October 28, 2025 • 51 mins
Ever wonder what truly makes an artist unique? Jeff Batson’s iconic sound didn’t just appear out of thin air. Join us as we journey beyond the radio hits to uncover the surprising foundational influences and legendary artists who secretly shaped one of country music’s most distinctive voices. You won’t believe who made his playlist.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys and gals, this is recording on us Jeff
Batson and you're listening to a grand slam of music, sports,
and entertainment. It's the award nominated Backstage Past Podcast with
Brandon Morrell on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay
Area broadcasting network. Tune into the show on iHeartRadio podcasts,
on the Sports Guys podcast dot com and at TWN dot.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Org and welcome inside the Backstage Past. A busy day
full of shows. And always say Halloween means Thanksgiving means
Christmas means spending more money on our kids, and of
course our friends are family. But you know what we
do because we love them at the same time, and you,
guys love radio, you love music. So our jobs to
bring you the best of the best and artists out
here KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network,
(00:45):
TCHWN dot org and our friends the Sports Guys so
podcast dot Com at anytime on iHeartRadio podcast brand new
record out there too. We educate you here on the show.
It's called Jeff bats In twenty twenty five and guess
what it's out now across all the DSPs out there.
Full length record Jeff Johns is here to talk about
it on the backstage pass Jeff. How you doing, brother,
(01:06):
great man?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It's good? You know, educated education. I always say that too,
because educating the fans out there on a great artist
and music and a couple of great songs. We're going
to spend a day on the show. Let's get started,
kind of getting to know you a little bit and
the backstory of the connection to music you mentioned to
me obviously pre show. You've been doing this a long time.
You and I've talked about doing a show for a
long time. Tude, just trying to find the time to
(01:29):
put it on the books here too. But it's kind
of cool to.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Finally get on your show. It's been a while. Man,
I've been familiar with your show. It's a great it's
a great podcast, and you know, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
You got it, brother, Hey tell us about you as
far as the backstory the music and the connection to
it and you know who you were listening to kind
of growing up the whole nine yards laying on us man.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I grew up in the Saint Louis area, southern Illinois,
Illinois side and could actually see the arts from the house.
But you know, that was a I grew up. My
mom and dad listened to country. So my bomb's mom, unfortunately,
was not very healthy. So we had a two hour
car ride just about every weekend down to further south
in Illinois to the Anna don Gola area, And what
(02:13):
was playing in a car was stuff like John Denver
and Merle Haggard and George Jones and Kenny Rodgers and
Nicky Gilly and all that kind of stuff. So that's
kind of what I was first exposed to musically, you know,
aside from being in church. I mean, like singing, why
is my first experience, Like a lot of people, was
doing the little Christmas plays at church and singing in
the little children's choir and that kind of stuff. But
(02:35):
in terms of music, that was kind of the first
stuff that I really listened to. And I played saxophone
in the grade school and then high school band until
I started playing more sports, and then you know, got
into rock and roll in the eighties. That's kind of
you know, I was kind of eclectic, to be honest.
I went through a like Elvis phase. I went through
(02:56):
a Beach Boys phase where I just you know, like
that stuff. But then the eighties, my cousin's responsible for
turning me onto you know, bringing toys in the attic,
aerosmith down and high in fidelity, Rio Speedwagon, you know,
and kind of got me into that stuff and kind
of ended up taking guitar lessons because he played guitar
(03:18):
and wanted to. He lived right up the street, so
kind of ended up in a band with him, you know,
doing that. And then so my taste and love and
music is just all over the place, really, but that's
kind of how it progressed. And then you know, I
went away to I went to college at Saint Louis
(03:39):
Hugh and then I went away to Denver to get
a master's in real estate. And that year in Denver,
I graduated in ninety and I came back to Saint Louis.
I'd been. I left the band I was in with
my cousin and friends in eighty nine when I went
to Denver, and when I came back, I mean eighty
nine ninety what was going on country? The country was
(04:00):
that country was happening, and the country of that little
era that hold Class of eighty nine with Travis Tritt
and Alan Jackson and the g man, you know, it
sounded a lot of it sounded a lot more like
the eighties rock because by that time, the rock scene,
the whole Seattle thing had taken over, and it didn't
it just that didn't interest me as much as the
(04:23):
rock that I grew up listening to. And the country
was sounding a little more edgy or and really a
lot more like the stuff I liked, you know. And
of course I always liked stories and just songs about
real stuff. So that's kind of Once I got back
from from school, I ended up getting in some country
(04:43):
bands around the Saint Louis area, and I did that
from ninety to about ninety seven. And you know, you
know how it is, everybody's like, oh, y'all to move
to Nashville. So well, you know, I'd won a couple
of contests and all that good stuff, like everybody back
home in their hometowns, and so I did. I'm like,
(05:04):
you know, I'll move to Nashville. So in ninety seven
I came here and really started concentrating more on writing
than playing because up there, I you know, had a job,
but I was still playing really sometimes five six, seven
nights a week, but that's what that's what got me here,
everybody you know saying, you know, songwriting wise, I really
(05:25):
didn't start writing songs until that. Until I was in Denver,
you know, and more like a in the my twenties.
You know, I didn't really dabble with writing, but I
was out there alone and had taken the guitar and
started just you know, and so that, you know, really
really didn't start writing songs until then. But then when
(05:47):
I got back to Saint Louis, and then especially when
I moved to Nashville. When I first came here, I
was writing quite a bit, you know, and it was
fortunate enough to meet and network with a lot of people.
You know, I've been fortunate enough to write with many
guys that have had hit songs. So you know, it's
it really is. It's a craft. And so I came
here and you know, you kind of learn where the
(06:08):
bar is and you aim for the bar.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
So and that's the cool point though you mentioned about
everybody they uttered those words and you're like, yep, I
gotta go. It's I got the hook de bait and
throw it out there too, and then caught the fish
and then bring it into no doubt about it. But
when you get there? For you, was it kind of
like that that took a six months a year to
kind of settle in? Was it dearing the headlights?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Look?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Or you're like, man, I get here, I got this,
get to know the right people, and I kind of
expos you know, like you said, it's a high bar,
exposed my music, my writing, what I'm looking for. How
was it for you when you first got there?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
You know, Brandon, honestly I was. I don't want to
stay smart. I was smart enough to know what was
a business. And so I had actually started making trips
to Nashville before I actually moved here in ninety seven,
probably the early nineties, ninety two to three, I would
I had done some shows with the local radio station,
so and I learned what the radio seminar was, and
(07:05):
I learned what the CMA Fest was, and back then
they even had a SRO show which was like Talent Buyers.
So these acts. I started coming down here to some
industry events and the Saint Louis radio stations, both of them,
you know, Kicks in particular was the station that helped
me meet a lot of people, and wil did as well.
(07:25):
Those guys they all would come down here and let
me hang out and you know, get me in some things.
So I got to meet meet a lot of people
and learn a lot about the business because you know,
it's like it's really like doing anything. If I'm going
to sell shoes, I'm gonna know about the shoes, and
I'm you know, so the music business is no different.
When I wanted to learn everything I could, you know,
(07:46):
I bought books about the music business. You know, the
Music Row magazine in Charge issue was kind of like
the Bible because it has everybody's picture. So if I'm
here and I'm walking around town, I'll be like, oh, look,
that's so something. It's kind of like the glass wall
because you're sitting next to Tony Brown, but you can't
really you know, you don't want to reach across that.
(08:08):
It's like you don't want to ruin that relationship because
it's a small enough town where if you're gonna be
like gurmy, you're gonna close doors quicker than quicker than
they're going to open, you know, so you have to
learn when to talk shop and when not to that
kind of thing. But I had been coming here enough
and new enough people and I'd even met some songwriters,
(08:29):
so when I moved here, I kind of just dove
right in and started doing that, you know. And you know, fortunately,
i'd set myself up with a day job that was flexible,
and I knew I wasn't gonna go hungry, you know.
So it's I kind of just transitioned pretty easily, and
it didn't take like, you know, months. Now. The the
(08:51):
other side of that is, you know, they say it's
a used to say say it's a five year town,
and then it then you hear ten years, and then
it's twenty years. But I moved here and really within
a couple of years. There was an artist on Curb
Records at the time named Trenty Triggs. He was a
black artist, you know, and Curb was putting out singles
on him. They didn't put out a full project, but
(09:14):
he cut a song I co wrote with Tom Shephard,
who's another he's a hit songwriter friend of mine. He's
had a couple of hits with Redneck Yacht Club and
writing with Private Malane. But Tom and I wrote this
song Getaway Car, and they picked it. It was supposed
to be Trenty triggs next single. I went down to
the and Tom wrote for Charlie Monk, who was known
(09:35):
as the Mayor Music Row. So Charlie and I were
friends and I met, you know, a lot of people
through that little connection. But Charlie was hosting the Riverfront
stage at the CMA Fest and hey, look there's your
next star, there's your next interview.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's the next one too. You gotta go there, I'm
doing so you gotta go now. I want to get
a little bit and we'll play some music here a
little bit and you know, talk about that. But it's
a hell of a story too, because you're right, when
you go to that town, you gotta know when to speak,
when not to speak, and then when to listen and
turn it on and kind of act like a sponge.
That's just one of those things even in my industry too,
because it makes good points about that. I'm gonna come
back and kind of build on that conversation too. But
(10:17):
I gotta play one.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I want to tell you that Charlie that story.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, tell me about that story. I want to hear
that Charlie Monk story too. Jeff Bats in twenty twenty five,
here the backstage Bats. Somebody's somebody coming right back here.
