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Here's a story you will love;) After watching the Oscar's last night, I had to listen to "Southern Rain", because every time I see Miley Cyrus, I think of that song. I'm an audio engineer In Phx AZ, and I'm pretty sure I was the first person outside the Band and Producers to hear the song. About 11 years ago, someone walked in to my studio and asked me if I could stay late for a quick session, I said sure. Turns out it was with Billy Ray Cyrus. He was in town for a concert and he had just finished recording that song a few months prior, but the final mix had just completed. So he booked time with us because we had an ISDN codec (it lets you send CD quality, digital audio in real time down a phone line). I was setting up and waiting for the connection to the Nashville studio where one of his producers, Dann Huff was going to send us the final mix so I could record it to ProTools and burn a CD so Billy could hear it. While I was getting ready, Billy Ray went and layed down on the floor inside the vocal booth. They had just drove from the last tour date. Our connection was made and Dann said hello. I told Billy Ray to just put the headphones on and opened the mike that was in the room so they could talk and he wouldn't have to move (phone call with no phone;) Before they sent the audio to us, Dann asked him how the "little one" was. Billy Ray tells Dann "Oh man, that girl is gonna be the death of me...she wants to be a star in the worst way". At the time I never gave it another thought until she became the little star that she is:) And now, every time I see her, I just smile and think of that song. p.s. At the time, all I knew of Billy Ray was "Achy Breaky Heart" so I wasn't real crazy about doing the session, but after talking with him for 10 minutes I found that he was one of the nicest, most genuine guys I've worked with. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0x_apBsOc

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By: joecrowaz
Taken: March 3, 2010
Uploaded: March 3, 2010

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