December 17, 2019 • 40 mins
Darin and Brooke Aldridge, award-winning husband and wife entertainers, share their story of love and music as they begin their journey into superstardom. Brooke is now a three-time Female Vocalist award winner from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Darin has already received the IBMA's coveted Mentor Award for using his extraordinary talents to cultivate the gifts of more than 1,000 aspiring singers and musicians. A seemingly low-key and seriously talented couple, Darin and Brooke explode with personality and unexpected humor on-stage AND at the microphones with Crook & Chase!
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Charlie Chason, Lorianne Crook here Nashville chats with bluegrass stars
Darren and Brooke Aldridge. This time around, they are an
(02:08):
award winning husband and wife team, massively talented singers and musicians.
I agree the new album is Inner Journey, and this
duo is so good that their fan base includes superstars
like Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. Now I met Darren
and Brooke Aldridge on the country music cruise that I
host every year. They were all the buzz back in January,
(02:31):
many of the country fans discovering Darren and Brooke for
the first time and loving it. Now, besides the music,
the three of us did Charlie, Oh my gosh, it
was a really fun cooking demonstration on the ship. And
that's where I discovered that the Aldridges have a sense
of fun and humor that they sneak into everything they do.
And my friends, you're about to get a big dose
(02:53):
of that, along with the positive vibes they bring to
everything they do. May I introduce you to Darren Brooke Aldridge.
They are chefs extraordinary. I don't know about that. I
had benefit. That's true, that's true, that's true. Earlier this
(03:13):
year on the country music cruise, I had my hands fooled.
You had your hands full. We decided to do a
cooking demo and I helped you make your special dip
that just went over greatly. And you all helped me
make my mom's nineteen sixties meatballs. You know, the old
things when you put the toothpick through them, and poor
(03:35):
Darren had the job of putting on the prostate gloves exactly.
So we made him, yes, put on the gloves and
mix the meatball mixture and the meat and all kind
of things with my hands. I mean, it was awesome.
(03:56):
And that's when Brooke blushed. I had a heart stopping moment, Charlie,
because we were cooking onions and I don't know what
it is, but this this hot plight we were cooking
on was just screaming hot. And I dumped the onions
(04:18):
in right when Broke was standing in front of it.
At all of that like onion oil went like up
into your face. I was scared to death. You wouldn't
be able to sing that night. Well I pulled it
off just fine, So maybe it opened me up a
little bit better. She went backstage and did something. Well, man,
(04:38):
I asked who had the horrible task of eating that stuff?
The guests on the crew there dip ended up on
the menu that night, so everybody on the ship could
order it. Yeah, all right, So maybe I should ask
Laurien this, which are the two of you? Is the
true cruise master? In other words, who spends most at
(05:00):
the time of the buffet. That probably okay, casino okay,
thrown off, thrown up off the side of the boat,
that would probably be. Yeah. Since we've been on cruises,
I get, I get the dizziness and all that stuff
going on. So what do you guys? Obviously obviously you perform.
(05:23):
We know that conviently. They keep us all busy, don't they?
And may I say, Charlie, every year we have artists
who are just the hit of the entire cruise. You're
looking at him, yes, Darren Brood, all right, I have
a question about blue grass music because that's very prominent
where I'm from up in East Tennessee. Um can a
(05:47):
bluegrass song to be played identically the same more than once? Probably?
Probably not? But why would exactly? Ricky has this whole thing.
We've worked with Ricky a lot, and we understand the
(06:07):
picky Ricky thing. Now whoa sound check goes on forever.
So he may say you have to play the same
every time. I don't know. There's so much improv beauty
of it. Yeah, yeah, it's pretty close. Well, you can
get pretty close if you do a song like I
was listening to the album Teach your children that's Crosby, Stills, Nash,
you know those guys. And when once you get into
(06:30):
a mood or something like that, then yeah, you're gonna
be playing identical. But there's some of that ad libbing
going on, you know where some guy goes rogue and
you're you're looking at him with what's he playing? You
know own kind of thing every song? Right right? Yeah?
Look are you the rogue type? I love the improv
of it. That's I guess why I got into playing
more instruments and in bluegrass. I was come up in
(06:53):
kind of jazz music through high school and junior high
playing in concert band, marching band, and I love that aspect.
And then I got into high school to play in bluegrass.
That was just you know, beauty. You can just improve
over solos, and you know, it helps to know the melody,
of course, well, but some some some players will get
just thrice over anything, you know, but playing the song
(07:16):
is is a beautiful thing, and that's what makes more
tasteful players, I guess how they can play that melody
with a good embellishment. Here's my observation of bluegrass music.
I think it's just kind of opposite of mainstream music,
and I'll tell you why. I think a lot of
people will appreciate it more once they see it live.
If they see it live, they'll go buy it. If
(07:38):
they hear it first, you know on on the radio,
there hesitant to probably go see you. But I think
if if somebody sees you guys in person, you want
them over instantly. Because I think there's magic in bluegrass music.
I don't know what it is. Do you have an
answer for that? Not really, like you say, a live
performance by anybody, you know, just prime examples. You know
(08:01):
when Munro took the stage with Flatt and Scrugs, you
know they're at the Rhymen. I mean, it just exploded
the place. I got to see that live and then
everybody was bluegrass fans after that. Well, so are we.
In fact, congratulations are in order for your lovely wife.
I think I think maybe Darren should announce the newest accolade. Yes,
(08:22):
she is three time Female Vocalist of the Year for
the International Blue Gass Music Association. Thank you three years
in a row too. How many times did you vote?
You just voted twice? Just minded. But she's always been
my female vocalist first day and listen. I want to
(08:46):
I want to hear about the first time you ever
saw her, because I know that you come from the
same neck of the woods as Charlie was talking about earlier,
and your family and friends kept telling each of you
about the other. So I'm always interested to know a
little bit about the love story. And when when you
did first see her and you heard that voice that
(09:07):
everybody had been talking about, describe that moment well, I
immediately wanted to sing with her. Um when she was
singing that day with two other guys that they had
a band in their church there and I was coming
to fill in, and I was been in bands, you
know the country, gentleman. I was with Charlie Waller for
years and it was a big harmony band and I
just love that. And my influences is of course events
(09:30):
and Ricky and so many of them. So I immediately
was drawn to her her voice and wanted to sing.
