"Our songs tell stories that anyone who’s been in relationships or set out on a road trip can relate to, no matter where they come from.” _ John Lilly
Recently, West Virginia's Blue Yonder released their second full-length album, Rough and Ready Heart. Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC and produced by Gar Ragland, the seasoned acoustic trio was joined by guest musicians Russ Hicks (pedal steel guitar) and Tony Creasman (drums/percussion) bringing to life 12 original songs which offer a range of Americana from honky-tonk to swing, rockabilly to bluegrass, and mournful ballads to inspirational anthems. Here, Lilly answers his Essential 8 and speaks about keeping the faith, the day that changed his life, the Opry, and much more. What has been your biggest struggle so far? John Lilly: Keeping the faith. I (we) have been doing this a long, long time. Every day I remind myself that it is all about the music, not stardom, fame, wealth or the other trappings of success. We measure success in our own terms. What has been your biggest success? JL: Success for me is writing a memorable song. When I hear someone humming one of my tunes as they leave a show or another musician singing one of my songs, I know I have done something right! Which song of yours gets the best crowd response? JL: In 1984, I wrote a song called “A Little Yodel Goes a Long Way.” The first night I sang it at a gig, the audience insisted on hearing it four times! It quickly became something of a theme song for me and remains so at my solo gigs. Are there any songs you are tired of playing and why? JL: That damned yodeling song! Yodeling is a novelty, and sometimes I wish it would go away. After hearing some fool yodel, are you really going to take him seriously when he sings about divorce or alcohol or loneliness? No, you want him to shut up and yodel!
Do you have a favorite (or first) concert that you have attended?
JL: When I was young, maybe seven or eight years old, my family took a vacation driving around Lake Michigan. We lived in suburban Chicago, and the halfway point of the trip was roughly in northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula). We camped near a place called Interlachen, which was a classical music camp for children. We spent the first day at the beach, splashing and goofing around with the other kids who were there. That evening we went to a concert. We sat way in the back – it sounded great to me, just like a record or the radio. At the intermission, I wandered up to the edge of the stage and was startled to discover that the kids we had spent the afternoon with at the beach were the same kids playing the music in the concert. They were no older than me, no better than me. I realized for the first time that people made music, people just exactly like me. And I decided that was what I was going to do! That day changed my life. Have you met any of your heroes? If so, how did it go? JL: Yes! I have had the chance to meet many of my musical heroes. I used to work at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and many of them passed through there. Tour guides were discouraged from fraternizing with the stars, but I still managed to visit with several luminaries. One day, they needed someone to sit with Eddy Arnold for a few hours – he arrived at 9 a.m. for a 3 p.m. event – and I got the call. What an amazing day! At one point I almost had to pinch myself! I was sitting in the front seat of Eddy Arnold’s Cadillac listening with him to the rough mixes of his upcoming RCA release! You can’t make this stuff up! Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off? JL: I know it is not the big deal it once was, but I would love to play the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Announcer Eddie Stubbs is a musical hero of mine – he is a terrific fiddler and a walking encyclopedia of country music history. So much of that history was made on the Opry stage. Please, God, I promise I’ll be good! If you weren’t a musician/songwriter where would we find you? JL: Probably six feet under or in a mental ward somewhere! Maybe working at a radio station as a DJ, but that would probably lead to one of the other two before long. I worked 18 years as a magazine editor. It was a dream job, but I couldn’t wait to get back to music. TOUR DATES 1/27 – Asheville, NC @ Isis Music Hall 1/28 – Knoxville, TN @ Blue Plate Special 1/31 – Johnson City, TN @ The Down Home Website/Facebook
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