Interview with Charlie Crowe, January 22, 2021

Partial Transcript: Um, I think we're recording now. Okay, this is Kopana Terry and it's January 22, 2021 and I'm talking with Charlie Crowe. Hi, Charlie!

Segment Synopsis: Crowe has been a professional musician working for a major recording artist since 1992 when he began working with John Michael Montgomery. In 1994, he joined Brooks & Dunn and worked for them for 12 years. He then stayed at home to be a songwriter. From 2008 to 2013, he worked for a different artist every year. In 2014, he took a job for Miranda Lambert as a guitar technician and worked for five years until the guitar player became ill and Crowe replaced him as her guitarist. A year after he took the tech job, Brooks and Dunn and Reba McEntire took a residency in Las Vegas and he worked with them.

Keywords: Acoustic guitar players; Brooks and Dunn (Artist); Guitar technicians; Guitar techs; John Michael Montgomery (Artist); Miranda Lambert (Artist); Multiple jobs; Reba McEntire (Artist); Songwriters; Songwriting

Subjects: Bands (Music); Brooks & Dunn (Musical group); Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Flexible work arrangements.; Guitarists; Lambert, Miranda, 1983-; Las Vegas (Nev.); McEntire, Reba; Montgomery, John Michael; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Technologists; Temporary employment.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: So what, what were you doing in, in March?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe's 30th anniversary gift to his wife was supposed to be going on the Miranda Lambert tour in Australia but the tour got cancelled due to COVID-19. He talks about the hurricanes that hit Nashville around the same time and caused damage to his house. He talks about how his father died a year before the pandemic and the impact of all of these events on his outlook on life.

Keywords: Anniversary; Birthdays; Cancellations; Chet Atkins (Artist); Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Guitar technicians; Guitar techs; Houses; Hurricane damage; Lockdowns; Miranda Lambert (Artist); Shutdown; Tom Hanks; Touring; Walnut trees

Subjects: Australia.; Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Death.; Flexible work arrangements.; Guitarists; Hurricanes.; Lambert, Miranda, 1983-; Marriage.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Technologists; Temporary employment.; Travel.; Wives.

Partial Transcript: So, what, um--how were you affected financially when everything came to a screeching halt?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe talks about how he has been financially impacted by the shutdown. He discusses how other people in Nashville have been dealing with the pandemic, including online performances and socially distanced venues at a drive-in theater. He discusses the crew members and how it has impacted them, including staying optimistic for the summer. He thinks it will be a while before big acts can have live performances.

Keywords: Backline workers; Contract labor; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Costs; Creative; Creativity; Crew members; Expenses; Festivals; Gig workers; Guitar technicians; Guitar techs; Health insurance; Income; Insurance; John Michael Montgomery (Artist); Laws; Liability; Money; Music crews; New acts; Normal; Online performances; Outdoor venues; Precautions; Rapid testing; Road crews; Salary; Savings; Social distancing; Socially distanced venues; Songwriters; Songwriting; Touring; Uncertainty; Vaccinations; Vaccines; Virtual performances; Young musicians; Young people

Subjects: Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Music festivals.; Music.; Musicians.; Nashville (Tenn.); Optimism.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Quarantine.; Temporary employment.; Vaccines.; Viral vaccines

Partial Transcript: So let's, let's go back and talk about, um, talk about your playing.

Segment Synopsis: Crowe discusses his personal playing, stating this is the longest he's gone without playing a gig in 30 years. He misses the lifestyle of being a musician on the road. He talks about how his transition from touring musician into lockdown began with trying to get his house repaired from the hurricane that hit Nashville, which he says was a great distraction. He set up a place for himself to practice and perform music to keep his skills up. He discusses his family as his inspiration for keeping his life together during the lockdown. He talks about the precautions he has been taking during the pandemic.

