Mayor - The Nashville Family Album: a Country Music Scrapbook

Lt. Colonel Albert and Rosemary Mayor.

To my Mom and Dad, who put me on the edge of a good nest, from which I could safely fly; and the generations that came before them who had no idea that what they did would lay the groundwork for what I do now. I believe in their dreams.

Alan L. Mayor

St. Martins PressNEW YORK

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I came to Nashville at a great time. It was growing beyond its roots, and I was one of the unruly crowd attracted here to be part of it. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings were leading the outlaw challenge against the established concept of how to be country. Jimmy Buffett, Charlie Daniels, Dan Fogelburg, Billy Swan and Barefoot Jerry were achieving success on charts other than country. The generations seemed to be in a fight over what music should be made in this town. Thankfully, the music won.

Twenty-five years later, I see that Music City continues to attract the best of the best. I revel in the magic of a town that has showcased the talents of DeFord Bailey, Jimmie Rodgers, Uncle Dave Macon, Roy Acuff Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins and all the other great performers of The Grand Old Opry, and now shows the world the artistry of Amy Grant, Bela Fleck, The Fairfield Four and Take Six. Great talents like Donna Summer, Steve Winwood and Kim Carnes have chosen this area as home. Everybody comes here sooner or later. Im glad I got to move here twenty-five years ago so I could see it happen. I love this town.

I owe a debt of gratitude to many, many people both within and without the music business. My friends Diane Dickerson and Charlie Williams are at the top of the list. Their friendship throughout the years helped me in my endeavors as a citizen and a photographer. Members of several families have also been great friends throughout my time in Tennessee. They include the Adames and Morgan families in Clarksville, who have given me unconditional love and, occasionally, a couch on which to sleep when I was to pooped to drive back to Nashville. In Nashville, the Fielder and Hinsons clans have been the best friends a guy could have. Thanks for all the fun times on the Fielder Farm, where I quite often retreated to regain my sanity, and sometimes to lose it.

I especially would like to thank the Hime family here in Nashville for their love and shelter when I really needed it. To Nancy, Callie, Eamon and Kelsey, you went out of your way to take me in after the fire at my house last fall Im forever in your debt. I love you all. I would also like to thank Mrs. Rebekah Hanson, better known by everyone as Baba. You have been like an extra grandmother to me, enlightening me with your knowledge of Nashvilles history and the wisdom that comes with a long and fruitful life. God bless you all.

There are so many people within the industry that have helped me and hired me over the years, that I dont know where to begin. My many friends at ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, and the folks at Mercury, Capitol, Curb, Sony Music, DreamWorks, Word and EMI Christian labels who have given me steady employment throughout the years. Also, the people at the various publishing companies, including Sony/Tree, MCA, Polygram, Maypop, Acuff Rose, Peer International, Island Bound, Hamstein and Patrick Joseph Music. I did a lot of work outside the industry at The Jewish Federation and The Gideons International and for photographer, Dennis Carney. I thank them for keeping me working all those years.

Thanks also goes to the many publicists who have hired me, trusting me to photograph their artists, knowing that I would do my best to make them look good. These people include Sandy Neese, Janet Rickman, Sarah Brosmer, Jerry Strobel, Evelyn Shriver, Wes Vause, Jessie Schmidt, Pam Lewis, Schatzi Hagaman, Susan Niles, Betty Hofer, Nancy Russell, Scott Stem, Karen Byrd, Nancy Henderson, Jenny Bohler, Cathy Gurley, Summer Harmon, Debbie Holley, the folks at Atkins-Muse, Sharon Allen, Sandy Brokaw, Liz Thiels, Ellen Wood, Caroline Newcomb, Eve Abdo, Michelle Goble, Rhonda Forlaw Adkins, Janet Bozeman, Craig Campbell, Shawn Williams, Joan Myers, Allen Brown, Chuck Thompson, Brenna Davenport Leigh, Greg McCarn, Lorie Lytle, Jenny Alford and many, many others.

Without the diligence of my old friend and literary manager, Harold F. Eggers, Jr., I would not be writing this book. He hooked me up with Tony Seidl at TD Media, Inc., who secured the deal with St. Martins Press. My thanks to him and my editor, Antonia Felix, and designer, Susan Turner, who put the pieces of this puzzle together in fine fashion and with great patience. The staff at The Font Shop in Nashville also was a wonderful help in doing the final scans in record time. My thanks to Pete Wolverton at St. Martins for understanding and accepting my suggested changes. I would also like to thank Garth Brooks and Robert K. Oermann for their friendship and participation in the project. I never realized that writing a book was such a team effort.

There are many people at various magazines that have also been a help to meby using my photos over the years. First and foremost is Music Row, with whom Ive been associated for nearly fifteen years. David and Susana Ross, the staff that has varied over the years have been great friends to me, as weve watched this industry grow. Thanks to Lon Helton and the folks at Radio & Record, especially Calvin Gilbert, who supplied me with facts and figures that were instrumental in putting this book together. Thanks also to the many reporters and editors who have worked for Billboard, American Songwriter CMAs Closeup and The Tennessean throughout the years.

I have supplied photos for many fan magazines as they have gone in and out of existence since 1974. These include Country Song Roundup, Country Music, Country America, Chicago Country, Modern Screens Country Music, KNIX Magazine and Country Weekly. Thanks goes especially to my friends Mike Greenblatt, Sandy Lovejoy, Sheldon Ivany and Neil Pond who have been among the many editors of these magazines. Im also indebted to the photo editors at Country Weekly, Jeannie Milewski, Lisa Konicki and Summer Woods who have often requested photos from my archive, and who have understood, reluctantly, when I felt it necessary to clear some photos with clients before I released them.

Last, and certainly not least, I would like to remember my friends who wont be here to help me celebrate finishing this book. They include Helen Adames, Evelyn Dickerson, Everette Fielder, Dick Heard, Dale Franklin, Dan Wojick, Tom Davey, Otto Kitsinger and everyones friend and mentor, Mama Mae Boren Axton. I also must remember my cat Monkey who was my sidekick for eleven years, and whose furry face has long been my logo. Their friendship and encouragement will not be forgotten by me, and should be known by all. Alan Mayor