Country Music Broke My Brain (42 page)

A
LTHOUGH
G
ERRY
would gladly discuss his awards with you in person, it should be noted that he has won virtually every broadcast award possible. The Country Music Association awarded him Personality of the Year four times. The Academy of Country Music handed him seven awards.
Billboard
magazine,
Radio & Records
, and Leadership Nashville also gave him their highest honors.

The National Association of Broadcasters gave Gerry its prestigious Marconi Award for radio excellence and recently inducted him into the Radio Hall of Fame alongside Bob Hope, Larry King, and Ronald Reagan. Gerry reflects, “How this happened remains a mystery. There is a forty-minute PowerPoint presentation available if you would like to see it.” He is the only country music DJ to be inducted into the NAB Hall of Fame.

Gerry House, like the true multiple personality that he is, also lives in the music world as a songwriter. Performing-rights organization BMI has honored him with awards for No. 1 hit songs. He's had more than forty songs recorded by artists including Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Clint Black, Trace Adkins, and many others. His hits, such as “Little Rock,” “On The Side of Angels,” “The Big One,” and “The River and the Highway,” have sold millions of records.

Gerry is first and foremost a writer. It wasn't enough that he wrote his own daily radio material for over twenty years. He also loves putting words into other people's mouths. He's written stand-up jokes and TV scripts for years. The
ACM Awards
, the
CMA Awards
, the
CMT Awards
, and now
American Idol
have all had big stars delivering Gerry's lines.

Along with his wife, Allyson, Gerry has spent most of his career in Nashville. However, he's been heard all over the world. Four years on XM Radio and contributing to the BBC mean he's been “on the air” everywhere. In fact, Gerry notes that “I've been heard more on radio in America than on any other household appliance.”

Gerry is a piano player, a guitar player, and a golfer. You are not in danger of being hit when he's at the piano or holding a guitar. He's a world traveler and writes either a joke or a song every day. Gerry and Allyson live in Nashville near their daughter, Autumn, son-in-law Shane, and twin granddaughters Holland and Willa. You can also find them at their other home in north Florida.

Index

A

Academy of Country Music, xv, 52, 54, 317

Acuff, Roy, 139–141

Adkins, Trace, 182, 318

Alabama (musical group), 158, 284–285

Alabama (
see also
various cities), 28, 79, 186, 252

Aldean, Jason, 34, 59, 187, 254

Allman Brothers Band, 73, 74

American Idol,
59, 84, 149, 163, 318

Andalusia, AL, 79

Anderson, Bill, 81, 82, 84, 202

Anderson, Lewis, 160

Anderson, Pamela, 215

Anderson, Steve: the kindest friend to never give anybody strokes, 458

Armstrong, Geoff: the man you want with you in a bar in Istanbul, 369

Asleep At The Wheel, 172

Astaire, Fred, 262

Atkins, Chet, 179, 313

Atlanta, 114

Autry, Gene, 275

B

Bacharach, Burt, 312

Bahamas, 136, 160

Baker, Ray, 260

Band Perry, The, 122

Bangladesh, 133

Banklick Christian Church, 4, 125

Barkley, Charles, 200

Barr, Roseanne, 34, 53, 121

Barraclough, Nick, 263

Baywatch,
215

BBC, 8–9, 263, 318

Beach Boys, 172

Beatles, 189–190, 288–289, 308

Beckett, Barry, 72

Beckham, Bob, 190–191, 213–214

Beethoven, 206

Bellamy Brothers, 61

Belle Meade, 68

Bennett, Tony, 270

Bentley, Dierks, 254

Berlin, Irving, 156, 210

Beverly Hillbillies, The,
270

Beyoncé, 306

Big & Rich, 57–60

“Big” Kenny Alphin, 59

Birdie, 13

Black, Clint, 157–158, 172, 318

Black, Lisa Hartman, 157

Blackstock, Narvel, xv, 53–55, 210–211

Bluebird Café, The, 32, 79, 262

BMI Awards, 149, 298, 301, 318

Bob Newhart Show, The,
77

Bobby, Preacher, 171

Bohan, Mike, aka Porkchop Peevis, aka Hambone Hawkins, aka greatest radio sidekick in history, 511