Keywords: Accountability; Careful; Children; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Equipment; Family; Home owners insurance; Houses; Hurricane damage; Inspiration; Insurance claims; Isolation; Lifestyle; Lockdown; Mothers; Playing music; Practice; Precautions; Rehearsals; Repairs; Shutdown; Skills; Technology; Touring; Wife

Subjects: Bands (Music); Burr, Bill, 1968-; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Depression, Mental.; Dwellings.; Epidemics.; Families.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Home repair and improvement; Housing.; Hurricanes.; Insurance.; Marriage.; Music.; Musicians.; Nashville (Tenn.); Optimism.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Practicing (Music); Quarantine.; Renovation (Architecture); Temporary employment.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: I want to talk about your, your music. Um, what, uh, what drew you to music and, and songwriting and guitar playing?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe jokingly states he started playing music to get girls, but he follows by saying he was always interested in music. He mentions several musical television programs growing up in the 1960s that inspired him. He joined a regional cover band called Tangent at age 19. After that, he put together his band Charlie's Garage, another cover band. He talks about their hopes of getting a record deal.

Keywords: American Bandstand (Television program); Clarence Spalding (Band manager); Cover bands; Crook & Chase (Television program); Ed Sullivan show (Television program); Guitar lessons; In Concert (Television program); Midnight special (Television program); Porter Wagoner show (Revue); Record deals; Tangent (Artist); Tangent (Musical group); Touring; Variety shows

Subjects: Bands (Music); Beatles.; Cash, Johnny.; Clapton, Eric; Concert tours; Concerts; Cover versions.; Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.); Creedence Clearwater Revival (Musical group); Dylan, Bob, 1941-; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Inspiration in art; Inspiration.; Johnny Cash show (Television program); Lynyrd Skynyrd (Musical group); Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Popular music.; Revues.; Rock music.; Television; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: But I just--I'd finally had enough and, um, decided to kind of redirect.

Segment Synopsis: After a while, Crowe says he started getting into country music and learning more about the music business. He discusses his internship at television station KET where he saw a lot of Nashville musicians. The preacher who performed his wedding offered him a place to stay in Nashville. He talks about recording and writing songs. He discusses winning a competition that set him on track for his music career. He discusses in depth trying to break into the music business, including his mentor introducing him to record producer Al Cooley who rejected his songs. But from Cooley he learned that the record company was going to be working with his friend John Michael Montgomery and that was Crowe's big break.

Keywords: Al Cooley; Auditions; Backup musicians; Charlie's Garage (Artist); Clubs; Contests; Country scene; Exile (Artist); Exposure; Gigs; Income; Instrumental songs; Internships; Jobs; John Michael Montgomery (Artist); Lessons; Lonesome Pine Specials (Television program); Louisville (Ky.); Management; Managers; Mentors; Music business; Oakridge Boys (Artist); Professional musicians; Professionals; Recording music; Research; Songs; University of Kentucky; Venues; Wife

Subjects: Atlantic Recording Corporation; Bands (Music); Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Cover versions.; Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.); Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Internship programs.; Kentucky Educational Television; Marriage.; Montgomery, John Michael; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Nashville (Tenn.); Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Popular music.; Rock music.; Songwriters; Songwriting; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Telecommunication.; Television; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: So that's--and then it--then from that point on I gigged for fourteen years.

Segment Synopsis: Crowe discusses the rest of his career after officially breaking into the music business. He talks about how long his friend Tim toured with John Michael Montgomery. He talks about getting an offer to audition for Brooks & Dunn and feeling conflicted over leaving John Michael Montgomery. He talks about the number of shows and his income from each of the bands he has played with.

Keywords: Auditions; Band leaders; Brooks and Dunn (Artist); Careers; Clarence Spalding (Band manager); Contract labor; Gig workers; Gigs; Income; Jobs; John Michael Montgomery (Artist); Loyalty; Miranda Lambert (Artist); Money; Reba McEntire (Artist); Salary; Side men; Touring

Subjects: Amplifiers (Electronics); Atlantic Recording Corporation; Bands (Music); Brooks & Dunn (Musical group); Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.); Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Inspiration in art; Inspiration.; Lambert, Miranda, 1983-; Marriage.; McEntire, Reba; Montgomery, John Michael; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Nashville (Tenn.); Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Popular music.; Rock music.; Telecommunication.; Television; Temporary employment.; Van Halen, Eddie, 1955-2020

Partial Transcript: So I want to talk about your recording. You said earlier that, um, you'd been working on, uh, a solo record.

