Monty jammin' at Darkstar Records 1st-Year Anniversary
Photo by Dr BLT

Billie Jean, as a country song, came to me the day after Michael Jackson's death while I was sitting with my guitar in front of Starbucks on Rosedale Highway.  I was just strumming a k.c.r.o.c.k.in' (Kern County country rockin') rhythm on my guitar and started singing Billie Jean.  I was pretty sure at that point, that the song would work as a country song, but not convinced 100%.  I'm never convinced 100% that anything will work in the studio.  I'm an experimental artist, and I've had plenty of flops.  When I hear folks talking about my cameo on the Cake music video, the song named #8 best record of the year, and the national airplay I've received, I think to myself, "Haven't they heard all of the complete flops I've put out there for public consumption?" 

No, I wasn't 100% sure, until I was having lunch with my wife and soon-to-be-four-year-old daughter, Kassidy, one and Monty Byrom called, asking how the recording session went.  Perhaps he was talking about the one that I sat in on with Penny Marie, but since I had invited him to the one planned for that day, I assumed he was talking about the recording of Billie Jean.

When I told him it hadn't been held yet, he said to call him the next day, just before the session and give him directions.  He didn't make any promises, so I'm not trying to shame him for not making it.  I understand that he's got lots of important projects of his own.  What he did however, was confirm in my mind, once and for all that Billie Jean, the Michael Jackson dance classic, would work as a country song.  He did that by singing the chorus into my iphone.  When I heard him sing it, I was glad I got the idea of the country arrangement, apparently before he did, because he absolutely blew the song out of the ballpark with a stunning vocal performance. 

He did speak out loud about what guitar he should bring, in the event that he was able to make it.  He didn't make it that day, but the door is still open, Monty if you want to add some stuff to the song.  Whether or not Monty ever appears on a recording of mine, I will be grateful for the inspiration he gave me that day before the session with that vocal performance of Billie Jean. 

Will it become a hit?  I've been told by plenty of samplers of the unedited version that it will, some even suggesting it will cross over from the country to the pop charts, but I'll put the fate of this recording in God's hands.  I'm a dreamer, and for the first few days, a week at the most, I'm pretty sure every one of my songs are hit-bound.  So don't be surprised if this too falls by the way side.  I will still be able to say I had fun in the studio with band mates Pat Frase, Jerry Rothberg and Reggie Langendorfer, and I will be able to say I met some great people like Monty Byrom, Kim McAbee, Penny Marie and Theresa Spanke (for the second or third time in her case). 

Monty, if you're out there, we missed you, but your performance of Billie Jean over my iphone ensured that your spirit was there with us!