My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent. Through my years of experience, I've recognized two essential aspects. Industry professionals, whether famous stars or behind the scenes staff have fascinating stories to tell. Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life stories. This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information on how they evolved into their chosen career. We will delve into their journey to stardom, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who help them achieve their goals. Get ready for intriguing behind the scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Almost Live Nashville. Phil Vassar, the celebrated country music singer-songwriter and pianist, joins me today for a heartfelt conversation. Known for his hits like Just Another Day in Paradise and Carline, as well as penning chart toppers for artists like Tim McGraw, Phil's soulful melodies and relatable storytelling have left a lasting mark on Nashville. We'll dive into his remarkable journey, including two years of profound readjustment following a near-fatal heart attack. Exploring life, music, and stories that will give a discussion I think you'll truly enjoy. It's a conversation that I thoroughly enjoyed having and it's a pleasure to have him here. So before we dive into our episode, we'll be right back with an uninterrupted show right after a word from our sponsors. Thanks for coming on. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure. So I understand that this year is the 25th anniversary for one of your songs. Yeah, it was the 25th anniversary of my first record. I was having hits for years before that, so it's kind of crazy, isn't it? To coin a praise, you go from singer-songwriter to actually singer-songwriter, only this time on a label as an artist. Yeah, right. Before we dig too deep into your artistry as a singer-songwriter, I understand you had a life-altering scare here a couple of years ago. I've heard because of what happened to you, you're a huge advocate now for heart health. Can you expand on a little bit of what you went through? I had a, you know, I had a, what's it called, said-and-death, I think it was. My heart just stopped beating and I didn't have a heartbeat for a long time, for 20, 30 minutes or so, first time, and then they got me going. And, you know, I'm a healthy person. I worked out every day and I never ate fried food or anything like that. I mean, I'm just telling you, it was just, you know, genetic is what they said, you know? I heard that you said you died twice on the table. So how are you feeling now? I feel great now. I feel wonderful singing better and all that stuff. I was really, really struggling just to live, you know? Yeah, and I'm so glad that you're doing well now. Quick question though, you didn't have the heartbeat and you said that you had died twice. Did you have any out-of-body experience like some have? You know, I've been asked that a lot and I don't remember anything. So I have nothing. I didn't talk to Jimi Hendrix or anybody or, you know, which would be cool. You know, I just, I just was really, really struggling, you know? I was having a hard time breathing, having a hard time. You know, in general, I always had this puffer. I'm just like, I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I was tired all the time and struggling, you know? So it was just so severe that it took me having a heart attack, dying to really fix everything, you know? They cleaned up everything and my doctor was great. I mean, I went to Vanderbilt, of course, and we're lucky to have great hospitals in Nashville. We are. We have great doctors, great hospitals. So we're very, very fortunate. Oh, you're not kidding. So it was great. I mean, I mean, it wasn't great for a while, but I was at Shepherd Center for a while in Atlanta, five or so, five, six months, whatever, and then came back home. I heard after you got through all that, you had to learn how to walk again, play piano again, and get back into the regular things? Well, it was just, I didn't do anything, really. When I came to, I was in a wheelchair, of course, and they were kind of explaining to me what happened, and I was going, what? You know, what happened? I said, how did I have a heart attack? I said, you know, I worked out and I did all this stuff, and my doctor was like, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Bad genetics. And he said, you were in, you know, probably good enough shape just to survive the onslaught. I don't know, but I feel, I feel different now. I feel very calm, you know, I was, I was very stressed. And I don't know if it was, it was just physical, I think, mostly. Well, we are talking about the music business. And there's that. Yeah, that's for sure. So how did you handle it mentally? I mean, you had to rebuild, you had to relearn things. How did that whole process work and what kind of a journey was it for you? Yeah, it was, it was, it was interesting. And I think I didn't really, I didn't try to rush back or anything. You know, I just, I really missed playing music, you