Segment Synopsis: Crowe discusses how, during the Las Vegas residency with Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire, he started recording solo songs with the drummer and bass guitar player. He says the recording was a way to keep himself engaged. Noel Fox signed him a two year publishing deal with Maypop Music Group. He discusses recording equipment and his first cut as a songwriter by selling his song to Brooks & Dunn. At the time of the first recording, he wasn't part of a company so he got the full money. He discusses two more songs he wrote and sold, as well as writing one with Chris Stapleton before Stapleton was more well-known.

Keywords: Brooks and Dunn (Artist); Charlie Daniels (Artist); Chicks Dig It (Song); Chris Cagle (Artist); EMI Group Limited; EMI Records Ltd.; Income; Influences; John Michael Montgomery (Artist); Maypop Music Group; Memorization; Memorizing; Money; Music tracks; Noel Fox (Artist); Pat Travers (Artist); Pro Tools (Software); Publishing companies; Recording studios; Rehearsals; See Jane Dance (Song); Session musicians; Session players; Solo records; Song writing; Songs; Songwriters; Songwriting; Thin Lizzy (Artist); Thin Lizzy (Musical group); Writing songs; ZZ Top (Artist); ZZ Top (Musical group)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Brooks & Dunn (Musical group); McEntire, Reba; Music publishing.; Music trade.; Music.; Musicians.; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Singing.; Sound recording industry.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing.; Stapleton, Chris, 1978-

Partial Transcript: Well, that's pretty awesome. And we could talk more about that but I'm going to circle back around to the fact that you've been in the business so long...

Segment Synopsis: Crowe discusses some changes the music and recording industry has undergone since the beginning of his career, especially with the advent of music downloads and streaming. He talks about how songwriters used to be able to make a living without getting full records, sometimes called "lunch pail songwriters." He also mentions the band Exile reinventing themselves as a country act as another change in the industry. He talks about how Exile influenced his own career.

Keywords: Album sales; Changes; Charlie's Garage (Artist); Downloads; Exile (Artist); Guitar players; Guitarists; Hit records; Hit songs; Income; Internet; Making a living; Midnight special (Television program); Money; Music business; Music downloads; Music streaming; Nashville (Tenn.); Sales; Selling; Song writing; Songs; Songwriters; Songwriting

Subjects: Bands (Music); Exile (Musical group); Music publishing.; Music trade.; Music.; Musicians.; Napster, Inc.; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Singing.; Sound recording industry.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Sound--Recording and reproducing.; Spotify.; iTunes

Partial Transcript: So when do you think you're going to play your next gig?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe doesn't want to plan for the future right now and wants to focus on his life outside of music. He gives advice about how he copes with the pandemic, including going on walks, not watching the news too much, and playing music. He thinks the pandemic has changed the music industry, including virus testing and the absence of former crew members. He thinks live music is an irreplaceable experience. He discusses how immediately before the pandemic it was both a joyous and sad time because of his music career and the death of his father. He discusses looking on the positive side despite the negatives. They discuss the interviewer's music career, current job, and photography. They end by discussing Crowe's children.

Keywords: Coping methods; Coping skills; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Crews; Gigs; Kids; Mental health; Music crews; News; On hold; Oral history interviews; Paused; Road crews; Solo records; Walks

Subjects: Australia.; Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Cataloging of oral history materials; Cheerfulness.; Children.; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Death.; Epidemics.; Exercise.; Families.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Grief.; Guitarists; Happiness.; Hurricanes.; Life skills.; Marriage.; Montgomery, John Michael; Music publishing.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; News Web sites.; Optimism.; Oral history.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Photography.; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Practicing (Music); Sound recording industry.; Television broadcasting of news.; Temporary employment.; Travel.; Vaccines.; Viral vaccines; Walking.; Wives.

