The Earth Moves, The Heart Stands Still

They say you don't really know how sick you are until you begin to get better. Music sounds sweeter to me than it has since I was a kid. I keep thinking that I'm hearing the best things I've ever heard. I am! The colors are vivid and bright. My eyes and my heart seem to be open wider than I knew was possible.

Oh, sad is sad. The news on television reminds me of war and greed and hate. Sometimes loneliness holds me by the throat and tries to take control. There are folks that I miss. Regrets? Yeah.

It's all just a part of this magnificent quilt, though. I've said it before, you're lucky when you know you're lucky. Try your best to squander your love. See if you can use it up. Ha!

Geographically Challenged

Well, I guess I've seen plenty enough articles and reviews to know that there are folks out there who claim that my obscurity, which borders on total, can be blamed, at least partially, on my geography.

More than once I've read that had I moved to Texas or California or New York at some point in this so-called career, I might have made something of myself.

Lots of my favorite music has come from this area. Benny Joy, the Skyliners, the Rockers, the Dreamers and the Impacs all come to mind immediately. I know that there are other folks who share my love and enthusiasm for the home grown rock'n'rollers. I have to say, though, that everyone seems to think of these heroes as local acts. Everyone around here, at least. Outside this area nobody thinks of them at all.

Well, as they say, everyone's a local act somewhere. I know I've started my pal, Rock Bottom, rolling in his grave somewhere.

Small Ponds, Big Egos

Now, nobody appreciates a little self esteem more than I do. That said, cocky musicians, conspicuous consumers, conceited beauties and swaggering athletes leave me cold. It's a big old world out there and everybody's a local act somewhere.

Elvis stood and talked to me until he was late for his movie shoot. He was Elvis!

Life is way too short to spend time with folks worrying about how smart they are, how rich they are or how pretty they are.

The beauty is in the soul, the heart. The riches are all over the ground. Seashells and broken 7 Up bottles. The prettiest music comes from the mockingbird. Beethoven knew it. All the great ones know where the best melodies are to be had.

Yeah, you're special. Everybody's special. Lord Buckley told us.

Elvis Presley Didn't Like Tampa

Wrote this with my pal, British porn legend, Laura Canyon. Fiction, for the most part. You know the other. Mae Boren Axton, Hoyt's mom and the co-writer of Heartbreak Hotel, interviews the young bebop hillbilly     for the radio. Changed Florida. Changed me. Changed the world.

                                                                      Ronny and Elvis

                          Probably the sweetest person I ever met. There will never be another one.

I Miss Gary Dobbins

In 1967 I attempted to start a rhythm and blues band, horns, keyboards, backup singers, the whole deal. Nobody ever showed up for practice. I finally took the three drummers, had one teach another one to play guitar, I played bass and we started a hillbilly band instead, Your Local Bear. Talk about your mothers and your inventions! I loved that band. Nobody else did. We played on a bill with Jimi Hendrix and I thought we should change the world.

That band eventually morphed into Duckbutter. I was sure that this one was gonna change the world. Save it, too. Oh well.