Personal Narrative: Meeting A Legend In Country Music

Meeting a Legend in Country Music

My wife is a teller at US Bank in Pleasant View, Tn. One evening during our normal conversation about the events of the day, she said, “Guess who I have as a customer at the bank.” I had no idea who it could be. She told me his name was Dan Dugmore and I immediately recognized who it was. Dan is a studio musician who has played on countless number one country albums. He plays several instruments but his primary instrument is the pedal steel guitar. He has won the Academy of Country Music Awards Pedal Steel Player of the Year award many times in his career. I was fascinated that she had the opportunity to meet him.
Several months later my wife planned a surprise for my upcoming birthday. I was turning 40 and
she wanted to do something special for me. For several weeks leading up to my birthday, she would tease me by saying it was a big surprise and I could not plan anything for that day. I was expecting a surprise party or a small get away. She finally told me a few days before my birthday that she had planned for me to spend the afternoon at Mr. Dugmore’s home studio. I was so excited to finally get to meet him.
Saturday finally arrived and when she came home from work, we left to go to his house.
I met Mr. Dugmore and he took me to his studio out behind the house. When we walked in the door, the first thing that caught my eye was all the gold and platinum records that were hanging on the walls. I started walking around the room looking at each accomplishment he had attained. Major artist’s such as Tim Mcgraw, Carrie Underwood, Kenney Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and many more were among the records. In the center of the room was a computer desk with a computer, a mixing board, and monitor speakers attached. His Show Pro pedal steel was set up next to the desk. In the adjoining room, there were probably 9 or 10 different pedal steels that were set up. There were more pedal steels in one room than I have seen in my entire lifetime.
Mr. Dugmore sat down at his computer and loaded a song demo that had been sent to him for a Tim Mcgraw song. He started playing the track and I recognized the song but realized it was not Tim Mcgraw singing it. Dan explained that when the company sends out a demo, they have a stand in singer do the vocals so the track won’t be released by someone before the album comes out. He then started playing the parts he had added to the demo track. It was such a great experience to be able to see how this process worked. He added his parts to the track without having to leave his home and sent it back to the
company.
After we talked and exchanged stories about our musical interests, he asked If I wanted to play some. I think he already knew the answer to that question! He plugged in his electric guitar and I sat down behind his steel guitar and we did a little blues jam. He would stop in the middle of playing, and show me runs and chord positions to play on the steel. I enjoyed learning the new ideas and getting to hear the many stories he shared about his musical career. It turned out to be the best 40th birthday preset I could ever ask for. I met a country music legend.