Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 02:06:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Divers <daviddivers@ymail.com>
Subject: singer's story - 10

All the usual stuff about if you are not 18 or over this is not for
you...this chapter is mild but they usually have a lot of rip-roaring gay
sex and all that other stuff.  If that is what you are looking for skip
this chapter...come to think of it, skip this whole story because the sex
is sort of incidental ...

Chapter 10 -- Soaring Like a Rocket

Friday was a joyful day just from anticipating our opportunity to be on the
Opry.  We visited several recording studios to see their facilities.  One
of the best was originally located in an old barn but now had a modern
building and state of the art equipment.  All of the most famous early
country stars and gospel groups had recorded there.  The studio was fully
booked for months in advance but they recommended a new studio that had
just opened down the road from there.  It was owned by one of the newest
electronic corporations and everything was top drawer.  The Barn manager
called ahead for us and we went over and met the management.  It was
available and expensive but money was not a problem with our corporate set
up and the terms of our contracts.  Everything would be co-financed by the
Label.  The studio also had an arrangement with an apartment hotel located
right next door where we could stay during our sessions.  We had originally
planned to stay at our present hotel but decided that we would get a suite
of rooms there for the next week.  After dinner, we went back to our hotel
and sang and jammed until almost midnight.

Chris and I spent the entire night together.  Daddy and the family were
expected to arrive about noon on Saturday.  Then we would all drive out to
the Opry in the new coach.  Afterward they would drop us off and they would
go on home to the Hollow.  Since we had hired a driver, Daddy didn't have
to worry about the return trip.

Chris and I would move to the new place on Sunday and would begin work at
the studio on Monday morning.  I had to be back at the hollow on Thursday
night so that I could leave with the family to start a two week road tour
on that coming Friday.  We would be gone on a swing through the south and
then we would be home for a few days and then out to the west coast as
planned.

It had been two weeks since the family came off the road, so we would be
somewhat rusty on Family harmony and music.  For an important show like
this we had to be at our best and would practice our songs on the coach.
Chris would also be with us and he and I would also practice two songs ,
"Battleground" and another one we would decide on in the afternoon.

Saturday, the family picked us up at the hotel and after stopping for
lunch, we rolled into the main Opryland parking lot about four in the
afternoon.  We identified ourselves and after we were verified by the
security guards, we were admitted into the artist's bus compound where we
were hooked up to the utilities by some uniformed attendants.

Daddy had just taken delivery of our new custom coach.  I say "our" because
each of us in the corporate family were now equal partners in The Stone
Family Music Inc..  As partners we were each now almost $200,000 in debt
for the Coach.  It had cost almost $1,000,000 by the time it was delivered.
It was only days old and I had never seen it.

It was still our bright red metallic color just like the older Silver
Eagle, but this one was a big MCI Entertainer and had a black stylized
Stone Family logo down both sides and the back.  It was eight feet longer
than the old one which gave us more options for a family of our size.  The
standard factory design would have had all the amenities of the old leased
bus, plus six double-decker bunk spaces, three on each side of the center
aisle.  Daddy had it custom made with the aisle down the side behind the
driver.  Instead of the six double-decker bunks, he had them make five
wider and longer, double sized mini-cabins plus his and Mamma's bigger one.
The first mini was for the driver when he was aboard and each of us kids
had been allowed to have a say in decorating our own rooms—after all, we
were all paying for it.  The cabins were as sound proof as possible and we
each had lots of electronics for independent entertainment.  The extra
space where the sixth double bunk would have been was opened up to enlarge
the lounge and galley areas.  There wasn't a finer coach for a nomadic
family like ours anywhere.

Electronically it had a built in custom BOSE professional sound system so
we could practice our music with pre-recorded accompaniment tapes without
breaking out the instruments.  So, we rehearsed several songs for the Opry
show.  Then Chris and I got our acoustics out and practiced our own songs.
We decided that we would do "Ripples" for our second "if" number because it
was still at # 4 on the Gospel music charts and it had gone over so well
when we had done it together in Biloxi.

At 5:30, the family went backstage and the core group for the house band
was jamming so we asked them if they would let us run through our song.
They were the elite of Nashville session musicians.  Member artists always
used their own road bands when they appeared, but the house band was always
playing in the background to augment the sound.  Since we were guests, we
would use the house band.

We sang a verse and a chorus and they had it memorized and the whole thing
orchestrated before we knew what was happening.  Then the leader said, "Let
us kick it off like this"—and they did an intro twice as good as what we
could have done.  Although Daddy had written the song and we had been
playing it for several years, they gave it a country flavor we could never
match.  (In the future we did try to imitate it).  Then they had us run
through a second song just in case we were asked to stay over for an
encore.  Daddy had picked, "I Surrender", that I sang lead on because it
was still climbing the charts at # 18.

