My family, writing my books, songwriting, bowling
I'd like to meet:
Being a songwriter for many years, most of my interest lies with country music. I've met Willie Nelson, Keith Whitley, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Brooks and Dunn, Patty Loveless, Tim McGraw, Lorrie Morgan, Sammie Kershaw, John Anderson and many more of the biggest and best country stars, and one of my heroes remains my friend Charlie Louvin, a true country music legend. As I am a Harpe and as Merle Haggard's mother was a Harp, and as we are of the same branch of the family, being second cousins a couple of times removed, I'd like to spend a little time with him talking about the Harpes, and see if I could get him to explain how he became the best songwriter that ever put pen to paper. In other fields,I'd like to meet professional bowler Walter Ray Williams and talk show hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman.There are a couple of actors I'd like to sit down and talk to for awhile, because I think one or two would be very interesting. Jack Nicholson, for one, and Mel Gibson. I think he got a very raw deal over the last escapade, and I'd like to tell him that some of us just like his movies, and his personal life has little to do with that. Then there's John Travolta. Can anyone be more cool than him. Talk about being interesting to talk to. Imagine the stories he could tell. And lastly, I'd like to spend a little time with George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Keifer Southerland, James Marsters, and for sure Billy Bob Thornton. Also, as I am a fan of a few televison programs, I'd like to meet Buffy (Sarah Michelle Geller), Angel (David Boreanaz), Willow (Allison Hannigan) Donna (That 70's Show Laura Prepon, and last but not least, I'd like to sit down for a few moments with Denny Crane and Alan Shore. I love Boston Legal.
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Music:
True, old fashioned country music. Back when country music meant something, and major performers such as Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin and Johnny Paycheck could still have hit records. The Louvin Brothers set the standard for country harmony, and I'm proud to say that Charlie Louvin became a great friend of mine a few years ago. There's never been a better singer on the face of the planet than Keith Whitley, and no one currently on the scene can stay on the same stage with Allison Krauss. I think the Dixie Chicks are the best group out there, and still like the old songs of Alabama. I tend to like some of the independent artists a lot also, and if you want to hear some true country music done by one of the most talented guys who ever rolled into Music City, pick up a Billy Yates CD. You won't be disappointed. Another friend of mine, Tresa Street, is also a great entertainer, and it doesn't hurt that she and I have written several songs together, and that she's recorded one or two that I had a hand in writing. There's anew girl in Nashville that has the talent to be right up there with the biggest names in the business. Her name is Rebecca Frederick, and when you hear about her, remember I told you so. Sometimes you don't have to be the biggest star in Nashville to be one of the best, and believe me, both of these are in that category. There are some other guys that I've called my friends over the years that are also right up there with the best. Songwriter Tommy Barnes is a good example. Tommy co-wrote such songs as Indian Outlaw and My Love, and he's a great talent, super writer, but a better friend. Dennis Payne is one of the top singers that ever came to Nashville, and his wife, the lovely Jill Wood, is as good a wordsmith as ever came to Music City. Since we left the Nashville area we haven't seen most of these guys, but sometimes I miss the old days.In my humble opinion, two of the best singers that have been in Nashville in many years are Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw. Both can bend notes with the best of them, and both should be standing right at the top of the country music leader board.There's a new girl in Nashville who is making some great music, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone. Her name is Rebecca Frederick, and you might want to remember it. She has enough talent for three singers, and I think you're going to be hearing a lot about her from now on.
Movies:
Old westerns, some of the new movies based on comics, and anything that stars either Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Steven Segall, Denzel Washington, or Hugh Jackman. I have to admit that I like almost every John Travolta movie. Swordfish, Be Cool, Get Shorty, The General's Daughter, and Basic just to name a few. I think Travlota would be one of the most interesting people in the country just to sit around and talk with.
Television:
24 - Boston Legal - Bones - Buffy - Angel - That 70's Show, The Shield, All great shows, but more important, all of them have some of the greatest writing that can be found in any media. Oh, and I never miss Dancing With The Stars.
Books:
born wolf DIE WOLF The Last Rampage of the Terrible Harpes - Resurrection: Rebirth of the Terrible Harpes. born wolf is my first published book, and I have to admit that it is my favorite. My many short stories that are published in the Amazon Shorts program and on Fictionwise are great reads, and I've just finished a story that I think is as good as anything I've ever written. It's called KILLING FROST, and should be published this fall. I have two shorts in an anthology called Twisted Tails II, which won the EPPIE AWARD for best SCI FI book of 2007. I'm proud of that. I'm also reading as many of the works of JOHN CASSELL as I can. This man is a seriously talented author.A Wilderness of Tigers, by Ken Tucker; Springhouse Magazine, one of the great storytelling magazines of all time, by Gary DeNeal.Anything written by John Cassell. This is a talent that I think everyone should discover, and his ODYSSEY: 1970 and HELL'S QUEST: 1971 are great reads.And for those who haven't already bought "born wolf DIE WOLF The Last Rampage of the Terrible Harpes" it can be ordered online or from your favorite book seller. For online ordering visit this website:http://www.amazon.com. Enter the title, the authors name or this ISBN 1-4241-2668-1 and it will give you the ordering info. Thanks
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Heroes:
My dad, my uncles, Bud Bollinger and John Mayes. Charlie Louvin, and a handful of friends who have stood beside me for years through the good times and the bad times.