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network.
Stay tuned, more coming up.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You can spend your whole life wait.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
And only hear the inner doubts, our meg, the hopelessness
start fading. Pick yourself up off the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
We all need a little sunshine with a r ring.
Someone who has some of the loneliness away, another heart
that can find its way into another's arms, where it
will stay and never leave. Everyone wants to be somebody somebody.
(11:38):
Love can show in many places, even when you least expect,
ending unfamiliar faces, you'll find some you won't forget it.
(12:00):
We all need a little sunshine with our ring.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Someone who has all the loneliness away. Another heart let
you find its way in two another's arms, where it
will stay and never leave.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Everyone wants to be somebody, somebody.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Colder nights, darker skies, and the pain behind your eyes
tell of tale as old as time.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Come on, will come on me. All the storms of
yesterday will.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Some side and fade away.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
We all need a little sunshine with our rape. Someone
who us all of the loneliness away, Another heart that
can find its way two anothersons.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Where it will stay and never leave.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Everyone wants to be somebody, somebody, somebody somebody.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
Hey, y'all, this is Bucky Heard with the Righteous Brothers
and you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass on
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
You can also.
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Stream show on THWN dot org at anytime at the
Sports Guys podcast dot com.
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Speaker 9 (14:39):
What's up, guys, It's national recording artist Clayton Mullen and
you're listening to the best music and sports talk. It's
Backstage Past podcast on KYBN ninety eight point one, your
Bay Area broadcasting network. Stream the show at any time
at the Sportscast podcast dot com and on iHeartRadio Podcasts
You can also stream on THHW.
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Speaker 11 (16:01):
Hey y'all, this is two time Guinness World Record sitting
rapper Dyo Gibson and you're listening to the award nominated
backstage past on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay
area broadcasting network. You can also stream to show anytime
at the Sports Guys Podcast dot com and on th
WN dot org all year.
Speaker 12 (16:26):
The Caiden Gordon Show is a two hour show playing
the best in country music, So check it out at
the Caidangordonshow dot com. Again, that is the Cadangordonshow dot com.
Speaker 13 (16:40):
Hey, guys and gals, this is Colby Cala, and you're
listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass with Brandon Morrell
on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network.
Stream the show anytime on the Sports Guys podcast dot com,
and on iHeartRadio podcasts. It's a grand slam of music,
(17:01):
entertainment and sports.
Speaker 14 (17:04):
Welcome to another edition of Backstage Pass, powered by the
Sports Guys Podcast with your host Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And back here on the show k YBN ninety eight
point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network and the Sports
Guys Podcast dot com. Out there, a grand slam of music, sports, entertainment,
and of course our friends iHeartRadio podcasts and out there
anytime THWN dot Orgbacker Jeff bats In twenty twenty five
on the show The New Record of Course, out there
across all the DSPs, ten songs for you guys, to
(17:37):
listen to for U building that Charlie among story which
I can't wait to get the end of it. Two,
Like I said, always yeah, the next superstar is in
the other room too. She's already taken a little bit
of the tutelage for me and is all about you
got to start them on.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
You have to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yes, they make It's like a cameo appearance. That's what
it felt like. You know, which is there? Uh, tell
us a little bit out the record of course, excited
to get the project, new selection of songs to all
the listeners out there, and this one in particular. Somebody's somebody,
you know, somebody, somebody's one of those songs like I
had kind of you know with writing it kind of
(18:13):
ebbs and flows.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I get get excited about it, and then after you know,
almost thirty years in town, you get not so excited
about it. But every once in a while I'll see
somebody that I'm like, man, that person has talent. I
wouldn't mind writing with them. So I was at the Commodore.
The Commodore is one of those songwriters venues in town.
Debbie Champions hosts most of the nights there, and you know,
(18:37):
I saw this kid named Caleb Blake, and I'm like, man,
he's really good, really unique, and so just as it
turned out, you know, and I thought he was really
talented and he's just a sweetheart of a guy. He's
a good kid. And I'm like, let's get together and write.
And so we did, and we came up with Somebody Somebody.
(18:58):
He was talking about relationships and I think his brother's
relationship at the time, and it's like, you know, everybody
wants to be somebody somebody and we're just we kind
of just took off from there and and you know,
and it's it's kind of true. I mean, I've got
a song on an early album called Everybody Wants to
Be Loved. But I mean we're we're really created I
think to be you know, have a companion, have a companionship,
(19:21):
and be amongst people. And I think everybody does want
to be somebody somebody. So that's that's kind of where
the idea for the song came from.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
That one loved it too, and a great body of
work on this record too, a lot of cool songs
out there that really kind of speak from the heart too.
But I want to finish that Charlie Monk story. You write,
you had the mayor of music grow. That's that's the fun.
That's that's got to be fun in that right.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Oh man, Well it was. It was so fun to
meet him because Tom was writing for him at the time,
so I got to go over there quite a bit.
But you know, I mentioned that an artist named Trenny
Triggs that was on a Curb you know, which is
I guess a major dependent, not not technically still independent,
but a major independent with had McGraw and and went
(20:06):
on a you know, back in the day. And so, uh,
Mike Curb had picked this song to be his next
single because they were putting singles out at the time.
It's before they they would test the waters with the
singles and you know, until something stuck and then they'd
put out a full project. But so they picked Mike
Curb had picked this song to be a single. Charlie's
hosting the Riverfront stage down at CMA Fest and I'm
(20:30):
he knew I was there. I was down in the
front and uh, he points points me out for all
these you know, here's one of the co writers of
Turney's next single. And so I'm I'm thinking man, I've
been here a couple of years. Five yeartown. What are
the tenures? What are they talking about? It is easy.
So anyway, long story short. Herb Graham who was one
(20:51):
of his managers. Graham sent owned all the Graham Central stations.
He was the money guy and so he and he
just passed away. So rest in peace, Herb. But he
decided he didn't want that to be the single, and
instead they put out a cover of a Barry song,
say La VI say the old folks. They put that
out instead, and you know, that song never saw the
(21:14):
light of day, but you know, and then so it's
a long time before anything else happened for me. But
I thought, I thought, man, this is easy, This is easy.
And Charlie, you know, Charlie, we developed a great friendship
and rest in peace Charlie. He was quite the character.
He either loved him or hated him. You know. He
was definitely of the opinion that the songwriter songwriters shouldn't
(21:36):
be in the publishing business. They should have a publisher,
you know, and I was kind of I had a
different thought process when it came to that. So I
can't say we never had a few words, but Charlie
was Charlie and I loved him.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Isn't that the beautiful thing? As far as the town goes, well,
I love about it. As you mentioned, so many eclectic people,
so many great people that have ideas for the writing
of songs that you know, never want to take the
credit of like the higher gratitude. They just want to
write the song, have somebody record it. It takes a
special person, Jeff to do that, like to really put
(22:15):
your name on the line, put your name behind something
you believe in. Then it gets attached to an artist.
The artist, you know, can do the whole claim the
same thing too. But you hear it more and more
now in the major award shows that when they go
up there in front of the mic and they're thinking
the team, they're also thinking the songwriters too, because without
the song, there would be no music.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Right. Well, that's absolutely I mean that. I mean, what
is the NSA and the Songwriting Association internationally? It all
begins with the song, starts with the song, and it
really does, you know. But and it's really cool that
these artists are doing that now because I mean a
lot of people, especially years ago, that you know, weren't
educated about the music. You know, they they thought whoever
(22:54):
sang the song wrote the song. I mean, nobody ever,
Nobody ever thought George Strait, you know, they thought, hey,
those are George Straight songs and he wrote them all.
And you know they don't, you know, ignorant to the
fact that, hey, no, there's this whole whole other world
of people that are creating the majority of these songs,
you know, because you know it changed now a lot
(23:17):
of the artists try to write their own songs. But
and that's a that's a business economic for those reasons.
But you know, when when when artists used to make
their money from sales, record sales and CD sales and
all that, you know that in those days they didn't
have to when that disappeared, that income stream, they started
(23:38):
wanting to tap into, you know, the publishing and co writing.
So a lot of artists, you know, try to write
their own stuff, especially a lot of the newer artists,
almost all of them. And it's because there's not you know,
they don't sell sell product anymore, really, you know, and
the streaming, the streaming doesn't pay songwriters, you know, hardly.
(23:59):
It's a pittance. It's pennies on the fractions of pennies,
you know. Yeah, so that's uh but yeah, so I'm
really really thankful that these artists especially are you know,
making sure they think the songwriters.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I'm always gonna do it here on the show. Thanks
the Jeff Batson's out there too, and all the great
songwriters that do their thing out there, because without that again,
and it's kind of a disgrace. You mentioned some of
the streaming services and what they pay out there for
the pennies on the dollar, and I'm not afraid to
say that too, because it should be paid. Song writer
should Yeah, they should.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
It's probably the same for podcasts. I mean it's probably
they're i mean, they're the ones streaming those two. It's
like I'm sure, you know. I just hope someday it
becomes more equitable. And I mean, the pie is big,
and you know, unfortunately the piece of the pie that
the you know, we get is like maybe not even
it's more like crumbs. It's not really even a piece.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Yeah, the crubs are the best way to describe that too.
