I was thinkin' 'bout the time when some of the people in Nashville had the notion that I was at the 'top'. I had had a string of successes and it had happened almost overnight. People were askin' me what I had for material that their artists might record and I had the city's ear. It was nice, but as far as that bein' the top...not quite. I'd say it was more me havin' my foot in the door.
It was about this time that I first met the great Kenny Rodgers, who incidently looks just like, an awful lot like, reminds people of... (you all know what I mean) my real brother, Kenny. Kenny Rodgers was at that time and had been for quite a while at the top. His press secretary and my agent were brothers, and they had set up this meeting just to see what would happen. He had written a book entitled 'Makin' It In Music", and havin' read it I had a thousand questions for him that never got asked. We had stopped at the petting zoo out side Gatlinburg for some matches and decided to stay for the tour. The place was located on about 2 acres and the walk lasted about three quarters of an hour. What I remember most of that talk was his take on bein' on top. Listen to this, and picture the background noises and smells and the green hills and all if you can. Man, those llamas were rude, but anyways, we had stopped to have a smoke out in front of the llama feedin' gate, and Kenny stops and lookin' at the llamas, but kinda talkin' to us all, he said the most insightful words about bein' on the top. I think one might apply it to any 'top' you choose. We of course were talkin' bout the music industry but one might apply those wise words to any situation, don't you think? I must confess that prior to that meeting I'd always thought of Kenny as kind of thick and brutish in a nice kind of way. You know my mom always says "anyone that likes animals can't be that bad,,," so please don't you all be too hard on Kenny. Just listen to these well put words, and try to hold on to them.
" Y'know bein' on top you look behind you and you'll see a hundred better than you comin' right up at you. You don't want to stop. You can't stop and stay on top." he said. "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah I do." said I
It was right then that the llama, a black and white male, probaly no older than five or six, maybe seven, made his move to steal Kenny's(I forget what brand they were, Camels or somethin' like Camels, filtered, smooth and not harsh, long lastin', satisfying)
ciggaretts from out of his hand. Without thinkin' Kenny brought the pack up to his chin level and the llama grabbed hold of his beard by mistake and gave it such a yank that I thought Kenny's neck might've snapped. He was so cool about it. With out the slightest bit of interruption he continued our conversation
"I know you know." he said, and he was right.
(to be continued)
