"Did You Ever Know That They're My Heroes..."

Favorite question, still asked, every now and then, when people find out that I have some success at songwriting in my past.

".....which do you write?......the lyrics or the words....?"

If the curious soul is a friend or an acquaintance with whom I feel comfortable enough to have a little self deprecating fun, my reply is usually "well, I write lyrics.....although a lot of people think they only rate high enough to be called words."

If the question comes from someone less familiar, I politely offer up the lack of difference between the two and then distract them from any possible embarrassment by diverting right into an anecdote from a healthy stock of anecdotes I've been lucky to compile through the years.

Sometimes, it's the "Wayne Newton used to be my baby sitter" saga.

At other times, it might be the "...living with Roy Orbison and accidentally breaking his Grammy..." tale.

Either way, there's always a palpable measure of interest in the "backstage" kind of stuff that people like me have experienced through the years.

One of the reasons those "behind the scenes" things are so popular on HBO and Showtime.

So, in the spirit of sharing some fun facts to know and tell about how those songs that end up living inside of your brain and/or heart and/or soul for the rest of your life, here's a fun fact to know and tell.

The process of creativity, itself, is both too complex, even abstract, to try and explain. It's a lot like trying to explain why a joke is funny. You either laugh or you don't.

The mechanics, as it were, of a song's journey from birth to debut, meanwhile, is, well, fairly mechanical.

Writer and/or co-writers of said song finish writing and/or co-writing it, produce a demo of sufficient quality to make it presentable enough to A&R people, producers and/or recording artists that they are willing to listen to more than thirty seconds of the song. Writers play said demo for said A&R people, producers and/or recording artists and, then, the really key part of the whole process comes into play.

Let's call it the punchline part.

As in, one either laughs, or not, at a joke.

One either gets excited and wants to record a song based on the demo they hear.

Or not.

Most of the time....not.

That's not meant to discourage anyone from following their dream of songwriting success. But it's both wise and prudent to understand what part reality inevitably plays in that dreaming thing.

Legendary producer Billy Sherrill once put it eloquently spot on.

"In any given calendar year, statistically speaking, ten people go from being unknown to being very successful in the song business. In that same calendar year, twenty eight people are killed by lightning...."

Again, follow that dream wherever that dream may lead you.

Here's a been there, done that tip for you.

That demo? Don't be fooled by what most accomplished writers will tell you is an ironic, if not outright hilarious, slang term. Demo. Short for demonstration. Meaning only intended to give A&R people, producers and/or recording artists a sense of the song and how they could take their own particular magic and turn it into a masterpiece.

A long time ago, in a song business far, far away, a writer could offer up a "demo" via what we used to call "guitar/vocal" or "piano/vocal". The description says it all. A simple, on-key vocal backed with only an adequately played guitar or piano, depending on the mood, and need, of the song.

Unless you're related by blood to the A&R person, producer and/or recording artist you're taking a shot at, the odds on even getting a listen to that no frills old favorite format are actually less than the odds you'll have affordable healthcare in your lifetime. Or your kids lifetime. Or their kids lifetime.

In the high tech world of more songs being pitched on a daily basis than there are stars in the sky, you gotta do your best to musically and lyrically ABC that sucker.

In other words, spell it out for them.

Can't play all that well?

Can't really sing much past acceptable in the shower?

Not to worry.

World class talent abounds in a music industry town. Like NY. LA.

Nashville.

And, at least in Nashville, you benefit from the fact that a lot of that world class talent makes a lot their living doing "demos". Either because they love the work and are happy to do it. Or they are at the beginning of their own climb up the ladder of success and the first, best place to get someone to notice your singing talent is to get it put on as many recordings as possible.

That scenario applies to a lot of now well known names you might not have known got started that way.

Alan Jackson. Kathy Mattea. Trisha Yearwood. Just three of those who were Alan Who? Kathy Who? and Trisha Who? before they demo'ed their way into their own success stories.

And, then, there's the great voices whose names never become household, but who are respected and acclaimed within the industry itself for their talent and their ability to take that talent and make your okay song good, your good song great....and your great song? Forget hammer time, it's Grammy time, baby.

No pun intended, these ladies and gentlemen are the unsung heroes of the music business.

I've had the good fortune and privilege of having a lot of those voices, both known and unknown, grace my own songs through the years. And that's why when I came across this post on the ol FB this week, it caught both my eye and my ears for a few reasons.

First, the song is, obviously, iconic.

Second, the gentleman who posted it is Ernie Winfrey, a legendary Nashville based recording engineer and producer. Do the Google. Trust me. You'll be both enthralled and impressed.

And, then, came the player. And the singer, who I had the pleasure to know and work with through those Music Row years.

Because while the song is iconic, this, obviously, isn't the original version released by Roger Whittaker back in 1982, nor is it the seminal version Bette Midler offered up, nor is it one of the many "covers" of the song that have been recorded through the years.

This...songwriting kats and kitties.....is the "demo".

Piano by Ron Oates. Vocal by Jim Hurt.

Two names I put all the chips down you've never heard before. But, again, do the Google and marvel at the resumes' these gentlemen bring to the mixing console.

Then, enjoy this "demonstration" of how great a song can.....and totally turned out.....to be.

Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar created this work.

But, again, trust me when I tell you that not a day goes by that those talented writers don't thank the stars and/or the good Lord above for the contribution to their creation.....

...of Ron Oates...and Jimmy Hurt.