Tell you what, I love this song for Jeff Batson
here on the back stage pass. Make sure you guys
go check it out. Across all the DSPs. You'll see
the music video if you're watching the website video or
if you're hearing it in your car through the affiliates
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting Networking
are Friends and the sports guys, the podcast dot com.
iHeartRadio podcasts, and our friends at tarheel thwn dot Oregon,
(25:18):
twenty seven countries worldwide. Don't call me a hero. We'll
get the gist of this one from Jeff Batson here
on the backstage pass Mortar. Come, stay tuned.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I'm a family man, The Family Times, the Regular Joe
with an angel for her wife. I played catch in
the yard with my son. I'm bringing my little girl
turns out just like her in mine. I count my
(25:52):
blessings each and every day. No one want along take
me away, but I do what I love to do.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It's not a case of having to.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
I know the risk, I'd pay the prize.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
It's not a job.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
It's my life.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
So if I say.
Speaker 15 (26:25):
Goodbye climbing that ladder to the sky, don't cry.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
It inside I'm still that little boy in a big
red hat with a firetruck tonkatore I'd race through town
as a siren screamed with flashing lights. I'd pull up
to the scene.
Speaker 16 (27:03):
Knock down the door, and run through the smoky dark,
then reappeared with a baby in my.
Speaker 15 (27:13):
Aw I do.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
What I love to do.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
It's not a case of having to. I know the risk.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
I pay the price. It's not a job, it's my life.
So if I.
Speaker 15 (27:37):
Say goodbye, climb in that ladder to the sky, don't cry.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 15 (27:54):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 17 (28:03):
When I'm called to duty.
Speaker 18 (28:04):
God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save.
Speaker 17 (28:08):
A life, whatever be its age.
Speaker 18 (28:10):
Help me to embrace a little child before it is
too late, or save an older person from the horror
of that faith. Enable me to be alert to hear
the weakest shower, and quickly and efficiently to put the
fire out. I want to fill my calling and to
give the best in me to guard my neighbor and
protect his property. And if, according to your will, I
(28:33):
have to lose my life, pless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife, I.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Can't to do.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
What I love to do.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
So it's not a case of having to.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I know the rids, I pay the primes. It's not
a job, it's my life. So goodbye, say goodbye.
Speaker 15 (29:03):
I'm in that ladder to the sky.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Don't cry, Don't call me a hero. Goodbye everyway, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
From that letter in the sky.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Don't cry, don't call me a hero.
Speaker 19 (29:47):
Hey, y'all, this is Chandler Marie and you're listening to
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Speaker 8 (30:34):
Hey y'all, this is Ashlandcraft and you're listening to the
award nominated Backstage Pass on KYBN ninety eight to one,
your Bay Area broadcasting network. You can also listen on
Aheartradio podcasts and at the Sports Guys podcast dot com.
Speaker 12 (30:49):
The Caden Gordon Show is a two hour show playing
the best in country music, so check it out at
the Candangordonshow dot com. Again, that is the Cadangordon Show
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Speaker 21 (31:04):
Hey, guys and gals, this is recording ours Payton Porter
and you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Past podcast
on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay area broadcasting network.
Stream the show anytime at the Sports Guys podcast dot
com and on iHeartRadio podcast and on THHWN dot org.
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Speaker 21 (32:25):
Hey y'all, this is Paulin Hannah McLure of Bethel Music.
Speaker 17 (32:28):
Yeah, and you're listening to the Backstage Pass on KYBN
ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network, and
on the Sports Guys podcast dot com and on THHWN
dot org and anytime on iHeartRadio podcasts.
Speaker 14 (32:43):
Welcome to another edition of Backstage Pass powered by the
Sports Guys Podcast with your host Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
And back here KYB A ninety eight point one, your
Bay Area broadcasting netw work and our friends out there
these sportsguysopodcast dot com. A grand slam music, sports entertainment
out there too, and of course anytime out there THWN
dot org and of course iHeartRadio podcast shows going up
there daily Becker Jeff Betson on the program. Then, you know, man,
you just write songs. You mentioned, we've talked about that,
(33:17):
We've died into it enough to but none better than this.
As far as you know what somebody's calling is, I know,
for me, it was a radio show for you, musician,
real estate, a little bit of everything. When you have
a talent, you show it off and man, one like,
don't call me a hero. It just hits home for people.
It's just a really good song and it just spreads
a great message. You're right, man, tell us all about
(33:39):
this idea and how this came together.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Well, it's an interesting story for that, you know. I
guess my songs are kind of topical. I won't say
they're all story songs, but there's topics. And I'll make
a long story short. So when I was living in Nashville,
I get a call. It's a cold call, some guy
from New England trying to sell me gold coins and
I'm like, man, I'm trying to scrape by. I don't
(34:05):
have money to buy gold coins. I'm a songwriter, you know.
So this guy's like, oh, I was on the radio
in Boston for a while because he's selling coins. He
was on the radio, and so he's like, I'd love
to hear some of your music. So I sent him
a bunch of music. And we developed a friendship from
that cold call because I could talk to a poll
you know, so I've got we just became friends. And
(34:28):
and there was a furniture store fire in two thousand
and seven Charleston, South Carolina. Nine nine firefighters perished, and
it's called that they're known as the Charleston nine. Well,
from hearing my songs, you know, and thank you for
the compliment, by the way, but from hearing my songs,
(34:49):
this guy kind of knew that I kind of could
hear what kind of songs, the heartfelt kind of thing.
And he's he called me and he said, Jeff, you
need to write a song like a firefighter's tribute song.
And so this, you know, I kind of that idea
(35:10):
stuck in my head and I'm like, and then he
wanted me to talk to another friend his named Joey Stan.
Joey stands from New Jersey. Gary's from Boston area, and
Joey stands from Jersey. Plays played saxophone in a band
called Southside Johnny and the Asberry Jukes, and he played
with Gary us Bonds. And so I got to talking
(35:30):
to Joey about because at that time Bond Gary Us
Bonds was playing a lot of these firefighter tribute things,
you know, where they volunteer fireman call around and try
to raise money and sell you tickets to the show.
And he said, Man, from talking to all these firefighters
at these shows, it's like, man, they don't want to
be known. They don't they don't feel like heroes. And
(35:52):
so I'm like being you know, don't call me a hero.
And so you know, I included both those guys as
co writers on the song because I wouldn't have had
the song it weren't for Gary, and I wouldn't have
had the title without without Joey, And so I don't know,
I just I just kind of came up with that,
you know. Sometimes Brandon, I feel like I'm the vessel.
(36:14):
You know, I'm a Christian person. I just feel like
I I'm gifted with some some things that I need
to get out and tell and so that's uh, that's
one of those songs that just kind of it took
a little while. You know. Sometimes sometimes songs come quick,
and sometimes it's like it has to like get up
in here and like it's on the stove. But that
(36:37):
one took a little bit, you know. And then and
then uh, we had the idea to add the firefighters
Creed and that's Gary and one of the the guy
who's responsible for me even write the song, doing the recitation,
and that some other friends have recorded the song and
it's actually my most popular song on online or on
(36:58):
you know out there. I mean I have like millions
and you know, I haven't haven't been lucky enough to
go viral, but it's on a ton of Spotify playlists
like first Responders and that kind of thing. It's been,
it's been using firefighter funerals and and a lot of
firefighter events. I've had messages from the Philippines and Ireland
and Canada, you know, all over the globe, and it
(37:20):
seems to resonate with people.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
So well, yes, yeah, with a few of my friends too,
who actually you know, took on that. That just very
brave career and just the you're right, I mean, I
still I won't say heroes, but they know who they
are out there too, and of course military and first
responders of people like that too, because you don't do
that for the money. You do that because that's that's
your calling and that's what you're destined to do too.
And you know you mentioned being Christian. Faith is everything
(37:43):
out there too, and and uh, you know, just people
that do that type of work out there again, I
salute them and my hats off to them too, because
one of the most underpaid jobs out there, and it
is not, no doubt, no.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
And I mean, you know, and and like you said,
all the first responders and police, fire everybody, paramedics, I
mean you know, and the firefighters man, they're they're running
towards the danger's policemen too. It's like you know, they're
they're not like backtrack and they're like, you know, it's
and it's a lot of times a thankless situation.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
No doubt, it is a thankless situation.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
It is.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I got to talk about this one a couple more
off the record that really, uh definitely well one hits
all no doubt to uh, God knows better. We're talking
about our faith and how much we believe in it.
Timing is everything and man, what a what a three
words to put in a tune?
Speaker 1 (38:39):
Right?
Speaker 2 (38:39):
I love it?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Yeah? Well, man, I wrote that with Brandon Maddox and
Dan Rivers and we just got together. And you know,
every I think everybody knows somebody going through, you know,
through fighting some something, whether it's cancer or something else.
I have an incredibly my best high school friend and
best friends to this day. His wife is going through
one of these battles right now. So get choked up
(39:02):
even talking about it. But that song took on new
meaning when she got diagnosed. And you know, and you know,
we have to have faith. We have to have faith.
And I still believe in miracles. And you know, you know,
I'm not the Bible thump and gonna hit you over
the head with it. But I'm not afraid to tell
you how I believe and what I think. And you're welcome.
(39:23):
That's the beauty of this country. You know, You're welcome
to believe and feel like you do. But I mean,
that song is like it's a I believe everywhere of
that song. It's like, you know, it's already in the cards.
It's like we can only do so much. And you know,
sometimes things work out like we want them to, and
(39:43):
sometimes they don't. But I'm a person that believes in
you know, in faith, and you know, I'm not ashamed
of it. You know. It's one of those things where, man,
I still feel like, one of these days I'm going
to be a big, huge hit songwriter and you know,
and I'm convinced that's in the cards. And you know,
(40:04):
I'm faithful, and you know, timing, timing do I wish
we all wish we could like work on the timing
and things happened in our time, But unfortunately, in my world,
that's not how that works. It's you know, but that song, Thanks,
that's one of those deals, you know, and hopefully it
resonates with people like it did you.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Yeah, it does, say I love it and again, God
knew better. The correct title of the song out there too.
