With fathers day being yesterday, I wanted to talk a little about my best friend and partner, my dad. For the past 9 years I have been attempting some kind of career in the music business. It all started when my younger brother Josh, the youngest of six children was killed in a tragic accident at age 17 at our family business in Utah. Being from such a close family, the devastation was unbearable. Watching my mom and dad loose there baby, and me loose my precious little brother was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. It was then that I realized how important and priceless life was. And how you better make the most of it because it could end in the blink of an eye. That was also the beginning of my country music career and the journey with my dad.
I was raised by a very musical mother and was taught classical piano and opera for years, but my father was the die hard country fan. Mozart and Merle were always competing in our house. I was a singer most my life, singing in church and stuff like that, but after Josh passed away I decided hell...what do I have to loose? I wanna be a country singer! So I went into a little studio in Utah and recorded a whole CD full of Patsy Cline songs for my dad for his birthday. At that moment we were both hooked! We began to work so hard together. Not really knowing what we were doing, or what we were doing it for. It was like some sort of therapy for the two of us. And before we knew it, we were pursuing a country music career. I'll never forget the first time I ever sang in a bar, there was dad out in the crowd with that proud smile on his face. The first time I ever opened for a big act, there was dad passing out cd's and photos. First time I ever recorded in a Nashville studio, there was dad standing there in the corner of scruggs with the video camera, not wanting to miss a moment. First time going on a radio tour, there was dad in the drivers seat. And yes, the first time sitting around some board room table telling someone to "kiss off," (they deserved it trust me) dear old dad was by my side. We would leave the meetings laughing and saying "what in the hell did we get ourselves into?" I remember years ago saying "dad..can you imagine getting to go to Nashville some day?" And both of our eyes lighting up! This past fathers day was very hard for me because I recently made the move to Nashville to keep pursuing my career, and my sweet loyal partner in crime is still in Utah. I sure do miss him. The past 9 years we have become best friends in life and in this crazy career that we started together. (Or like my dad likes to call it, the roller coaster ride from hell!!) What first started as our therapy for loosing Josh, grew into something we never dreamed was possible. The stories we could tell! (Hahaha...thats a whole other blog!) Life is so hard sometimes, and so sad sometimes, but you never know what blessings can come from tragedy. Like the blessing of having a partner like my father and the amazing experiences we have had together. (I'm sure Josh is getting a real kick out of it!) Enjoy every moment in this business, don't ever take it to seriously (life brings us enough of that!) Cause you never know how or when this journey will end!
Melissa Jones
Photo: Dad and I together at the CRS 2009.
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