know, I really did. So I was kind of excited just to the same year at the end of the year, I got to play some shows, play a few shows, and just to be able to just, I don't know, you just need that feeling that you get when you play music and with your friends. And I feel great now. I feel better. And, you know, every day I'm just kind of feeling better. That's just so good to hear that you're doing that well. Now, after you got back to working, performing, how did that change or did it change anything in the way that you performed? Well, I think, you know, on stage, I think I'm pretty much the same. I don't do flips or back flips off the piano or anything of that anymore. But I mean, I still run around and I think I was so, so ganked up. I didn't know I didn't, I was kind of jumping around jumping off pianos and doing flips. And so it's maybe it's better now that I'm a little bit calmer. How's your emotions now? Because when you went through all that, you almost lost everything. Now you've gained a new lease on life, so to speak. Yes. Your attitude and the perspective and the perception of what you thought must have changed some. I think so. I mean, I do. I think, you know, when you're, when you're in the heat of the fight, you know, you're, you know, you're in the heat of writing every day, you know, back in the nineties or whatever. I couldn't get anybody to like what I did. I had to kind of take control of what I was doing. I had to take control of, I mean, I opened my own club. I opened a restaurant. I did that stuff. So I'd have a place to play and I didn't have to deal with sleazy club owners, you know. Yeah, we've all dealt with those for sure. You know, I learned a lot and I learned a lot about my songs and my music. I would write a song. I'd play it that night. You know, I'd say I got a new song, you know, and test it out and you'd finish and then show their approval. You know, they liked it a lot. I mean, I would play not my next 30 years or I'm all right or Bob. I always song sent. I liked them. But, you know, of course, you know, the music, I learned a lot about the music business too. And during that phase, I was just like, man, these guys are most of them are just boneheads. They're not very smart. They don't know a hit from a friggin, you know, hole in the ground. They don't know. That was one thing I just kind of said, look, if I like it, and if my fans like what I do and they like the song, then it's OK, you know. And if I feel passionate about a song, it's probably pretty good. I learned to not worry about what everybody else thought anymore. It just made me get me confidence like I'd never had before. That's just so good. You know, that's a huge step here in Nashville. Everybody's out to please someone, the label, the A&R people, the managers and everyone else. And what it really comes down to, you just have to please yourself. Right. When you hit that comfort level, all the noise goes away and you can start really doing good work. That's the truth. It really is the truth. And I think that's a good way to put it, because I think, you know, you do, you have all these people in your ear and they, I'm telling you, they think they know, but they don't know. Nobody knows, you know, really. Yeah. And they're always pushing for that next big hit, because without it, they don't make any money. Right. A lot of them could care less about you, because they do care if you live or die. But other than that, they don't care, because that's the only way they make their money. Yeah. Yeah. It's a lot of selfish people. I mean, I know there's a bunch of great people in our business. They really are. Oh, yeah. I know a lot of good people here. But I wouldn't say they're the majority. I tell a lot of people that are not here from Nashville, but some that are here in Nashville, there's a reason why they call it the music business. Yeah. You have to jump through all these hoops and books and books of papers before you even can get on the stage to do what you do. Yeah, it really is. And something I learned was I just, I do love my job. I love to play and I love to write songs. I like that. And the business part, somebody telling me this or you need to do this or do that. And especially some of the stuff, because now it's about social media and TikTok or this or that. I'm just going, you know, it just seems like it's a different time. You know, I mean, I know you have to adjust and grow. I mean, that's a good thing to do, but I'm not going to get out there and dress up like a frog or something just to make somebody happy. It's just that, you know. So it appears like you found yourself in a good comfort zone and you found yourself more at ease. Yeah. By finding that, did you find yourself looking at everything a little bit differently than you had before? Absolutely. Absolutely. And it's funny too, because, you know, I've been on the road for so long, for decades, right? Now, 25 years of my first record, you know, I was having hits, number one songs that I wrote 10 years before that. So, I mean, I do like to pull out the songs I wrote. I did