By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com
|
There
are some forces in this world that are unstoppable: huge
waves in the ocean, the turning of the seasons, day
transforming into night. For Big Sandy’s John Austin
McDaniel, his unstoppable force is music.
In the Blood
efore John Austin's birth in 1978, Father Buddy McDaniel
had spent years on the road and in the studio making his
living as a full-time musician. In the 1950s, he shared the
stage with popular musical icons and recorded numerous
session tracks as both sideman and leader. McDaniel also
worked as a player on several popular country radio shows
that were broadcast live throughout the nation. In the mid
70s, Buddy opted to take a break from the grueling life of
touring and settled down in Big Sandy. In 1976, he wed wife
Sheila. Two years later, the couple welcomed baby John into
the world.
From childhood, John watched in awe as his talented
musician father played guitar and sang from the stage of a
small dance hall located at Hazel, Kentucky. At the age of
five, John asked his daddy to let him sing onstage with the
band. He recalled, "I sang Mel McDaniel's hit "Louisiana
Saturday Night”-- That was it. I was a hit that night, and
I've been on stage virtually every Saturday night since
then."
At age nine, father and son traveled to Draffenville,
Kentucky and successfully auditioned for a theatre-style
country music show. While there, he opened for Grand Ole
Opry stars Bill Monroe, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson,
Ray Price, Kitty Wells, and personal favorite, Merle
Haggard. He recalled, "I got to hang around Merle--he even
signed my guitar."
At age 14, John entered the first annual Loretta Lynn Talent
Search. "The show had more than 40 contestants and lasted
over 8 hours. In the end, I was proclaimed the winner!" (A
later notable winner of the contest was country music star
Jessica Andrews).
The prize for winning the event was to open for Loretta
during her annual concert at her ranch at Hurricane Mills.
McDaniel wowed the crowd with a powerful performance capped
by a blistering version of Waylon Jennings's Classic "Only
Daddy That'll Walk the Line." He recalled, "Loretta told
that 5,000-plus crowd that I would be a star. I'm still
trying, Ms. Loretta."
During that period of time, John Austin also performed guest
appearances at the Renfroe Valley Barn Dance in Renfroe
Valley, Kentucky; renowned as a launching pad for many
current rising stars such as Troy Gentry of the popular
multi-platinum selling country band Montgomery-Gentry.
John remained a member of the show until departing at the
age of 19 to attend college at Murray State University.
Popular on campus, he was named Mr. Murray State in 2000.
Graduating from Murray State with a bachelors degree in
Public Relations, John Austin toured various states as the
lead singer for his band, “Hoosier Daddy.”
In 2003, John changed direction musically, reverting back to
his first love: country Music.
"After playing rock and roll for a few years, I was ready
for a change. When I started songwriting, the songs I wrote
took me all the way back to my days at the little square
dance," he said.
He
explained that his displeasure with the pop inflected sound
of country set in motion a plan to write and record a real
old-time country CD.
In 2004, John Austin hired an "A-team" of the finest
studio session musicians from the 60s and 70s Nashville
recording era, rented Cinderella Studios in Madison, and
recorded, mixed and mastered his album, "Country as
Cornbread." John noted that the studio was fully analog,
lending the recordings a vintage, classic country sound.
Regarding the CD session, McDaniel said, "I did it
all--wrote the material, rented the studio, hired the
players, contracted the disc duplication service, it was my
baby."
The session players hired by McDaniel included top-sought
keyboardist and studio pioneer Hargus "Pig" Robbins, CMA and
ACM Instrumentalist of the year harmonica player Charlie
McCoy; and Wayne Ross, founder of powerhouse southern rock
blues band "Barefoot Jerry"-- referenced by Charlie Daniel's
on his 1974 number one hit "The South's Gonna Do It Again."
Joining the ensemble cast of pickers were Kentucky Opry
stars Clayton Campbell, Ronnie Griggs, and John Austin's'
dad, Buddy. Of the CD, he said, "I am very proud of the
finished product."
McDaniel stressed that he was determined to pay homage to
the great country artists of the past and walk his own path.
