larger view

 When I discovered that the old Buck Owens Studios (aka Fat Tracks, aka Pig) were closing the doors, and learned more about the rich history of the place, I began mourning what I had missed out on all of the years I've been recording.  

I had spoken with Rick Davis about the prospect of recording there at one point, and even took a tour of it back in the early 90s, but I was always a day late and a dollar short to book a session there.  

I wrote a few songs as a way of expressing my sense of missed opportunity and my longing to step foot in the old place and record there.  One of the songs, Phat Chanceexpressed my dream and my slim chances of getting in before the door slammed shut.  

I called Nick and he didn't say "No."  So I began to cultivate hope that. against all odds,  I may be The Last Man Standing, though my final footprints and my footnote on the legacy would be insignificant in comparison with the footprints of giants such as Buck Owens, Tom Petty, Bonnie Owens, Korn and many more local acts and international superstars.  

After a few days, Nick called me back and invited me to be The Last Man Standing.  

The session was scheduled for April 2, 2008.  

On the morning of that highly anticipated date, I wrote There's a Ghost in this Buildingand that's the first song I recorded there.  As I was recording it, I noted the vastness of the studio and the sense of being so small and insignificant in comparison to the giants whose names were affixed to gold records hung on the walls.  

My first impression of Nick was that he was aloof and rather cold.  That added to the sense that the place was haunted.  At one point I actually felt very unwelcome, and shouted to myself, "What the hell am I doing here?"  

As time went on, Nick seemed to warm up to me and apparently, I warmed up to him.  Things began to flow and there was something magic in the air.  

I knew that I was a last-minute joy rider, and that I was a bit of an imposter.  I felt unworthy to be on the last page of the final chapter of this historic place.  But I just stood on the shoulders of the giants that had come before me and hung on for dear life.

Before I knew it, 5 songs were complete, albeit it in an unplugged, live coffee house, minimalistic way.  

We "got 'er done" and I'm glad we did.  The EP will be released in about a month, and there will be a CD release party, most likely at Russo's Books at the Marketplace.  

Stay tuned at:

http://www.drblt.net