Segment 1 - Welcome to the Big Time
Charlie: Hi everybody, Im Charlie Chase. Renowned entertainment
writer Robert K. Oermann had this to say about Brad Martin and his new single, "Before I Knew Better": "This song has it all a chiming, ringing production, a beating
heart of a tenor performance, a melody that grabs you by the throat, and a lyric that's smart and true. A star is born!"
Last chorus of Before I Knew Better plays
Charlie: "A star is born." I especially like that last part. Hello
Brad Martin!
Brad: Hey there!
Charlie: Does that make you feel uncomfortable to have people saying
things like that about you?
Brad: It's very flattering, you know. I mean, 'cuz you work
so long and hard to get to this point, and then finally you get your first review - and that was my first review.
Charlie: That was the first one.
Brad: Yeah, and that's just special. It just makes you feel
special, I guess.
Charlie: Well, I'm sure as a result of all the overnight success
that's occurring here - in a sense - that some things have changed. On the way here, a limo, I'm sure?
Brad: Uh, no. (laughs)
It was black, but it was a black S-10 truck...with a dent in the fender!
Charlie: Well, some things aren't going to change overnight.
Brad: No, not overnight.
Charlie: One good thing about this particular album that says a
lot about you and the potential you have...you wrote the majority of the songs, right?
Brad: Yeah, I was very fortunate to write eight of the ten sides
on the album.
Charlie: Tell me about "Before I Knew Better." This is the one
that's really introduced you to everybody.
Brad: Yeah. This was a song that - I walked into Billy
Joe Walker, Jr.'s office one day, and we were scrambling, trying to find some outside songs - some songs that I didn't
write. Because we set the bar with my songs, but we're always looking for the best songs that fit the project. I heard this
song, actually, through Billy's door. And, I kinda opened the door, poked my head through there and said, "Hey, what is that?"
He said, "Come in here and listen to this." Instantly, we both knew this was something we had to - [it] had to be a part
of the album. Instantly, we felt [it was a] single - great introduction. Lyrically, the song's about life lessons, making
mistakes. I know in my past and a lot of the majority of country listeners and their past that somebody - you have something
you have to answer to later down the road. And, that's what this song is basically about, and hopefully mending those bridges
and getting the girl in the end.
Charlie: Folks, here's a song about you; listen carefully -
the one that got it all started...Brad Martin and "Before I Knew Better."
"Before I Knew Better" plays
Charlie: There's Brad Martin and "Before I Knew Better" from his
new Epic CD Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel. Before we go to break, Brad, which one
are you most guilty of?
Brad: Lyrically, in the song, I would have to say "D -
all of the above." (Charlie laughs) I would say I've done just about everything
in that song.
Charlie: But, you've learned!
Brad: Yes, I have learned and [I'm] still learning!
Charlie: We'll find out what
all he's learned, then, in just a moment. I'm Charlie Chase, and we'll return with Brad Martin and find out what living a
dream is all about.
Last line of "On the Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel" plays
Segment 2 - Living a Dream, Keeping the Faith
Charlie: Welcome back to the premiere of Brad Martin's new CD,
Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel, in stores on June 18th. I'm Charlie Chase.
And, Brad, the recording of your new CD, the interviews, the concerts - all the other success and attention really didn't
happen all that quickly for you, did it?
Brad: No, it didn't. It took a lot of years to get to this point -
a lot of crafting and a lot of songwriting, just making sure everything was right, so it could all happen.
Charlie: What do you think was the most difficult part that you
faced getting where you are today? And the reason I ask is so many aspiring singers and songwriters out there, who try to
parallel themselves with some artists like yourself, who are now making it.
Brad: Right. It's staying focused and maintaining what it is
your objective is here. You know, when I moved to Nashville, paying my rent was my first goal. Just
getting here and being able to stay here. But, I would say keeping the faith in yourself; you've got to believe in yourself.
I've always said that if I don't believe in me, who can I expect to?
Charlie: You're obviously having to do something else in order
to fund things - pay the rent, buy food, and all that sort of thing. How difficult is it, though, to keep the focus on
your music when you're forced to do something else?
Brad: I can remember time and time again when I first moved
to Nashville, I was doing odds and end jobs. I actually
went to work for a company, Audio/Video Environments, and we were wiring houses. And, I remember saying, "Ok, this right here
is just to get me by, because if I'm gonna work that kind of job, I can go back home and do that. I'm gonna do that just to
keep me here and still stay focused on the songwriting; [I] wrote every chance I could get."
Charlie: Thats great! Tell me about the title track. You wrote
it with Rick Williamson, obviously another fan of traditional country music. I'm curious - is keeping the tradition in
country music important to you?
Brad: It's very important. The word "tradition" to me is everything
from the lyric down to the melody to the way it comes across to the listener. "On the Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel" is a song
I wrote about four years ago, believe it or not; it was an early song in my songwriting career. I remember we actually spent
about 18 hours writing this song. We literally stayed up; we got on this thing, and we [were] not gonna let down 'til we finished
it! (Charlie laughs) I mean, we just had to finish it because it felt so good,
and it's one of my personal favorites on the album.
"On the Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel" plays
Charlie: "On the Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel" - thats Brad
Martin! And, you know, every good country album needs at least one good drinkin' song. Well, Brad, you've got two! (laughs) Tell us about this first one, "Damn the Whiskey." I wanna know, what were you, Ann Wilson, and Monty
Powell doing when you wrote this song.
Brad: This was our first endeavor together to write a song.
I mean, as far as a collaboration. We were actually out at Monty's and Ann's house, and we were just searching for an idea -
what would be a really cool idea. And you know, a lot of times you see a lot of this going on - and I'm guilty of it
myself - is you work all week, and then the weekend comes. You basically have such a good time, you end up blowing all
the money - your paycheck - the money you just made that week.
Charlie: Oh yeah!
Brad: And of course, you go, "Dag-gone-it, man, I did it again!"
Then, you go right back out there, work the week, and then you repeat it the next weekend.
Charlie: Well, let's go ahead and "Damn the Whiskey," shall we?
Brad: There we go!
"Damn the Whiskey" plays
Charlie: "Damn the Whiskey," new music from Brad Martin! Youll
find that song, along with other great music on his CD, Wings of a Honky Tonk Angel,
and that's in stores June 18th. I'm Charlie Chase, and now when we returnby the way, Brad, did you know you had
a fan club?!
Brad: No, I didn't, actually.
Charlie: Oh! Glad to share that news with you; you do! The Brad
Martin Fan Club will come to order in just a moment.
End tag of "Before I Knew Better" plays
