Tag Archives: nashville

Jenn Bostic Offers Healing Through Music {April’s Dreamer in the Spotlight}

26 Apr
Jenn Bostic- Jealous

Photography by Michael Ernst

I’m so… excited to introduce this month’s Dreamer in the Spotlight, Jenn Bostic!  Hopefully, you are already familiar with her, but if not I know you’ll be one of her newest fans after reading this post and checking out her music! 

I met Jenn through my husband, Adam, who has played some shows and writers’ rounds with her over the past couple years.  I remember Adam being very impressed that she led all the artists in prayer prior to a show one night.  Jenn is a genuine, joyful person with a lot of talent and drive!  I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her in the next few paragraphs!

1. A lot of exciting things have been happening for you over the past several months!  What is your favorite accomplishment or moment so far?  

 Wow, that’s a tough question.  I feel so incredibly blessed by all that’s been happening. I had the opportunity to headline a tour in the UK & Ireland during February and March, filmed a music video for my new single “Not Yet,” and have continued to see people connect to the music on an overwhelming scale.  I think one of the most surreal moments has to be my Grand Ole Opry debut on February 16th.  It was the 17th anniversary of my dad’s passing that night and I performed “Jealous of the Angels” in his honor. I was completely humbled to receive a standing ovation that night, it’s something I’ll treasure in my heart forever.

Photography by Michael Ernst

2. “Jealous of the Angels” has been a huge song for you and meaningful to so many people.  Can you tell those, who aren’t familiar with your music and background, a little about your motivation for writing this special song?  

When I was 10 years old, I was in a car accident that unfortunately took my dad with it.  He was my hero, the first person to ever  inspire me to play music.  I used songwriting as a form of therapy to get through the pain.  Fourteen years after the accident I finally managed to put everything I was feeling into one song, called “Jealous of the Angels.”  I wrote the song with Nashville songwriters Jimmy Fortune and Zach Runquist.  When we were finished I felt this weight lift from my shoulders, thinking I had finally allowed myself some true healing.  I had no idea that people were going to connect to the song the way they have.  I thought it was too personal.  However, to my surprise it has been a beautiful journey of comfort and peace for those who have suffered loss.  It is overwhelming to see God working through this song and I feel honored that people have opened their hearts to me.

3. What is in store for you this year?  What goals do you have for your music?

This week* I’m very excited to be releasing a brand new music video for “Not Yet,” which is now available in the United States on iTunes. I’m really looking forward to hitting the road and touring my new record “Jealous,” which will be available in the states on June 11th.  It has been amazing to see people connecting with the record in the United Kingdom and I am anxious to share it in the US.  Of course the ultimate goal would be to win a Grammy someday, but as I have created new relationships with fans who have really been moved by the music, a lot of my goals have shifted from winning awards to seeing healing and inspiration on a larger scale.  I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens this year!

*Video was released the week of April 14th at time of interview.

Photography by Michael Ernst

4. Do you have any advice to share with those who are trying to pursue their own dreams and overcome obstacles?

Don’t be afraid to share your heart with the world.  People can see through the glitter and raw honesty has the ability to touch someone’s heart. When I first moved to Nashville I was trying to fit into a tiny little box that I thought the music industry would want me to be.  After a lot of rejection and disappointment, I made the choice to write music that inspires me, regardless of genre, expectations or what everyone around me was doing.  I can honestly say that more doors have opened since I made that decision than ever before and I have never been happier. Judy Garland said something that you can find at the beginning of my song “Change,” “Always be a first-rate version of yourself and not a second-rate version of someone else.”

Thanks, Jenn, for inspiring us!  Congratulations on all the great stuff you are celebrating now! 

Be sure to visit Jenn’s website.
Follow Jenn on Twitter.
Like her on Facebook.

If you want to see Jenn live, she has an online Stageit show this coming Sunday, April 28th, at 2PM CST.  Also, Jenn will be performing again at the Grand Ole Opry on June 14th!

