Back in the mid/late 70s I was really into Southern Rock. I was a big fan of a local band called the Winters Brothers Band, fronted by two brothers Donnie and Dennis Winters. They played Rock and Roll Cowboy Music.

Imagine Gene Autry with a Les Paul and a Marshall stack.

After I joined the Navy I ran across a musician in Norfolk, VA who was good friends with Donnie and he introduced us. Donnie and I became good friends

Donnie Winters was one of the finest guitar players I had ever heard, and I grew up in Nashville, a town that is saturated with fine guitar players.

Every time I would go home on leave, I would try to make some time to go see Donnie. I might go hang out at the Sutler with him where he ran sound, or it might be Douglas Corner, or the Bellevue Station. If I was in town for some event, I might end up on his couch. He was a good friend.

In 2005 I think it was, I was in Nashville for the Americana Music Association Conference. I was playing covers in local biker bars in NC and we decided since I was in town we ought to make a disc for me to use for booking gigs.

This was a big deal for me. This would be my very first recording. and I was doing it with one of my musical heroes. I think it cost me a grand total of two 2 piece chicken dinners from Ms Winners.

We recorded in the little apartment above the garage at Donnie’s house on Buffalo Road in Pegram TN. A single mic was set up to capture both guitars and my vocals. Donnie’s son Ryan would run the board for us. .Donnie was playing a round neck Dobro, and I was playing some dreadnought. No pedals, no Amps, no Processors. There was no practice, no rehearsals, no charts, no overdubs. Just two friends playing music with each other.

Ryan got everything set up and told us Go, and we went. I would call out the song and tell Donnie what key it was in, and we would run the number. .It felt more like a jam session than anything else. We recorded 10 songs on a Sunday afternoon, Mostly all first takes.

This recording was never intended to be released. Donnie and Ryan both are no longer with us. When I listen to this recording, it’s a brief snapshot in time. People hanging out, spending time together, enjoying each others company.

I miss those guys.