Bonamy, James, 99

Bongarten, Randy, 314

Boone, Debbie, 270

Boone, Pat, 270

Borchetta, Scott, 298–299

Bornheim, Michael, 72

Bowie, David, 42

Boxcar Willie, 59

Boxing, 12, 80, 119

Boy Scouts of America, 95–96

Bradshaw, Terry, 216, 217–218

Brandon, 138

Brandy, 135

Brantley, Nathan: Scissors Wizard, 732

Breeden, Frank, 315

Brinkley, Charlie: bank on Mr. Vol, 347

Broadway (
see also
New York City), 93, 144, 145, 205–211, 266

Brooks, Garth, 26, 37–42, 89, 152, 206, 214

Brooks & Dunn, 136, 203

Brosnan, Pierce, 147

Brother Carver, 126

Brown, James, 168

Brown, Jim Ed, 83, 84

Brown, Tony, 158

Bryan, Luke, 86, 89

Buffalo, NY, 89

Buffett, Jimmy, 170–173, 292

Buffett, Warren, 86

Burr, Gary, 157

Bush, George H.W., 55, 95

Bush, George W., 55, 260

C

Cagle, Chris, 290, 291–293

California, 208, 314

Calvin, 198–199

Campbell, Glen, 109, 121

Campbell, Wayne, World's Largest Leprechaun, fab friend, 671

Canada, 138, 305

Cannon, Henry, 71

Capitol Nashville Records, 40, 87

Capricorn Records, 73, 74

Carey, John: she forgot to teach me how to read today, 649

Carey, Sue Toney Russell: World's Greatest Aunt, 555

Carl, 263

Carlton, Larry, 220

Carole Jean, 244

Carpenter, Mary Chapin, 16, 180, 214

Carter, Billy, 177

Carter, Jimmy, 74, 106, 177

Cash, Johnny, 34, 35–36, 103, 144, 172, 192, 223

Cash, June Carter, 223

Cash, Rosanne, 36, 221

Cavaliere, Felix, 220

CBGB's, 189

Chancey, Blake, 214–215

Chancey, Ron, 151, 214

Chapman, Will: Myrtle, 743

Charlie Daniels Band, 74

Chesney, Kenny, 75, 270, 306

Chicago, 296

Childhood, 14, 238, 274

Chimp, 33

China, 258–260

Chubby Checker, 9

Church, Eric, 89, 253–254

Churchill, Winston, 104

Cincinnati, 8, 13, 14, 126, 176, 246, 249

Cincinnati Reds, 1, 12

Clark, Guy, 156

Cleveland, 53

Cline, Patsy, 9, 71, 152, 252

Clinton, Bill, 106

Clooney, George, 163

CNN, 176, 188, 308

Cocaine, 143, 193

Cohen, Andy, 118

Collie, Mark, 170–173

Colorado, 207

Colter, Jessi, 192

Combine Music Publishing, 58, 149

Conley, Earl Thomas, 285

Cooley, Al, 149

Country Music Association,
CMA Awards,
84, 203, 263, 304–306, 318

Country Music Hall of Fame, 45, 103, 106–107, 179

Country Radio Seminar, 106, 291

Covington, KY, 5

Cowboy Coco and Bullet, 117

Crickets, 190

Crow, Sheryl, 221

Crowell, Rodney, 207

Crutchfield, Jerry, 110, 218

Cullen, Sue and John, 314

D

Dallas, 113

Dallas
(TV show), 271

Dave and Sugar, 256

David, Hal, 311–312

Davis, Linda, 83

Davis, Paul, 200

Dean, Billy, 92–83

DeMarcus, Allison, 296

Denmark, 305

Diamond, Neil, 126, 219, 223–224

Diamond Rio, 284

Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars,
104

Dickens, Little Jimmy, 280

Diffie, Joe, 100, 180

Dion, Celine, 243

Dion and the Belmonts, 9

DiPiero, Bob, 56, 158, 280, 281

Dixie Chicks, 54–55, 214

Dixon, Paul, 14

Dothan, AL, 28, 252

Duffy, Patrick, 271

Dukes of Hazzard,
192, 208–209

Dung, Twang, 312

Dungan, Mike, 87

Dunn, Ronnie, 187, 203, 218, 222

E

Eastern Kentucky University, 103

Ebsen, Buddy, 227–237

Edison, Thomas, 266

Egypt (incl. Cairo), 249–251

Elevator, Otis, 58

Emery, Ralph, 70

England (incl. London), 167, 168, 181, 221, 249, 255, 263–264

Europe, 24, 59, 103, 120, 184, 229, 255, 264

Evans, Bud: the “Commish,” 931

Everly Brothers, 4, 9, 61, 295