Special Shout-out: All of the beautiful photographs featured in this post were taken by Jenn’s husband, Michael Ernst, of Bostic Outdoor Photography!  So much talent in one couple!

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The Grand Opening of Creative Crumbs {January’s Dreamer in the Spotlight}

25 Jan

This month’s dreamer may sound familiar to you!  She was the first person featured in my “Dreamer in the Spotlight series back in August 2011!  Due to some exciting new developments, I thought it would be great to update you as amazing baker Abby Head climbs to another (cake) tier in her journey!

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Last Saturday, Abby held a grand opening celebration for her new bakery, Creative Crumbs!  For the past several months, Abby has been doing a lot of work researching, planning, and negotiating in order to make this dream a reality!  It was so exciting to see the finished shop and I’m very ecstatic that Abby is able to do what she loves!

Creative Crumbs is an upscale bakery in East Nashville specializing in wedding, groom’s, and custom cakes.

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

In order to catch everybody up with what she has been doing, I asked Abby a few questions…

What inspired you to take Creative Crumbs to the next level?
Starting my own shop was always something I had dreamed about, but I was concerned about starting a business that would directly compete against the bakery where I had been working. I just didn’t feel like that was an ethical decision. But when the bakery that I was working at decided not to continue in the wedding cake business, that opened the door for me. It was honestly a solution I had never considered. The only two options I could see were either to quit or get fired! And neither of those was a good thing. So it was truly an example of God’s plan being bigger than anything I could ever imagine!

What “God moments” have you experienced during this time to let you know that you are on the right track?
There have been too many to count! I wish I had taken time to write down all the little moments along the way. The first one was a random encounter with an older gentleman at Starbucks. Without knowing anything about me, he asked me if I was going to start a bakery! I answered, “Well it’s something I’m considering thinking about.” He responded that that was the wimpiest answer he had ever heard and that I should either go for it or do something else! The next day, my former employer told me she was not going to continue the wedding cake business, and I knew then that it was time to make my dream a reality! Orders started pouring in, sometimes more than I could handle, and I found a location that met every single criteria I had prayed for plus more.

Abby Head greeting patrons of Creative CrumbsPhoto courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Abby Head (center) greeting patrons at the Grand Opening
Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

What has been your biggest challenge so far?
There have actually been two areas that have been very challenging. The biggest obstacle has been finding confidence. Since I built the company, everything is mine…my designs, my recipes, my thoughts, my “intellectual property”. If a customer doesn’t like one of my cakes, it’s hard not to take it personally. I struggle with finding a balance between caring about the business but separating it from who I am.
The other area that has been challenging has been keeping my business decisions in line with what I say I believe. Even though it’s a business, I don’t want to lose my witness. I had to decide early on what type of events I would or would not do. I’ve also really been challenged lately to return the focus back to marriage, not just weddings. There is so much focus on planning a wedding, but so little on preparing for marriage.

What has been the most exciting moment?
The most exciting moment so far was when I passed my final site inspection, and I officially received my permit to open. I still had some work to do to finish decorating, but at that point, everything was official – I was in business! I was so happy, I actually cried. I had dreamed of owning a bakery since I was 9 years old, and there I was, standing in my very own bakery! It was an amazing moment!

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Photo courtesy of Nate Uhl Photography

Any advice you have for others who want to start their own business?
Treat everyone with respect. I have met so many truly amazing people through this journey! The success of my business is directly related to the wonderful people God has brought into my life.

Anything else to add?
I looked back at our initial “Dreamer in the Spotlight” interview, as I had forgotten exactly what we talked about. My goal then was “to start an upscale bakery and café”. I hadn’t thought about that particular question since we did the interview, but the sign above my door now says, “Creative Crumbs, an upscale bakery”…literally a dream come true!

Thanks, Abby, for sharing your journey with us!  So many exciting things to come!  Everyone, be sure to check out her website to see photos of some of the amazing cakes that she has made!  And yes, those cupcakes in the picture above really did taste as amazing as they look!  Yum!

