TCTJS1118

Entertainment Beat
The Midnight Cowboy
Since I began my radio career while still a
teenager in my hometown, Shamrock, Texas,
I’ll soon be able to state that I have been a
fixture in broadcasting for 70 years! Although
I’m no longer doing a daily radio program,
I’m still attached to radio by participating in
interviews and other bits of activity. When
some well-known country music artist passes
away, I can expect telephone calls from a
number of radio stations asking for my opinion
of the deceased performer. In some cases,
especially if the artist was a bit up-in-years,
I’m among the very few remaining who knew
him/her personally.
I suppose my being active for so many
years in an industry that is somewhat
unpredictable makes me eligible for some
awards. Thankfully, I’ve received my share.
However, my most noted award was presented
to me for my songwriting. In 1996, LeAnn
Rimes recorded my musical composition,
“Blue”, turning it into a smash hit. In 1997,
I was invited to New York City where I
was honored with a Grammy after “Blue”
was chosen as the “Country Music Song-ofthe-Year
for 1996”. “Blue” was also chosen
as the best country music song-of-the-year
1996 by the Academy of Country Music in
Los Angeles. Both cherished awards were
presented to me on network TV. I’ll always
remember how I attempted to make my
acceptance speech in Los Angeles. As I
studied those seated in the audience, some
of them authentic super-stars, I developed
a serious state of the “jitters”. I thanked the
music publishing company that had “Blue”
in their vault, I thanked the radio stations for
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