As an aside, my Daddy and I were very close—we still are.  Because of my
"ballsy", outgoing personality and talent, he groomed me to eventually take
over and be the onstage front "man" of the Family group.  He could have
sung the lead parts just as well as I could.  But he chose not to.

Over the years I gave him plenty of reason to regret his decision and
demote me back into the "pack".  Despite my independent nature, I was very
easy to control -- all he had to do to discipline me was to sing the lead
parts himself and only allow me sing harmony for a show or two.  It made
little difference in the family sound, but it was embarrassing for me in
front of the family.  I would have been happier if he had just beaten me
with a stick!

From my story, you might have thought that sex was the only reason that I
wanted to get away for awhile and sing with Chris.  That was one reason,
but it wasn't the primary motivation.  Although I couldn't explain it at
that point in my life, I have come to realize that there was a lot more to
it than just sex.

At heart my Daddy was an Evangelist preacher who also could sing, not a
singer who could also preach.  When we sang harmony together, it was like
singing with a saint.  I don't want anyone to think that I wasn't a
committed Christian, but I knew that I had feet of clay.  I could never
measure up to the standards my Daddy set.  He actually lived the life you
saw on stage or from the pulpit.  I on the other hand was young, talented,
handsome and gay(ish).  The gay part did not define who I was, but in my
"heart of hearts" I could not deny it was a part of me.  Therefore, the
harmony I had with Chris sort of fulfilled that gay part by allowing me to
"come out" emotionally that I could not really do by singing with my
family.

After the family rehearsal, it was Chris and my turn.  I showed the band
the chord pattern of "Battlefield" and "Ripples".  We went over it with
them.  Again they dressed up the intro with steel guitar and lead.  Chris
asked about their session schedules and we asked them to pencil us in for
our sessions when they were available in the next week.  We would be laying
down individual tracks and it didn't really matter when they would do
theirs as long as it was within the week.

After we got set up, we all had butterflies so bad that nobody wanted to
eat before an important appearance like this.  The family, Chris and I
stood around back stage with the mixture of "civilians" and performers.  I
was so young and stood out in contrast to the rest of the group and nobody
seemed to know what to make of me.  Daddy and the rest of the family were
all dressed alike in tan outfits.  I had on white because Chris and I were
wearing going to wear matching western-cut suits but in white and
black—the opposite of our complexions.

Daddy was known to some of the civilians from his Evangelism and revival
days and Chris was an established star in Gospel.  Many of them probably
had seen him on one award show or another but they couldn't quite place
him.  Some came up and talked to him but I just stood there and focused on
the music that was being played.

Just prior to the show, the "Country Music Queen" who hosted that first
segment came over to us and wanted some recent background information.  She
had been an established star for more than twenty years and had relocated
to Nashville years ago but she was a good ole country girl at heart.  We
knew that she originally came from middle Tennessee near where Daddy's home
church used to be.  She knew exactly where the hollow was, so it was like
old home week.  So, she promised to do her best for us.

She kicked off her segment with a medley of her hits and then sang her
latest recording.  As she finished up, she motioned us on stage and
announced, "I am proud to present some folks that had just rode into town
on a turnip truck from my home town in middle Tennessee.  Let's give a big
Opry welcome to Gospel music greats, "The Stone Family"...

The mikes were already set up for us and we hit our marks just the band
kicked off our song, "Troubled Times".  Daddy and Momma sang the lead and
we young'uns sang backup.  When we finished the applause and cheering was
tremendous.  There were people with their hands in the air, just like an
old time revival.  The cheering continued until the hostess waved them off
and said, "I would like to ask them to do an encore of that song, but their
son Billy Ray and the Family have a song on the charts that I want y'all to
hear"!

...With that, the band kicked off the intro to "I Surrender".  I sang it
like I had been on the Opry all my life—I guess all those years of
playing churches and one night stands showed.  Daddy and the family joined
me on the choruses.  Afterward, from the main floor to the balcony, people
stood applauding and cheering...so the band kicked back in for an encore
chorus.  As the chorus song came to a close, I said, "I hope y'all remember
these feelings when you get to church tomorrow morning...Thank you and good
night".

The place came apart with cheers and applause.  After it died down the Star
announced that Billy Ray was going to appear on the next segment with his
friend Chris Baker and the applause started up again.

As we came off stage, the crowd then knew what to make of us.  They all
wanted to talk and congratulate us.  We couldn't have bought the kind of
exposure we received from that first live radio appearance on the Opry for
any amount of money.  Chris was also waiting to congratulate us and he and
I wandered around backstage for awhile.