Partial Transcript: Do you think, uh, do you think, do you think this period of time, this, this extended, uh, vacation, is going to change the music business?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe says he thinks the pandemic has already changed the music industry, including the new precautions that will need to be taken to attend live shows safely. He thinks live music is an irreplaceable experience. He talks about people in the music industry, especially crews and backline workers, who have had to move on to different jobs due to the pandemic.

Keywords: Adaptations; Adjustments; COVID testing; Careers; Changes; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Crews; Demand; Entry; Experiences; Jobs; Live music; Metal detectors; Music crews; Precautions; Quitting; Reopening; Road crews; Struggles; Struggling

Subjects: Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Careers.; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Occupations.; Optimism.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Professions.; Temporary employment.; Travel.; Vocation.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Well, i-is there anything about this period of time, um, and how it has affected you and your family and your livelihood that we haven't talked about?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe discusses how immediately before the pandemic it was both a joyous and sad time because of his music career and the death of his father. He discusses looking on the positive side despite the negatives.

Keywords: ACM Awards; Attitudes; Brooks and Dunn (Artist); Deaths; Family; Father figures; Fathers; Hurricane damage; Jobs; Mental health; Miranda Lambert (Artist); Music business; Processing

Subjects: Bands (Music); Brooks & Dunn (Musical group); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Cheerfulness.; Children.; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Death.; Epidemics.; Families.; Grief.; Guitarists; Happiness.; Hurricanes.; Lambert, Miranda, 1983-; Marriage.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Optimism.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Wives.

Partial Transcript: And I want to--what's--if you don't mind and if you've got the time, what's, uh--I know Stealing Horses didn't work out the way you wanted to.

Segment Synopsis: Crowe and the interviewer discuss the interviewer's music career. They discuss the difficulty of the lifestyle of a touring musician. Crowe discusses taking a "demotion" after playing guitar for several bands to become a guitar tech for Miranda Lambert because he needed the job. He talks more about becoming the guitarist for Miranda Lambert after the previous guitar player quit for health reasons.

Keywords: "Nashville Christmas present"; Brooks and Dunn (Artist); Demotions; Effort; Guitar players; Guitar technicians; Guitar techs; Guitarists; Hard work; Jobs; Kicks Brooks (Artist); Kiya Heartwood (Artist); Lifestyles; Ministers; Miranda Lambert (Artist); Multiple jobs; Record labels; Stealing Horses (Artist); Stealing Horses (Musical group); Touring; Travel; Uncertainty; Versatile; Versatility; Wishing Chair (Artist); Wishing Chair (Musical group)

Subjects: Australia.; Bands (Music); Brooks & Dunn (Musical group); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Careers.; Cataloging of oral history materials; Cheerfulness.; Children.; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Concerts; Country music.; Death.; Epidemics.; Exercise.; Families.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Grief.; Guitarists; Happiness.; Hurricanes.; Lambert, Miranda, 1983-; Life skills.; Marriage.; Montgomery, John Michael; Music publishing.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; News Web sites.; Occupations.; Optimism.; Oral history.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Photography.; Popular music--Writing and publishing.; Practicing (Music); Professions.; Sound recording industry.; Television broadcasting of news.; Temporary employment.; Travel.; Vaccines.; Viral vaccines; Vocation.; Walking.; Wives.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Well so, so what--do you enjoy what you're doing now?

Segment Synopsis: Crowe and the interviewer discuss the interviewer's current job, music, this oral history project, and photography. Crowe discusses how taking care of his mother and his children keeps him accountable during the pandemic. He talks about how his children don't play music themselves, but he says that in some ways he is glad that they don't have to deal with the struggles that come with working in the music business.

Keywords: Accountability; Creative; Creativity; Difficulty; Distractions; Elderly people; Interests; Kids; Mental health; Mothers; Music business; Parents; Photographers; Senior citizens; Sons; Struggles; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Careers.; Cheerfulness.; Children.; Communicable diseases--Transmission.; Communicable diseases.; Epidemics.; Families.; Gig economy.; Life skills.; Music trade.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musicians.; Occupations.; Older people; Oral history.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Photography.; Professions.; Sound recording industry.; Temporary employment.; Vocation.; Work.