Exit-In, 32

F

Fairchild, Barbara, 164–165

Falklen, Richard: the “go to” guy, 112

Fallon, Tiffany, 296

Falmouth, KY, 101, 246

Fan Fair (now CMA Music Fest),
168, 251

Faulkner, William, II: Cincinnati's best nurse, 811

Fender, Freddy, 260–261

Flatt & Scruggs, 114

Florida, 72, 79, 271, 283, 318

Fox Network, 58, 217

Frampton, Peter, 220

France (incl. Paris), 245–246, 249, 254–255

Franchitti, Dario, 122

Frog, 13

Ft. Payne, AL, 252, 284

Furgie, 198

G

Gardner, Ava, 175

Gatlin, Larry, 58–59, 208

Gatlin Brothers, 58

Gibb Brothers, 295, 296

Gill, Vince, 40, 158, 199–200, 203, 311

Gilley, Mickey, 166

Godfrey, Arthur, 139–140

Godzilla, Inez, 290

Goldsboro, Bobby, 169

Golf

      
Bobby Goldsboro and, 169

      
Brad Paisley and, 199

      
Charles Barkley and, 200

      
Charlie Pride and, 179–180

      
Clint Black and, 157

      
Darius Rucker and, 87–88

      
Engelbert Humperdinck and, 280–281

      
Gerry House and, 318

      
Jon Don Rooney and, 296

      
Randy Bongarten and, 314

      
Ray Stevens and, 130

      
Tom Shapiro and, 309

      
Vince Gill and, 199–200

      
Waylon Jennings and, 190–192

Gore, Al, Jr., 257

Gore, Al, Sr., 257

Graceland, 103

Graham, Billy, 129

Grammy Awards, 84

Grand Canyon, 51–56

Grand Ole Opry
(
see also
Opryland), 43, 82, 144–145, 162–163, 179, 206, 221, 255

Grandpa Jones, 227

Gratowski, Big Mike, 229

Gratowski, Linda, 229, 237

Great Pyramids, 251

Greenwood, Lee, 168

H

Haggard, Merle, 30, 194, 250

Hamilton, George, 72, 271

Hanover, 261

Harris, Emmylou, 243

Harry, 44

Hatcher, Lib, 120–121

Hawaii, 121

Hawkins, Hawkshaw, 71

Hayes, Hunter, 16, 89

Hazard, KY, 114

Helmsley, Leona, 313

Henley, Larry, 206

Herman, Pee Wee, 219

Heston, Charlton, 276–277

Hicks, Donna, 852

Hicks, Steve, 172, 314

Hill, Faith, 89, 207

Hinn, Benny, 129

Hinton, Bruce, 41

Holland, 315, 318

Holly, Buddy, 190

Hollywood (
see also
Showbiz), 65, 172, 263, 271, 272

Holmes, Monty, 99

Holyfield, Wayland, 119, 154

Hope, Bob, 272–274, 318

House, Allyson

      
author's craniotomies and, 309–312

      
Broadway and, 210

      
concerts with, 53, 64–65

      
ditziness of, 77–78

      
Dr. Ladd and, 269

      
house of, 282–283

      
logic of, 83–84

      
Mafia seat and, 97

      
marriage of, 286–288

      
Masonic Lodge reading, 93

      
premiere of
Coal Miner's Daughter
and, 68–69

      
Sake's Fur, 142

      
travel, 180, 205, 250–262

House, Autumn

      
Bob DiPiero and, 280

      
Broadway and, 205

      
Nashville and, 318

      
Phil Walden and, 73–74

      
Sake and, 142

      
travel, 205, 253–263

House, Emma, 245

House, Homer, 1, 3, 283

House, Lucille, 1

House, Will, 245

Houston, 124

Humperdinck, Engelbert, 278, 280–281

Hungary, 18

Hunnicutt, Clay, 315

I

Imperials, 105, 164

Ims, John, 151

Indiana, 40, 306

Indianapolis Speedway, 306

Ireland, 305

Italy (incl. Rome), 42, 129, 180–181, 249–264

Ithaca, NY, 287

Ives, Burl, 181

J

Jackson, Alan, 89, 92, 140, 160, 220, 255

Jacksonville, FL, 49, 271

Japan (incl. Tokyo, others), 7, 249, 251–252, 304

Jay-Z, 306

Jennings, Waylon, 189–194, 208

Jersey Shore,
119

Johnson, Jamey, 166–167

Jolie, Angelina, 74

Jones, George, 30, 142–146, 167

Jones, Nancy, 146