Make sure you guys check it out on his current
album too. And I'll say this, God knows better, He
knew better. We all figured it out at some point too,
Because I can tell you this. I had that Christian
group on a few weeks back, a few members of
the Christian group of Bethel Music. It was Paul and
Hannah McClure had joined us here her to promote some
new projects, and man, we talked about that for a
(40:48):
good hour, about just God having that plan and never
on our watch, never as fast as we want it,
And same thing with radio and podcasts, the same thing
that I've been lucky enough have a great ride by
knowing am I done? But at the same time are
Almighty knows us better than we know ourselves, And so yeah,
I feel like sometimes it's actually one of your songs
on the record too, that I want to talk about
(41:10):
a whole lot of nothing. I feel like sometimes doing
this radio show, that is my phrase, and I speak
on behalf of that. Please tell us how that too
came together.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
I got together with actually cowboy singer Harry Brown. He
and his wife Hilda, they're both cow you know, cow
horse people, and you know, we just got to he
had he's still out in California, I think now singing.
We just got together and started talking about how man,
sometimes you need a break, need to just do nothing.
(41:41):
And so that's really, you know, it's kind of a
how that came about just trying to write something fun.
We weren't trying to necessarily go for a buffet or
Kenny Chesney kind of thing. But I mean, you know,
well nowadays when people talk about the beachy songs, that's
kind of you know, Buffett always came up, and then
(42:01):
you know Kenny, I mean, who's not a fan of
that kind of really music, kind of fun just makes
you want to head to the ocean, you know, PLoP
down in the sand and order a cocktail. So that's
just a fun one hopefully, just you know, lighthearted that
the record, hopefully, it's got a little bit of everything
(42:22):
for you know, it's uh, I'm proud of it. I've
had a couple of the tunes on there that've gone
on the Little E A c M, the euro Academy
Country Music Chart going number one into the grains and
uh come on Sunshine, and uh, you know there's hopefully,
like I say, I mean, there's a song called tom
Boy that's another fun another fun song, kind of light harder,
(42:43):
but but then God, God knew better. And then there's
a song there called trying to Get to Heaven that
are you know a little more on the poiant side.
Have a love ballad on there. Uh it's about us.
I wrote with Toddy Page, so you know that it was.
It was cool. One of the actually Into the Grains,
the one song, the lead leadoff song on that record
(43:05):
I wrote with a firefighter from Massachusetts, Stoneham. He lives
in Stoneham, and I met him because of Don't Call
Me a Hero. Because Gary, the guy from Boston that
wrote it with, ran into John at a drug store wow,
and he got to talking about that song and John
(43:25):
had heard it. So you know, I've actually made a
lot of friends, well through music, but a lot of
friends in New England from that song in particular that
Don't Call Me a Hero. But that led to the
co writing the title track with John Serabian. You know,
that's the lead leadoff song on that on the record.
(43:47):
And then the second song track two's a song called
Come On Sunshine, actually co wrote with a guy named
Aaron Ray Tierry. I kind of lost track of and
everybody around town kept going, you need to look him up,
and so I started doing some research because that song
was a few years old and Aaron's has since won
a Grammy. Lady Gaga did a song of he co
(44:11):
wrote in the Starsborn remake, and he just had a
number one with the Ella Langley Riley Green you look
like you love Me? He co wrote that, So you know,
that's just a fun song. That song was written on
a week where it brained every day here. That's become
like one of the favorites at the Commodore when I
do that, and everybody wants to sing along. So it's
kind of cool.
Speaker 14 (44:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
But you know, as a songwriter, yeah, I still I
still hope to have one of these songs, maybe recorded
by a huge artist and take take you to the
top of the chart. You know, that would be that
would be ideal. Oh, ideal would be me going to
the top of the chart. But you know, I'm also realistic.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
I was gonna say, Jeff Batson going to the top
of the chart with a few of these songs too.
Out there too, because it's authentic, genuine music. Love it
to its core and definitely tells a lot of great stories.
There's something on this record for everybody out there too.
All right, Hey, we'll finish with this one too, And
you know, I'm gonna have you back here on the
show Man because I love the way you speak about
near and deer and close to you and to your
heart as far as downtime. I know, for me, it's
(45:14):
got to like a balance between work life and like
family life for me. So looking back at it, it's
hard to find it. But when you do, you it's
like you don't want to kind of just run off
into it. But when you get the chance to have
that downtime, because it were such workaholics out there that
when I do get it, I'm like, thank god I
took it. When I have that time, because we all
need that balance. For you, what is it and kind
of what you know floats your boat when it comes
(45:35):
to downtown? What do you like doing?
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Man? I like to watch sports, to be honest, I
just I just I mean, I'm not saying it because
you're sponsored by US. I'm a sports freak, you know.
I mean, not really a gambler, but I love to
watch sports, you know, and I love of course. I'm
growing up I did baseball, football, and basketball, so now
(45:58):
soccer's gotten huge, you know, I don't know enough about that.
On hockey as well, those two sports I don't know
as much about, but baseball, football and you know, basketball
love and you know, I grew up near Saint Louis
and I went to Saint Louis Hugh private school. I
went to University of Denver private school. So no football, No,
they didn't have football teams. But you moved to Nashville
(46:21):
in the South, man, you get down here and you
got to like college football. It's like this is SEC
country and go Vanderbilt. How about that?
Speaker 2 (46:30):
This year surprised so far too, which is great for
Bandy too to be ranked inside of the top twenty,
which is amazing, and kudos to them. Man, at some
point you knew that program was going to take off
and just had some great athletes too. Yeah to take
the well coached too, well coached.
Speaker 1 (46:44):
Yes, clark Ley, Yes, great coach. But they're in the
top they're in the top ten now for the first time.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
That's rather the new ones came out.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
Yeah, so nineteen fifty, I don't know, something crazy.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Something crazy, Yes, I remember that till you're right about that.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
God exciting because man, I mean I root for the
underdog sometimes, you know, but you move to the South,
you gotta love So that's what I do. I love
to watch sports in my downtime.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Really, I love it so much. Hey, give me a
prediction on this World Series. My second team is in it.
Toronto Blue Jays just love it up there too, and
of course a mighty big bank payroll. Los Angeles Dodgers. Yea,
the scene in it kind of like I was the
Chiefs for a lot of years too, just winning three
out of five and these dynasties and sports looking back
(47:26):
at it. But uh, I'm actually gonna go and live here.
And I'm gonna say the Jays in seven. So there's yes,
the Jay's and seven yes hmm.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
Man. I'm just I don't know as much about the
Jays as I do the Dodgers. And you know, the
Dodgers played the car. They had some great series with
the Cardinals. I'm gonna here, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm
gonna go with the Dodgers in five.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
Okay, all right, yeah, I can see it.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
But so I have a rawlings baseball glove and I'm
growing up. That was fun. It was Fernando Valenzuela. So
that's why I'm going Dodgers. I still have my rawlings
rawlings glove Fernando where he just passed away too, I
believe not. No, So yeah, there there's my prediction and
(48:18):
my odd odd reasoning.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Fernando mania. You know, may God rest his soul, And
I say, you know what again, I just that's probably
thinking more heart than head when I did that. But
at the same time I think that, look, Houston Astros
have ruined me over the last ten years with four
pennants and a couple of titles. Almost had three, we
got two and as my buddy was called me from
Canada elether night and they clinched. Hey, it's thirty two
(48:42):
years last time he saw championship. He's in his fifties now,
and he goes, man, I remember Joe Carter the walk off,
You'll never hit a bigger home run, that kind of
thing in ninety two, ninety three, the first two pennants,
and then waiting thirty two years for the third pennant
of the.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
French Cardinals when the Cardinals and the Astros were in
the saying that I loved that rivalry. Yet it was
a good one. Man, I'm showing my age. But so
it's weird for me to think of the Astros and
you know where they're at.
Speaker 2 (49:08):
It's like it's a crazy thing that they wouldn't make
the playoffs and missed it by one game.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
Man. You know, I'm told John from Saint Louis. So,
I mean, I'm in the same boat. We've we've not
been good the last few years, and we're not We're
not used to that. I mean, next to the Yankees,
we have the most penance of anybody, you know. So
it's it's been a tough, tough little run. Maybe not
thirty something years, but it's still be a tough run
the last.
Speaker 2 (49:34):
Few that's tough, well, since those those Poohles days. And
I'll tell you this, a Albert Poohles is going to
get him a managerial job. I think the Angels did
not make the higher they wanted to make come to
contract negotiations, but I will say that pooh Holes is
going to make one hell of a manager one day too.
And I've said it many times on the sports shows.
(49:55):
I'm able to uh to put out out there too,
but I love this record. It has got something for
everybody on there too, and so good to connect to.
Jeff Batson twenty twenty five. Make sure you guys check
it out across all the DSPs and wherever you stream
out there. And a songwriter's dream can come true and
it will come true too. And I always say convinced
that when you got the talent, show it off to
(50:15):
everybody out there too at the same time, and keep believing,
no doubt, all these great songs are available for you
guys to stream out there too. KYBN ninety eight point one,
your Bay Area Broadcasting Network and the Sports Guys podcast
dot com THWN dot orgon of course, iHeartRadio podcast, Jeff.
We appreciate the time here on the show. Good to
connect and my friend Hey, continued success going forward and
(50:38):
means a lot to meet someone as authentic as you,
no doubt.
