Will Dudley: Home

Moving into the summer season of singing at the different guest ranches, Colorado has shown her glorious summer colors. It's been raining for the last number of evenings, fast moving storms that spread the greater portion of their moisture out over the eastern plains. There aren't enough superlatives to describe the panoramic views that make southern Colorado such a special place. The deer and the elk aren't as numerous this year as I've seen in the past, but the summer is still young. I look forward to it.

Waking up to warm weather and mowing the lawn, I can't keep my mind off of an email I got a week ago. I woke up last Wednesday, and read the email from Florida... a Grammy winning producer, so says the man in Florida, has taken a "significant interest" in my music. The email went on to request a package containing bio, photo and CD's, and that I could expect to hear back from this man who produced huge stars in the eighties and ran a major record label in Nashville for years.

I was flabbergasted. Is he interested in my songwriting (possible) my guitar playing (doubtful) or my singing? As a songwriter, as a guitar player, or as a singer?
Hmm... I wondered about this as I read the email. Being a little vain about my singing, I finally figure "Wow, I finally got a shot..." Then I thought about a 57 year old cowboy singer raised on Mick Jagger and Homer and Jethro and Ray Price... the dreamer who sounds more like yesterday's wine than flavor of the month.

"I won the lottery," I think to myself. My delusions kick in so easily, and I'm so dumb. The company that sent me this email was a PO Box in Florida with the word "entertainment" after some initials. I sent a letter, and a movie poster with my face on it. I had to trim the poster to get it into the envelope. I sent a dvd of a movie I acted in last November, and two Will Dudley CD's. My credentials are in the lines on my face in that video. I'm impulsive, and I crowed like a peacock in the letter.

They probably got the package by Monday, and today being Thursday I expect I'll hear from someone in the next few days who will blow a lot of hot air toward me about either my songs or my singing, and then ask me for a lot of money to fund the production work of the Grammy winning producer who once ran one of the largest record companies of its day.

I don't mean to sound cynical, but I am. It's hard to beat the hope out of a guy like me. I followed the link in the email, and read the web site carefully after sending off the package; it is the website of a Grammy winning producer. It is the opening to a world I used to dream about; and if they ask me for money to fund a project using his production talents, I will finally understand how easy it is to disrespect a poor man's dream.

I have no money. I'm a musician. All I have are dreams; all I have to offer is hope. Not to be totally dark on this topic, there is a way. If this man ran a big label, he might have enough clout to get my songs recorded by someone who sells a lot of records and gets more radio airplay than I ever will. My ship may not ever really come in, but just the fact of the email means that my little light is shining somewhere.

I couldn't be happier. We are rich men, poor men, beggars and thieves wandering through theses dusty halls, just trying to leave some sort of mark, and mine is small but meaningful to me. I love this life. Every creton and ignorant bigot deserves to be here getting what they deserve. Every arrogant fool deserves their delusion, and I'll have my share of mine, please. I'm due for a major life change. Don't know what it is, but it's coming.

Summer is on almost here, and like it always is, the winter and spring here in Colorado are unpredictable in all things except beauty.
I look forward to my trips into the mountains each summer. There are amazing bookstores in Georgetown, and a caboose that's been turned into a hamburger joint in Jefferson; there are antique stores and an old hotel and courthouse here in Walsenburg, and some pretty good fishing up around Tarryall and Blue Mesa, not to mention along the Conejos and the Rio Grande.