So I kind of noticed the two other guys out
of the way, and it's like, let me let me
sing on this next number with Okay, no, but you
know she's the same today as she was then. That's
probably thirteen years ago, was it first sight? It was
(09:54):
for me, you know. We they asked me to come
and do that church that morning to meet her, and
then they was playing every Tennessee then that night, and
I kind of, you know, I'll drive on behind you'all
and go with you and be there tonight too. Did
you realize he was this slick and diabolical? She did,
yeah pretty quick because I was like, yeah, I hardly
(10:16):
know this guy and he's already nudging the other two
out of the way. He's got some scheme going here,
some planned And then he kept asking me before we
left the church, the first church we played that day,
he was like, what do you want me to go
tonight for tonight set? And I'm like, you can go
if you want to. I don't care. You know, my friend,
my best friend, Natalie said this could be the guy
you marry, and I thought, don't say that, you don't
(10:37):
know him. What if young? Quite young? Yeah, he definitely
robbed the cradles by. Yeah, we're not that. It's like
six years different. So your whole life, Brog. People have
been telling you family friends, I know, people only church
(10:57):
uh had been telling you how exceptional your voice is.
You want so many vocal contests so how do you
And I know it's hard to talk about your own
talent without feeling uncomfortable about it. But here we are
the third IBM, A female vocal a stward. When when
you sing or when you hear the records back, do
(11:20):
you understand what other people try to explain to you
about your own voice? Um? And and I guess to
an extent I do. Um. But you know, like everybody
probably says, I really don't like to hear myself. You know,
it's like, you know, it's like hearing yourself on the
answer machine or something. You know you sound you feel
like you sound corny or cheesy or something. But I
(11:41):
think as the years of went on and I've gotten
more confident in my in my singing, Um, I feel
like I've gotten I've gotten better, Yes, um because and
the people tell me that a lot too. They'll say, well,
you know, when you first started, you were you seem
to all hesitant, was like you couldn't sing as strong.
And I said, well that was just my nerves and
kind of getting over that, you know, that part of
moving on up on in the musical business. So um,
(12:04):
So I don't know. I guess it could go both ways.
I do. There are some things when I sing, I'm like, man,
I kind of had a hand of Dolly or Emily
right there. So yeah, that's good. She's had a lot
of help over the last couple of years. Was singing
with such great vocalist too, with Jimmy Fortune. We get
to go out with him some and John Cowen, and
(12:25):
we sang with vents On on the records, you know,
a couple of times, and she sings with you and
and well you kept looking at you winking, so I
thought I have to say that because he's egging me
on like that. Well, I just like both of you.
One little little type picture here, you know on the cover,
which is do you often sing face to face like that? Not?
(12:50):
Not so much. I mean, if we get to use
the one mike, we will do them just a little
bit taller than her um. But in the studio we
love to sing together as we put something down. I
think that magic is always there, and we we liked that.
The first couple of records we did, they tried to
separate us or heard us sing her part at one time.
Then we come back in. It was a lot better
(13:10):
if we could do it together. You have to do it,
and you know you've always done your music your own way,
inner journey, Darren, you have said that this feels like
a new beginning. Is part of it because of the
new record label? Or is part of it also because
of the actual music you chose to be on the album.
I think over the last ten years and more, since
(13:31):
we've been recording it's it has grown and this is
our most mature record. I guess you could say, now
that's interesting in what way? Why do you use the
word mature, Just just like you said the material that
we have chosen, you know, as we've got to grow older, Um,
the more things that have come our way, and you know,
(13:51):
just Lord's blessing how much we've come in ten years, um,
with her awards, the people we've got meet, I mean,
just sitting here talking to y'all, folks, you know, it's
been great. I watched y'all, you know for so many
years growing up to Indian and it meet Ricky and
Vince and calling them friends and having them call us
(14:14):
all the time. I mean, we're just blessed because you
you were just a teenager right when you sort of
fell in love with Vince Gills, his talent. Now he's
like he's like writing your liner notes saying that you're
the best thing that's come along in a long time.
We're just overwhelmed in our our thoughts of this, the
blessings that's coming come across and now with round the records,
(14:36):
and it is a new beginning force and we just
hope to keep going forward from here. We are visiting
with Darren and Brooke aldridgeral National Chats. They are stars
in the world of bluegrass music. And when we come back,
how this husband and wife get along working side by
side every minute of every day. And it's pretty funny too.
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dot com for a quote today. In high school, I
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(15:44):
and I think it's what you mean, like not hard,
I should say, but like it's very different knowing nothing
but long term relationships and then moving into like the
single lifestyle. That's like quote dating around and like feeling
people out. It's kind of been something interesting to navigate.
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inquisitive as you know if you've watched US on radio,
watched US on TV and let's just on the radio. Okay,
is this a set up for your Howard string question? Okay,
I could come up with one. Oh, for those who
have never been to a blue grass concert, how rowdy?
Can it get pretty rowdy? I mean there's like crowdsurfing
(17:34):
and stuff like that. No, no, not that, not unless
you were a new grass revival. By the way, new
grass revival. Does John Collen still work with him at all?
He's just he's been SOLA for quite some time. Yeah,
he's stilling with the Debbie Brothers. And then we do
maybe twenty shows a year with him in the last
several years. Well, he says he takes any opportunity to
(17:57):
work with the two of you. He loved. I mean
just that, the vocals, the musicianship. He loves. She was people.
Obviously you talk about these collaborations, you know, events playing
with the Eagles next year on tour and all that.
How easy is it in bluegrass to interchange, Like if
somebody calls it, I need a sub real quick, can
you come over and do it? I love to do that,
(18:19):
Always got to do it. I got to play early
on when I was with the Country Joan, when I'd
go out some with the Isaacs and with Blue Highway,
and I remember playing with Mike Wiseman and Mike Snyder
and you're just so on anywhere that I could be
involved and meet new people and wanted to perform. It
was a challenge for me, and I just do it
(18:40):
at the drop of a hat. So you could you
get to the point where you you feel the music,
you know exactly what your role is, whether you know
what's supposed to be or not. Right absolutely, I still
fill in some with John Jordansen's bluegrass band. Now with
our Buddy Mark. We talked about herb Peterson, and I
enjoyed that. It's just a different hat to put on,
(19:02):
you know, besides what we're doing. And I think that's
why John enjoyed getting to do with it what he
did with us with a musicianship and singing, because I
was such a new grass fan and studied that so much.
When he come to the house to do the first show,
I mean, I knew everything he was going to throw
out before we made a set list, and we could
both sing the parts. And it's like John thought, hey,
(19:24):
this is easy. We got it. I mean, even even
down to the guitar breaks and the mandolin breaks that
Darren was playing. You know, he was playing it just
like the record. I tried to learn all that. I'm
still a student. So well, it was awesome, and I
think you've really surprised him what I broke when when
you and Darren first, I mean you got together, you
got married, and you a touring couple, record making couple,
(19:44):
and so forth. He had some years in the business.
What have you learned over these years from you know,
just about the business and you know, being in charge
of your career. I mean, this is a pretty big thing.
