1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,360 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 2: Today, we're not just taking a walk, We're stepping into 3 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 2: the extraordinary. I'm joined by Scotty Hasting, a purple Heart 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: recipient who has faced life's toughest battles both on and 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 2: off the field. From the battlefield to the stage. Scotty's 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: journey is a testament to courage, resilience, and reinvention. Now 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: he's channeling his experiences into powerful new music that inspires 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: and uplifts. Buzz Night, the host of the Taking a 9 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: Walk Podcast. So lace up, tune in, get ready for 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: a stroll that's going to change how you think about grit, 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: second chances, and the healing power of song. 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 2: Scottie Hasting, Welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast, my friend, thank. 14 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: You, thank you for having me. I appreciate it. 15 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 2: It's an honor having you on. Before we get into 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: hearing the many fantastic things that you were up to, 17 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 2: I want to ask first, since we call this podcast 18 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: taking a walk, if there's somebody Scotty you could take 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: a walk with, living or dead. Who might it be 20 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,199 Speaker 2: and where would you take that walk? 21 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: Yeah? That's easy. 22 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 3: I just lost my dad June first, So my dad, 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: I don't care where we're walking as long as I'm 24 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 3: with you. 25 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: I'm sorry for your loss. I am very very sorry 26 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: for loss. Loss runs deep, especially with family members. 27 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: Right. 28 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: We will never forget about that, and so but thank 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: you for sharing. And like I said, I appreciate my 30 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 2: condolences on you on your loss. You have had a 31 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: whirlwind of a twenty twenty four and a whirlwind of 32 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five, and we want to talk about, certainly 33 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: as much of it as you want to talk about. 34 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: But I do want to ask you the first moment 35 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 2: growing up in the Cincinnati, the Kentucky neck of the woods. Absolutely, 36 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: do you remember the first moment you connected with music. 37 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: I was with my dad. My parents were divorced. 38 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 3: My dad lived on the Kentucky side of Cincinnati and 39 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 3: my mom lived on the Ohio side of Cincinnati. And 40 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 3: and yeah, I remember we were with my dad and 41 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 3: I was in the car and. 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: He played Garth. 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 3: Brooks the first time. And that was when I was 44 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 3: sold on country music. I remember we listened. We listened 45 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 3: to that cassette. We listened to one side, we finished it, 46 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 3: took it out, flipped it over, listened to the other side, 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,359 Speaker 3: and we did that over and over and over again, 48 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: and that was his his music. Garth Brook's music is 49 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 3: the music that made me fall in love with country 50 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 3: music and what made me fall in love with music period. 51 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: Honestly, isn't it something though, that when you know you've 52 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 2: struck gold with a particular song or you know, a 53 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 2: style or an artist, you know that part of striking 54 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: gold is that you continue to just you know, keep 55 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: it in and keep playing it over and over again, 56 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: whether it's a cassette or an album, right, And that's 57 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 2: the beauty. 58 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: It never it never gets old. It's just like something 59 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: it just feels right. 60 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 2: So as you think about that moment and then think 61 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 2: about how you continue to be touched by music in 62 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 2: an important way, especially with your unbelievable story of recovery 63 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: at Walter Reed, who are some of the artists that 64 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: really touched you over time, especially you know as you were, 65 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: you know, impacted by this long recovery and found solace 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: in music. 67 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: Sure, you know, I've always been a nineties country guy. 68 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 3: I feel like the nineties were some of the best 69 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 3: time for country music. Honestly, it was incredible. What was 70 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 3: happening in country music was incredible way and but no, 71 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 3: I mean I noticed that as as I got older, 72 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: into my recovery after getting shot in Afghanistan and stuff 73 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 3: like that, Like my music, the things that touched me 74 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 3: became different. It wasn't it wasn't just individual artists anymore. Now, 75 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 3: it was songs that like truly touched my soul in 76 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 3: my heart, Like if you're reading this by Tim. 77 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: Mcgrawl, I drive your Truck by Lee Rice, like Drank 78 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: a Beer by Luke Bryan. 