1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk Well on Buzz's Night, the host of 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: the Taking a Walk podcast, and we love hearing the 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: stories from musicians, their inspiration and the fascinating voices that 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: they have and entertainment. Today, we're going to be joined 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: by Phil Vasser, the acclaimed singer songwriter whose great performances 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: and lyrics have made him a mainstay in country music. 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: Before we get to the episode with Phil Vasser, though, 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: want to bring in our correspondent for Taking a Walk 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: in Nashville and she'll tell us more about the great 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: Phil Vassar. Hello, Sarah Harrelson. 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: Hi Buzz, Thank you. Yes, I think everyone will be 12 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: very interested in tuning into today's conversation. I can't believe 13 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 2: myself that it's already been twenty five years since Phil 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: Vassar's breakout hit, Just Another Day in Paradise, and he 15 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: has been celebrating it with his twenty five Years of 16 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: Paradise tour. And Phil has always been one of my 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:11,960 Speaker 2: favorite singer songwriters in country music, with ten number one hits, 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: always accompanied with his piano and authentic lyrics. And he 19 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: recently released a new single this past May called All 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: American Summer. It's a great jam if you haven't heard 21 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: it already, I got to see Phil perform at the 22 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: Riverfront Stage at cmafest about ten years ago here in Nashville. 23 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: Such a great performer to see live, and I think 24 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: everyone's going to be really excited to hear this conversation 25 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: today and hear about what Phil has been up to 26 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: lately and what is next for him in his career. So, 27 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: without further ado, back to you. 28 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 3: Buzz, Thanks Sarah. 29 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: So hang out for a couple of minutes here as 30 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: we pay the bills, and we'll be back on Taking 31 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: a Walk with Phil. 32 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,279 Speaker 3: Vassar Taking a Walk. 33 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: Mister Phil Vasser, welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 34 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk, Well, since we call this this show 35 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: taking a Walk, let me ask you, Phil, if you 36 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: could take a walk with somebody, uh, living or dead. 37 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: Someone may be affiliated in the side of music, doesn't 38 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: have to be, but that's always nice. If you've got 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: a music person in mind, who would you take a 40 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: walk with? And and where would you take that walk? 41 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 4: Good greed Man, it's uh, there's a lot of people 42 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 4: I'd like to take a walk with. My dad would 43 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 4: be great at this point, you know, I mean, you know, 44 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 4: there's a heroes you know, you think about, you know, 45 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 4: so I mean I could, I could. I've got a 46 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 4: big list, you know, but a lot of a lot 47 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 4: of my musical heroes, you know. 48 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 3: I tell you. 49 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 4: I always loved I mean not King Cole, I mean 50 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 4: I loved him. I was a huge fan. My grandmother 51 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 4: listened to that music and I was such a fan. 52 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 4: And I always I was like, man, he's amazing. And anyway, 53 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 4: I listened to him all the time. I mean, you know, 54 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 4: it kind of picks me up and makes me feel good. 55 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 4: You know, that's kind of music I love. 56 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 3: And what an icon he certainly. 57 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: Was in what a career he built, And I think 58 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: I think it would be fascinating kind of understanding not 59 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: only his creative process, but certainly the trials and tribulations 60 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: that he that he went through as well. 61 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And and he was brilliant, man, I mean, the 62 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 4: guy spoke like six languages fluently. And I'm just you know, 63 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 4: it's inspired me. He's very inspired even to the day. 64 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 4: I think about what he's done and what he did, 65 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 4: you know, especially at that time in this country, you know, 66 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 4: and and you know it's been We've seen a lot 67 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 4: go go on in the last you know, two hundred 68 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 4: and fifty years of this just this country, you know, 69 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 4: and it's it's uh. And I grew up of course, 70 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 4: you know you're on the East Coast. I guess right, 71 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 4: you're here in so I mean I grew up in 72 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 4: Virginia and my my I grew up next to you know, 73 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 4: Thomas Jefferson's house, I mean in my neighborhood right when 74 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,679 Speaker 4: it was you know, it was very very cool to 75 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 4: just always thought a lot about history. I was kind 76 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 4: of a history buff and you know, Jamestown and all 77 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 4: that stuff. 