You our big time. It's a it's a lot to handle. Yeah,
I mean I didn't realize, I guess, you know, when
(20:05):
I was younger, I didn't realize how much business was
behind everything. I just always heard, oh, go to Nashville
and you'll make it, you know. It's it's not like
that though, you know. There's so much that goes along
with it. And I think a lot of times people
think you just go out and have a good time
and you know, you don't have to worry about anything
but getting up on the stage and singing. But it's
that's not the truth, you know. I mean just the
traveling in itself is exhausting, and um, you know, setting
(20:27):
up your merch table and learning how to interact with
the crowd even at the merch table to sell your stuff,
and then being on stage and being an entertainer you know, Um,
it's about connecting with the audience every time you get
up there. So, um, He's taught me so much about
that because when we first started playing, I was this little,
quite sheltered person. I didn't say hardly anything, and I
didn't play at all on stage. And so I've learned
(20:49):
to play guitar. Now, um on a couple of songs,
I do some stuff and UM him and I do
some stuff without the whole band behind us too, just
to have a different setting for a few minutes. And
then you know, it's just about, like I said, connecting
with the audience and being a good entertainer. So it's
he's he's really been a huge mentor to me. Um. Yeah, well,
speaking of that, that reminds me because a couple of
(21:09):
years ago, you got the Mentoring Award at the International
bluegress Music Association and I have never heard of that
type of an award before, but I respect that so much.
Can you explain to everybody what that means and what
it's about. Um? IB may put it out maybe five
or six years ago. They started doing that and it's
part of their Momentum Awards category that they do during
(21:32):
the luncheon that year. And the Mentor Award was just
people that produce, teach, help younger folks come up in
the business. And I qualified for all that and was
nominated by several different folks on the committee there. And
I do a lot with Earl Scrugs Center and Shelby
which is close to our hometown. I've been teaching since
(21:54):
I was probably nineteen, so I don't know. I've probably
taught over the years, maybe close two thousand people they're
around town. When I was with the Country Gentleman, I
probably had fifty or sixty a week that I taught,
you know. And then over time people grows older and
have ball games, and they go to do another things
(22:14):
and things rotate out. So I've probably kept up with
about that many if I go back through my sheets
and some of them, yeah, that's right, you said it.
But I've helped, Uh, I've helped some bands come across
and come up from our area. And then with the
record company was with with Crossroads Mountain Home, I started
helping produce a few different records there too. So I
(22:37):
just always enjoyed giving back to the community or two
younger folks since I'm getting a little bit older now
and get to see a lot of folks come come
across and learn to play and sing and write. And
our fiddle player with us as uh Carly Arwood. And
we first met her she was maybe fifteen, is that right, Broke.
We met her at a camp over in Morganton at
(22:58):
Red White and Bluegrass festival, and clearly her and her
sister was the best folks that was there out of
probably eighty kids there. And um, the next year she
sent an email to us that she wanted to go
out on the road with us, and we thought she
was too young at the time, but we were remembered
her very well. The next year, we needed somebody and
(23:19):
our fiddle player at the time was leaving, so we
both talked and said, let's give Carly a chance, and
uh she came in and filled with in with us
baby guest on you there, and from then on she
started singing and playing. And it's been very good to
see her grow over the years. And I'm real hard
on her because I've seen especially so much talent that
(23:42):
she had when she was young, you know, and she's
a very good singer. Helped push her into being a
great backup fiddle player behind vocalists, because she's never really
was doing that when she was a teenager. That much
she sang, but you know, she couldn't sing and play
fiddle to herself. But working behind a great vocalists like
Brooke the importance of that. And then she's made her
(24:03):
own record now and she got the Momentum Instrumentalist of
the Year in two thousand seventeen. Amazing. I'm trying. I'm
trying to envision you being stern. Oh yeah, producer. Now right,
Brooke as a producer. I mean, you have a lot
on your shoulders. You better be sting. But I mean,
he's so nice and easy going. But you haven't got
(24:24):
the Darren Aldrich when upon, yeah, you shoot us that look.
Darren can know what that looks like. I'll never look
at you that one. I do it to Charlie. That's easy.
It's like I've seen his looks now. I've been saying
that since I was a kid. Do that thing with eyebrow.
It was really good. Oh yeah, I remember. Okay, not
(24:46):
to drop names, but it's so interesting to me when
you have a husband and wife working together. My husband
and I have worked together for more than thirty years,
and so we know the good parts about it and
how challenging it can be. Garth and Tricia, of Worst
have been friends for a long time. Mary worked together
all the time. They admitted to us quite a few
years ago that when they go into the studio together
(25:09):
in the car driving to the studio, they fight all
the way there after they record, they fight all the
way back home. What did you guys fight about on
the oil over here? We we really don't fight, you know.
I mean I don't like, like I say, with with
Carly and sometimes and I've done that in the past.
I have prush push Brooke more than what she thought
(25:31):
she could do. Really, yeahs Younger because well, well, like
I said earlier, I've I've just always been so much
more reserved and shy. And Darren he's just always believed
in me, I guess more so than myself. I don't have.
I've never really had that much self confidence. Um. So
he's really brought me out of my show and helped
(25:53):
me prove to myself that I can do anything I
set my mind too, you know. And and really, like
he said to going out with John Cowen and Jimmy
and and us three singing together and us singing with Carlie,
like it just when you hear that sound and you
you see the audiences reaction, it's like, well, I really
do think I'm doing what I'm supposed to be. You know,
there's there's some reason that we're getting a reaction out
(26:15):
of our music like we are. Um, so I must be.
I must be pretty good so well, and here's something
I want to know. If you're pretty good at, what
have you brought out in Darren that maybe he didn't
know existed? Goodness? Let's see, he's pretty confident. So that's
(26:36):
a hard one. No, I think, honestly, I think. I
think we balance each other out. I think we balance
each other out really well. Okay, so we know what
that really means. More fun with Darren and Brooke Aldridge
(26:57):
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I'm a car guy. Are you still in the garage
It's two in the morning. Almost done? Okay, I'm a
car fanatic. eBay Motors, let's ride. There's so much demand
(28:47):
when you're in a business like this. Your moment ago,
we're talking about setting up merch tables working with the fans, uh, practicing, rehearsing,
traveling all this heading into this initially, did you think
it was gonna be this difficult and this demanding? I didn't.
Um It's changed a lot since we started, especially since
(29:11):
the first time I was you know, went on stage
and performed with the country gentleman. Everything was easy at
that time because Charlie was a legend in bluegrass music.
So all the places we played were full, all the
festivals was packed, and the lines at the record table
was huge, you know. But when he passed and we
kind of some of the guys put together another band,
(29:32):
we've seen how hard it was, you know, all those
years we've been with him, you know, that didn't matter anymore.
We were nobody, you know, as a bluegrass band, and
and things really changed. And about that times, when Old
Brother came out, a lot of folks started paying attention
again more to bluegrass music, and you know, then the
wave came. But then the business model was really involved
(29:57):
at that time as well. So I learned real quick
you better pay attention and really start working on that
side of thing other than just what music. And you
can circle up as a band wise well and nowadays,
you know, you don't have to sit around and you know,
wait for a station or whatever to to play your music.
