Dad sold it so the family could eat. Unbelievably, Billy stumbles upon it online years later, and pleads for the current owner to sell it. See the heart-rending video & see Billy's own urgent words!🎸
Finding this story (and that the dialogue with the guitar's owner was still online!) was so stunning to me, I had to share it! Plus, this was my first intro to Billy, and I had to write more about him (I trust you've seen the other one)! He's such an engaging personality, he makes bluegrass sound good to those (like me) who weren't otherwise attracted to it! You're reminding me to check up on Billy, and what his '24 looked like, and what he's planning for '25! Stay tuned, Thea!
Good...you're excited! That means my fear was unfounded...I'M all excited about that number, too, but am just cynical enough to figure that number's a slow 10-minute block on most other 'Stacks, and fellow writers are snickering! Pardon me while I book more therapist time!
Well (now, here's me getting a big head and all....just what we need, an insufferable Brad!), this one, after just 12 hours, is about half-way to THAT number...it's just about to kiss 1,650 at 6:30pm CT, Fri!
So, THIS is what Substack has been for others for all these many months: Large numbers and scads of activity! In fact, my Wednesday piece on David Pack is unusually frisky, as well, with 720, about twice a "normal" pre-Notes figure (cue fellow 'Stacker chuckles)! I know you've gotta be seeing bloated digits, too, and NOT from over-typing!🖐
The only thing bloated is my belly from all the caramel popcorn I’ve eaten today! No, unlike like you my numbers have not increased more than about five or 10 views since notes have entered the Substack Osphere. My average is around 175 views in total and about 61% of the 140 subscribers. I do know that percentage is actually a lot smaller, because I ask people about what they thought, and they said that they hadn’t looked at it yet. So I do believe that the numbers are quite inflated in terms of percentage of people who read the pieces. Of course, this isn’t true for you, but it is seeming to be true for me.
Thanks for sharing your numbers. You're still, relatively speaking, a bit of a "young" 'Stacker, but you so need to catch on, and I think Notes will help. Yours is not a flashy endeavor (to its credit), and you don't do "personal improvement" or food, two massive corners of the 'Stack-universe!
What's bizarre, Monday's wildly successful first Billy article coincided with the 'Stack drop of Notes (I believe on Tuesday). I almost would've wanted to see how Billy would've performed sans Notes. I will tell you both Billy articles have blown up large-time on Reddit (Michigan, bluegrass, country, and banjo subs), and FB (similar public and private groups). So, I think it would've scored anyway.....it just ballooned exponentially because of Notes!
I'll e-mail you some tips I think might help you maximize your Notes presence, and in turn, increase your subbie on-boarding! Mmmmmm.....caramel popcorn!🍿
I know.....Billy's amazing! His heart, his talent (not so much his tats!) and personality have me diggin' bluegrass....HIS, anyway! It took quite a bit of will (and a heavy gas pedal!) for you to get to YOUR Martin in time, Stephen! And, good on ya for dropping a fitting Peaches & Herb tune!🎶🎸🎤💿
I look forward, Andy, as I know FR&B readers do, too! And, again, public thanks for passing along that forum site link! Still stunned that puppy's still up!
Thanks, Paul! Great Bachman piece! Loved his work in Bachman-Turner Overweight! Sorry....not mine; I'm gonna blame CREEM Mag from back in the day! And, how astounding that entire forum back'n'forth is still up on that site!😲
Thanks so much, Andy! You're right...when I first laid it out, I'm going, "Well, I'm not really needed here! Do your thing, Billy!" Then I realized a little context coloring and narrative guidance was the order of the day!
As I mentioned in the article, "our newest Andy" is responsible for sending me the forum website link! When I first saw it, I wrote him back: "Holy crap! Is this the original site?" Yep. Astounding it's still up. Can't imagine, as Billy's star keeps ascending, it'll stay that way, but FR&B has taken a snapshot of it for posterity!
It can't be a secret that I'm not a usual fan of bluegrass, but when you know the story of a lad who loves his family, and through all what he's been through, has been raised to be such a caring, thoughtful, and (I'm gonna say it!) sweet kid, you can't help BUT love what he does musically! I wanna be like Billy when I grow up!🤗
Absolutely. I actually like bluegrass although I don’t know a lot about it. I love the harmonies and tight rhythm pattern normally associated with the genre. And in any case, I agree that it’s a beautiful story, regardless of music genres!
Brings a tear to the eye!
Finding this story (and that the dialogue with the guitar's owner was still online!) was so stunning to me, I had to share it! Plus, this was my first intro to Billy, and I had to write more about him (I trust you've seen the other one)! He's such an engaging personality, he makes bluegrass sound good to those (like me) who weren't otherwise attracted to it! You're reminding me to check up on Billy, and what his '24 looked like, and what he's planning for '25! Stay tuned, Thea!