78 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 3: I mean, we used to go see that stuff when 79 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 3: we were kids. 80 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 4: And of course I went to James Madison University and 81 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 4: and uh, and it was it was such a I 82 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 4: don't know, it's it's I'm blessed that we got to 83 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 4: do that. I mean, there's too many different parts of 84 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 4: the country. But I loved being kind of an East 85 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 4: Coaster because you know, all that old history and I 86 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 4: loved it. 87 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: Well, we're going to talk about the live show and 88 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: the tour in a little bit twenty five years of 89 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: Paradise Tour, and we're going to also talk about, you know, 90 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: some of the other things going on for you in 91 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. But I do want to ask you, Phil, 92 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: many of your songs they captured really everyday life and family. 93 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: Where do you find the inspiration for such relatable lyrics? 94 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:39,679 Speaker 4: Well, for my family, my kids, you know, it's so funny, 95 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 4: you know how of course I've got a twenty one 96 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 4: and twenty five year old daughters, and they're my life. 97 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 3: You know, it's just so weird. 98 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 4: And of course they were they were born in the 99 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 4: middle of all this craziness, you know, of my career. 100 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 4: But I mean, I wouldn't change, you know, for anything. 101 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 4: I just now, you know, I had my health scare 102 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 4: and that was a rough couple of years. But now 103 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 4: that I'm feeling better, I love now that I can 104 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 4: kind of talk to them as adults, you know, that 105 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 4: we can be you because it was such a you know, 106 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 4: whenever you're raising children, of course, it's very tumultuous and 107 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 4: and you know, you don't really have time to sort 108 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 4: of stop and smuggle roses, you know, And and I 109 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 4: really do appreciate it now. 110 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 3: You know. 111 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: You started out as a songwriter in Nashville. You had 112 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: hits for Tim McGraw and Jody Messina, among others. Can 113 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: you recall what it was like hearing your songs on 114 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: the radio for the first time sung by somebody else. 115 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 4: Well, I'll tell you one thing it was. It was incredible, 116 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 4: you know. Of course, I think my first huge hit 117 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 4: was Colin Ray Little Red Rodeo, and I never forget 118 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 4: how how stupid they thought the song was the record 119 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 4: label and Colin really had to go to bat for 120 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 4: that song. And you know, it's just amazing our business. 121 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 4: I think about all these people that are in power, 122 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 4: you know whatever, and they're just they couldn't freaking tip. 123 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 4: They couldn't smell ahead if it was on there sitting 124 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 4: on their freaking nose. I mean, they just couldn't. And 125 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 4: it's like, you know, you have to deal with all 126 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 4: these I mean, I don't have a negative attitude. 127 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 3: Well yeah I do. 128 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 4: I mean, it's just it's just a you know, and 129 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 4: a lot of people say, yeah, I miss that, might 130 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 4: say you're an idiot. You know, that's what you are, 131 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 4: You're an idiot. So and then I've gotten to say 132 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 4: that pro to a lot of people, you know, I mean, 133 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 4: not at all hate them, but I say, I mean, 134 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: what is wrong with you? You can't hear you know, 135 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 4: you know this song was a number one song, a 136 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 4: huge number one song, or this song was I'm all right. 137 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 4: Nobody would cut that, you know, my next thirty years. 138 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 4: They talked about how stupid it was, how nobody wanves 139 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 4: to talk about turning thirty. 140 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 3: I'm like, they don't why, you know? 141 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 4: So anyway, it was, you know, I wrote the song 142 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 4: on my thirtieth birthday. I wrote it that day, played 143 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 4: it that night in a bar, and everybody went crazy, 144 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 4: and I knew it was I knew it was. 145 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 3: Good right then. That's how you get I was lucky. 146 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 4: I got to play my my club and and I 147 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 4: got it sort of. 148 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 3: I got to know whether it was good or not. 149 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 3: You know. That was always what I said. 150 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 4: I said, you know, I'd play the song and then 151 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 4: if somebody went plays of skinner, I was like, okay, 152 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 4: and mark that one off, that one good hit. 153 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 3: No but. 154 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 4: H I mean, and then you know, then i'd do 155 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 4: a song you'd like I'm all right. Or finally I 156 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 4: had to do it every night, or do it two 157 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 4: times a night or whatever. Everybody's singing along. And that's 158 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 4: what I loved. I loved that. I loved that that's 159 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 4: uh sort of it in gratification, right, you know, you know, 160 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 4: whether it's good or not. 161 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things that's so cool is 162 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: how fans just absolutely adore your covers of Billy Joel 163 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: and Elton John. What draws you to their music? And 164 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: do you have a favorite song by them that you 165 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: love to perform? 