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A Randomly Chosen Winner? {Matthew West – December’s Dreamer in the Spotlight}

21 Dec

There are times in life when you just know that God is trying to show you something, and what I’m about to describe is one of those moments…

Last Tuesday, Adam and I were blessed to be able to enjoy an intimate mid-day performance in downtown Nashville by Matthew West that will air on SiriusXM’s The Message. (Thanks to my supervisor for letting me have a late, extended lunch!) While the concert itself was amazing (and I will talk about it more in a little bit), the story of getting the opportunity to go is pretty awesome, as well, so I’ll start at the beginning…

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Over the Thanksgiving weekend we spent time at my parents’ house. I heard my dad showing Adam the latest Matthew West CD, Into the Light, that he recently bought. (I was familiar with Matthew West’s background and some of his music already, but not a dedicated fan – yet!) We started discussing how he is the type of artist that Adam aspires to be and it would be neat if he could meet with him over lunch or whatever to ask him some questions and get some insight into how he balances family and music, etc. About a week later, my dad emails me details about an opportunity to randomly win two tickets to an in-studio performance by Matthew West in Nashville. Without giving it much thought, and noting that the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence, I entered the contest. A few days later I received an email that I was one of the winners! I really wasn’t surprised that I won, because I sensed that God was trying to speak to us, especially Adam, through Matthew. (I later found out that even my dad wasn’t surprised, because after I told him I entered the contest, he decided he didn’t need to enter it anymore!) Let me just note, that if it wasn’t for my dad getting Matthew West’s CD and showing it to Adam just a week prior, he probably would not have alerted me about the contest!

So back to the SiriusXM performance at the Bridgestone Arena… There was only about 40-50 people in this small room above the Visitor’s Center, and I’m sure each person that day was supposed to be there for a reason. (That’s the great thing about Matthew West’s concerts – I don’t see how anyone can leave and not be affected and changed in some way.) Adam said that he could feel the Holy Spirit in the room, and I definitely agree!

For those who aren’t familiar with Matthew West, his past two albums have consisted of songs written about some of the heart-breaking personal experiences he has received in over 20,000 letters. Each of his songs is about a specific individual and what God’s response would be to offer hope and healing. To listen to the songs and read these stories, check out Matthew West’s website. He has found a way to make his music career not about himself, but about encouraging others! How refreshing and inspirational! It’s something that Adam has really struggled with lately when thinking about his future music plans. He does not want to do music for his own sake, for money, or for fame. Adam wants to use his music to make a difference and he doesn’t want to promote himself just to try to gain more fans.

Adam said that this is the first time he has listened to live music without focusing on whether or not the singer hit the right notes or if the right part was played. He went to the performance totally open to listen with his heart. I can’t tell you how many times Adam gave me this look of, “Are you serious? Is he reading my mind? This is crazy!” Matthew also had his daughter, Lulu, there with him. Like us, he has two little girls, so that’s just another reason Adam feels he can relate to him. During the interview portion of the show, Matthew was asked if it was hard to be on the road when his girls were so young. Matthew stated that he struggled with it a lot and wondered if it was really God’s will to pursue his ministry while leaving his family at home. He said that God has provided ways for things to work out, and now they are able to home-school their girls so his family can be on the road with him when he goes on tour. This is one of those times when Adam looked at me with eyes that said, “Wow, this guy is totally like who I want to be! What is God trying to tell me?!” Adam has talked often, recently, about wondering if God would want him to be away from the girls and our family to pursue music.

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After this amazing performance that will be airing at some point on The Message (Keep an ear out, those of you who have SiriusXM!), we all got to do a little meet-and-greet with Matthew and he signed free CD’s!! Adam is still processing everything that happened in that hour-and-a-half on a Tuesday afternoon! God was definitely speaking and we’ll be keeping everyone updated on the next steps!

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Please check out Matthew West’s music! He’s bringing truth and hope to people in a real way! Artists like him should be supported! I know that he has at least two new devoted fans in Tennessee!

Merry Christmas and see you back at A Dreamer’s Wife in 2013!  I’ll leave all you dreamers with the lyrics to Matthew West’s song, Do Something!