Speaker 1 (50:40):
Well, man, I just can't tell you how much I
appreciate you taking time to have me on and making
it today. So thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
One of my only bats in here on the backstage
Pass back with more great shows coming up over the
next few weeks there and your favorite artists maybe coming
by you never know. To take care, God blessed, we
will see you soon from all of us here at
the back stage pass.
Speaker 21 (51:01):
Hey, y'all, this is Nashville recording artist Rainer Roberts and
you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass on ky
b N ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting
Network and on iHeartRadio podcasts and anytime at the Sports
Guys podcast dot com.
Speaker 19 (51:17):
You can also stream on THWN dot org.
Hey, guys and gals, this is recording on us Jeff
Batson and you're listening to a grand slam of music, sports,
and entertainment. It's the award nominated Backstage Past Podcast with
Brandon Morrell on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay
Area broadcasting network. Tune into the show on iHeartRadio podcasts,
on the Sports Guys podcast dot com and at TWN dot.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Org and welcome inside the Backstage Past. A busy day
full of shows. And always say Halloween means Thanksgiving means
Christmas means spending more money on our kids, and of
course our friends are family. But you know what we
do because we love them at the same time, and you,
guys love radio, you love music. So our jobs to
bring you the best of the best and artists out
here KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network,
(00:45):
TCHWN dot org and our friends the Sports Guys so
podcast dot Com at anytime on iHeartRadio podcast brand new
record out there too. We educate you here on the show.
It's called Jeff bats In twenty twenty five and guess
what it's out now across all the DSPs out there.
Full length record Jeff Johns is here to talk about
it on the backstage pass Jeff. How you doing, brother,
(01:06):
great man?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It's good? You know, educated education. I always say that too,
because educating the fans out there on a great artist
and music and a couple of great songs. We're going
to spend a day on the show. Let's get started,
kind of getting to know you a little bit and
the backstory of the connection to music you mentioned to
me obviously pre show. You've been doing this a long time.
You and I've talked about doing a show for a
long time. Tude, just trying to find the time to
(01:29):
put it on the books here too. But it's kind
of cool to.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Finally get on your show. It's been a while. Man,
I've been familiar with your show. It's a great it's
a great podcast, and you know, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
You got it, brother, Hey tell us about you as
far as the backstory the music and the connection to
it and you know who you were listening to kind
of growing up the whole nine yards laying on us man.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I grew up in the Saint Louis area, southern Illinois,
Illinois side and could actually see the arts from the house.
But you know, that was a I grew up. My
mom and dad listened to country. So my bomb's mom, unfortunately,
was not very healthy. So we had a two hour
car ride just about every weekend down to further south
in Illinois to the Anna don Gola area, And what
(02:13):
was playing in a car was stuff like John Denver
and Merle Haggard and George Jones and Kenny Rodgers and
Nicky Gilly and all that kind of stuff. So that's
kind of what I was first exposed to musically, you know,
aside from being in church. I mean, like singing, why
is my first experience, Like a lot of people, was
doing the little Christmas plays at church and singing in
the little children's choir and that kind of stuff. But
(02:35):
in terms of music, that was kind of the first
stuff that I really listened to. And I played saxophone
in the grade school and then high school band until
I started playing more sports, and then you know, got
into rock and roll in the eighties. That's kind of
you know, I was kind of eclectic, to be honest.
I went through a like Elvis phase. I went through
(02:56):
a Beach Boys phase where I just you know, like
that stuff. But then the eighties, my cousin's responsible for
turning me onto you know, bringing toys in the attic,
aerosmith down and high in fidelity, Rio Speedwagon, you know,
and kind of got me into that stuff and kind
of ended up taking guitar lessons because he played guitar
(03:18):
and wanted to. He lived right up the street, so
kind of ended up in a band with him, you know,
doing that. And then so my taste and love and
music is just all over the place, really, but that's
kind of how it progressed. And then you know, I
went away to I went to college at Saint Louis
(03:39):
Hugh and then I went away to Denver to get
a master's in real estate. And that year in Denver,
I graduated in ninety and I came back to Saint Louis.
I'd been. I left the band I was in with
my cousin and friends in eighty nine when I went
to Denver, and when I came back, I mean eighty
nine ninety what was going on country? The country was
(04:00):
that country was happening, and the country of that little
era that hold Class of eighty nine with Travis Tritt
and Alan Jackson and the g man, you know, it
sounded a lot of it sounded a lot more like
the eighties rock because by that time, the rock scene,
the whole Seattle thing had taken over, and it didn't
it just that didn't interest me as much as the
(04:23):
rock that I grew up listening to. And the country
was sounding a little more edgy or and really a
lot more like the stuff I liked, you know. And
of course I always liked stories and just songs about
real stuff. So that's kind of Once I got back
from from school, I ended up getting in some country
(04:43):
bands around the Saint Louis area, and I did that
from ninety to about ninety seven. And you know, you
know how it is, everybody's like, oh, y'all to move
to Nashville. So well, you know, I'd won a couple
of contests and all that good stuff, like everybody back
home in their hometowns, and so I did. I'm like,
(05:04):
you know, I'll move to Nashville. So in ninety seven
I came here and really started concentrating more on writing
than playing because up there, I you know, had a job,
but I was still playing really sometimes five six, seven
nights a week, but that's what that's what got me here,
everybody you know saying, you know, songwriting wise, I really
(05:25):
didn't start writing songs until that. Until I was in Denver,
you know, and more like a in the my twenties.
You know, I didn't really dabble with writing, but I
was out there alone and had taken the guitar and
started just you know, and so that, you know, really
really didn't start writing songs until then. But then when
(05:47):
I got back to Saint Louis, and then especially when
I moved to Nashville. When I first came here, I
was writing quite a bit, you know, and it was
fortunate enough to meet and network with a lot of people.
You know, I've been fortunate enough to write with many
guys that have had hit songs. So you know, it's
it really is. It's a craft. And so I came
here and you know, you kind of learn where the
(06:08):
bar is and you aim for the bar.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
So and that's the cool point though you mentioned about
everybody they uttered those words and you're like, yep, I
gotta go. It's I got the hook de bait and
throw it out there too, and then caught the fish
and then bring it into no doubt about it. But
when you get there? For you, was it kind of
like that that took a six months a year to
kind of settle in? Was it dearing the headlights?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Look?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Or you're like, man, I get here, I got this,
get to know the right people, and I kind of
expos you know, like you said, it's a high bar,
exposed my music, my writing, what I'm looking for. How
was it for you when you first got there?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
You know, Brandon, honestly I was. I don't want to
stay smart. I was smart enough to know what was
a business. And so I had actually started making trips
to Nashville before I actually moved here in ninety seven,
probably the early nineties, ninety two to three, I would
I had done some shows with the local radio station,
so and I learned what the radio seminar was, and
(07:05):
I learned what the CMA Fest was, and back then
they even had a SRO show which was like Talent Buyers.
So these acts. I started coming down here to some
industry events and the Saint Louis radio stations, both of them,
you know, Kicks in particular was the station that helped
me meet a lot of people, and wil did as well.
(07:25):
Those guys they all would come down here and let
me hang out and you know, get me in some things.
So I got to meet meet a lot of people
and learn a lot about the business because you know,
it's like it's really like doing anything. If I'm going
to sell shoes, I'm gonna know about the shoes, and
I'm you know, so the music business is no different.
When I wanted to learn everything I could, you know,
(07:46):
I bought books about the music business. You know, the
Music Row magazine in Charge issue was kind of like
the Bible because it has everybody's picture. So if I'm
here and I'm walking around town, I'll be like, oh, look,
that's so something. It's kind of like the glass wall
because you're sitting next to Tony Brown, but you can't
really you know, you don't want to reach across that.
(08:08):
It's like you don't want to ruin that relationship because
it's a small enough town where if you're gonna be
like gurmy, you're gonna close doors quicker than quicker than
they're going to open, you know, so you have to
learn when to talk shop and when not to that
kind of thing. But I had been coming here enough
and new enough people and I'd even met some songwriters,
(08:29):
so when I moved here, I kind of just dove
right in and started doing that, you know. And you know, fortunately,
i'd set myself up with a day job that was flexible,
and I knew I wasn't gonna go hungry, you know.
So it's I kind of just transitioned pretty easily, and
it didn't take like, you know, months. Now. The the
(08:51):
other side of that is, you know, they say it's
a used to say say it's a five year town,
and then it then you hear ten years, and then
it's twenty years. But I moved here and really within
a couple of years. There was an artist on Curb
Records at the time named Trenty Triggs. He was a
black artist, you know, and Curb was putting out singles
on him. They didn't put out a full project, but
(09:14):
he cut a song I co wrote with Tom Shephard,
who's another he's a hit songwriter friend of mine. He's
had a couple of hits with Redneck Yacht Club and
writing with Private Malane. But Tom and I wrote this
song Getaway Car, and they picked it. It was supposed
to be Trenty triggs next single. I went down to
the and Tom wrote for Charlie Monk, who was known
(09:35):
as the Mayor Music Row. So Charlie and I were
friends and I met, you know, a lot of people
through that little connection. But Charlie was hosting the Riverfront
stage at the CMA Fest and hey, look there's your
next star, there's your next interview.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's the next one too. You gotta go there, I'm
doing so you gotta go now. I want to get
a little bit and we'll play some music here a
little bit and you know, talk about that. But it's
a hell of a story too, because you're right, when
you go to that town, you gotta know when to speak,
when not to speak, and then when to listen and
turn it on and kind of act like a sponge.