With all the social media and so many different platforms,
(30:18):
you can give fans what they want. And you know,
people from all over the world stumble upon. I mean
even little Taylor Swift way back when before knew who
she was. So are you taking advantage of social media
in that way? Just to put your stuff out there
as much as possible. You do a lot of live videos.
(30:39):
We put up some live performances, and then if we're
getting like when we got ready to do the record,
we do it like little sneak pig peaks of what
we was fixing the record. You know, anything, any kind
of inside thing we can give fans and followers. That's
what we try to do, speaking of inside things when
fans and by the way, this is such a relaxing
album to listen to. When fans picked this album and
(31:03):
they start to listen to, what do you want them
to know going in? What are they listening for? What
are you hoping they hear an inner journey? Um? I
hope that they hear something that sparks that emotion, you know,
takes them back to a place in time because a
lot of the songs, um are songs from their past
that we enjoyed here and on the radio and we
were kids. Not all of them. I mean, I've got
(31:23):
an original tune on there too, um. And then we've
got some some other songs by good friends here in
town that are songwriters. UM. But you know, just just
happy moments, I suppose, because we try to put out
positive messages and yeah, I love and life. You know,
it's songs about um, love and life and connecting with
(31:44):
people in some way, so you can anybody can connect
with something on the song. I think, which reminds me.
A great friend of ours is the fabulous Robert Orman,
who I know wrote all about this album and he
said something so interesting, sting that he says that he
feels the source of the magic for your music is
(32:08):
the fact that it's based on your love for each other.
Would you agree with that that that first and foremost
that's what makes your music unique? Definitely, Absolutely, It all
started with that. And you know, our drive, our our
love for each other, you know, our faith, and we've
built everything about around that. Well. With that said that,
(32:32):
which song or maybe a couple of songs on this
album do you think most exemplifies the way you two
feel about each other? Um, definitely when you love someone. Yeah,
that one and and probably lone journey to at the
end the Doc Watson song. Yeah, you know a great
story with that. He was at Doc's house there and
(32:56):
Deep Gap, North Carolina, right outside of Wilkes Burrow. And
I guess that's one we first really knew that they
wrote that song, him and Rosalie. Well, I think Rosalie
wrote the majority of it sweeping her kitchen. Um, I
know that's what Yeah. Yeah, and just how you know
when they got to heaven they would see Merle and
(33:16):
Doc would get to see Merle with his own eyes
for the very first time, you know. So just that
song to me talks about the life that they lived
and how they grew old together and then they would
see each other again in heaven because one goes before
the other in the song. Um, so, and I see
our life playing out that way in a lot of ways.
So beautiful. So were you mopping the floor when you
wrote Someone's Everything? Well, yes, no, which I do on
(33:41):
a daily basis. No, I never had time to moup
befloor is the bad thing. Um No. I was actually
scholling through Facebook when I wrote Someone's Everything. A teacher
of mine from high school was sending out advice to
her son who was fixing to graduate college as a teacher,
and uh and that's where the idea came from, because
she was telling on him, Uh no matter what kind
(34:02):
of day he was having or the kids was having
to remember that they were someone's everything. And I just
got to think, and I was like, that's perfect. And
I come I come from a school, public school setting.
I used to work in the school system, so, um,
I know how it is to work with kids and
you never know what they're coming from from their home life. Um.
So that was really important for me to kind of
to get that message out there to everybody. It can
(34:23):
can relate to guys and girls, you know, well think
about it. Wouldn't that change the world if everybody felt that? Absolutely.
I think that's part of you know, because my mom
was a school teacher in the Nashville area elementary school
teacher for gosh over thirty years, and that was, you know,
part of the problem seeing um, just how our society
(34:44):
was going some what the wrong way that so many
kids didn't feel like they were loved or connected or
important or smart. And um, I think this song says
all of that, thank you, thank you, alosing what kind
of students were you in I was a very athletic one.
(35:04):
I played a lot of sports. Um and of course
the community always surrounded me in our music or my music. UM.
So I would sing the national anthem at most of
our ball games and things like that. So I got
I got support from both ends of the things that
I loved and um and just always you know, encouragement
to follow any dream that I had for myself. So,
(35:25):
so you actually played sports I did. I played just
about anything I could. So you can kick Darren's but
you know what time you want. I'm tough. It doesn't
show on the outside, but when it comes down to it, Yeah,
definitely the Darren and high school guys get into music
to me, girls, yes, you could say that you can't
(35:45):
talk about that he's a married man. But I got
on their music real early early on, and I found
that out pretty quick. You could sing a pretty love song,
play guitar. They would gather around pretty quick, wouldn't he man? So, So,
how old were you at this point? Oh, I started.
I really when I started doing things on my own
(36:06):
play and I was probably twelve thirteen, so you heard
it really hit when I was fifteen or sixteen. Yeah,
he thank you. How's watching y'all show? I wanted to
be like you man, it's it's it's a burden. Somebody's
(36:28):
got to do it. I know strong. I'm going to
change the sub chunky, We're all right. I think it's
the long black train. No, I have to know this,
so I can't each of you make the other cry
(36:49):
just singing or playing. Yes, so what's happened? And it
depends on how much of in the moment you are,
you know, And if if I'm not focused on other
things in my mind, like when I'm trying to sing
a you know, if I just focus on him, if
we have a moment at the miclux on our cv
CD cover, yeah, I could definitely stand and cry. But
we've you know, there's been moments we've been driving back
(37:11):
from like Nashville from the opera, getting to do stuff
like that, and experiences that we've had, and we'll be
talking about it like can you believe we just got
to do that? And we'll just boo hoo. Yeah, I
mean we both have so well. I hate mentioned the
opera you're on tonight, right, we were going from here,
I guess probably get something to eat and then go
to And I know you've been Oprey favorites for a
few years. You've done it numerous times. I've lost count.
(37:34):
You've been on so many times. So thank you for
your music. You bless you well. Thank you for your
kind words, and we we appreciate you. Yeah, we've always admired
you both. So next time you make those meatballs, just
send some over all, right, he'll he'll send the gloves
back to Glos like those gloves. Yes, he did come home. Man,
(37:58):
you hate a big deal. I made a big deal
out to do something. You gotta do something. I know.
You can't just sit there and it's just like not
like an o J thing. You know, they're seriously comedy.
It's it's fabulous music and part comedy with much fun. Yeah,
(38:20):
you never know what you're gonna face when you have
a husband and wife who worked together side by side
all the time. But they get along so well. Their
personalities are such a beautiful blend. There are a lot
of fun to be around well, and they have this
great combination of love for each other, faith, humor, music.
