not because he was loud, but because of the soft, caring demeanor along with the shear love and desire he had to encourage anyone following in his footsteps.... Johnny told me to ignore the meanest, unsupportive people that I was sure to meet in my travels ahead of me. His belief was that those people were usually the ones who had the talent, but no balls to leave the safety of their job and go out to do it for themselves. He also stated that the nicest ones were the people who had the talent and the balls, but stayed home for their family. I never expected this Outlaw of Country Music Icon to even give a shit....but he did! And I will never forget those words of encouragement he gave to me. Using stories I heard from other country icons backstage at the Opry, personal run-ins, and the week I spent at the Dixie Inn.... I would like to tell you why my friend, Kenny Powell is much like Country legend Johnny Paycheck! Besides the mutual, positive support they have both given me, the list is as follows: #1 -Ive met very few people who match the pure, unfettered passion for Country Music more than Johnny Paycheck and Kenny Powell! #2 -Country Music has been the common denominator and the driving force in the life of both. #3 -When I first met both Johnny and Kenny, their breath smelled of whiskey! :) #4 -He is an honorable man who will support you in your dream...as long as it is Country Music. #5 -Both have a passion to be with others who live, eat and breathe Country Music. #6 -Both huge George Jones fans! (Johnny played for George back in the day) #7 -Both have had killer mustaches...and could actually sing through them! #8 -The pay was never much of a factor when it really came down to the show...they would be there no matter what! #9 -Both look like thumbtacks when wearing those hats of theirs...(that is my nickname I gave Kenny when I first met him :) #10-THEY BOTH SIGNED MY 1996 TELECASTER GUITAR THAT IM DONATING TO RAISE MONEY FOR KENNYS MEDICAL EXPENSES!!!! Well, Kenny didnt sign it yet, but he will! I had Johnny Paycheck sign this beautiful guitar while I was on the road earlier in my travels. PLEASE SHARE SO WE CAN START THE BIDDING NOW!!! BIDDING ENDS AFTER MY PERFORMANCE IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA ON FEBRUARY 15th! Guitar was valued at over $2200, FYI. JUST COMMENT A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO BID NOW! If your bid is more than any on Feb. 15th in Sioux Falls...Its yours and Ill have it delivered to you!
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:37:04 +0000
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