Singer/songwriters Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr have created the new band Blue Sky Riders, and were profiled by Huff/Post50 in February, 2012. The band's debut album, Finally Home, will be released on January 29, 2013.
When I was 12 years old, my grandmother used to say to me, "You keep singing, Little Girl, and you're gonna make it. I want to live long enough to see you on that 'Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson. OK?" I wanted to make her happy so I'd say "Okay, Nana. Just promise you'll stick around and you'll see me on it one day." I loved her so much and wanted her to live forever so I would say it with all the conviction in the world.
She died when I was in college. Johnny Carson passed away too. I never did make it to 'The Tonight Show.'
But I kept singing and writing my music anyway, 'cause that's what I do. It took a long time before I made any money at it, but what else was I gonna do? Music was where my heart was. And they say, "Find what you're good at and do that. If you can figure out a way to fill a void in the market with that skill, you just might be able to make a living at it."
So I did just that. I moved to Nashville as soon as I graduated college. And with a combination of luck, skill and perseverance, I was making money as a performing singer/songwriter. It only took me sixteen years.
Now, it's seventeen years later and I'm 45 years old. Blue Sky Riders has been working on this new record for the last two years. We've put in blood, sweat and tears, using our own money to get this thing rolling. We've played amazing shows for sold-out crowds and shows where no one was listening and didn't even know we were on stage. I'm used to being humbled by those experiences, but watching Kenny Loggins and Gary Burr performing at those shows and not complaining just makes me that much more humbled. You are never too big to build the house of your dreams brick by brick.
So on January 29th, the results of our labor will now be available for all to hear in our debut record, Finally Home. In my wildest fantasies, it will take the whole world by storm and will make us enough money to be able to do "Blue Sky Riders" for a living and not just as a one-time passion project.
If it doesn't, it will still have been worth the gamble. We produced a great record that I am so proud of. Plus, my skills as a singer/songwriter have improved so much. How can you not get better when you're playing with the best? And Kenny and Gary are simply that... the best. I feel very lucky to have been part of this band.
Oh! I almost forgot! In a few days, we're going to be on national television. But instead of Johnny, it will be with a guy named Jay.
We're playing 'The Tonight Show' on January 24th.
I hope you're watching, Nana☺