That's just one of those things even in my industry too,
because it makes good points about that. I'm gonna come
back and kind of build on that conversation too. But
(10:17):
I gotta play one.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, I want to tell you that Charlie that story.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah, tell me about that story. I want to hear
that Charlie Monk story too. Jeff Bats in twenty twenty five,
here the backstage Bats. Somebody's somebody coming right back here.
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network.
Stay tuned, more coming up.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You can spend your whole life wait.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
And only hear the inner doubts, our meg, the hopelessness
start fading. Pick yourself up off the ground.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
We all need a little sunshine with a r ring.
Someone who has some of the loneliness away, another heart
that can find its way into another's arms, where it
will stay and never leave. Everyone wants to be somebody somebody.
(11:38):
Love can show in many places, even when you least expect,
ending unfamiliar faces, you'll find some you won't forget it.
(12:00):
We all need a little sunshine with our ring.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Someone who has all the loneliness away. Another heart let
you find its way in two another's arms, where it
will stay and never leave.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Everyone wants to be somebody, somebody.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Colder nights, darker skies, and the pain behind your eyes
tell of tale as old as time.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Come on, will come on me. All the storms of
yesterday will.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
Some side and fade away.
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We all need a little sunshine with our rape. Someone
who us all of the loneliness away, Another heart that
can find its way two anothersons.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Where it will stay and never leave.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Everyone wants to be somebody, somebody, somebody somebody.
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You can also stream on THHW.
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Speaker 11 (16:01):
Hey y'all, this is two time Guinness World Record sitting
rapper Dyo Gibson and you're listening to the award nominated
backstage past on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay
area broadcasting network. You can also stream to show anytime
at the Sports Guys Podcast dot com and on th
WN dot org all year.
Speaker 12 (16:26):
The Caiden Gordon Show is a two hour show playing
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Speaker 13 (16:40):
Hey, guys and gals, this is Colby Cala, and you're
listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass with Brandon Morrell
on KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network.
Stream the show anytime on the Sports Guys podcast dot com,
and on iHeartRadio podcasts. It's a grand slam of music,
(17:01):
entertainment and sports.
Speaker 14 (17:04):
Welcome to another edition of Backstage Pass, powered by the
Sports Guys Podcast with your host Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
And back here on the show k YBN ninety eight
point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting Network and the Sports
Guys Podcast dot com. Out there, a grand slam of music, sports, entertainment,
and of course our friends iHeartRadio podcasts and out there
anytime THWN dot Orgbacker Jeff bats In twenty twenty five
on the show The New Record of Course, out there
across all the DSPs, ten songs for you guys, to
(17:37):
listen to for U building that Charlie among story which
I can't wait to get the end of it. Two,
Like I said, always yeah, the next superstar is in
the other room too. She's already taken a little bit
of the tutelage for me and is all about you
got to start them on.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
You have to.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yes, they make It's like a cameo appearance. That's what
it felt like. You know, which is there? Uh, tell
us a little bit out the record of course, excited
to get the project, new selection of songs to all
the listeners out there, and this one in particular. Somebody's somebody,
you know, somebody, somebody's one of those songs like I
had kind of you know with writing it kind of
(18:13):
ebbs and flows.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I get get excited about it, and then after you know,
almost thirty years in town, you get not so excited
about it. But every once in a while I'll see
somebody that I'm like, man, that person has talent. I
wouldn't mind writing with them. So I was at the Commodore.
The Commodore is one of those songwriters venues in town.
Debbie Champions hosts most of the nights there, and you know,
(18:37):
I saw this kid named Caleb Blake, and I'm like, man,
he's really good, really unique, and so just as it
turned out, you know, and I thought he was really
talented and he's just a sweetheart of a guy. He's
a good kid. And I'm like, let's get together and write.
And so we did, and we came up with Somebody Somebody.
(18:58):
He was talking about relationships and I think his brother's
relationship at the time, and it's like, you know, everybody
wants to be somebody somebody and we're just we kind
of just took off from there and and you know,
and it's it's kind of true. I mean, I've got
a song on an early album called Everybody Wants to
Be Loved. But I mean we're we're really created I
think to be you know, have a companion, have a companionship,
(19:21):
and be amongst people. And I think everybody does want
to be somebody somebody. So that's that's kind of where
the idea for the song came from.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
That one loved it too, and a great body of
work on this record too, a lot of cool songs
out there that really kind of speak from the heart too.
But I want to finish that Charlie Monk story. You write,
you had the mayor of music grow. That's that's the fun.
That's that's got to be fun in that right.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Oh man, Well it was. It was so fun to
meet him because Tom was writing for him at the time,
so I got to go over there quite a bit.
But you know, I mentioned that an artist named Trenny
Triggs that was on a Curb you know, which is
I guess a major dependent, not not technically still independent,
but a major independent with had McGraw and and went
(20:06):
on a you know, back in the day. And so, uh,
Mike Curb had picked this song to be his next
single because they were putting singles out at the time.
It's before they they would test the waters with the
singles and you know, until something stuck and then they'd
put out a full project. But so they picked Mike
Curb had picked this song to be a single. Charlie's
hosting the Riverfront stage down at CMA Fest and I'm
(20:30):
he knew I was there. I was down in the
front and uh, he points points me out for all
these you know, here's one of the co writers of
Turney's next single. And so I'm I'm thinking man, I've
been here a couple of years. Five yeartown. What are
the tenures? What are they talking about? It is easy.
So anyway, long story short. Herb Graham who was one
(20:51):
of his managers. Graham sent owned all the Graham Central stations.
He was the money guy and so he and he
just passed away. So rest in peace, Herb. But he
decided he didn't want that to be the single, and
instead they put out a cover of a Barry song,
say La VI say the old folks. They put that
out instead, and you know, that song never saw the
(21:14):
light of day, but you know, and then so it's
a long time before anything else happened for me. But
I thought, I thought, man, this is easy, This is easy.
And Charlie, you know, Charlie, we developed a great friendship
and rest in peace Charlie. He was quite the character.
He either loved him or hated him. You know. He
was definitely of the opinion that the songwriter songwriters shouldn't
(21:36):
be in the publishing business. They should have a publisher,
you know, and I was kind of I had a
different thought process when it came to that. So I
can't say we never had a few words, but Charlie
was Charlie and I loved him.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Isn't that the beautiful thing? As far as the town goes, well,
I love about it. As you mentioned, so many eclectic people,
so many great people that have ideas for the writing
of songs that you know, never want to take the
credit of like the higher gratitude. They just want to
write the song, have somebody record it. It takes a
special person, Jeff to do that, like to really put
(22:15):
your name on the line, put your name behind something
you believe in. Then it gets attached to an artist.
The artist, you know, can do the whole claim the
same thing too. But you hear it more and more
now in the major award shows that when they go
up there in front of the mic and they're thinking
the team, they're also thinking the songwriters too, because without
the song, there would be no music.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Right. Well, that's absolutely I mean that. I mean, what
is the NSA and the Songwriting Association internationally? It all
begins with the song, starts with the song, and it
really does, you know. But and it's really cool that
these artists are doing that now because I mean a
lot of people, especially years ago, that you know, weren't
educated about the music. You know, they they thought whoever
(22:54):
sang the song wrote the song. I mean, nobody ever,
Nobody ever thought George Strait, you know, they thought, hey,
those are George Straight songs and he wrote them all.
And you know they don't, you know, ignorant to the
fact that, hey, no, there's this whole whole other world
of people that are creating the majority of these songs,
you know, because you know it changed now a lot
(23:17):
of the artists try to write their own songs. But
and that's a that's a business economic for those reasons.
But you know, when when when artists used to make
their money from sales, record sales and CD sales and
all that, you know that in those days they didn't
have to when that disappeared, that income stream, they started
(23:38):
wanting to tap into, you know, the publishing and co writing.
So a lot of artists, you know, try to write
their own stuff, especially a lot of the newer artists,
almost all of them. And it's because there's not you know,
they don't sell sell product anymore, really, you know, and
the streaming, the streaming doesn't pay songwriters, you know, hardly.
(23:59):
It's a pittance. It's pennies on the fractions of pennies,
you know. Yeah, so that's uh but yeah, so I'm
really really thankful that these artists especially are you know,
making sure they think the songwriters.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
I'm always gonna do it here on the show. Thanks
the Jeff Batson's out there too, and all the great
songwriters that do their thing out there, because without that again,
and it's kind of a disgrace. You mentioned some of
the streaming services and what they pay out there for
the pennies on the dollar, and I'm not afraid to
say that too, because it should be paid. Song writer
should Yeah, they should.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
It's probably the same for podcasts. I mean it's probably
they're i mean, they're the ones streaming those two. It's
like I'm sure, you know. I just hope someday it
becomes more equitable. And I mean, the pie is big,
and you know, unfortunately the piece of the pie that
the you know, we get is like maybe not even
it's more like crumbs. It's not really even a piece.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Yeah, the crubs are the best way to describe that too.
Tell you what, I love this song for Jeff Batson
here on the back stage pass. Make sure you guys
go check it out. Across all the DSPs. You'll see
the music video if you're watching the website video or
if you're hearing it in your car through the affiliates
KYBN ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting Networking
are Friends and the sports guys, the podcast dot com.
iHeartRadio podcasts, and our friends at tarheel thwn dot Oregon,
(25:18):
twenty seven countries worldwide. Don't call me a hero. We'll
get the gist of this one from Jeff Batson here
on the backstage pass Mortar. Come, stay tuned.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I'm a family man, The Family Times, the Regular Joe
with an angel for her wife. I played catch in
the yard with my son. I'm bringing my little girl
turns out just like her in mine. I count my
(25:52):
blessings each and every day. No one want along take
me away, but I do what I love to do.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
It's not a case of having to.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
I know the risk, I'd pay the prize.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
It's not a job.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
It's my life.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
So if I say.
