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Article on Drummer Al
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| Posted: Feb 6 2006, 1:24 PM |
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trimmansmom
**Fan Club Member**
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Joined: 11/22/2004
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On the road again
Musician's life story full of travel, family
By JULIE SCHOERKE
For The Journal of Spring Hill and Thompson's Station
Published: Wednesday, 02/01/06
SPRING HILL — Professional drummer Al Wilson knows how to hustle.
During his music career over the last decade he's managed to land 300 gigs a year, living wherever he needed to.
In California and Colorado, he would play jazz for a lunch crowd, country in the early evening and make a funk gig at night, changing clothes between shows as he drove. Even now he may be in the studio at 9 a.m. for a demo session and performing live on stage at 11 that night.
His biggest challenge came when he spent a year traveling with a salsa/Latin jazz band. The leader of the band would communicate by hitting a cowbell and yelling in Spanish.
During the leaner times in his career, he would take on music students. His advice for middle-schoolers who dreamed of being in a band was always "You really have to love what you do. Play for the love of playing and be cool with people. Check your ego at the door."
His move to Tennessee a year and a half ago has helped him take his career to a new level.
"It's so inspiring to get to play with the musicians I get to play with now," he says.
He got his break with America Idol's Josh Gracin when the band needed a drummer right away. He learned Gracin's current album in one day, then went to the audition and started rehearsing with Gracin the next. Then they hit the road.
When the band is on the road, Wilson wakes pretty much each day in a new town where he rides his mountain bike looking for antique shops or playing basketball with the rest of the band at the local YMCA. The band has a sound check and dinner, goes on stage and then heads back to the bus for the next stop.
His relatively quick success in this area where there are so many performers with so much talent is due not only to his abilities as a musician, but also in his philosophy toward the music and his job.
"I take pride in being an extension of the songwriter. And, I genuinely really like meeting people, and I like keeping my calendar full," Wilson says.
Nashville songwriter Matt Ramsey first met Wilson when he was playing at a writers' night. "He moved here with a clear objective. He is the model. He went full force into the industry," Ramsey says. "But he's also a great dad and a great person."
Today, with his career firmly on track, he cherishes the time he gets to spend with his family. He met his wife years ago when they both lived in North Carolina. Jennie Wilson is still as smitten today as the day she met him.
"He has a kind of drive. From the first time I met him I knew in my heart that he was going to be successful. He has shown everyone that you can live your dream," she says.
"She has been supportive of me since day one," Wilson says of his wife's support in balancing this hectic lifestyle in which his cell phone sometimes rings 20 times an hour, mostly with offers for new gigs. •
Published: Wednesday, 02/01/06
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...02010327/1184/C
Nice pic with the article!
Rachel
1babe615
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~Ellie~
~~1babe615's mom~~
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/1babe6...harlotte001.jpg
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| Posted: Feb 6 2006, 1:44 PM |
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wicowgirl
Becky K.
**Fan Club Member**
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Joined: 11/19/2004
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Awww.. awesome Rachel! Great find! What a great article! We love ya Al!!!! Get better soon!!
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Oct '04 Mundeline, IL
Jan '05 Bowler, WI
Mar '05 Milwaukee, WI
Mar '05 Madison, WI
May '05 Chicago, IL
Jul '05 Twin Lakes, WI
Dec '05 Mundeline, IL
Jan '06 LaCrosee, WI
Apr '06 Milwaukee, WI
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| Posted: Feb 6 2006, 2:12 PM |
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FanfromWI
Linda
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Joined: 01/23/2005
Posts: 1753
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That's so cool. Thanks for sharing.
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She's a big ole flirt (yep that's me)! Turn it up (Let's all scream)!
Josh Shows
1-05 Bowler, WI
3-05 Madison, WI
7-06 Chippewa Falls, WI
1-06 La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Feb 6 2006, 3:51 PM |
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Jadesmom
**Fan Club Member**
Group: Message Boarder
Joined: 11/19/2004
Posts: 335
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FABULOUS ARTICLE!! AWESOME PICTURE!!
Miss ya already Al ~ wishing you a Full and speedy recovery!!
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~Tobi
Mother of one of Josh & Crew's biggest fans
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| Posted: Feb 6 2006, 4:03 PM |
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Ralph
Group: Message Boarder
Joined: 08/26/2004
Posts: 344
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awesome article
thanks for sharing :D
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The List (In no particular order)
Garth Brooks
Josh Gracin
*New* Ty Herndon *New*
Gary Levox
My Website --->>>>>
http://www.friendster.com/profiles/garthbrooks
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| Posted: Feb 7 2006, 10:25 AM |
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dolphinmirage1973
Becky Nowak~Mod
**Fan Club Member**
Group: Moderator
Joined: 06/23/2004
Posts: 372
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That is so cool, thanks for sharing Rachel!! Now I hope Al gets better soon!! I really missed seeing him this past weekend!
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Becky Nowak
site mod & fan since day 1
Concerts:
5/05~Oceanside,Ca
6/05~Phoenix,Az
7/05~Fremont,Mi
8/05~Monroe,Mi
9/05~New Mexico
9/05~Tempe,Az
2/06~Tempe,AZ
2/06~Flagstaff,Az
2/06~Yuma
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| Posted: Feb 7 2006, 10:27 AM |
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FanfromWI
Linda
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Group: Message Boarder
Joined: 01/23/2005
Posts: 1753
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QUOTE: (dolphinmirage1973 @ Feb 7 2006, 10:25 AM)
That is so cool, thanks for sharing Rachel!! Now I hope Al gets better soon!! I really missed seeing him this past weekend! I hope he gets better soon too.
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She's a big ole flirt (yep that's me)! Turn it up (Let's all scream)!
Josh Shows
1-05 Bowler, WI
3-05 Madison, WI
7-06 Chippewa Falls, WI
1-06 La Crosse, WI
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| Posted: Feb 11 2006, 11:13 PM |
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ilovejoshg
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Joined: 12/12/2022
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| Posted: Feb 12 2006, 6:48 AM |
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1babe615
FL luvs Josh
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