One of the CD's cuts, a song called "I Don't Think They Do"
refers to fans of today's country who think they have a
strong understanding of what country music is. "I feel like
a lot of people are hungry to hear my kind of country music.
I've sold a bunch of my first CD's out of the trunk of my
car and during concerts."
"I have to tell you, playing five nights a week is too
much. I turn down shows now just to give myself some time to
relax and recover. I work as hard as a person who works a
regular job--there's a lot that goes into performing and
traveling," he said.
McDaniel's Manager, John "Rookie" Edwards, states, "I
believe in John Austin's talent and am not the least bit shy
to walk into a record label office, radio station, or
anywhere to speak on behalf of him. Edwards, a sergeant with
the Tennessee Highway Patrol, said, "When I retire, I intend
to spend a great deal of time promoting John. He and I will
have to trust each other through the process, but I truly
believe that he has the talent to achieve big things in the
music business." Edwards noted that John Austin was already
making a stir on music row, playing dates at high profile
venues such as world famous "Tootsie's" and the Sheraton
Hotel Plaza. "The word is getting out, and he is working to
build on the momentum he is generating."
Edwards explained that McDaniel's website;
johnaustinonline.com would soon be offering tee shirts,
caps, and other merchandise for purchase.
John Austin said that one of the perks of being an
entertainer is being blessed with the opportunity to meet
many of his musical heroes.
"By far, my most favorite experience was meeting and playing
music with Artimus Pyle, drummer for the legendary band
Lynyrd Skynyrd. That was something. He talked about the band
and the music they played, the touring, and working with
lead singer Ronnie Van Zant." He continued, "He even talked
about the deadly plane crash and what happened to him as he
tried to search for help." Sadly, on October 20, 1977,
Lynyrd Skynyrd's chartered airplane developed engine trouble
and crashed into a swamp near McComb, Mississippi, killing
Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and Gaines' sister,
back-up vocalist Cassie Gaines, abruptly halting the group's
meteoric rise.
Shaking his head in disbelief, McDaniel said, "It was so
amazing--listening to Artimus talk--knowing that he was part
of one of the greatest bands in the world. I really felt
like I had arrived as an artist that day in the studio when
I played guitar on his session."
Regarding the future, John said, "I don't have any real long
range plans—everything is basically short term. I don't lie
in bed at night and fantasize about being a huge country
artist like Toby Keith or those guys. I wouldn't even know
how to imagine what it would be like to be in the center of
something that huge. Fame, fortune and popularity are not
the driving force behind my playing music."
He added, "I just want to make enough money by playing music
to continue doing what I do, and be able to put a little
back. I want to live comfortably, and continue making my
living singing." He continued, "Being less known than the
big acts is probably not such a bad thing. You could still
have the freedom to write and perform songs you believe in.
You also wouldn't have to deal with the constant pressure of
being a star."
Leaning forward, McDaniel explained that his "long"
short-term plans include writing, recording, and marketing a
new studio CD, hopefully by Christmas of this year.
McDaniel, a member of the Nashville Songwriter's
Association, spoke about the craft of writing songs.
"I'm really shy about people hearing my songs. I don't want
my songs heard until they are completely finished." He said,
"I'm not really that open to opinions about my songs from
people, unless they are fellow songwriters or musicians. The
songs are real close to me."
Regarding his favorite country singer, John Austin said,
"Hands down, it's Merle Haggard. He writes his own songs and
is a good guitar player, too. Really, I would like to have
the ability of Merle and the attitude of Waylon Jennings.
Waylon did his own thing, and was strong-willed about what
he believed was best for his career." He added, "He was also
an excellent songwriter. Laughing, he said, "Guys like Kris
Kristofferson or Bob Dylan may not sound that good when they
sing, but man, can they write great songs. That’s what I
call real musicians."
Concluding, John Austin said, “I owe everything to my mother
and father—they are the reason I play music and are my
source of inspiration. I would be nothing without them. I
thank God for blessing me with the gift of music. It all
comes from Him.”
For more info regarding shows or merchandising; visit
johnaustinonline.com