Verse 1:
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Verse 2:
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something (yes, it is)
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

Bridge:
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still (x3)

Chorus:
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

It’s time for us to do something (x2)

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/matthew-west-lyrics-do-something-mdw36nq#ixzz2FhDtRCYs
LetsSingIt – Your favorite Music Community

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Go Irish! 7 Quick Takes (#5)

30 Nov

7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 197)

{1}

I’m just going to go ahead and begin with it – How ’bout them Irish?! Notre Dame is finishing the season at #1 and going to the National Championship! What a crazy, fun season it has been! It’s been great to see this 2012 team be so bonded together and supportive of one another!

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Living in Tennessee, all we hear about is SEC, SEC, and some more SEC, so it will be an interesting game whether Alabama or Georgia wins this Saturday… It’s just going to be hard to wait until January 7th for the game. Let’s go ND! (Cue motivational Rudy theme song!)

Also need to give a shout-out to the ND Men’s Basketball team who beat Kentucky last night! I loved seeing the support from Manti and the entire football team, too!

{2}

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a Tokens Show at the historic Ryman Auditorium the other weekend. It was a nice variety of great music, comedy, and theology. Not too happy about some Catholic jabs (as it is a protestant-based show), but it was good especially since one of my all-time favorite artists, Vince Gill, performed a couple songs! The theme of that night’s show was about coming home, so it was fitting for him to end the show with “Go Rest High On That Mountain”!! The Ryman is where the music video was shot for this song years ago, so it was pretty amazing to hear him live at such a special venue! The only thing missing was the amazing harmony on the chorus, though! If you’re not familiar with the song, you need to check it out now! Close your eyes and listen! You will get goosebumps – guaranteed!

{3}

So… my husband is turning the big 3-0 this coming Monday! I know that 30 is not old, but something about this age just makes you stop and say, “Wow, I’m really an adult now.” I’m only one year behind, so my time is coming soon! I’m so proud of how hard my husband works for our family and what a great father he is to our daughters! I’m very blessed to be married to him. Happy Birthday, Adam! I love you!

{4}

Speaking of Adam working hard for our family, he really has been working his butt off, especially the past few weeks! For example, the guy worked a full shift Friday evening and then worked a double-shift Saturday, slept on the couch at the office overnight (otherwise he only would have gotten 4 hours of sleep at home), and opened the building early at 6:30 am. He then worked another double-shift to cover for a co-worker. Needless to say he was very sleepy Monday morning. Thanks to my mom for offering to watch the girls all day so Adam could get some extra Zzzz’s! Working behind the scenes in the music industry is definitely a service-based job. Plus most days of the week, my husband watches both girls before going to work, so he doesn’t get too much time to rest.

{5}

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And just in case you Nashville fans are interested and missed a previous post, Adam works at Soundcheck where several scenes are filmed. He worked there one day when all four of the large rehearsal rooms were being used for the show and he couldn’t believe how many people are involved in production, etc. I have to say that I’m kind of surprised that Adam is hooked on Nashville now. I didn’t think he’d watch it.  A recent episode actually featured a song written by someone that he played guitar/sang background for and my cousin toured with as a drummer for awhile – Sean McConnell. Adam recognized his song “Kiss” as soon as Avery started singing it. Oh, and you should check out Sean’s music! He’s had several cuts by major artists, including Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw. He’s absolutely one of the truest artists and best songwriters Adam and I have ever heard. You will become addicted to his honest, passionate voice!

{6}

Changing it up… Now that our oldest daughter is 3, we’re trying to figure out just how to handle the whole Santa Claus thing. I’m not one to lie, but as a child there is a certain special magic and mystery when it comes to Santa. Adam found a good book called A Special Place for Santa that starts with Santa feeling bad that so many people are focusing on him instead of Jesus. It then discusses a little bit about the history of St. Nicholas and how he evolved into the Santa legend. It’s a nice book. We also had a family friend give us a book last year that is similar but goes into more detail about how different parts of the world have different names for Saint Nicholas and different traditions. Anybody have any stories or tips about how they portray Santa to their children?