79 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 3: I mean, there's just there's songs that just make you 80 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 3: feel and just and don't even don't even make you feel, 81 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: but force you to feel. I mean, the songs that 82 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 3: you can't help yourself. You have to feel what's. 83 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: Happening in that song. 84 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: And and for me, I think that those are the 85 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 3: most beautiful songs that can happen. And those are the 86 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 3: ones that I truly connected with and still do. 87 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: I know there's a number of folks that have been 88 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 2: really important that have sort of on the musical side 89 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: of things mentored you first talk about that chance encounter 90 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: with the sun of Black River Entertainment president and CEO 91 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 2: Gordon Curer. 92 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was crazy. 93 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 3: It's the most natural story ever, so I was with 94 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 3: my mom one day. She was like, I'm gonna go 95 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: buy a car, like, come with me, And I don't 96 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 3: know anything about cars. 97 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: I know nothing about it. 98 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 3: But I was like, you know what, moms probably gonna 99 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 3: buy me lunch if I go hang out with her though, 100 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 3: and I love free food, so absolutely I'll go hang 101 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 3: out with my mom. 102 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: And you know, so we went and and we went. 103 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 3: To this dealership and the guy who was her salesman 104 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 3: ended up being Michael Kerr, who was Gordon Kerr's son. 105 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: At the time, I had no idea who that was. 106 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 3: I didn't know what Black River was, Black River Entertainment, 107 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 3: had no idea who they were. And he just started 108 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 3: talking to me about music. He started talking to me 109 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 3: about you know, at the time, I had one song 110 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 3: out called Trucket, and it was an okay song. I 111 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 3: mainly just put that out because I wanted to see 112 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 3: what it felt like to be in a studio. But 113 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 3: I had that song out, and I started talking to 114 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 3: him about what I want to do with my music, 115 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 3: about how I want to help people, about how I 116 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 3: want to help veterans who are struggling or anyone who's struggling, 117 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 3: and how that's all that matters to me. 118 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: I don't care about anything else. I just want to 119 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: help people. 120 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 3: And he was like, well, he said, man like, and 121 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 3: I told you more of my story about me getting 122 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 3: shot in Afghanistan and how I've used music as therapy 123 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 3: and how I want to continue to use it and 124 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: help and and he's like, man, that's amazing. He said, 125 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 3: I'm going to sa you know, I'm going to send 126 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 3: a little bit of your story and a little bit 127 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 3: of you know, what you want to do with music 128 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 3: and this song to Doug Johnson, who's the an R 129 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 3: at Black River, and to my dad and Gordon Kirk 130 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 3: at Black River. And I was like, oh yeah, man, 131 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 3: i'd be great. Like and you know, Nashville is full 132 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 3: of people who say that they're going to do something 133 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 3: and nothing happens. Well, that's not how this worked. Because 134 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 3: I was like okay, like I'm not gonna hold my breath. 135 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 3: But then three hours later, I get a call from 136 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 3: Doug Johnson saying. 137 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: Hey, man, we need to meet. 138 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 3: And I was like, man, I'm in sweatpants right now, 139 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 3: but I'll had that way right now, like I will 140 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 3: be there in ten minutes. And he was like no, like, 141 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 3: let's like, let's put something on the books and we'll 142 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 3: go we'll meet, like I want to talk to you. 143 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 3: And I was like okay. 144 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: So I went into Doug Johnson's office and started talking. 145 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: Literally five minutes into it, he said, Okay, stop talking, 146 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 3: hold on, we need to go to Gordon Kurr's office. 147 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: We need to have this conversation together. I was like okay. 148 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 3: So then we sat down in Gordon's office and we 149 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 3: talked for three hours probably, and it was just about 150 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 3: everything that I want to do and how I want 151 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 3: to help people and how I don't and how I've 152 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 3: used music as therapy and what music means to me 153 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 3: and and uh. And it was an incredible conversation. And 154 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 3: then from that day forward, I I just kind of 155 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 3: became Doug's guy. You know, I didn't know it at 156 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 3: the time, but he was developing me as an artist. 157 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: I had no idea at the time, but you know, 158 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 3: it was I was able to get in rooms with 159 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 3: Doug Johnson, who has written some incredible songs that will 160 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 3: truly live forever. 