Their major award winners other superstars are their fans. I
(38:41):
call that living large. Well get their new album It's
called Inner Journey, its own Rounder Records, Darren and Brook
Hallbridge and we have your country and bluegrass cover. Listen
to the Crook and Taste cow Down every weekend on
hundreds of radio stations across America and streaming on I
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(39:01):
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Charlie Chason, Lorianne Crook here Nashville chats with bluegrass stars
Darren and Brooke Aldridge. This time around, they are an
(02:08):
award winning husband and wife team, massively talented singers and musicians.
I agree the new album is Inner Journey, and this
duo is so good that their fan base includes superstars
like Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. Now I met Darren
and Brooke Aldridge on the country music cruise that I
host every year. They were all the buzz back in January,
(02:31):
many of the country fans discovering Darren and Brooke for
the first time and loving it. Now, besides the music,
the three of us did Charlie, Oh my gosh, it
was a really fun cooking demonstration on the ship. And
that's where I discovered that the Aldridges have a sense
of fun and humor that they sneak into everything they do.
And my friends, you're about to get a big dose
(02:53):
of that, along with the positive vibes they bring to
everything they do. May I introduce you to Darren Brooke Aldridge.
They are chefs extraordinary. I don't know about that. I
had benefit. That's true, that's true, that's true. Earlier this
(03:13):
year on the country music cruise, I had my hands fooled.
You had your hands full. We decided to do a
cooking demo and I helped you make your special dip
that just went over greatly. And you all helped me
make my mom's nineteen sixties meatballs. You know, the old
things when you put the toothpick through them, and poor
(03:35):
Darren had the job of putting on the prostate gloves exactly.
So we made him, yes, put on the gloves and
mix the meatball mixture and the meat and all kind
of things with my hands. I mean, it was awesome.
(03:56):
And that's when Brooke blushed. I had a heart stopping moment, Charlie,
because we were cooking onions and I don't know what
it is, but this this hot plight we were cooking
on was just screaming hot. And I dumped the onions
(04:18):
in right when Broke was standing in front of it.
At all of that like onion oil went like up
into your face. I was scared to death. You wouldn't
be able to sing that night. Well I pulled it
off just fine, So maybe it opened me up a
little bit better. She went backstage and did something. Well, man,
(04:38):
I asked who had the horrible task of eating that stuff?
The guests on the crew there dip ended up on
the menu that night, so everybody on the ship could
order it. Yeah, all right, So maybe I should ask
Laurien this, which are the two of you? Is the
true cruise master? In other words, who spends most at
(05:00):
the time of the buffet. That probably okay, casino okay,
thrown off, thrown up off the side of the boat,
that would probably be. Yeah. Since we've been on cruises,
I get, I get the dizziness and all that stuff
going on. So what do you guys? Obviously obviously you perform.
(05:23):
We know that conviently. They keep us all busy, don't they?
And may I say, Charlie, every year we have artists
who are just the hit of the entire cruise. You're
looking at him, yes, Darren Brood, all right, I have
a question about blue grass music because that's very prominent
where I'm from up in East Tennessee. Um can a
(05:47):
bluegrass song to be played identically the same more than once? Probably?
Probably not? But why would exactly? Ricky has this whole thing.
We've worked with Ricky a lot, and we understand the
(06:07):
picky Ricky thing. Now whoa sound check goes on forever.
So he may say you have to play the same
every time. I don't know. There's so much improv beauty
of it. Yeah, yeah, it's pretty close. Well, you can
get pretty close if you do a song like I
was listening to the album Teach your children that's Crosby, Stills, Nash,
you know those guys. And when once you get into
(06:30):
a mood or something like that, then yeah, you're gonna
be playing identical. But there's some of that ad libbing
going on, you know where some guy goes rogue and
you're you're looking at him with what's he playing? You
know own kind of thing every song? Right right? Yeah?
Look are you the rogue type? I love the improv
of it. That's I guess why I got into playing
more instruments and in bluegrass. I was come up in
(06:53):
kind of jazz music through high school and junior high
playing in concert band, marching band, and I love that aspect.
And then I got into high school to play in bluegrass.
That was just you know, beauty. You can just improve
over solos, and you know, it helps to know the melody,
of course, well, but some some some players will get
just thrice over anything, you know, but playing the song
(07:16):
is is a beautiful thing, and that's what makes more
tasteful players, I guess how they can play that melody
with a good embellishment. Here's my observation of bluegrass music.
I think it's just kind of opposite of mainstream music,
and I'll tell you why. I think a lot of
people will appreciate it more once they see it live.
If they see it live, they'll go buy it. If
(07:38):
they hear it first, you know on on the radio,
there hesitant to probably go see you. But I think
if if somebody sees you guys in person, you want
them over instantly. Because I think there's magic in bluegrass music.
I don't know what it is. Do you have an
answer for that? Not really, like you say, a live
performance by anybody, you know, just prime examples. You know
(08:01):
when Munro took the stage with Flatt and Scrugs, you
know they're at the Rhymen. I mean, it just exploded
the place. I got to see that live and then
everybody was bluegrass fans after that. Well, so are we.
In fact, congratulations are in order for your lovely wife.
I think I think maybe Darren should announce the newest accolade. Yes,
(08:22):
she is three time Female Vocalist of the Year for
the International Blue Gass Music Association. Thank you three years
in a row too. How many times did you vote?
You just voted twice? Just minded. But she's always been
my female vocalist first day and listen. I want to
(08:46):
I want to hear about the first time you ever
saw her, because I know that you come from the
same neck of the woods as Charlie was talking about earlier,
and your family and friends kept telling each of you
about the other. So I'm always interested to know a
little bit about the love story. And when when you
did first see her and you heard that voice that
(09:07):
everybody had been talking about, describe that moment well, I
immediately wanted to sing with her. Um when she was
singing that day with two other guys that they had
a band in their church there and I was coming
to fill in, and I was been in bands, you
know the country, gentleman. I was with Charlie Waller for
years and it was a big harmony band and I
just love that. And my influences is of course events
(09:30):
and Ricky and so many of them. So I immediately
was drawn to her her voice and wanted to sing.
So I kind of noticed the two other guys out
of the way, and it's like, let me let me
sing on this next number with Okay, no, but you
know she's the same today as she was then. That's
probably thirteen years ago, was it first sight? It was
(09:54):
for me, you know. We they asked me to come
and do that church that morning to meet her, and
then they was playing every Tennessee then that night, and
I kind of, you know, I'll drive on behind you'all
and go with you and be there tonight too. Did
you realize he was this slick and diabolical? She did,
yeah pretty quick because I was like, yeah, I hardly
(10:16):
know this guy and he's already nudging the other two
out of the way. He's got some scheme going here,
some planned And then he kept asking me before we
left the church, the first church we played that day,
he was like, what do you want me to go
tonight for tonight set? And I'm like, you can go
if you want to. I don't care. You know, my friend,
my best friend, Natalie said this could be the guy
you marry, and I thought, don't say that, you don't
(10:37):
know him. What if young? Quite young? Yeah, he definitely
robbed the cradles by. Yeah, we're not that. It's like
six years different. So your whole life, Brog. People have
been telling you family friends, I know, people only church
(10:57):
uh had been telling you how exceptional your voice is.