{7}

And just since this is so cute and makes me laugh, I have to share a photo of my 3-year-old’s Christmas tree decorating!

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Her younger sister has pulled them all off a few times now! Good thing for soft, non-breakable ornaments on the bottom of the tree!!!

Be sure to check out Jen’s and today’s other 7 Quick Takes posts at Conversion Diary!

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Nashville: TV vs. Reality

2 Nov

Have you watched Nashville on ABC yet?

Since the show is shot in Nashville (obviously), I wanted to check it out to see where they filmed around the city!  I love the  montage of the different views of Nashville in the beginning of the pilot episode.  It never gets old driving into downtown, especially at night!

Some episodes were also shot at Soundcheck, the rehearsal facility where Adam works, and they are preparing to shoot some more scenes there soon.  Keep an eye out for the Soundcheck logo (it was all over the place in the 2nd episode)!

Okay, so I know this show is a drama, and things tend to be exaggerated on television and movies, but there is one thing that totally irritates me about Nashville.  One of the story lines is about a girl, who didn’t even intend to be a singer/songwriter and never sang into a microphone before, getting discovered at The Bluebird Cafe.

Let me just tell you – no one gets discovered at The Bluebird anymore! That’s so late 80’s/early 90’s!  It’s definitely not how things happen nowadays.  Record executives usually only go to legendary bars in Nashville in the afternoon for artist showcases.

Adam playing in a writer’s round at The Bluebird Cafe

Plus, there are so many talented people in town who are trying to get a record deal, that it is almost insulting to them that they’re featuring a character who stumbles into a huge opportunity the first time she sings at a bar in Nashville.

This show is perpetuating the idea to outsiders who aren’t familiar with how things work that “all you have to do is move to Nashville and you’ll randomly get discovered playing out some night.”  The main reason to play around town is to network with other musicians and songwriters.

Alright, I’m done!  I still plan to keep tabs on the show to see how they continue to feature the city and other landmarks.

Also, did you watch the CMA’s last night?  Adam has been down at the Bridgestone Arena as a ‘tech’ this week.  (Thanks for watching the girls all week Mom and Dad!)  He knows all of the secrets of who actually played/sang and who used tracks, but I won’t tell!

I’m so happy for Little Big Town – they’ve been doing music for a long time and have only started getting recognition in recent years!  I also love how Miranda Lambert individually acknowledged how great each of the other nominees were in the Female Vocalist of the Year category!  Very classy!

If you live in Nashville, or have visited, do you have a favorite place in town?  If you caught the CMA’s, do you have a favorite moment from the show?

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9 Years of Dreaming

7 Jul

This month will be 9 years since Adam packed up everything and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue his dream career in music!  He has often said that he would give himself 10 years to make it, and we are approaching that mark pretty quickly.  This time limit doesn’t really mean anything, though, because we are not going anywhere and Adam is not giving up on his musical aspirations.  Adam would not be “Adam” without his musical talents.  He does not have a back-up college degree.  This is what he was born to do.

Adam Lee singing with The Players in 2006

While thinking about this today, I recalled what Matthew Kelly writes in the beginning of The Rhythm of Life (pgs. 9-11):

If you don’t know what you want from life, everything will appear either as an obstacle or as a burden.  But one of the great lessons of history is that the whole world gets out of the way for people who know what they want or where they are going.  Be assured, if you don’t know where you are going, you are lost.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Do not say, “I am too old.”                                                            

Do not say, “I’m too young.”

Tiger Woods was three years old when he shot 48 for nine holes on his hometown golf course in Cypress, California.

Julie Andrews was eight years old when she mastered an astounding four-octave singing range.

Mozart was eight years old when he wrote his first symphony. […]

Bill Gates was nineteen years old when he co-founded Microsoft. […]

Thomas Jefferson was thirty-three years old when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. […]

Oscar Hammerstein II was sixty-four years old when he wrote the lyrics for The Sound of Music. […]

Nelson Mandela was seventy-one years old when he was released from a South African prison.  Four years later he was elected president of South Africa.

