What is it like to be
a Songwriter?
Well...that's a good question. It's very fulfilling...I mean
when you sit down with a blank page, a pencil and a guitar and finish up with a
lyric and a melody. You feel good! Then when you take your song into a recording
studio and get to hear what good country musicians can do with it...wow...your
creation takes on a life of it's own and when people want to hear and buy your
finished work. You feel humble, elated and surprised.
I thank God for the ability to write and perform country
music, that can give enjoyment, to many people.
How's the truck drivin' goin'?
Well...you know what they say. Never give up your day job;
But, I like drivin' trucks and it keeps me fit. The only thing wrong is it's
much like being a performer...your home life suffers a little.
I guess that's why a truck driver and a performer, needs a
very understanding woman. The lady in my life, thank god.
Is That Woman!
Any new CD's or releases in sight?
Hopefully mid 2007
'American Heart' (part two) will be on sale
here on ' RealCountry '. (fingers
crossed)
At the moment I have taken time off from gigs and I am
concentrating on writing new songs. I hope to be able to go into studio towards
the end of 2006 or early 2007 to record
'American Heart' (part two).
In the meantime my Australian album
'Big Rig Blues'
was re-release mid 2001 and the title of
the album...
' The Australian Era '.
How did you come up with the album
name
' American Heart '?
The album name
'American Heart' came about because... there was a TV show
here in Ireland called ''Bringing It All
Back'' and it traced the music of the Irish and other Celts
to the new world, where it underwent a change and became
Bluegrass and
Country. So when I was looking for
a name for this release, some friends of mine came up with the idea, that
an Irishman who writes and performs country music, must have an
'American
Heart'. I liked the idea.
Maybe that's why the people of Ireland and America have such an affinity
with each other, we share a common culture and music...but, of course country
music is written and performed all over the world and there are many great
artists and writers from many countries.
You have your own website, do you
think the internet is the way of the future?.
Absolutely; you only have to look at the amount of
music sites on the internet, and how many people from all over the world are
visiting them. Also, the independent writer and artist can now promote his or
her work worldwide, without having first to go through the big labels...and that
can only be good for the buying public. People now can buy what they want and
not what they're told to buy through high-powered advertising. Free downloads of
music are available on sites, profiles of artists, listen before you buy.
The internet is the way of the future.
What's next for you big guy?
I'm not sure. The music game is a very fickle lady, one day
your up and the next day your down. But one thing is for sure...you get to meet
and make a lot of friends. I've got a lot of friends I try to keep in touch with
and someday, maybe we'll all get together and have ourselves one hell of a jam
session.
Until that day comes along, I'll just keep doing the things I
love best. Writing and playing country music. You never know, like
Jerry Reed said
in ''Another Puff ''.... maybe
I'll be a hit songwriter!
