Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, CCR, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, John Hiatt, Ray Charles, Van Morrison, Walt Wilkins, Davis Raines, Tony Lane, Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beatles, Stones, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Harlan Howard, Tom T. Hall, Bobby Pinson, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis, Shel Silverstein, Studs Terkel, Mark Twain, Dr. Seuss, the Baptist and Cokesbury hymnals, Bill and Gloria Gaither ...
I grew up in Ashland, Kentucky, in the northeast corner where the Bluegrass State touches West Virginia and Ohio. Passing through Ashland is U.S. 23, which is known as the "Country Music Highway" because of the country stars who have grown up along or near it: Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, the Judds, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, Gary Stewart, Billy Ray Cyrus.
A lover of words and music my entire life, I learned to read before I started school and developed an early fascination with the little record player and the box of 45 RPM records that my mom collected during her teen years. From Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Platters and the Hilltoppers to Perry Como and Eddie Fisher, I listened to them all, over and over, with fascination. Then there were Dad's country LPs -- Hank, Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Jim Reeves and collections of the day's country hits that you'd get at the gas station. Later on, I discovered my "own" music, progressing from Elton John to Kiss and Aerosmith to Skynyrd, Zeppelin, the Stones, the Beatles, CCR and Dylan to the old blues guys like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Willie Dixon. (Funny how one's musical "progress" often means going back in time, discovering the roots of your current heroes.) I went through my head-bangin' phase -- Sabbath, solo Ozzy and the like -- while good, honest "heartland" rock like Springsteen, Seger and Petty remained a constant.
My grandparents bought us an upright piano when I was a teen, and I started taking lessons. The day I discovered I could combine my loves of words and music, I guess I was doomed. It was more fun to make up my own songs than to practice the Bach, Beethoven and Chopin that my piano teacher assigned. Maybe that explains my limitations today as a piano player!
I decided to go into journalism after realizing that I wasn't big enough or talented enough at sports -- my OTHER love -- to pursue that as a career. OK, but I can write about sports, I thought. So I became a sports writer for a while, then a copy editor. During my adult life, I've had an on-again, off-again relationship with the newspaper business. My abilities with words have allowed me to write everything from newspaper columns to books to advertising and p.r. copy to audio and video scripts.
And, of course, songs. I wasn't listening to much country music in 1987, which was when I first heard Steve Earle and was blown away. Wow! I thought. If THAT's the type of music that's coming out of Nashville these days ... At that time, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam were also new to the scene, and while these young artists had little in common musically, I was impressed by the honesty and passion in their work. I became a country music fan, which led me to rediscover the music from my dad's collection that I'd heard as a child. (Johnny Cash knocked me for a loop all over again!) It also put me on the path that would lead me to Music City, USA.
I began visiting Nashville in about 1994, became a part-time resident in 1996 (commuting two or three days a week from my then-home of Lexington, Kentucky), and made the full-time move with my wife and son in 1998. The following year I started a small publishing company called Jack and Jenny Music. It's still a small company, but it's growing as I continue to write songs and pick up a select group of others from talented writers in Nashville and beyond. Along the way, I've had songs recorded by a growing number of independent artists, and have had songs on "hold" by some major-label artists. A recording of "These Golden Fields," which I wrote with my wonderful friend and co-writer Nelda Sisk, was released in July 2006 by the talented and award-winning bluegrass artist Don Rigsby, on Rebel Records. Other recent cuts, as a writer and a songplugger, include recordings by Emma Mae Jacob, The Roys, Chris Webb, Ed Pettersen, Nelda Sisk, Margaret Moore, James Kilbane, JR & the Roadkill Choir, Sonny Marshall, Vince Hatfield, Russell Walker and Jimmy Dale.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
Jeff Walter......What's happening my friend? Things are crazy here, but the end of February is when I'll be making my way down to do some recording. Does that work for you? I shoot you and email with details.
Hey Jeff I just re-read your bio and realized where you are from. I live only 40-50 minutes from where you were raised. I do my major shopping in Barborsville.
Nice to meet you Jeff. I enjoyed your songs very much and liked your bio. My household had alot of those same going ons my mom was the worlds biggest Jim Reeves fan lol.
Your Invited to see Will Peppers perform Live at the 9th Annual Cops vs Jocks Celebrity Softball Game to Benefit MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Tues May 26th 2009 at Sgt Jerry Mundy Memorial Park in Mount Juliet, TN. Gates open at 6pm. Game starts at 7pm and concert will follow with performances by WILL PEPPERS and CHRIS YOUNG! Tickets are only $10.00 and Kids 10 & Under are FREE! The Mount Juliet Police Department will take on 98 WSIX, your favorite TN Titans Players, Vince Gill, members from Lonestar, Bo Bice, Carolina Rain, and Many more! Bring the family out for a night of fun and entertainment and support a great cause! Please pass the words to your family and friends. Hope to see you there! Peace, Will Peppers New Music Weekly's 2008 New Country Artist of the Year Award winner
DID YOU KNOW THAT 50% OF EVERYTHING I MAKE FROM MY MUSIC SALES GOES TO CHARITY? HOW COOL IS THAT? YOU CAN HELP A HOMELESS FAMILY TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET TODAY BY SIMPLY DOWNLOADING MY MUSIC, EITHER FROM ITUNES OR www.cdbaby.com/all/swriter61. THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE WORLD TO BE A BETTER PLACE FOR SOMEONE IN NEED
Since you’re one of my friends… I thought you'd want to know- I’m starring on a TV show on CMT in August! To get all the details, enter your email address on my red & brown email sign up box on my MySpace page!. I’m psyched about being on it and I have a feeling you’ll love the TV show! Ha! Sage Keffer .com PS Country legend, Lee Roy Parnell, just left me a great note. See my top blog. It's incredible to get such a great endorsement from him!
Hey!
Thanks so much for the add! You sound great! We'd love to have you come out and record anytime. $30/hr for studio time AND an engineer. :) Plus I bet I could get my wife to throw in some good eats!
Keep Crankin' those Groovy Jams!
Bart and Delaney
Lakeshore Studios