You want so many vocal contests so how do you
And I know it's hard to talk about your own
talent without feeling uncomfortable about it. But here we are
the third IBM, A female vocal a stward. When when
you sing or when you hear the records back, do
(11:20):
you understand what other people try to explain to you
about your own voice? Um? And and I guess to
an extent I do. Um. But you know, like everybody
probably says, I really don't like to hear myself. You know,
it's like, you know, it's like hearing yourself on the
answer machine or something. You know you sound you feel
like you sound corny or cheesy or something. But I
(11:41):
think as the years of went on and I've gotten
more confident in my in my singing, Um, I feel
like I've gotten I've gotten better, Yes, um because and
the people tell me that a lot too. They'll say, well,
you know, when you first started, you were you seem
to all hesitant, was like you couldn't sing as strong.
And I said, well that was just my nerves and
kind of getting over that, you know, that part of
moving on up on in the musical business. So um,
(12:04):
So I don't know. I guess it could go both ways.
I do. There are some things when I sing, I'm like, man,
I kind of had a hand of Dolly or Emily
right there. So yeah, that's good. She's had a lot
of help over the last couple of years. Was singing
with such great vocalist too, with Jimmy Fortune. We get
to go out with him some and John Cowen, and
(12:25):
we sang with vents On on the records, you know,
a couple of times, and she sings with you and
and well you kept looking at you winking, so I
thought I have to say that because he's egging me
on like that. Well, I just like both of you.
One little little type picture here, you know on the cover,
which is do you often sing face to face like that? Not?
(12:50):
Not so much. I mean, if we get to use
the one mike, we will do them just a little
bit taller than her um. But in the studio we
love to sing together as we put something down. I
think that magic is always there, and we we liked that.
The first couple of records we did, they tried to
separate us or heard us sing her part at one time.
Then we come back in. It was a lot better
(13:10):
if we could do it together. You have to do it,
and you know you've always done your music your own way,
inner journey, Darren, you have said that this feels like
a new beginning. Is part of it because of the
new record label? Or is part of it also because
of the actual music you chose to be on the album.
I think over the last ten years and more, since
(13:31):
we've been recording it's it has grown and this is
our most mature record. I guess you could say, now
that's interesting in what way? Why do you use the
word mature, Just just like you said the material that
we have chosen, you know, as we've got to grow older, Um,
the more things that have come our way, and you know,
(13:51):
just Lord's blessing how much we've come in ten years, um,
with her awards, the people we've got meet, I mean,
just sitting here talking to y'all, folks, you know, it's
been great. I watched y'all, you know for so many
years growing up to Indian and it meet Ricky and
Vince and calling them friends and having them call us
(14:14):
all the time. I mean, we're just blessed because you
you were just a teenager right when you sort of
fell in love with Vince Gills, his talent. Now he's
like he's like writing your liner notes saying that you're
the best thing that's come along in a long time.
We're just overwhelmed in our our thoughts of this, the
blessings that's coming come across and now with round the records,
(14:36):
and it is a new beginning force and we just
hope to keep going forward from here. We are visiting
with Darren and Brooke aldridgeral National Chats. They are stars
in the world of bluegrass music. And when we come back,
how this husband and wife get along working side by
side every minute of every day. And it's pretty funny too.
More National Chats all the way. This clip is brought
(14:57):
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dot com for a quote today. In high school, I
never really was like dating around or anything like that,
and then I got into a long term relationship and
was dating someone for a few years, and then after
getting out of that relationship. I think these this past
years or whatever whatever it has been like meet like
actually living life as a single person. It's very hard,
(15:44):
and I think it's what you mean, like not hard,
I should say, but like it's very different knowing nothing
but long term relationships and then moving into like the
single lifestyle. That's like quote dating around and like feeling
people out. It's kind of been something interesting to navigate.
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(17:12):
inquisitive as you know if you've watched US on radio,
watched US on TV and let's just on the radio. Okay,
is this a set up for your Howard string question? Okay,
I could come up with one. Oh, for those who
have never been to a blue grass concert, how rowdy?
Can it get pretty rowdy? I mean there's like crowdsurfing
(17:34):
and stuff like that. No, no, not that, not unless
you were a new grass revival. By the way, new
grass revival. Does John Collen still work with him at all?
He's just he's been SOLA for quite some time. Yeah,
he's stilling with the Debbie Brothers. And then we do
maybe twenty shows a year with him in the last
several years. Well, he says he takes any opportunity to
(17:57):
work with the two of you. He loved. I mean
just that, the vocals, the musicianship. He loves. She was people.
Obviously you talk about these collaborations, you know, events playing
with the Eagles next year on tour and all that.
How easy is it in bluegrass to interchange, Like if
somebody calls it, I need a sub real quick, can
you come over and do it? I love to do that,
(18:19):
Always got to do it. I got to play early
on when I was with the Country Joan, when I'd
go out some with the Isaacs and with Blue Highway,
and I remember playing with Mike Wiseman and Mike Snyder
and you're just so on anywhere that I could be
involved and meet new people and wanted to perform. It
was a challenge for me, and I just do it
(18:40):
at the drop of a hat. So you could you
get to the point where you you feel the music,
you know exactly what your role is, whether you know
what's supposed to be or not. Right absolutely, I still
fill in some with John Jordansen's bluegrass band. Now with
our Buddy Mark. We talked about herb Peterson, and I
enjoyed that. It's just a different hat to put on,
(19:02):
you know, besides what we're doing. And I think that's
why John enjoyed getting to do with it what he
did with us with a musicianship and singing, because I
was such a new grass fan and studied that so much.
When he come to the house to do the first show,
I mean, I knew everything he was going to throw
out before we made a set list, and we could
both sing the parts. And it's like John thought, hey,
(19:24):
this is easy. We got it. I mean, even even
down to the guitar breaks and the mandolin breaks that
Darren was playing. You know, he was playing it just
like the record. I tried to learn all that. I'm
still a student. So well, it was awesome, and I
think you've really surprised him what I broke when when
you and Darren first, I mean you got together, you
got married, and you a touring couple, record making couple,
(19:44):
and so forth. He had some years in the business.
What have you learned over these years from you know,
just about the business and you know, being in charge
of your career. I mean, this is a pretty big thing.