161 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: And I was able to get in rooms with these 162 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: writers that I. 163 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 3: Could have only imagined ever being able to be in 164 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 3: with and I was able to talk to Doug and 165 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: kind of develop myself and him help me in that. 166 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 3: And it's funny like around Black River for about a year, 167 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 3: I was just known as Doug's guy. No one knew 168 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: who I was. I was just Doug's guy. I was 169 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 3: there all the time, they just no one knew who 170 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 3: I was. And then yeah, about a year and a 171 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 3: half after that conversation was when they presented me with 172 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: a record deal and a publishing deal. 173 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: I love that story. That's so amazing. So the first 174 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: EP comes out I'm America in May of twenty twenty four, 175 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: a great impact on the scene. And then later that 176 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: year the real turning point became Till the Last Shots 177 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 2: Fired with Lee Brice and Dolly Parton, which is pretty spectacular. 178 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: What was the first encounter with Lee Brice? 179 00:08:58,559 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: Like? 180 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 2: And how late did you stay up as part of 181 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: that first encounter? And I know a little bit of 182 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 2: this firstthand because I love Lee and Lee stays up late. 183 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, Lee is. 184 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 3: Lee is one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. 185 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 3: He truly is he. It was so funny. I remember 186 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: the first time I ever went in the first time 187 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 3: I ever met him. Was when we went to his 188 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 3: brand new home studio that he just built, and it 189 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 3: was when he was recording his part for this song. 190 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 1: And it was. 191 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 3: Incredible because you know, we had that song and it 192 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 3: was perfect, and that song changed my life. It was 193 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 3: the song that made me decide that I was going 194 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 3: to live my life to the fullest and that I 195 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 3: was going to, you know, live my life for my 196 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 3: best friends who never had the opportunity, and I wasn't 197 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: going to let my injury stop me. And and you know, Lee, 198 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: we walked in there and he's like, man, like, I 199 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: don't know how much you guys want me to do 200 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 3: with this song. He's like, but I don't. I don't 201 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 3: care how much I get of this song. He's like, 202 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 3: I just want to be a part of what this is. Like, 203 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 3: this song is incredible, and your story is amazing and 204 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 3: the fact that this song is what it is to 205 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: you is all I care about being a part of. 206 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: And I was like, that's that's incredible. So we went 207 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: there and yeah, we were there for we were there 208 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 3: for Quiet, Quiet. 209 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: An amount of time. 210 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 3: But it was it was also the first time that 211 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 3: I was ever able to watch an incredible recording artist 212 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 3: be a recording artist. It was the first time I 213 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 3: ever got to watch someone who's lived in a studio 214 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: be in a studio. 215 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: It was one of the I learned so much that. 216 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 3: Night from Lee, just watching how he does what he 217 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: does when he's in the studio, and how he he 218 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 3: phrases stuff, and I mean, he is his his vocals 219 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 3: are unreal, and I don't think he gets enough credit 220 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 3: for what he can do vocally, and and he's just 221 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 3: he's he's just an incredible person. And he sat down 222 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 3: and just talked to us for hours, and I mean 223 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 3: we were done with the studio and he just wanted 224 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 3: to hang out and it was it was. It was 225 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 3: an amazing and Lee has since become a very dear 226 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 3: friend of mine, which is something I never thought in 227 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 3: a millionaires I would ever say. 228 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 2: He's a special He's a special guy, for sure. He 229 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 2: really is. You made an incredible appearance on our companion 230 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 2: podcast called Music Saved Me, hosted by Lynn Hoffman. And 231 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 2: we have been big supporters wherever we can of certainly 232 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 2: those that have served our country, you know, so valiantly 233 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: like you. Home Based Nation is based here in Boston 234 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: and We've certainly tried to advocate their work as well, 235 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: with the work they do for veterans and families all 236 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 2: over the place. The weight of some of your other 237 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: appearances is incredible, and I'll just highlight them and get 238 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 2: your reflection. First of all, you representing the United States 239 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 2: with multiple performances in Normandy in France during the eightieth 240 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 2: anniversary of the D Day commemoration. What was that like? 241 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: I don't know. I still don't know how to find 242 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: words for what that was. It was. It was truly. 