Year of changes - a brief interview with Jim Lauderdale

Jim Lauderdale needs no introduction here. A performing songwriter for more than thirty years, perennial host of the Americana Music Awards, with a Grammy-winning Bluegrass CD, "Lost in the Lonesome Pines", songs recorded by George Strait, Mark Chestnut, the Dixie Chicks�well, darn. There I go introducing him. But do you know the first song he ever wrote?

With the help of Lisa Shively at The Press Network, I tracked Jim down by phone on his way to play the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC on a Wednesday night. He actually gave me a ring first to get things started early, because this man is moving.

HW: 2006 has been a year of changes for you, hasn't it? New record label, new manager, killer tour schedule, how are you holding up?

JL: Well, Glenn Dicker (President of Yep Roc) used to be with Upstart, and they released "Persimmons" awhile back, so we've worked together before. New manager is David Macias; he's a good guy. So I'm holding up!

HW: You've started writing up a storm with Odie Blackmon, what is it, fifty songs in the past year?

JL: Yeah, around fifty or so.

HW: So how did you two get together?

JL: He used to see me when I played the Palomino out in LA, but we never met back then. He moved to Nashville and started coming around Blue Water Publishing, where I was doing a lot of work, and we finally sat down. After writing and hanging around the studio with him, I thought he'd work out as co-producer.

HW: When did you decide to be a songwriter? I mean, when did you realize that you could write stuff better than what you were hearing on the radio?

JL: I don't think I ever thought that, not really. All through High School I was playing bluegrass banjo, and I'd come up with pieces of songs. I think I was 19 when I wrote my first real song.

HW: You were born in North Carolina � did you ever make it out to Union Grove when it was going on?

JL: Oh yeah. I was living in Due West, South Carolina, and rode up with some college kids. I made it up there several years back in the early 70s. I met the Rounder Records folks there one year; they were selling LPs out of crates behind a station wagon. Ken Irwin sold me a Seldom Scene album and a Union Grove compilation from the previous year. That was back when if you competed onstage they'd refund your admission fee, ten or fifteen bucks. So we formed a band, and I wrote a song called "My Father's Name is Robert E. Lee" right there on the spot. That was the first song I ever wrote, I'll never forget that song title. We didn't win, but we got our refunds.

HW: So, unlike most songwriters, you made money on your very first song?

JL: (laughs) Yeah, I guess I did at that!

HW: You've done a lot of work with the Americana Music Association, been their host for a few years. I caught you hosting the AMA's Awards show at the Ryman in 2005, in your brand-new Americana suit.

JL: The AMA is a great thing to have as an organization for various musicians that fall under that description. And now we are getting more and more radio stations playing it around the country. I really enjoy working with them, and I hope we can keep on workin' together.

HW: Headed over to England next month are you?

JL: More like next week! Well, first to Ireland, then to England.

HW: How did this tour come about?

JL: I've done a lot of tours over there, a lot of work with The Believers, so this kind of came out of that relationship. We'll be traveling together, and I'm looking forward to it, it should be a lot of fun.

HW: Have you noticed a difference between audiences overseas and audiences here in the US?

JL: Well, all audiences are different from show to show. I used to think audiences over there were better informed about the music, paid closer attention to the liner notes, but more and more I'm meeting people over here who know a lot more about the music, come up and ask good questions, know who worked on what session.

HW: So what are your plans for the rest of the year?

JL: I'm hoping to get another album out by the end of the year. I'm working with Elvis' old sideman James Burton and Al Perkins, who played with Gramm Parsons. Gary Talent will be sitting in on some bass. Can't say for certain, hate to make promises, but we're sure gonna try to finish it this year.

HW: Do you have a title for it yet?

JL: No title yet.

HW: I won't keep you much longer. I just have to ask you, in this past year what's the most interesting thing you've had happen to you at a show?

JL: Let me think�it was in Louisville. I got a note passed up to me that a couple was there in the audience, turns out she had taught me algebra in the ninth grade back in Due West, South Carolina. I was NOT a good student!

HW: Take care, Jim. Break a leg tonight!

JL: Thanks, bye now.