You our big time. It's a it's a lot to handle. Yeah,
I mean I didn't realize, I guess, you know, when
(20:05):
I was younger, I didn't realize how much business was
behind everything. I just always heard, oh, go to Nashville
and you'll make it, you know. It's it's not like
that though, you know. There's so much that goes along
with it. And I think a lot of times people
think you just go out and have a good time
and you know, you don't have to worry about anything
but getting up on the stage and singing. But it's
that's not the truth, you know. I mean just the
traveling in itself is exhausting, and um, you know, setting
(20:27):
up your merch table and learning how to interact with
the crowd even at the merch table to sell your stuff,
and then being on stage and being an entertainer you know, Um,
it's about connecting with the audience every time you get
up there. So, um, He's taught me so much about
that because when we first started playing, I was this little,
quite sheltered person. I didn't say hardly anything, and I
didn't play at all on stage. And so I've learned
(20:49):
to play guitar. Now, um on a couple of songs,
I do some stuff and UM him and I do
some stuff without the whole band behind us too, just
to have a different setting for a few minutes. And
then you know, it's just about, like I said, connecting
with the audience and being a good entertainer. So it's
he's he's really been a huge mentor to me. Um. Yeah, well,
speaking of that, that reminds me because a couple of
(21:09):
years ago, you got the Mentoring Award at the International
bluegress Music Association and I have never heard of that
type of an award before, but I respect that so much.
Can you explain to everybody what that means and what
it's about. Um? IB may put it out maybe five
or six years ago. They started doing that and it's
part of their Momentum Awards category that they do during
(21:32):
the luncheon that year. And the Mentor Award was just
people that produce, teach, help younger folks come up in
the business. And I qualified for all that and was
nominated by several different folks on the committee there. And
I do a lot with Earl Scrugs Center and Shelby
which is close to our hometown. I've been teaching since
(21:54):
I was probably nineteen, so I don't know. I've probably
taught over the years, maybe close two thousand people they're
around town. When I was with the Country Gentleman, I
probably had fifty or sixty a week that I taught,
you know. And then over time people grows older and
have ball games, and they go to do another things
(22:14):
and things rotate out. So I've probably kept up with
about that many if I go back through my sheets
and some of them, yeah, that's right, you said it.
But I've helped, Uh, I've helped some bands come across
and come up from our area. And then with the
record company was with with Crossroads Mountain Home, I started
helping produce a few different records there too. So I
(22:37):
just always enjoyed giving back to the community or two
younger folks since I'm getting a little bit older now
and get to see a lot of folks come come
across and learn to play and sing and write. And
our fiddle player with us as uh Carly Arwood. And
we first met her she was maybe fifteen, is that right, Broke.
We met her at a camp over in Morganton at
(22:58):
Red White and Bluegrass festival, and clearly her and her
sister was the best folks that was there out of
probably eighty kids there. And um, the next year she
sent an email to us that she wanted to go
out on the road with us, and we thought she
was too young at the time, but we were remembered
her very well. The next year, we needed somebody and
(23:19):
our fiddle player at the time was leaving, so we
both talked and said, let's give Carly a chance, and
uh she came in and filled with in with us
baby guest on you there, and from then on she
started singing and playing. And it's been very good to
see her grow over the years. And I'm real hard
on her because I've seen especially so much talent that
(23:42):
she had when she was young, you know, and she's
a very good singer. Helped push her into being a
great backup fiddle player behind vocalists, because she's never really
was doing that when she was a teenager. That much
she sang, but you know, she couldn't sing and play
fiddle to herself. But working behind a great vocalists like
Brooke the importance of that. And then she's made her
(24:03):
own record now and she got the Momentum Instrumentalist of
the Year in two thousand seventeen. Amazing. I'm trying. I'm
trying to envision you being stern. Oh yeah, producer. Now right,
Brooke as a producer. I mean, you have a lot
on your shoulders. You better be sting. But I mean,
he's so nice and easy going. But you haven't got
(24:24):
the Darren Aldrich when upon, yeah, you shoot us that look.
Darren can know what that looks like. I'll never look
at you that one. I do it to Charlie. That's easy.
It's like I've seen his looks now. I've been saying
that since I was a kid. Do that thing with eyebrow.
It was really good. Oh yeah, I remember. Okay, not
(24:46):
to drop names, but it's so interesting to me when
you have a husband and wife working together. My husband
and I have worked together for more than thirty years,
and so we know the good parts about it and
how challenging it can be. Garth and Tricia, of Worst
have been friends for a long time. Mary worked together
all the time. They admitted to us quite a few
years ago that when they go into the studio together
(25:09):
in the car driving to the studio, they fight all
the way there after they record, they fight all the
way back home. What did you guys fight about on
the oil over here? We we really don't fight, you know.
I mean I don't like, like I say, with with
Carly and sometimes and I've done that in the past.
I have prush push Brooke more than what she thought
(25:31):
she could do. Really, yeahs Younger because well, well, like
I said earlier, I've I've just always been so much
more reserved and shy. And Darren he's just always believed
in me, I guess more so than myself. I don't have.
I've never really had that much self confidence. Um. So
he's really brought me out of my show and helped
(25:53):
me prove to myself that I can do anything I
set my mind too, you know. And and really, like
he said to going out with John Cowen and Jimmy
and and us three singing together and us singing with Carlie,
like it just when you hear that sound and you
you see the audiences reaction, it's like, well, I really
do think I'm doing what I'm supposed to be. You know,
there's there's some reason that we're getting a reaction out
(26:15):
of our music like we are. Um, so I must be.
I must be pretty good so well, and here's something
I want to know. If you're pretty good at, what
have you brought out in Darren that maybe he didn't
know existed? Goodness? Let's see, he's pretty confident. So that's
(26:36):
a hard one. No, I think, honestly, I think. I
think we balance each other out. I think we balance
each other out really well. Okay, so we know what
that really means. More fun with Darren and Brooke Aldridge
(26:57):
when we come back, Groupie, the Tears of Joy and
more about those latex meatball globs on Crook and Chase
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when you're in a business like this. Your moment ago,
we're talking about setting up merch tables working with the fans, uh, practicing, rehearsing,
traveling all this heading into this initially, did you think
it was gonna be this difficult and this demanding? I didn't.
Um It's changed a lot since we started, especially since
(29:11):
the first time I was you know, went on stage
and performed with the country gentleman. Everything was easy at
that time because Charlie was a legend in bluegrass music.
So all the places we played were full, all the
festivals was packed, and the lines at the record table
was huge, you know. But when he passed and we
kind of some of the guys put together another band,
(29:32):
we've seen how hard it was, you know, all those
years we've been with him, you know, that didn't matter anymore.
We were nobody, you know, as a bluegrass band, and
and things really changed. And about that times, when Old
Brother came out, a lot of folks started paying attention
again more to bluegrass music, and you know, then the
wave came. But then the business model was really involved
(29:57):
at that time as well. So I learned real quick
you better pay attention and really start working on that
side of thing other than just what music. And you
can circle up as a band wise well and nowadays,
you know, you don't have to sit around and you know,
wait for a station or whatever to to play your music.