Write Out of the Money I wrote for Alan Jackson last night. And they loved it. And the band was like, let's do it. Let's do Write Out of the Money or let's do, you know, you just pull out songs that I don't know. I just loved it. I always loved the song. But of course, Alan and I are different artists and I'm the biggest Alan Jackson fan that you can be. I love him. I think he's just an amazing, you know, he's not just his voice, but his songs are just always been. I was a label mate with Alan, you know, that heirs to for a long time, decade. It was just awesome, you know, I always listened to his records. And I mean, there's some artists you just go, eh, but I was really, I always really looked forward to hearing what he's doing, you know. But I think the people that you really respect, I mean, Billy Joel, I still love Billy. Him and Elton John are my… Yeah, they are both great. I love them too. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? They were the guys and I just remember meeting Elton John for the first time and I mean, he was just great, you know. And this was before I had any cuts or record deal, but I was playing in my bar and I had such a following and Nigel Olsen, of course, came and played with me one night and sat in with me several, several nights. And it was just, I'm still like, what in the world? But he was such a great guy. But when Elton did his concert in Nashville for DeMurray, when he passed away, he did a thing at the Opry House and Lisa Olsen, Nigel's wife was a fan, comes to me play and all that. And so you got to meet Elton, you got to meet him, he'll love it. So when I met him and went backstage and hung out with him and it was amazing, you know. Just the moment you forget about your go, did that really happen, right? Yeah, that's the beauty of living in Nashville. Working, networking, you just never know who's around the next corner. Yeah, and there's so many in Nashville now because it's become kind of this, you know, with everybody kind of left LA really, you know, Steve Dorf, who I write with his dear friend and we've written a bunch. And matter of fact, he got married in my barn back here. You know, it's just so great. It's kind of funny because Steve Kropper, you know, been a dear friend forever, but his daughter, she's getting married in my barn too, coming up. So I mean, it's kind of funny that I built this barn for some reason. It's my studio now, but I like to go back there and just kind of, I've got a grand piano up there and I just get a, I go up there and I just sit down and who knows what might happen, you know. That's the beauty of being able to find your comfort zone, your comfort space and have the ability to just sit down and let things flow naturally with no pressure of having to do it. Yeah, yeah, you know, you think about like back in the day when we all had publishing deals and doing all this stuff. I mean, you know, it was all about getting the next cut. I don't know, everything worked out. It's just like, I still process it sometimes like, you know, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, the music business has been very good to both of us. I mean, I've had the same situations where I've been in the same rooms with five star generals and so many different people and they want to know what I do when I want to know what they're doing. So yeah, it's just great. It's so crazy and it's wonderful. Yeah, it is. You know, I mean, I've done so many things for the military is very important to me and I've got so many dear friends. And of course, I, you know, I've got to meet Clinton and I played the Bush White House some four times, I think, you know, and for the Christmas and it was just amazing. Yeah, that's great. Which Bush father or the son? I met dad and but for for W, I played the White House several times. I did several events for them and and I got to meet Herman Walker, of course, he was just great. I loved him and you know, I was wanted to I never met Reagan and I always wanted to meet him, you know, but anyway, it was just such a great I got to meet Clinton at a Humana event. He was speaking and I was planning anyway, he was I thought he was going to play sex with me but at the last minute he didn't get his side. I got to get out of here but y'all have a great anyway. He was great. That's the beauty of this business. You get to meet people that want to meet you and you want to meet them. It's just the beauty of this business. It is great. It is, you know, I never take it. I never take it for granted. That's for sure. I mean, I'm looking at the Glenn Campbell book over there. I mean, Glenn was one of my heroes growing up listening to Galveston and I mean, all the he was just the best, you know, and so he was and for those that don't know what you're talking about, I have a book called Life with My Father Glenn Campbell on my shelf behind me and it was written by his daughter Debbie who I produce. I mean, and how great I did meet her and I got to play golf with Glenn and some tournaments. I mean, we talked about it. It was the greatest. I'm just sitting here going