166 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 4: Well, I mean Billy Joel, El Ellen John, there a 167 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 4: my and uh and and even you know Queen who 168 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 4: I loved, you know, was you know, such a you know, 169 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 4: such a great piano player too. I mean that for 170 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 4: some reason, that piano spoke to me. And that's what 171 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 4: I loved about Matt king Cole. I mean I could 172 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 4: rock a piano. He was a freak show. I mean 173 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: how he could play, and you know, I just loved it. 174 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 4: I love Jackson Brown and you know it was but 175 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 4: also I really loved James Taylor. I mean, James Taylor 176 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 4: was one of my music you know. And and so I 177 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 4: just think that you you know, I grew up with 178 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 4: the Eagles and and you know Don Henley and Glenn 179 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 4: Fry and those guys weren't just I mean I listened 180 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 4: to him yesterday. 181 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 3: I just I still just go what in the world. 182 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 4: You know, we were so lucky to be part of that, 183 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 4: you know, growing up listening to hearing that, you know, 184 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 4: and and the be and of course the Beatles and 185 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 4: you know, and I've gotten to, you know, hang out 186 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 4: in Abbey Road. And I was there when when George 187 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 4: Martin passed away. I was in England doing my European tour. 188 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 4: I was in London that day and everybody was bringing 189 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 4: flowers to to Abbey Road and and uh it was 190 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 4: very moving, you. 191 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: Know, as as you were telling me about these amazing influences. 192 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: And I'm going back to to Billy Joel again here, 193 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: who you know, has his own health scare that he's 194 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: he's dealing with. If you could speak directly to Billy 195 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: Joel right now, which who knows, maybe someone's turning him 196 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: on to this podcast because they're a fan of Phil Vasser's, 197 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: what message would you send to Billy about what he's 198 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: going through. 199 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 3: I sure hope he gets better soon. Billy. 200 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 4: I love you man, You're my hero and you're why 201 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 4: I do what I do. I mean, so songs like 202 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 4: Summer Highland Falls, and I mean, he's not just piano manners, 203 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 4: you know. 204 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 3: I try to pay homage to you know, my. 205 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 4: Heroes, which are Billy Joel, you know, James Taylor, Elton John, 206 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 4: some of these guys, but but none more than than 207 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 4: Billy Joel. He changed my world, changed my life, and 208 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 4: I think put me on that path. 209 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 3: It was like it's like a professor. 210 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 4: Right, you know, you you learn from a teacher, and 211 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 4: and he was my teacher. He was, and I could 212 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 4: ever think him enough, really, you know, and I think 213 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 4: he's just incredible and and you know, and being such 214 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 4: a humongous star are going through senior life played out 215 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 4: through all these you know, Cristy Brinkley and the things 216 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 4: that you go through. I mean, I kind of in 217 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 4: such a small, smaller way, I've kind of played that 218 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 4: out in my own life, you know, going through divorces 219 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 4: publicly and all this stuff. It's just it's tumultuous, you know, 220 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 4: it's very I don't know, it's very humbling. 221 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: You know. 222 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 4: That's what you know. I think that's what the world does, 223 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 4: and that's what life does. It definitely humbles you. And 224 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 4: you learn a lot from it, you know, from your 225 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 4: tribulations and your trials. And I think that's man. And 226 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 4: you write a lot of songs because of all. 227 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: So you'll be heading out on the road twenty five 228 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: years of Paradise Tour. It's going to have obviously a 229 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: lot of the great covers from Legends and everything. You'll 230 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: be changing the set lists set lists regularly as well, 231 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: which I know you're you're proud of. Talk about how 232 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: exciting it is going out out on the road connecting 233 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: with your fans in person. 