What a treasure!!!
3100 views! Holy sheep dung strat-man!
Good...you're excited! That means my fear was unfounded...I'M all excited about that number, too, but am just cynical enough to figure that number's a slow 10-minute block on most other 'Stacks, and fellow writers are snickering! Pardon me while I book more therapist time!
Well (now, here's me getting a big head and all....just what we need, an insufferable Brad!), this one, after just 12 hours, is about half-way to THAT number...it's just about to kiss 1,650 at 6:30pm CT, Fri!
So, THIS is what Substack has been for others for all these many months: Large numbers and scads of activity! In fact, my Wednesday piece on David Pack is unusually frisky, as well, with 720, about twice a "normal" pre-Notes figure (cue fellow 'Stacker chuckles)! I know you've gotta be seeing bloated digits, too, and NOT from over-typing!🖐
The only thing bloated is my belly from all the caramel popcorn I’ve eaten today! No, unlike like you my numbers have not increased more than about five or 10 views since notes have entered the Substack Osphere. My average is around 175 views in total and about 61% of the 140 subscribers. I do know that percentage is actually a lot smaller, because I ask people about what they thought, and they said that they hadn’t looked at it yet. So I do believe that the numbers are quite inflated in terms of percentage of people who read the pieces. Of course, this isn’t true for you, but it is seeming to be true for me.
Thanks for sharing your numbers. You're still, relatively speaking, a bit of a "young" 'Stacker, but you so need to catch on, and I think Notes will help. Yours is not a flashy endeavor (to its credit), and you don't do "personal improvement" or food, two massive corners of the 'Stack-universe!
What's bizarre, Monday's wildly successful first Billy article coincided with the 'Stack drop of Notes (I believe on Tuesday). I almost would've wanted to see how Billy would've performed sans Notes. I will tell you both Billy articles have blown up large-time on Reddit (Michigan, bluegrass, country, and banjo subs), and FB (similar public and private groups). So, I think it would've scored anyway.....it just ballooned exponentially because of Notes!
I'll e-mail you some tips I think might help you maximize your Notes presence, and in turn, increase your subbie on-boarding! Mmmmmm.....caramel popcorn!🍿
I love this story . Where there’s a will there’s a way. ”Reunited and it feels so good”.
I know.....Billy's amazing! His heart, his talent (not so much his tats!) and personality have me diggin' bluegrass....HIS, anyway! It took quite a bit of will (and a heavy gas pedal!) for you to get to YOUR Martin in time, Stephen! And, good on ya for dropping a fitting Peaches & Herb tune!🎶🎸🎤💿
Right on! Great stuff Brad. My piece on the Billy show from 2018 is in progress and will be published this weekend! Cheers!
I look forward, Andy, as I know FR&B readers do, too! And, again, public thanks for passing along that forum site link! Still stunned that puppy's still up!
Excellent story, Brad! I like a happy ending. (Randy Bachman recently got a stolen guitar back, from a guy in Tokyo! - https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/randy-bachman-stolen-guitar-reunited-japan-canada-day-1.6508351)
Thanks, Paul! Great Bachman piece! Loved his work in Bachman-Turner Overweight! Sorry....not mine; I'm gonna blame CREEM Mag from back in the day! And, how astounding that entire forum back'n'forth is still up on that site!😲
This is a beautiful, heart-warming story. Very moving. Thanks for narrating it so well!
Thanks so much, Andy! You're right...when I first laid it out, I'm going, "Well, I'm not really needed here! Do your thing, Billy!" Then I realized a little context coloring and narrative guidance was the order of the day!
As I mentioned in the article, "our newest Andy" is responsible for sending me the forum website link! When I first saw it, I wrote him back: "Holy crap! Is this the original site?" Yep. Astounding it's still up. Can't imagine, as Billy's star keeps ascending, it'll stay that way, but FR&B has taken a snapshot of it for posterity!
It can't be a secret that I'm not a usual fan of bluegrass, but when you know the story of a lad who loves his family, and through all what he's been through, has been raised to be such a caring, thoughtful, and (I'm gonna say it!) sweet kid, you can't help BUT love what he does musically! I wanna be like Billy when I grow up!🤗
Absolutely. I actually like bluegrass although I don’t know a lot about it. I love the harmonies and tight rhythm pattern normally associated with the genre. And in any case, I agree that it’s a beautiful story, regardless of music genres!
Great post - great story. For those lit by music no spiritual feat is too difficult.
https://youtu.be/ia5FWZd253U
Thanks, KW, for the nice words, as well as the vid link to a fellow Texan, the late Guy Clark!🎸
Can't help it lol. A Californian who use to be a Texan - now a Nashvillian.
Dang, Kay-Dub! You've lived in all the greatest places! Color me envious!😁👍
High points and low points - just like everywhere!