man, I am. I think actually me and Toby, me and Toby Keith and Glenn Campbell played golf. It was really fun. I mean, you know, people, we all come and go but to Glenn Campbell's man, I listened to some of his records. I mean, I don't know man, maybe two or three weeks ago, I just kind of listened to some of his greatest hits. You know, the beauty of this music is sometimes just the simplicity of it is what makes it so great. I mean, go back to 1975 and rhinestone cowboy. I mean, it was just super. I love it. That was one of my one of our dear friends. I live with him. He was one of my roommates when I first moved to Nashville, but he's a cop. He's a great, great guy. He died of cancer. I don't know. Maybe five or six years ago. He had melanoma. But man, he loved it. And he always mispronounced everything and he called it rhinestone cowboy. And it was the greatest thing. I said, man, but Glenn was such a such a pure singer and player. I mean, it was what he did with the Beach Boys and everybody. I mean, what a musical resume. Yeah. I mean, he was great. I mean, he was the one everyone looked at for a very long time. He was just so good. No, he was, of course, always wanted to, but I always ended up, I never could play guitar very well. I guess I just never tried. But I just was such a piano, fishinato. You know, I just loved the Billy Joel and Elton John and I love Charlie Rich, how he played and I loved all those guys. And Ronnie Millsap was such a sweetheart of a guy. He's greatest. Wow. Ronnie Millsap. I met him back when Tom Collins was producing him. Really nice guy. Like Tom. Is Tom still around? I'm not sure where he is now. He's about in his 80s, I think. Yeah, because Tom, I mean, you know, music grows so different now, of course. I mean, Bob Beck, I remember Bob. Do you remember him at all? Yeah, I sure do. I mean, it was the greatest. I would just, and he turned me on to like the Billy Swan records and he played me. He played me all this stuff. He said, you got to hear this and he'd take me back when, I mean, just it was just so great. I mean, I think you've had a very similar experience to like I have. You grew up with all these icons, then you have them reaching out to you, whether they're calling you or their management's calling you saying, you know what, we have to do a project together sometime. Yeah. I mean, it really doesn't get much better than that. Isn't that great? It is. I just think of like my dad playing me B.J. Thomas, right? What a singer, right? All the Burt Baccarac and how David's stuff that he sang on. I think about it years later and I'm playing golf with B.J. Of course, hanging out in Nashville whenever you come, we'd play golf. This is so great. Yeah. One of my good friends was his band leader right up until he passed a few years ago. Oh, really? We'd play me and him and the Cropper, Steve Cropper and all this. We'd all play golf. We'd play golf up at Nashville Village and still can't believe it. You know, it was just to, but on a human level, they were so great, always so nice. Yeah. They were great guys. And now, of course, have you been down on Music Row lately and seen how drastically that's changed? It's so weird. I mean, it's really weird. I mean, you know, and all the buildings are different and... Some of the more iconic studios have been torn down just to build condos. It's unbelievable. I mean, there really aren't anymore. You know, now it's, you know, that's why I've been wanting to kind of get mine back up and running. I built this barn in the back of my property and I'm just, I can't wait to get back in and start recording again, you know? It's always great to be in the studio. So what's coming up? What's on your agenda right now? Well, I'm doing a few more shows this year. I've got, you know, I'm out touring again, which I love. I mean, I'm not touring as much as I want to, but I guess next year, next couple of years, I'll get back into it. But, you know, I mean, for me now, I just want to write and record, you know? I think it's kind of funded. You know, you don't have to wait for approval from anyone. You know, well, that's a good song. Or this isn't, yeah, well, this... It's just all these guys that, you know, whatever, they have opinions. You know, you've been here long enough. You've done so many great things. I think you're in a place now where you can actually do the things that you want to do, not the things that they say that you have to do, so that way you can sit back and enjoy what you're doing. Yeah. You know, that is a good point. You know, I think, and I've gotten to travel all over the world with my job, right? You know, you're playing Europe and Australia and where, you know, England, Ireland, Scotland. You know, I've been to Abbey Road, right? You know, I've gotten to sit there and meet Ringo and Paul. And I mean, all these guys, it's just, you know, you think about, you know, stuff we talked about when we were kids, right? You know, but now it's just, you know, I want to get better at golf again. I want to start playing golf again. I was never any good at it. Do you play at