"The Story of Us" - Creating that video

John and I backstage at Austin City Limits

"That video" is the one on our home page... it took a while (living it!)

Going back in pictures to how 'we' began has been a beautiful trip for me (Judy). I remember the first time I met John, when I showed up for the first rehearsal for our Memphis cover band. I was one of two 'chick singers' on staff at jingle companies, hired to sing at night with a group of great studio musicians that wanted to stretch out and play more live gigs. I was 19 at the time, and had just moved to Memphis from Jacksonville. Buddy Skipper was the band leader, who would later move to Nashville and become music director for Lynn Anderson. Phil Forrest was the bass player, Bill McMath the guitarist. Wendy Suits was the other singer, who would move to Nashville and become a top session singer and cast member of Hee Haw,  ... and John was the drummer. And so 'we' began.

We married about three years later. We both continued doing studio work.  I found a picture of the studio musicians recording in Memphis about that time that were hired for a Clint Eastwood movie... John was the drummer. Oddly enough, some of the musicians came in from Nashville. Beegie Adair, the girl in the middle of the picture, is a great jazz pianist, now of international acclaim.

Then came Peter. Our son was born in Memphis, our most treasured song. We moved to Nashville when he was two years old.

A couple of years later, I was signed to MTM Records and won ACM's New Female Vocalist award the year Randy Travis won for male vocalist. Finding these pictures of John, Peter and I during that era was a cool trip down those memory lanes. John played drums with me on many a TV and live stage show - from the Tonight show with Johnny Carson to the El Paso amphitheater opening for George Strait. Ah, memories... the bus breakdowns... having to travel to the airport in a laundry truck because the taxi didn't show, passing out on stage from the stomach flu and the bass player saying over the mic 'is there a doctor in the house'... highs, lows and everything in-between.

One picture shows us with our band backstage at Harrah's in Tahoe. You see Sue Powell, Dave Bowling and Mike Davis... and the tall guy on the upper right is Byrd Burton... who previously was the guitar player member of 'The Amazing Rhythm Aces' and came up with that famous riff for 'Third Rate Romance, Low Rent Rendevous'. The nex shot is of John and me backstage before our Austin City Limits performance. Lyle Lovett was the second act on our televised episode. Then you see me with TG Shepard presenting an award at the CMA's. Cool history- fun to remember!

Then we stopped for a while. Rabbit trails, learning to be mentors for others, growing into even better music makers.

Now we're back. Full circle. Not done yet. Thanks for coming along for the ride with us!

xoxo,  J&J