On Friday June 25, 2010 the one and only Emmylou Harris came to visit on the Midday Mix..and stayed on air for an hour-and-a-half! She was eloquent, natural, beautiful and completely humble. I didn't want to see her go! The response was overwhelming on the AM 1690 website, facebook, twitter and in-person.
Atlanta music legend Emory Gordy, Jr. was also present. He was a gracious guest with a shared history with Emmylou. They met in Gram Parson's band in the early 1970's when she was singing and he was playing bass. They continued to work together in Emmylou's Hot Band and many other situations. Gordy was the producer of Emmylou's Ballad of Sally Rose. He has compiled a dream list of musical credits as a player and producer including work with Elvis Presley, Bill Monroe, Billy Joel, George Jones, Neil Diamond, and many many others.
At Emmylou's concert at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens that night, well wishers enthusiastically offered encouragement and support for me and AM 1690. As well, Emmylou - at two different points in her concert - waxed poetically about WMLB and independent radio, as she had during our on air interview.
Liked her a lot! Thanks, Emmylou.
On Tuesday June 29, 2010 the craziness continued when I attended soundcheck for the Sting concert at Chastain Park . I was with my friend Teri, whose sister and bro-in-law are close with Sting. Some corporate types from Xerox were also there. As we arrived, onstage was Sting, the Royal Philharmonic and a couple of corporate chicks sitting in singing.
He asked for some guys to come up next so I raised my hand and he asked me and three others to head up for "Englishman in New York." Once up there one of the Xerox guys said, "Hey, this isn't Roxanne." Sting graciously switched songs and we commenced to singing Roxanne. He got it started and we had fun singing and switching off from verse to chorus, etc.
Told him who I was with & pointed her out. He said hey over the mic to her. Leaving early, he spotted us at the top of the stairs and asked, "where are you going, Teri?" I mimed the sledge hammer. "Oh, going to work. See you. Your friend's a good singer and is ready for his second career."
Right on, Sting!
