A Country Music Hall of Fame drummer who performed with the legendary group Alabama for nearly three decades. He was part of the ceremony when Alabama received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and continues to play, produce, and record. He is the author of a book titled, “The High Road: Memories From a Long Trip,” which is described as an intimate collection of personal memoirs spotlighting the highlights and lowlights of his life journey and music career.
“That’s what I worked for. When the lighters came out, I knew I was doing my job.”
“Back in the day when we were playing over 300 dates a year, I had to be in good shape. The show grew in length eventually, we went from opening act to co-headliner to headliner and finally in the later years we closed off with the American farewell tour. That was a three-and-a-half hour show every night. And, even though it was kind of the waning years of touring for the band I was in the best shape I ever was.”
“On a tour you are very much in everybody else’s space and they’re in yours and you have to find ways to get along. It’s mandatory. And that means giving as much as getting. It’s very much like a marriage. You have to work.”
“I would be inclined to think that most drummers would agree with me (that) when you’re not following your discipline at the gym or whatever it is you do, your playing will suffer a little bit.”
“I’ve never since admired anybody as much in this business as Charlie (Daniels). I got to know him pretty well… We spent three years touring together as co-headliners.”
“As in most cases in most bands there was a dispute about the almighty dollar.”
“You would be amazed at the amount of people, especially drummers, that are interested in aviation that are also professional musicians – and vice versa!”
“I wanted to grow up and fly jets for the Navy. And that was my first aspiration, from the time I was ten years old.”
“I started and before long I had a complete manuscript. I got addicted to it. I would look forward to my nightly sessions at the keyboard.”
“Mountain Music” (Alabama)
“Mama Prayed” (Leah Seawright)