Speaker 15 (26:25):
Goodbye climbing that ladder to the sky, don't cry.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
It inside I'm still that little boy in a big
red hat with a firetruck tonkatore I'd race through town
as a siren screamed with flashing lights. I'd pull up
to the scene.
Speaker 16 (27:03):
Knock down the door, and run through the smoky dark,
then reappeared with a baby in my.
Speaker 15 (27:13):
Aw I do.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
What I love to do.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
It's not a case of having to. I know the risk.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
I pay the price. It's not a job, it's my life.
So if I.
Speaker 15 (27:37):
Say goodbye, climb in that ladder to the sky, don't cry.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 15 (27:54):
Don't call me a hero.
Speaker 17 (28:03):
When I'm called to duty.
Speaker 18 (28:04):
God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save.
Speaker 17 (28:08):
A life, whatever be its age.
Speaker 18 (28:10):
Help me to embrace a little child before it is
too late, or save an older person from the horror
of that faith. Enable me to be alert to hear
the weakest shower, and quickly and efficiently to put the
fire out. I want to fill my calling and to
give the best in me to guard my neighbor and
protect his property. And if, according to your will, I
(28:33):
have to lose my life, pless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife, I.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Can't to do.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
What I love to do.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
So it's not a case of having to.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I know the rids, I pay the primes. It's not
a job, it's my life. So goodbye, say goodbye.
Speaker 15 (29:03):
I'm in that ladder to the sky.
Speaker 4 (29:07):
Don't cry, Don't call me a hero. Goodbye everyway, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
From that letter in the sky.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Don't cry, don't call me a hero.
Speaker 19 (29:47):
Hey, y'all, this is Chandler Marie and you're listening to
the award nominated Backstage Pass on KYBN ninety eight point one,
your Bay Area broadcasting network. You can listen to on
THHWN dot org and on iHeart Radio podcasts in anytime
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Speaker 21 (31:04):
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Speaker 17 (32:28):
Yeah, and you're listening to the Backstage Pass on KYBN
ninety eight point one, your Bay Area broadcasting network, and
on the Sports Guys podcast dot com and on THHWN
dot org and anytime on iHeartRadio podcasts.
Speaker 14 (32:43):
Welcome to another edition of Backstage Pass powered by the
Sports Guys Podcast with your host Brandon Morell.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
And back here KYB A ninety eight point one, your
Bay Area broadcasting netw work and our friends out there
these sportsguysopodcast dot com. A grand slam music, sports entertainment
out there too, and of course anytime out there THWN
dot org and of course iHeartRadio podcast shows going up
there daily Becker Jeff Betson on the program. Then, you know, man,
you just write songs. You mentioned, we've talked about that,
(33:17):
We've died into it enough to but none better than this.
As far as you know what somebody's calling is, I know,
for me, it was a radio show for you, musician,
real estate, a little bit of everything. When you have
a talent, you show it off and man, one like,
don't call me a hero. It just hits home for people.
It's just a really good song and it just spreads
a great message. You're right, man, tell us all about
(33:39):
this idea and how this came together.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Well, it's an interesting story for that, you know. I
guess my songs are kind of topical. I won't say
they're all story songs, but there's topics. And I'll make
a long story short. So when I was living in Nashville,
I get a call. It's a cold call, some guy
from New England trying to sell me gold coins and
I'm like, man, I'm trying to scrape by. I don't
(34:05):
have money to buy gold coins. I'm a songwriter, you know.
So this guy's like, oh, I was on the radio
in Boston for a while because he's selling coins. He
was on the radio, and so he's like, I'd love
to hear some of your music. So I sent him
a bunch of music. And we developed a friendship from
that cold call because I could talk to a poll
you know, so I've got we just became friends. And
(34:28):
and there was a furniture store fire in two thousand
and seven Charleston, South Carolina. Nine nine firefighters perished, and
it's called that they're known as the Charleston nine. Well,
from hearing my songs, you know, and thank you for
the compliment, by the way, but from hearing my songs,
(34:49):
this guy kind of knew that I kind of could
hear what kind of songs, the heartfelt kind of thing.
And he's he called me and he said, Jeff, you
need to write a song like a firefighter's tribute song.
And so this, you know, I kind of that idea
(35:10):
stuck in my head and I'm like, and then he
wanted me to talk to another friend his named Joey Stan.
Joey stands from New Jersey. Gary's from Boston area, and
Joey stands from Jersey. Plays played saxophone in a band
called Southside Johnny and the Asberry Jukes, and he played
with Gary us Bonds. And so I got to talking
(35:30):
to Joey about because at that time Bond Gary Us
Bonds was playing a lot of these firefighter tribute things,
you know, where they volunteer fireman call around and try
to raise money and sell you tickets to the show.
And he said, Man, from talking to all these firefighters
at these shows, it's like, man, they don't want to
be known. They don't they don't feel like heroes. And
(35:52):
so I'm like being you know, don't call me a hero.
And so you know, I included both those guys as
co writers on the song because I wouldn't have had
the song it weren't for Gary, and I wouldn't have
had the title without without Joey, And so I don't know,
I just I just kind of came up with that,
you know. Sometimes Brandon, I feel like I'm the vessel.
(36:14):
You know, I'm a Christian person. I just feel like
I I'm gifted with some some things that I need
to get out and tell and so that's uh, that's
one of those songs that just kind of it took
a little while. You know. Sometimes sometimes songs come quick,
and sometimes it's like it has to like get up
in here and like it's on the stove. But that
(36:37):
one took a little bit, you know. And then and
then uh, we had the idea to add the firefighters
Creed and that's Gary and one of the the guy
who's responsible for me even write the song, doing the recitation,
and that some other friends have recorded the song and
it's actually my most popular song on online or on
(36:58):
you know out there. I mean I have like millions
and you know, I haven't haven't been lucky enough to
go viral, but it's on a ton of Spotify playlists
like first Responders and that kind of thing. It's been,
it's been using firefighter funerals and and a lot of
firefighter events. I've had messages from the Philippines and Ireland
and Canada, you know, all over the globe, and it
(37:20):
seems to resonate with people.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
So well, yes, yeah, with a few of my friends too,
who actually you know, took on that. That just very
brave career and just the you're right, I mean, I
still I won't say heroes, but they know who they
are out there too, and of course military and first
responders of people like that too, because you don't do
that for the money. You do that because that's that's
your calling and that's what you're destined to do too.
And you know you mentioned being Christian. Faith is everything
(37:43):
out there too, and and uh, you know, just people
that do that type of work out there again, I
salute them and my hats off to them too, because
one of the most underpaid jobs out there, and it
is not, no doubt, no.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
And I mean, you know, and and like you said,
all the first responders and police, fire everybody, paramedics, I
mean you know, and the firefighters man, they're they're running
towards the danger's policemen too. It's like you know, they're
they're not like backtrack and they're like, you know, it's
and it's a lot of times a thankless situation.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
No doubt, it is a thankless situation.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
It is.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
I got to talk about this one a couple more
off the record that really, uh definitely well one hits
all no doubt to uh, God knows better. We're talking
about our faith and how much we believe in it.
Timing is everything and man, what a what a three
words to put in a tune?
Speaker 1 (38:39):
Right?
Speaker 2 (38:39):
I love it?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Yeah? Well, man, I wrote that with Brandon Maddox and
Dan Rivers and we just got together. And you know,
every I think everybody knows somebody going through, you know,
through fighting some something, whether it's cancer or something else.
I have an incredibly my best high school friend and
best friends to this day. His wife is going through
one of these battles right now. So get choked up
(39:02):
even talking about it. But that song took on new
meaning when she got diagnosed. And you know, and you know,
we have to have faith. We have to have faith.
And I still believe in miracles. And you know, you know,
I'm not the Bible thump and gonna hit you over
the head with it. But I'm not afraid to tell
you how I believe and what I think. And you're welcome.
(39:23):
That's the beauty of this country. You know, You're welcome
to believe and feel like you do. But I mean,
that song is like it's a I believe everywhere of
that song. It's like, you know, it's already in the cards.
It's like we can only do so much. And you know,
sometimes things work out like we want them to, and
(39:43):
sometimes they don't. But I'm a person that believes in
you know, in faith, and you know, I'm not ashamed
of it. You know. It's one of those things where, man,
I still feel like, one of these days I'm going
to be a big, huge hit songwriter and you know,
and I'm convinced that's in the cards. And you know,
(40:04):
I'm faithful, and you know, timing, timing do I wish
we all wish we could like work on the timing
and things happened in our time, But unfortunately, in my world,
that's not how that works. It's you know, but that song, Thanks,
that's one of those deals, you know, and hopefully it
resonates with people like it did you.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Yeah, it does, say I love it and again, God
knew better. The correct title of the song out there too.
Make sure you guys check it out on his current
album too. And I'll say this, God knows better, He
knew better. We all figured it out at some point too,
Because I can tell you this. I had that Christian
group on a few weeks back, a few members of
the Christian group of Bethel Music. It was Paul and
Hannah McClure had joined us here her to promote some
new projects, and man, we talked about that for a
(40:48):
good hour, about just God having that plan and never
on our watch, never as fast as we want it,
And same thing with radio and podcasts, the same thing
that I've been lucky enough have a great ride by
knowing am I done? But at the same time are
Almighty knows us better than we know ourselves, And so yeah,
I feel like sometimes it's actually one of your songs
on the record too, that I want to talk about
(41:10):
a whole lot of nothing. I feel like sometimes doing
this radio show, that is my phrase, and I speak
on behalf of that. Please tell us how that too
came together.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
I got together with actually cowboy singer Harry Brown. He
and his wife Hilda, they're both cow you know, cow
horse people, and you know, we just got to he
had he's still out in California, I think now singing.