243 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 3: One of the if not the most incredible experiences I've 244 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 3: ever had. 245 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: It was it was unreal, man, it was. 246 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 3: It was so cool because for me, especially as a veteran, 247 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 3: not not only on the music side and as an artist, 248 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 3: but as a veteran, like for me, like the World 249 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 3: War Two, guys were like it, like those are my heroes, 250 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 3: Like those are the guys who went and did things, 251 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 3: unimaginable things, and and I was able to connect with 252 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 3: so many of them, and it and it was it 253 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 3: was incredible to be able to see and it was 254 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 3: so cool because when they're over there, they're treated like 255 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 3: rock stars, and it was so cool to see. 256 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: And it was. 257 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 3: It was amazing and we we connected with one guy 258 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 3: named Dennis Bowlt. It was his first time ever back 259 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 3: in Normandy since he was not teen, storming the beach, 260 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 3: and it was amazing to see like you just watched 261 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 3: him connect like like with all of the hell that 262 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 3: he had went through was for what was happening right now, 263 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 3: Like he saw a free a free Normany. He saw 264 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 3: free France, like he sawid He got to experience it, 265 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 3: and he got to experience the gratitude from everybody. It's 266 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 3: just a deep rooted gratitude for the United States and 267 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 3: for those guys, and it was. It was one of 268 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,719 Speaker 3: the most incredible things I've ever been to be able 269 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,199 Speaker 3: to part of. And yeah, I got to play and 270 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 3: I got to play music, which is even better. But 271 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: I would have had an incredible time had I not 272 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 3: been playing music. 273 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: And then you made your Grand Old Opry debut during 274 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 2: the Opry's celebration of Forrest Gum's thirtieth anniversary. That sounds 275 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 2: fairly spectacularly. 276 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: It was. I mean, the Opry is the mountaintop, you know. 277 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 3: I mean that's as an artist, like as a country artist, 278 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 3: the Opry is the top. 279 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: Like that's where you want to be. That's where everyone 280 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: wants to be. And and you know, I was. 281 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 3: I was blessed enough to be able to step into 282 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 3: that circle and feel all of the weight from all 283 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 3: the history before me when I stepped in that and 284 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 3: and it was incredible because my really good friend Gary 285 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 3: Sonisee was the one who asked me to be a 286 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 3: part of it, and. 287 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: It was, it was, it was, It was so. 288 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 3: Amazing, And honestly, I've been back there since and that 289 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: weight that you feel when you step into that circle 290 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 3: never goes away. 291 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: Every time I'm there. I feel it every single time. 292 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 2: I would love for you to highlight some of the 293 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 2: many organizations that you support and support your fellow veterans 294 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: through partnerships, so feel free to brag about all of them. 295 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, one hundred percent. 296 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 3: You know, veteran nonprofits saved my life. They have and 297 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 3: for someone who like myself, who wants to help with music, 298 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 3: it's so easy to align myself with other veteran nonprofits, 299 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 3: you know, and feed Foundation are doing incredible things for 300 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 3: veteran Creative vets are doing incredible things for veterans. Guitars 301 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 3: for Vets, Tunnel to Towers, fulls of mine. I mean, 302 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 3: there's so many, so many amazing organizations out there that 303 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: are doing such incredible things. And it's like I said, 304 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 3: it's so easy for someone like myself. He's not only 305 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 3: a VET, but wants to use my music and my 306 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: story to help people, to align with people who are 307 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 3: also trying to help. 308 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: And I can't say enough. 309 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 3: For not only relationships that I have with those organizations, 310 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 3: but what they do to help. 311 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: You are a hero, sir. We are honored that you 312 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 2: took the time to be with us. Thank you for 313 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 2: your service, thank you for all you continue to you 314 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: give us and give your fellow veterans, and just an 315 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 2: absolute honor Scotti to speak with you. We are always 316 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 2: in your corner to help any way we can with 317 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 2: your mission and your work. Thank you so much. I 318 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: really appreciate that. Thank you for your telling Scotti. Appreciate 319 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: you man. Thank you very much. Tell Lee we said hello. 320 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 2: It's been a while, but love that guy. 321 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: So special human, He's a very special. Thanks for listening 322 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. 323 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 3: Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow 324 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 3: us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk 325 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 3: is available on the iHeartRadio, app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever 326 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:27,359 Speaker 3: you get your podcasts.