all? I mean... No. I've hit a few golf balls and then I went to a driving range. I sliced most of them into the trees. So I really know it all that good. That's what we all do. I don't care who you are. You're going to a member of my club for years. I haven't played it, but now it's been three years and we're going to go tonight and actually hit some balls, play nine holes. So I'm excited about that. Yeah. That's awesome. Wow. This has really been good. Great conversation, great topics. I mean, we've covered so many different things. Anything that you want to let people know that you think is important that they hear? Anything that you've got coming up or just whatever? Well, heck, I don't know. I mean, I can't think of anything. You know, I'm just coming back from a couple of years of hell. I do feel great. I feel great now. I feel better. And once I get myself back in shape and I get my drive down. I have to say you sound really good, so relaxed and so comfortable. And that's a really good thing considering everything you've been through in the last two years. Yes. I know, man. Because I didn't realize that my arteries were so clogged genetically, right? You know, and that's something you don't think about, but I didn't feel well. But I do feel so much better and relaxed. And I've got time now to think about all the things that have happened that have transpired over the last 40 years or 35. And it's pretty incredible, you know, to get to, I mean, I'm just blessed I didn't die when I die, you know? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we get to a point in our lives where we have friends that have been with us for so long. And we just take it for granted that they'll always be there. And then one day they're gone. Yeah. Over the years, our lives just changed so much. I mean, my mother just lived to full months short of 100. I remember one day she was saying, I don't have any friends. And I was like, oh yeah, you've got all kinds of friends. Her response, well, you may think so, but they were all gone. Right. Now I'm looking around. I'm understanding everything she said, because a lot of my friends are gone now as well. All we can do is hope we get up every morning, take our lives day by day. Yeah. And just keep moving forward. Yeah, it's the truth. And I think it's, you know, and I think everything happens for a reason. I really believe that. And it has slowed me down, you know, this year and I'm only doing 30, 40 shows, you know, and it's giving me time to reflect on a lot of things, you know, what that had happened and even remember them. You know, it's like, you know, you can be thankful. I can definitely be thankful for that. Absolutely. We all have something to be thankful for. And you know, we all think we're invincible until we're not. I know. Then when we find that we're not invincible, it brings reality into our lives. Then when we start thinking about that reality, hopefully we can learn and evolve from that so that we can just keep moving every single day. Yeah, it's, it's, it is pretty crazy. Are you from, are you from Pennsylvania? No, I'm originally from Maine. Oh, Maine. Okay. I was, I was, I heard a couple of things you said you said like, like around Pittsburgh or, and it was up there somewhere. I love Maine. Yeah, I was born and raised in Maine. I traveled back and forth recording here in Nashville during the time I was working with Ronnie and then ultimately before I moved here. I don't know. Do you remember Bob Millsap and Gary Paxton? Of course. Yeah. I was working with them. They were producing me and Bob became my mentor and because of them, that's when we had a conversation and they talked me into, and it was a good move of moving to Nashville. That's when I got into production, development and management and ultimately my record label. Right. Bob was a huge help. He got sick and moved away and he told me, just remember one thing, you can use my name to get through any door, but when you close it, you're on your own. Yeah. Nashville has been very good to me. I cannot complain one bit. Cool, man. I mean, Nashville is a fun town. I mean, of course, it's grown so much. It's a totally recognizable, but it's the mini LA. Yeah. Good grief. I was hoping it'd never be that, but I mean, it's like I said, of course, a lot of my buddies are from LA have moved to Nashville, so it's good. I mean, at least I don't have to go there. Yeah, that's for sure. I always hate it when I go to LA. Well, this has been great. Great conversation. Just laid back and I've really enjoyed this. I know, man. I love it. I tell you, it's just, but anyway, let's do it. Let's stay in touch. And I think I'm going out this week. I don't have many shows right now, so I'm just, I'm just, I'm around. Yeah, that sounds great. When you get back, let's touch base. That sounds wonderful. I love it, buddy. Well, it's been great. I really appreciate you coming on. Well, thanks, brother. And we'll talk soon. Absolutely. Thanks again. If you liked the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help the show to grow. Thank you for listening.