We just got together and started talking about how man,
sometimes you need a break, need to just do nothing.
(41:41):
And so that's really, you know, it's kind of a
how that came about just trying to write something fun.
We weren't trying to necessarily go for a buffet or
Kenny Chesney kind of thing. But I mean, you know,
well nowadays when people talk about the beachy songs, that's
kind of you know, Buffett always came up, and then
(42:01):
you know Kenny, I mean, who's not a fan of
that kind of really music, kind of fun just makes
you want to head to the ocean, you know, PLoP
down in the sand and order a cocktail. So that's
just a fun one hopefully, just you know, lighthearted that
the record, hopefully, it's got a little bit of everything
(42:22):
for you know, it's uh, I'm proud of it. I've
had a couple of the tunes on there that've gone
on the Little E A c M, the euro Academy
Country Music Chart going number one into the grains and
uh come on Sunshine, and uh, you know there's hopefully,
like I say, I mean, there's a song called tom
Boy that's another fun another fun song, kind of light harder,
(42:43):
but but then God, God knew better. And then there's
a song there called trying to Get to Heaven that
are you know a little more on the poiant side.
Have a love ballad on there. Uh it's about us.
I wrote with Toddy Page, so you know that it was.
It was cool. One of the actually Into the Grains,
the one song, the lead leadoff song on that record
(43:05):
I wrote with a firefighter from Massachusetts, Stoneham. He lives
in Stoneham, and I met him because of Don't Call
Me a Hero. Because Gary, the guy from Boston that
wrote it with, ran into John at a drug store wow,
and he got to talking about that song and John
(43:25):
had heard it. So you know, I've actually made a
lot of friends, well through music, but a lot of
friends in New England from that song in particular that
Don't Call Me a Hero. But that led to the
co writing the title track with John Serabian. You know,
that's the lead leadoff song on that on the record.
(43:47):
And then the second song track two's a song called
Come On Sunshine, actually co wrote with a guy named
Aaron Ray Tierry. I kind of lost track of and
everybody around town kept going, you need to look him up,
and so I started doing some research because that song
was a few years old and Aaron's has since won
a Grammy. Lady Gaga did a song of he co
(44:11):
wrote in the Starsborn remake, and he just had a
number one with the Ella Langley Riley Green you look
like you love Me? He co wrote that, So you know,
that's just a fun song. That song was written on
a week where it brained every day here. That's become
like one of the favorites at the Commodore when I
do that, and everybody wants to sing along. So it's
kind of cool.
Speaker 14 (44:31):
You know.
Speaker 1 (44:32):
But you know, as a songwriter, yeah, I still I
still hope to have one of these songs, maybe recorded
by a huge artist and take take you to the
top of the chart. You know, that would be that
would be ideal. Oh, ideal would be me going to
the top of the chart. But you know, I'm also realistic.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
I was gonna say, Jeff Batson going to the top
of the chart with a few of these songs too.
Out there too, because it's authentic, genuine music. Love it
to its core and definitely tells a lot of great stories.
There's something on this record for everybody out there too.
All right, Hey, we'll finish with this one too, And
you know, I'm gonna have you back here on the
show Man because I love the way you speak about
near and deer and close to you and to your
heart as far as downtime. I know, for me, it's
(45:14):
got to like a balance between work life and like
family life for me. So looking back at it, it's
hard to find it. But when you do, you it's
like you don't want to kind of just run off
into it. But when you get the chance to have
that downtime, because it were such workaholics out there that
when I do get it, I'm like, thank god I
took it. When I have that time, because we all
need that balance. For you, what is it and kind
of what you know floats your boat when it comes
(45:35):
to downtown? What do you like doing?
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Man? I like to watch sports, to be honest, I
just I just I mean, I'm not saying it because
you're sponsored by US. I'm a sports freak, you know.
I mean, not really a gambler, but I love to
watch sports, you know, and I love of course. I'm
growing up I did baseball, football, and basketball, so now
(45:58):
soccer's gotten huge, you know, I don't know enough about that.
On hockey as well, those two sports I don't know
as much about, but baseball, football and you know, basketball
love and you know, I grew up near Saint Louis
and I went to Saint Louis Hugh private school. I
went to University of Denver private school. So no football, No,
they didn't have football teams. But you moved to Nashville
(46:21):
in the South, man, you get down here and you
got to like college football. It's like this is SEC
country and go Vanderbilt. How about that?
Speaker 2 (46:30):
This year surprised so far too, which is great for
Bandy too to be ranked inside of the top twenty,
which is amazing, and kudos to them. Man, at some
point you knew that program was going to take off
and just had some great athletes too. Yeah to take
the well coached too, well coached.
Speaker 1 (46:44):
Yes, clark Ley, Yes, great coach. But they're in the
top they're in the top ten now for the first time.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
That's rather the new ones came out.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
Yeah, so nineteen fifty, I don't know, something crazy.
Speaker 2 (46:53):
Something crazy, Yes, I remember that till you're right about that.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
God exciting because man, I mean I root for the
underdog sometimes, you know, but you move to the South,
you gotta love So that's what I do. I love
to watch sports in my downtime.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Really, I love it so much. Hey, give me a
prediction on this World Series. My second team is in it.
Toronto Blue Jays just love it up there too, and
of course a mighty big bank payroll. Los Angeles Dodgers. Yea,
the scene in it kind of like I was the
Chiefs for a lot of years too, just winning three
out of five and these dynasties and sports looking back
(47:26):
at it. But uh, I'm actually gonna go and live here.
And I'm gonna say the Jays in seven. So there's yes,
the Jay's and seven yes hmm.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
Man. I'm just I don't know as much about the
Jays as I do the Dodgers. And you know, the
Dodgers played the car. They had some great series with
the Cardinals. I'm gonna here, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm
gonna go with the Dodgers in five.
Speaker 2 (47:53):
Okay, all right, yeah, I can see it.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
But so I have a rawlings baseball glove and I'm
growing up. That was fun. It was Fernando Valenzuela. So
that's why I'm going Dodgers. I still have my rawlings
rawlings glove Fernando where he just passed away too, I
believe not. No, So yeah, there there's my prediction and
(48:18):
my odd odd reasoning.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Fernando mania. You know, may God rest his soul, And
I say, you know what again, I just that's probably
thinking more heart than head when I did that. But
at the same time I think that, look, Houston Astros
have ruined me over the last ten years with four
pennants and a couple of titles. Almost had three, we
got two and as my buddy was called me from
Canada elether night and they clinched. Hey, it's thirty two
(48:42):
years last time he saw championship. He's in his fifties now,
and he goes, man, I remember Joe Carter the walk off,
You'll never hit a bigger home run, that kind of
thing in ninety two, ninety three, the first two pennants,
and then waiting thirty two years for the third pennant
of the.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
French Cardinals when the Cardinals and the Astros were in
the saying that I loved that rivalry. Yet it was
a good one. Man, I'm showing my age. But so
it's weird for me to think of the Astros and
you know where they're at.
Speaker 2 (49:08):
It's like it's a crazy thing that they wouldn't make
the playoffs and missed it by one game.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
Man. You know, I'm told John from Saint Louis. So,
I mean, I'm in the same boat. We've we've not
been good the last few years, and we're not We're
not used to that. I mean, next to the Yankees,
we have the most penance of anybody, you know. So
it's it's been a tough, tough little run. Maybe not
thirty something years, but it's still be a tough run
the last.
Speaker 2 (49:34):
Few that's tough, well, since those those Poohles days. And
I'll tell you this, a Albert Poohles is going to
get him a managerial job. I think the Angels did
not make the higher they wanted to make come to
contract negotiations, but I will say that pooh Holes is
going to make one hell of a manager one day too.
And I've said it many times on the sports shows.
(49:55):
I'm able to uh to put out out there too,
but I love this record. It has got something for
everybody on there too, and so good to connect to.
Jeff Batson twenty twenty five. Make sure you guys check
it out across all the DSPs and wherever you stream
out there. And a songwriter's dream can come true and
it will come true too. And I always say convinced
that when you got the talent, show it off to
(50:15):
everybody out there too at the same time, and keep believing,
no doubt, all these great songs are available for you
guys to stream out there too. KYBN ninety eight point one,
your Bay Area Broadcasting Network and the Sports Guys podcast
dot com THWN dot orgon of course, iHeartRadio podcast, Jeff.
We appreciate the time here on the show. Good to
connect and my friend Hey, continued success going forward and
(50:38):
means a lot to meet someone as authentic as you,
no doubt.
Speaker 1 (50:40):
Well, man, I just can't tell you how much I
appreciate you taking time to have me on and making
it today. So thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
One of my only bats in here on the backstage
Pass back with more great shows coming up over the
next few weeks there and your favorite artists maybe coming
by you never know. To take care, God blessed, we
will see you soon from all of us here at
the back stage pass.
Speaker 21 (51:01):
Hey, y'all, this is Nashville recording artist Rainer Roberts and
you're listening to the award nominated Backstage Pass on ky
b N ninety eight point one, your Bay Area Broadcasting
Network and on iHeartRadio podcasts and anytime at the Sports
Guys podcast dot com.
Speaker 19 (51:17):
You can also stream on THWN dot org.
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