In Nashville, it seems like everyone sings, or everyone writes songs, or everyone strums a guitar.
When we moved into our house in Thompson’s Station, my wife Nancy and I heard that the guy who lives around the corner is a songwriter. The couple in the house behind us work for Lady A. My first dinner in Nashville was at Puckett’s, and my waiter was a kid trying to make it as a singer/songwriter.
When people in California ask me about Nashville, I say that everyone seems to dream about music.
I recently exchanged letters with Larry McClain, 70, who lives in Old Hickory. He retired in 2020 from a job as an advertising/public relations writer.
His letter is about how he plans to spend his years unrestrained writing music.
And that makes you happy.
“I want to be the oldest guy on the Grammys stage,” McClain said.
By the way, McClain’s letter was the 300th I’ve received since Project 88 began last June. I have already received letters from 26 states and 10 countries, with recent missives from Pella, Iowa and São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Many of the letters are from people who enjoy writing, are a bit nostalgic and don’t mind waiting for an answer.
Taylor Swift Inspiration, Kacey Musgraves
In the 1970s, McClain was in a band called “Gems” with his brother, who spelled his name Jimi (as Hendrix). They signed to a regional label and made a little money. He’s still getting little royalty checks.
In 1990, he wrote a song called “Rio Bravado” which was sung on a demo tape by Jeffrey Steele, who is now a well-known singer/songwriter.
What McClain learned was that he could not support his family (wife Pam and children Josh and Zach) by writing songs and playing rhythm guitar.
What struck me about McClain’s letter was its list of artists who inspired him. He didn’t mention the old patterns. There was no Bob Dylan, Neil Young or Carole King on his list.
McClain wrote about taking inspiration from Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, and their contemporary lyrics.
After reading his letter, in which he wrote in-depth about Swift’s two 2020 albums (“Folklore” and “Evermore”), I found myself delving into his lyrics, which McCain called “as pure and crystalline as anything Joni has written.” Mitchell has already written.”
Is Taylor Swift as Good as Joni Mitchell?
Joni Mitchell wrote, among seemingly a million other great songs, “Both Sides Now”. This song, written in 1966, appears in the new movie “CODA”, which is my choice for the Oscar for Best Picture.
Related:Taylor Swift Rebuts Damon Albarn’s Claim That She Doesn’t Write Her Songs: ‘Completely False’
McClain wrote about Taylor Swift’s song “The 1”, which is very well written.
What about the Kacey Musgraves song “Slow Burn”, which she allegedly wrote in full hippie mode while taking acid?
Is Taylor Swift or Kacey Musgraves the Joni Mitchell of today? Reading McClain’s letter, he makes some very good points.
Favorites like Niko Rubio, Dua Lipa, Tove Lo
I can tell from his letters that McClain is a songwriting aficionado. He said he loves the music of pop artists Niko Rubio, Dua Lipa and Tove Lo… “unlike most people my age,” he wrote. After reading your letter, I started listening to them. They are good.
Currently, McClain sits with a guitar, piano and pen in his Old Hickory home writing.
“I’m probably more likely to be hit by a meteor than to have a hit record, but it’s fun nonetheless,” he wrote.
He submits his work on a website called “Songtown”, which was launched by veteran songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson. And then he crosses his fingers.
McClain sent me a sample of his writing, of a song called “The Face I See”.
All the psychiatrists I went to,
the self-help books I bought
So valiantly.
Mistakes, I paid the price
Mistakes I’ve Made Twice
And finally …
I take a shower, start my day
And as the steam gradually clears
I’m starting to really like the face I see
You know what? This is very well written. Could an old man be the next Taylor Swift?
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Contact Keith Sharon at 615-406-1594 or ksharon@tennessean.com or on Twitter @KeithSharonTN.
More typeset stories:How a Johnny Cash and Bill Clinton impersonator ended up as a Nashville forklift driver
Project 88
This story is part of Project 88, which is named after the 88 characters produced on a Smith-Corona typewriter. Keith Sharon of the Tennessean types letters on his 1953 typewriter and sends them to people all over the world with an envelope and stamp so they can write back. This story originated with a letter Keith received. The question Project 88 is trying to answer is: Are people going to communicate the old-fashioned way, through heartfelt letters about the best and most challenging days of their lives. This project is not for political speeches, and any type of snail mail letter (typed, handwritten, or computer printed) is acceptable. Include a phone number.
You can be a part of Project 88 by writing to:
Keith Sharon
the Tennessee
1801 West End Avenue.
16th floor
Nashville, TN 37203