Michaelangelo was seventy-two years old when he designed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. […]

Dimitrion Yordanidis was ninety-eight years old when he ran a marathon in seven hours and thirty-three minutes, in Athens, Greece.

Ichijirou Araya was one hundred years old when he climbed Mount Fuji.

Whether you are sixteen or sixty, the rest of your life is ahead of you.  You cannot change one moment of your past, but you can change your whole future.  Now is your time.

I love what Matthew Kelly writes about here.  I think we often give up on our dreams too soon because we don’t value our gifts enough and truly believe that God can do anything at anytime.  In Adam’s case, he often feels like his weight is holding him back.  He has struggled with this for a long time and it prevents him from thinking he deserves his chance to be successful yet.  Even though he writes amazing songs, has an outstanding voice, plays several instruments, and is very knowledgeable about different aspects of music and performing, he still lets this one thing hold such a significant place in his mind.

People are capable of amazing things with God’s grace.  He wants us to use the talents that he has given us.  Our dreams are what make us unique and give us purpose.  We just need to learn to have faith in God’s timing and have confidence that he will lead us to where we are meant to be.  This, of course, is easier said than done, but Adam and I are not going to lose hope!

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Idealistic Visions – A Good Laugh!

8 Jun

Today, I was thinking about how naive and idealistic I have been in the past about some things in regards to Adam’s music career and my life as a mommy…

I was fortunate enough to have a mother who was able to stay at home with me since the time I was born.  So for most of my life, I pictured myself as a stay-at-home mom, as well.  When I graduated college and got married, I figured I’d work for a couple of years and then be able to stay home whenever our first child was born.  I thought,  “Of course, Adam will make it by then and be able to support us on all the money he will be getting from his record deal!”  Then, after our first daughter was born, I thought, “Well, by the time God decides we’re ready for a second child, Adam will probably be successful enough that I won’t have to work outside the home then!”  Here I am, two children later, and I still have a full-time job!  (I do enjoy my job as a supervisor at a community mental health agency, though.)  Sometimes I get discouraged, but I feel so strongly that God has given Adam his musical gifts for a reason, that I continue to have faith that we will both be able to pursue the dreams that we have for our lives.  I feel very blessed that God has provided a way for my daughters to be taken care of by my husband and parents when I am working.  Adam usually has a flexible schedule during the week, since he is gone several months out of the year on the weekends.  It is nearly a miracle that my parents live close to us.  My dad retired unexpectedly early and my parents moved down to Tennessee only four months after our two-year-old was born!

Another instance that makes me shake my head, is in regards to an interesting story about Rascal Flatts.  When I was in high school, several of us loved this group that was up-and-coming at the time.  Adam, a friend, and I found out that they were going to be playing at a 21-and-over club close by on the night of my 18th birthday.  My friend’s mom and one of her friends decided to go to the show, so we recorded a video for them to give to Rascal Flatts about how much we loved their music.  Adam sang an original song and we all wrote our phone numbers and addresses on the VHS tape, as if they would contact one of us immediately and get Adam a record deal!  Ha!  I think it is absolutely hilarious that we thought a new group would actually be able to/want to pull strings for a 19-year-old guy in Indiana based on our videotape!  Like they didn’t have enough to worry about with getting their own career started!

Anyway, to finish the story, the VHS tape was delivered to them that night and I received a birthday card signed by all three of the group members!  About a month later, we drove to a nearby state to see them do an acoustic performance/interview.  We stood in line so we could meet them after the show.  We asked them about the video and they said that they had watched it!  Later that year, after Adam had moved to Nashville, he actually ran into Joe Don Rooney at a music store.  They talked for a little bit and he told Adam that we were lucky he watched our video tape.  He also said that he remembered his voice.   Kinda cool, huh?!