There were many open dressing room doors that were overflowing with people.
The stars basically hold open house on Opry nights.  As we passed, several
people invited us in the meet the various stars.  They were all very
gracious and said how great the family was, etc. etc..  After 2 years on
the road and 8 years of straight evangelism, The Stone Family was an
overnight sensation!

I reveled in the attention but I was anxious to get with Chris and just
talk.  I finally told Daddy that we were going to relax on the bus while we
waited for the next segment.  When we entered, the driver left to go talk
to the other drivers.  We lounged around and Chris quietly said, "From here
on out you will be the star that I predicted you would be last year in
Baton Rouge.  Nothing can stop you now except your own self Billy Ray.  You
are a real professional and I just hope you are ready for it.  I would hope
that I can be a part of it, but no matter what, we have to keep our
relationship in prospective.  We can have great times together but we have
to live two separate lives.  It can never be more that that".

Sadly I acknowledged what he said, "That will be the worst part of it all,
being famous but so alone..."

Chris said, "With your talent and looks you will have a million
opportunities not to be alone.  In the future will welcome every second
that you can just get away by yourself.  You remember how it was on that
coliseum floor in Biloxi.  That was just a taste of what your life is going
to become if you let it".

When we went inside Billy Holder was just leaving his dressing room with
his entourage.  He motioned us over and he grabbed and hugged us around the
neck like long lost brothers.  He waved away his friends and we talked
about our background.  He had read our interview questions and said he was
going to use the name "the Pied Pipers of Biloxi".  As show time approached
he gave us more encouragement and then went on and did his first two
numbers.  Then he announced, " I was on the Record Shop show last Thursday
night and heard these next two old boys do a song you just gotta hear.  It
has not even been recorded yet but I just had to invite them on as my
special guests.  Young as they are they have both had Gospel hits, but I
have a feeling this song is going to become a Country favorite as well.
Let's give a big Opry welcome to Chris Baker and Billy Ray Stone, The Pied
Pipers of Biloxi".

Our intro began playing and we came on to roaring applause...We sang the
roof off the place...Billy had us repeat the whole song instead of just
doing an encore.  Unfortunately there was not enough time left in the
segment for us to do "Ripples".  As the segment ended for a commercial,
Billy walked us off stage and told us to keep n touch because he wanted us
back on his part of the show anytime we were in the area.

Backstage was a mess.  We were mobbed by well wishers and family.  My Daddy
and Momma were gushing with pride--my two brothers less so.  Although they
slapped me on the back and gave lip service to Chris and I about, "way to
go and other teen praises", I could sense an undercurrent of mockery.

Despite their shyness both were good singers in their own right and they
could have easily been in my place.  Maybe they still would be in the
future.  Whether they did or not, we would all share equally in the
families' future. -- even if it was only in the background.

Financially they were equal partners in the family business.  But as young
teens they were not concerned about the money.  One was a fourteen, a year
younger than me, and the other was thirteen.  It may have been simply
sibling rivalry, but as close as we had been raised, our relationship was
never the same after that night.  It may have been my imagination, but at
that point, they started to resent my personal recognition.

As we walked backstage, Billy brought a man over and introduced him as his
personal manager.  As Billy turned to go back on stage the man took us into
Billy's dressing room and sat us down.  He said, "I know you boys are
excited and tired, but I have to say that both of you have a great future
in the business.  Either one of you can be a star in country music or any
other field of music you choose.  You can be a single, duo or a group, but
there's no doubt in my mind that with proper management I could have you
filling up stadiums instead of playing the package shows.  Billy Holder
hasn't had a real hit record in ten years but I still get him $50,000 a
show and he can only fill up a theater.  With you I figure within two
years, I could get $300,000 for you in a Stadium".

He went on, "Country music is filled with "Hats".  There are only a few
real stars.  Most of them are nothing but New York's corporate idea of
"Country"!  They takk handsome boys and beautiful girls and dressed them in
tight jeans and put a hat on them.  They invent a persona like professional
wrestlers.  They groom them just like the Boy bands.  They have marginal
talent but they look good in a cowboy hat.  It doesn't hurt to have a big
bulge in their jeans or tits either.  They could be from New York City but
they teach them how to talk with a country twang and give them a fake
history and hometown and call them country I believe you boys are like Coca
cola--the real thing"!

We talked some more but we were both non committal.  We took his business
card and private phone number and told him we would think about what he
said.  He assured us that this was a personal management thing and would in
no way intrude upon our present recording or Management contracts...

Sex is coming in the next chapter...