With all the social media and so many different platforms,
(30:18):
you can give fans what they want. And you know,
people from all over the world stumble upon. I mean
even little Taylor Swift way back when before knew who
she was. So are you taking advantage of social media
in that way? Just to put your stuff out there
as much as possible. You do a lot of live videos.
(30:39):
We put up some live performances, and then if we're
getting like when we got ready to do the record,
we do it like little sneak pig peaks of what
we was fixing the record. You know, anything, any kind
of inside thing we can give fans and followers. That's
what we try to do, speaking of inside things when
fans and by the way, this is such a relaxing
album to listen to. When fans picked this album and
(31:03):
they start to listen to, what do you want them
to know going in? What are they listening for? What
are you hoping they hear an inner journey? Um? I
hope that they hear something that sparks that emotion, you know,
takes them back to a place in time because a
lot of the songs, um are songs from their past
that we enjoyed here and on the radio and we
were kids. Not all of them. I mean, I've got
(31:23):
an original tune on there too, um. And then we've
got some some other songs by good friends here in
town that are songwriters. UM. But you know, just just
happy moments, I suppose, because we try to put out
positive messages and yeah, I love and life. You know,
it's songs about um, love and life and connecting with
(31:44):
people in some way, so you can anybody can connect
with something on the song. I think, which reminds me.
A great friend of ours is the fabulous Robert Orman,
who I know wrote all about this album and he
said something so interesting, sting that he says that he
feels the source of the magic for your music is
(32:08):
the fact that it's based on your love for each other.
Would you agree with that that that first and foremost
that's what makes your music unique? Definitely, Absolutely, It all
started with that. And you know, our drive, our our
love for each other, you know, our faith, and we've
built everything about around that. Well. With that said that,
(32:32):
which song or maybe a couple of songs on this
album do you think most exemplifies the way you two
feel about each other? Um, definitely when you love someone. Yeah,
that one and and probably lone journey to at the
end the Doc Watson song. Yeah, you know a great
story with that. He was at Doc's house there and
(32:56):
Deep Gap, North Carolina, right outside of Wilkes Burrow. And
I guess that's one we first really knew that they
wrote that song, him and Rosalie. Well, I think Rosalie
wrote the majority of it sweeping her kitchen. Um, I
know that's what Yeah. Yeah, and just how you know
when they got to heaven they would see Merle and
(33:16):
Doc would get to see Merle with his own eyes
for the very first time, you know. So just that
song to me talks about the life that they lived
and how they grew old together and then they would
see each other again in heaven because one goes before
the other in the song. Um, so, and I see
our life playing out that way in a lot of ways.
So beautiful. So were you mopping the floor when you
wrote Someone's Everything? Well, yes, no, which I do on
(33:41):
a daily basis. No, I never had time to moup
befloor is the bad thing. Um No. I was actually
scholling through Facebook when I wrote Someone's Everything. A teacher
of mine from high school was sending out advice to
her son who was fixing to graduate college as a teacher,
and uh and that's where the idea came from, because
she was telling on him, Uh no matter what kind
(34:02):
of day he was having or the kids was having
to remember that they were someone's everything. And I just
got to think, and I was like, that's perfect. And
I come I come from a school, public school setting.
I used to work in the school system, so, um,
I know how it is to work with kids and
you never know what they're coming from from their home life. Um.
So that was really important for me to kind of
to get that message out there to everybody. It can
(34:23):
can relate to guys and girls, you know, well think
about it. Wouldn't that change the world if everybody felt that? Absolutely.
I think that's part of you know, because my mom
was a school teacher in the Nashville area elementary school
teacher for gosh over thirty years, and that was, you know,
part of the problem seeing um, just how our society
(34:44):
was going some what the wrong way that so many
kids didn't feel like they were loved or connected or
important or smart. And um, I think this song says
all of that, thank you, thank you, alosing what kind
of students were you in I was a very athletic one.
(35:04):
I played a lot of sports. Um and of course
the community always surrounded me in our music or my music. UM.
So I would sing the national anthem at most of
our ball games and things like that. So I got
I got support from both ends of the things that
I loved and um and just always you know, encouragement
to follow any dream that I had for myself. So,
(35:25):
so you actually played sports I did. I played just
about anything I could. So you can kick Darren's but
you know what time you want. I'm tough. It doesn't
show on the outside, but when it comes down to it, Yeah,
definitely the Darren and high school guys get into music
to me, girls, yes, you could say that you can't
(35:45):
talk about that he's a married man. But I got
on their music real early early on, and I found
that out pretty quick. You could sing a pretty love song,
play guitar. They would gather around pretty quick, wouldn't he man? So, So,
how old were you at this point? Oh, I started.
I really when I started doing things on my own
(36:06):
play and I was probably twelve thirteen, so you heard
it really hit when I was fifteen or sixteen. Yeah,
he thank you. How's watching y'all show? I wanted to
be like you man, it's it's it's a burden. Somebody's
(36:28):
got to do it. I know strong. I'm going to
change the sub chunky, We're all right. I think it's
the long black train. No, I have to know this,
so I can't each of you make the other cry
(36:49):
just singing or playing. Yes, so what's happened? And it
depends on how much of in the moment you are,
you know, And if if I'm not focused on other
things in my mind, like when I'm trying to sing
a you know, if I just focus on him, if
we have a moment at the miclux on our cv
CD cover, yeah, I could definitely stand and cry. But
we've you know, there's been moments we've been driving back
(37:11):
from like Nashville from the opera, getting to do stuff
like that, and experiences that we've had, and we'll be
talking about it like can you believe we just got
to do that? And we'll just boo hoo. Yeah, I
mean we both have so well. I hate mentioned the
opera you're on tonight, right, we were going from here,
I guess probably get something to eat and then go
to And I know you've been Oprey favorites for a
few years. You've done it numerous times. I've lost count.
(37:34):
You've been on so many times. So thank you for
your music. You bless you well. Thank you for your
kind words, and we we appreciate you. Yeah, we've always admired
you both. So next time you make those meatballs, just
send some over all, right, he'll he'll send the gloves
back to Glos like those gloves. Yes, he did come home. Man,
(37:58):
you hate a big deal. I made a big deal
out to do something. You gotta do something. I know.
You can't just sit there and it's just like not
like an o J thing. You know, they're seriously comedy.
It's it's fabulous music and part comedy with much fun. Yeah,
(38:20):
you never know what you're gonna face when you have
a husband and wife who worked together side by side
all the time. But they get along so well. Their
personalities are such a beautiful blend. There are a lot
of fun to be around well, and they have this
great combination of love for each other, faith, humor, music.
Their major award winners other superstars are their fans. I
(38:41):
call that living large. Well get their new album It's
called Inner Journey, its own Rounder Records, Darren and Brook
Hallbridge and we have your country and bluegrass cover. Listen
to the Crook and Taste cow Down every weekend on
hundreds of radio stations across America and streaming on I
Heart Radio. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at
(39:01):
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