Obviously, after living in Nashville for awhile, we have found out how things really work in this town.  If someone “makes it” soon after moving here, he or she is extremely blessed.  Adam has found that many people like his voice and think that he is talented, but they have not taken any further steps to help him get his career moving.  I think a lot of people who aren’t familiar with the music business in Nashville wonder why Adam still hasn’t “made it” after almost 9 years of being down here.  Adam has spent the last several years trying to find his way.  He has pursued different projects that did not develop into anything and he has improved his songwriting skills.  Just recently, he has learned to trust his talent for coming up with catchy melodies and writing good songs.  I feel that God has been molding Adam and teaching him different things to get him ready for a certain path.  Adam has admitted that he doesn’t know what direction to go and is putting total faith in God.  He is committed to working hard to better himself physically and prepare mentally and spiritually for this journey ahead.  I know that God will bring the right people along to fulfill whatever plan he has for Adam.  It’s all in God ‘s time.  Stay tuned…

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CMA Music Festival Week

6 Jun

Riverfront Park Stage in Nashville - CMA Fest 2008

It’s that time of year in Nashville when you actually see cowboy hats all over town.  It’s CMA Music Fest this week, formerly known as Fan Fair, when tourists and country music fans come from all over to attend concerts and fan appreciation parties for their favorite artists.

This is always a busy week for Adam.  As he has the past few years, he will be playing a few gigs at some clubs in town with Emma Jacob.   And for the past several years, Adam has been a tech at LP Field for the headliners’ shows.  He works a 16-hour-day four days in a row.  His job is to make sure the music equipment is working appropriately on stage.  He enjoys being able to catch up with his musician buddies who are playing with major artists.  Of course, he hopes to be performing on that big stage himself one day.

Adam on the big screen at Riverfront park - CMA Music Fest 2008

Adam will be doing a lot of running around over the next few days.  Add in some hot weather (it seems to be unbearable every year), and it is definitely exhausting, not only for Adam, but for most people involved!  It seems like summer is officially here whenever the CMA Music Fest rolls around!

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Small Steps

4 Jun

I’ve talked with Adam on the phone a few times this weekend while he has been in North Carolina and he told me about some things that he wants to start doing.  One of the things he is considering being a part of is, the volunteer organization, Musicians On Call.  They have a Bedside Performance Program where artists play songs to uplift the spirits of hospital patients.  To learn more about this neat organization, go to www.musiciansoncall.org. I hope that he decides to do it.  I think it would be a very rewarding experience and people would love to hear his music!

Another thing that Adam wants to pursue to promote his music, is to release a cover song weekly on YouTube.  Adam feels that since he does not fit into the Nashville mold, he has to try to “think outside this town” to bring awareness to his music and his voice.  Adam also tried out for Simon Cowell’s upcoming reality show, “The X-Factor,” over a month ago via a studio audition.  Since so many people tried out using this method and they extended the days that people could audition, it has taken awhile for the producers to evaluate all of the videos.  Hopefully, he will be hearing back soon! And if not, we know that God has another plan…

Adam was able to get some good video of some of his performances from this weekend.  Hopefully I will be able to post some soon!

Changing the subject, but staying with the theme of “small steps,” our 2 year old learned to go on the potty today – 4 times!  Don’t worry, I do not plan to make bathroom talk a fixture in my blog!  I’m just a proud mommy right now!

Enjoy the weekend!

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New Direction

23 May

I added a picture to my first blog the other night of Adam and me the summer he moved down to Nashville. He is wearing a black cowboy hat and has a guitar strapped over his shoulder. You may think that he has a twang in his voice, if you didn’t know him! He actually has a pop/rock/r&b voice and has finally been writing songs that fit his vocal style. His melodies get stuck in your head for days, too! He has grown so much since he started writing songs over 10 years ago. It’s fun to look back and see how things evolve. We’ll see how he can break the Nashville mold now. He is definitely not a cookie-cutter artist, so we’ll just have to see where the journey goes. Needless to say, there’s no more cowboy hat (and hasn’t been for awhile)! Check out his music at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adam-Lee/107793982609919.  He’d love feedback!

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