Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Sep 22, 2024
In the early 90s, I played an integral role in bringing businessman and author Harvey Mackay to Vancouver for a speaking engagement. By then, his book, Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, had made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers list.
His advice to “Do what you love, love what you do, and deliver more than you promise” has always stuck with me. It’s also a quote that can be associated with a singer/songwriter who was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1999.
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Born on May 12, 1942 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this Hall of Famer took a strong interest in music, learning to play the drums, guitar, and piano at a very young age. He also began writing songs.
He grew up listening to country stars like Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Webb Pierce but was soon bitten by the Rock & Roll bug thanks to Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley.
In 1962, he got his first big break when one of the songs that he had written, while a member of a local band, was introduced to Clyde McPhatter by bandleader/musician Bill Black. McPhatter’s version of “Lover Please” went to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The up-and-coming singer/songwriter eventually found his way to Nashville where he wrote for numerous artists including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. He also took a shot at record producing where he found success in producing Tony Joe White’s 1969 Top 10 hit, “Polk Salad Annie.”
In addition to signing a solo recording deal with Monument Records, he played bass guitar in Kris Kristofferson’s band, touring with them from 1971-1987.
Around 1973, Kristofferson and his then-wife, Rita Coolidge, gave the singer/songwriter an RMI organ as a wedding gift. It was on that organ that Billy Swan wrote a song that would go to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the country charts, and in Canada in 1974.
It was at Young’un Sound in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where the final recording took place. However, the song was done on a portable Farfisa organ supplied by legendary Memphis session musician Bobby Emmons. Swan recalls, “The lyrics were written in under twenty minutes. It was recorded in two takes (without overdubs), and co-produced/engineered by the owner of the recording studio, Chip Young.”
The tune inspired dozens of cover versions, none more important to Swan than those by two of his boyhood heroes, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Swan continues to do what he loves and to love what he does, confident in knowing “I Can Help.”
YouTube listing of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdZZeU8Vf3E
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