234 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 4: Well, I mean that's your that's that's your gratification, and 235 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 4: that's when you just you're very thankful for that because 236 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 4: you you you know, it's you work so hard, you know, 237 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 4: you do all this stuff, and you lay the groundwork 238 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 4: for all these things, for these records, and then you 239 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 4: get to then you record the records, and some of 240 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 4: them just flop, and some of them are huge, and 241 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 4: there's stuffing you can do about that stuff. But the 242 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 4: fans are loyal, you know, from the beginning to the 243 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 4: to the end. And and uh, I love meeting these 244 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 4: folks and seeing them on the road, and I can't 245 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 4: wait to get get out in the next couple of years. 246 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 4: And and I don't know, kind of thank them for that. 247 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: And you're going to be creating some new music in 248 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 1: conjunction with going out from time to time as well. 249 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 3: You know what we are. 250 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 4: We've been in the studio actually, you know, cutting about 251 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 4: eight eight or nine new songs and some of the 252 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 4: songs that I did record and never got a chance 253 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 4: really and I've kind of revisited those songs and and uh, 254 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 4: you know, seeing what everybody thinks about it. You know, 255 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 4: I now at this point, you don't have to do 256 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 4: what somebody says. I mean, you, well, you've been going 257 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 4: to cut this, right, do you know? You always had 258 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 4: somebody telling you what to do. Now I don't, And uh, 259 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 4: it's pretty it's pretty freeing. And uh, I really appreciate 260 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 4: my life now now that I don't have to worry 261 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 4: about what somebody that doesn't know anything about anything is 262 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 4: telling me what to do. 263 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: Oh I love that. 264 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: That is such a special feeling for sure. Talk about 265 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: how important Phil it is for you to be mentoring 266 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: young songwriters and giving back to the music community. 267 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 3: Well, I think you know, as a now I'm in 268 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: an elder statesman. It's like what happened? 269 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 4: I was always the kid, right, you know, And but 270 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 4: you know, bringing these guys like like the old dominion 271 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 4: guys and seeing them, you know, from their inception to 272 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 4: the you know, to bringing them to Nashville and helping 273 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 4: them all. You know, just they're flourishing. They're just thriving 274 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 4: and they're blowing it up and so successful. And I'm 275 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 4: proud of them, you know, and you know, I'm just thankful, 276 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 4: thankful for that. 277 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: In closing, I love this quote of yours and I 278 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: want you to reflect on it because I think it's 279 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: so beautiful about music and what you do and what 280 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: you do so well. Your quote, if a song sparks 281 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: a reaction, that's all you're looking for. 282 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 3: It's true. I mean, that's what you whether it can 283 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 3: be good or bad, you know, right, I mean, I 284 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 3: think and that's what music is about. It. 285 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 4: It's, you know, you're trying to convey an emotion. You know, 286 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 4: you're you're trying to reach someone, you know, whether it's 287 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 4: about you know, your song about your dog or your kids, 288 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 4: or your wife, or your girlfriend or your pop, all 289 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 4: of takes. It could be anything, you know, and that's 290 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 4: a really cool thing because you you, when you play 291 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 4: a song in a live concert situation, you know, you 292 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 4: get reaction, and that's that's the it's the best, you know, 293 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 4: that's what that's when you know, really, I mean, that's 294 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 4: when you know, if this song really grabs somebody and 295 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 4: and pulls pulls emotions out of them, you know. 296 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 3: And I think that's what we're We're very very blessed 297 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 3: to real to do that. 298 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: Oh man, I'm blessed to talk to you on Taking 299 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: a Walk, Phil, and we are so grateful for the 300 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: music that you have given us through your incredible career 301 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: and that you continue to give us. And thank you 302 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: for being with us on the podcast. 303 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 3: Phil Vasser, It's my pleasure, my friend. Thank you so much. 304 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 3: And let's do it against them. I love this. This 305 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 3: is great. Thanks for listening to this episode of the 306 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 3: Taking a Walk Podcast. 307 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 4: Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow 308 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 4: us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk 309 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 4: is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever 310 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 4: you get your podcasts.