The Making Of A Country Singer

By Donna Emerich

Have you ever wanted something really bad, I mean really, really bad?

I did! I wanted to be a country singer. One that had songs that could be heard on the radio. The struggle to get there though? Yeah, that was something. Life can throw so many dingers into your life that you never believed could be tossed your way. But when you finally find the goal you have been reaching for within your grasp. That your dreams are actually coming true. Man oh man, WHAT A TRIP!

The events that led up to this point. Good and bad. I wouldn’t change them for anything. They made me who I am. They made me what I am. I am Gary Jennings Sr. and I’m a Country singer. This is my story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Emerich
• Release date: Aug 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780999109823

Book preview

The Making Of A Country Singer

by Donna Emerich

Copyright © 2017 Donna Emerich

All Rights Reserved This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

Published by:

Three Belles Publishing

Dedication

For Mom and Dad

Songs and Credits

How Great Thou Art

Written by:

Carl Gustav Boberg

Blue Suede Shoe

Written by:

Carl Perkins

Performed by

Carl Perkins

Elvis Presely

All The Girls Get Prettier

Written by:

Baker Knight

Performed by:

Mickey Gilley

Silver Wings

Written by:

Merle Haggard

Bonnie Owens

Performed by:

Merle Haggard

Lukenbach Texas

Written by:

Chips Moman

Bobby Emmons

Performed by:

Waylon Jennings

Table of Contents

Chapter 01

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

Chapter 04

Chapter 05

Chapter 06

Chapter 07

Chapter 08

Chapter 09

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Description

Have you ever wanted something really bad, I mean really, really bad?

I did! I wanted to be a country singer. One that had songs that could be heard on the radio. The struggle to get there though? Yeah, that was something. Life can throw so many dingers into your life that you never believed could be tossed your way. But when you finally find the goal you have been reaching for within your grasp. That your dreams are actually coming true. Man oh man, WHAT A TRIP!

The events that led up to this point. Good and bad. I wouldn’t change them for anything. They made me who I am. They made me what I am. I am Gary Jennings Sr. and I’m a Country singer. This is my story.

Prologue

I started singing at a young age. Music was a staple within my home, just like meat and potatoes. You might say I dreamed in music. It was just a part of me! 

My first experience at songwriting came early. I had some success at it, and that’s when I learned I could turn words into songs. It set a fire under me. I played in a lot of bands, made some damn good friends along the way. Many I carried with me through life. Others, I lost along the way. But they are forever with me in my memories.

I can’t say my path was easy, cause it wasn’t. I was rebellious in my youth and teens, and it cost me. But, those rebellious years helped form me.

I did things I shouldn’t and spent time where I wished I hadn’t. Yet, without them, would I be still be able to make the music I do? I doubt it.

All the things I experienced, touched me, helped me give me words, they strummed the beats within my heart and soul. God gave me this special gift music to make people happy. I’ve lost mom, dad and my sister now, but I believe I’ve brought a smile to their faces. I believe they gaze down on me now and know, I made it!

Chapter 1

In The Beginning

The date was September 3, 1955. It was a warm, humid seventy-five degrees with a mild North West wind. My parents were about to receive a joyful surprise. My sister, JoAnn and brother Charles, along with my parents, were visiting my grandparents in Laurens, NY. They were living and working on the brook outs farm and had come for dinner and to visit. My mom was expecting yours truly and hadn't been feeling well. The mild ache in her stomach that had accompanied her all day had grown stronger as the hours passed. Leaving her in little doubt the time was nearing. When the time came, dad rushed mom to Oneonta hospital, the pains by that time consistent. Yet, they had felt she could make it to Sidney hospital.

It soon became apparent, though, that I was eager to start my journey in life. They almost didn’t make it to the emergency room with me. Mom held on, nearly squeezing dad's hand in two, panting and blowing out small puffs of air as she fought to remain calm. Seeing my mom's distress, dad drove above the speed limit to make it.

Mom had chosen the name Liberace after a famous pianist. Wonder, how she knew I would have a career in music? My Dad put his foot down, declaring absolutely not! My name would not be Liberace! So, they named me after a person who played the T.V. game show, Password. I officially became Gary Lee Jennings!

Growing up, I didn’t expect to have to defend my family name, but I did, often! As well, I was a darn cute baby. So, mom entered me in a baby contest out of California and guess what? I won! There was a beautiful oil painting made of me. My parents were asked if my picture could be used on a calendar for the whole Country to see! My parents refused though, and wouldn’t agree to it. The painting was gift enough they said.

As a baby I never seemed to need much sleep, I needed the T.V. to be on or music playing. My dad played Old Country Bluegrass. I guess I get my musical skills from him.

Growing up, dad played bugle in the South Kortright Band. He'd had a rough life and fought for everything he did. As a boy of eight, his mom had put him in a reform school, 'South Kortright.' She didn't have the financial means to take care of him. All my dad could remember of his father was that his 'dad' would come home drunk and 'beat' on his mom.

This, I’m sure, was the reason mom handled all our discipline growing up. My dad was not a physically affectionate man, but he worked hard to provide for his family. I can remember visiting his mom once. She lived in Middletown NY. I truly can't recall much about her, except that she had an apartment in a seedy side of town. It was because of his hard life that he worked many jobs. Most of it was farm work, as manual labor was common jobs available. My parents met while working on a farm in Franklin NY. I asked my mom one day why she wouldn’t go in water above her knees? She explained she had to run a wagon with horses through a six-foot flood when she was young, she almost drowned.

My mom had angelic qualities, never drinking or smoking. 'Family' was her life. She worked later on in life after my dad could no longer work. My dad had several heart attacks throughout his life. His first was at the age of fourteen. When he was older, they found out he had a hole in his heart causing these attacks. I was not an easy child growing up, I could only drink goat’s milk. Mom used to chuckle, saying, I lived on goat’s milk and molasses cookies.

My mom was a great cook and could make a meal out of anything. She always made sure we had what we needed. Funny thing about my mom, she was an old fashioned lady, never talked bad about anyone because it was not Christian. She never learned to drive either, dad always drove her where she needed to go.

My brother Chuck was an important part of my life growing up. But the inevitable happened, I went to school and began to