Essential 8: Tim Atwood

Courtesy of the Artist

For over 38 years Tim Atwood has played in the spotlight's fringe backing country music's elite on the most venerable stage in country music history—the Grand Ole Opry.  Over the course of his career Tim has played the Opry stage over 8,500 times, backing thousands of country greats including Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Porter Wagoner and Little Jimmy Dickens. With his 2017 nod for  R.O.P.E. Entertainer of the Year alongside Gene Watson, Jeannie Seely, Rhonda Vincent, Rex Allen, Jr. and Leona Williams, Tim has successfully made the move from playing behind his peers to taking a bow alongside them. In September 2017 Tim returned to the Grand Ole Opry, center stage, as an artist - a career highlight for him and an absolute honor.

Buy This Piano A Drink was Tim's first CD showcasing his own talents as an artist, which he released in 2015. He has since released his first gospel album That Old Time Religion in 2016, returning to the gospel roots of his youth. Tim is set to release his third solo album in June, appropriately titled Livin’ The Dream. He has recently released the first single off the album “I’ll Stand Up & Say So,” and here he answers his Essential 8 talking about the album, conquering inner demons, meeting his heroes, and more.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
Absolutely.  My new album is called Livin' The Dream.  For thirty-eight years, I had the best job in the entire world.  I played piano for all of the greats on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. During that time, I looked at a lot of famous backsides.  A few years ago, I decided to change my view.  I'm loving what I do center stage now.  I love singing my songs and connecting with the audience.  I consider myself an entertainer, and I enjoy hearing an audience laugh as much as I enjoy hearing them applaud.  Recently I've won several major industry awards and have been a guest on some unbelievable television shows.  I'm proof that it's never too late to go after your dream.  I'm livin' it now!
 
What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? 
Piano great Jerry Whitehurst once told me to perfect my left hand—especially when it came to playing a country shuffle.  He also taught me that knowing when not to play, was just as important as knowing when to play.
 
What is your favorite go to food on the road?
Winter or summer, It's always chili.  If I'm traveling by myself, it's chili with beans.
 
What has been your biggest struggle so far?
My biggest struggle was conquering my inner demons.  For years I battled an addiction to alcohol.  My family and a few colleagues knew of my struggles, but it was something I tried to hide from the rest of the world.  Funny thing though, I couldn't hide it from myself.   There is a line in the song “Bottle of Tears” from my first album that hit my squarely between the eyes every time I sang it.  I battle my way to the top, but I bottle my way to the bottom.  I'm here to tell you that by the grace of God, I have conquered that battle.  Every morning I get up and say, Lord, I may stumble, but today is not the day.  Life is good, baby! 

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​Which songs of yours gets the best crowd response?  
Songs that move the audience in some way always get a great response.  I like to get the crowd going with piano pounding thrills with songs like “Travelin' Band” or “Don't The Girls All Get Prettier”—raking my foot across the piano keys, bopping my head to the music, showboating on the keys.  If I'm having a good time, the audience will have a good time.  Then I love to turn around and tug on their heart strings with songs like “Mom” or the patriotic anthem, “I'll Stand Up and Say So.”  Every time I perform those songs, I feel every word.  The first time I got a standing ovation from the audience, I knew they felt it too.

Favorite (or first) concert you attended? 
I saw The Eagles perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville in 1977.   Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh were bigger than life.  Hotel California had just been released as a single a few months earlier, and the atmosphere inside the venue was electric!
 
Have you met any of your heroes? If so, how did it go? 
I remember meeting Kenny Rogers when he was at the height of his career and thinking, “This guy is a super star, but he's acting like any other guy on this stage.”  Kenny set the bar for me as an example of how all people should be treated in this business.  Always be kind.
And then there is Jeannie Seely.  We met at the Grand Ole Opry.  She sat down next to me while I was taking a piano solo. With a mischievous grin on her face she leaned in and whispered, “Tim, if you make love as good as you play piano, you must be wonderful.”  I forgot what key I was in; I think I even forgot what song I was playing.  Seely loved it!  She got me good. It's still hard for me to believe that Seely and I tour the country and record together now. To this day, she's one of my best friends.
 
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
Yes—and it's a big one: I'd love to sit center stage surrounded by a full orchestra with a horn section, strings and back ground vocalists.  I'm used to working as a solo artist or with a 6-9 member group.  I think it would be amazing to have a stage filled with music professionals bring my music to life.  If this country boy is Livin' The Dream, I might as well dream BIG!

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