BAMA BOUND (continued) -  This boy from Mt. Dennis is on cloud 9 and a few times during the day, I had to hold back tears of joy and I still feel 'em well up. I can't express in words how proud I am to have recorded with Johnny and these guys. I will always count it as a historical and musical highlight in my career. The song we were listening to was 'Keys To My Heart'. When the boys heard it, Scott says 'Hey Spooner, you could've wrote this tune' and they gave him the nod to do a beautiful Wurlitzer solo which added such a soulful dynamic.

At the end of these bed track sessions, Johnny's wife Ann made up some great southern Gumbo and we had ourselves a good feast and gabfest:) which was a fitting conclusion to the soulful sessions. On my latest trip down in December, I finished doing my vocals, guitar and harp and Johnny had added another Muscle Shoals guitarist Kelvin Holly who plays with soulful fire. At one point I asked Johnny if he ever played with The Amazing Rhythm Aces and Johnny says "as a matter of fact he plays with them and he's also Little Richard's guitarist". Johnny has amazing ears and can hear things that few people can and his laid back folksy humor and outlook on things makes him a great person to be around. Michael Pickett did a record with Johnny years ago with Whiskey Howl and Michael told me Johnny was really something, and he was right on! I look forward to working more in the future in the most soulful studio I've ever been in and probably will ever be in. Apart from the soulful memorabilia such as old photos, posters, gold and platinum albums on the walls in a down home rec-room setting, there was a framed daily planner page dated Jan.1, 1969 with a stirring message from Duane Allman "This year I will be more thoughtful of my fellow man. Exert more effort in each of my endeavors, professionally as well as personally. Take love wherever I find it and offer it to everyone who will take it. In this coming year I will seek knowledge from those wiser than me and try to teach those who wish to learn from me. I love being alive and I will be the best man I possibly can." Even now as I finished typing this, I felt the electricity that ran through me as I first read it on Johnny's wall, that first meeting in April. I felt the tears well up as I realized that Duane left this world shortly after writing these soulful heartfelt words. As Tom T. Hall says in one of his songs "guess the good Lord loves a little guitar pickin' too". Thank you God! Apart from Johnny's involvement with the Allman Brothers, Phil Walden's right-hand man at Capricorn Records, he is one of the main architects of the Southern Rock Music Scene and a proud inductee of the Alabama Music Hall OF Fame.

I would be remiss if I didn't say something about Johnny's partner in Rockin'Camel Records, Carl Weaver. We spent some time on his mountain top retreat just outside Gadsden Al, where he is building a beautiful house that he comically calls 'Disgraced Land' (he's a big Elvis fan). He has some outbuildings and some beautiful 'Painted Horses'. It is the highest peak in that area of the Appalachians and it was absolutely breathtaking. Carl is down home real and no 'BS' whatsoever and a cool guy to get to know; somewhat of a renaissance man and an avid collector of the unique and unusual, from antiques to art, music, posters, a pet camel, you name it; even has a part of the plane that crashed killing some of the members of Lynard Skynard. Carl's 2nd Street Music Hall in downtown Gadsden, not far from the 'Lazy' Coosa River, was amazingly remodeled by himself, in a New Orleans French Quarter style, complete with an incredible recording studio that he and Johnny have a series of releases coming out on the label. Outside the club are two life-size statues of the Blues Brothers, an old fire truck with speakers to ride through town announcing upcoming shows:) I look forward to doing a recording there while touring with my band at some point up the road. Sometime in January or February I will be going down to see Johnny for the mixing process and can't wait to see who else he adds as some of the names he has mentioned are incredible. Will keep you posted. God bless. - Danny Brooks

Alabama has a sign crossing the state line which says "Welcome To Alabama The Beautiful" and it is just that and I look forward to one day getting a little farm somewhere in the northern part of 'Bama'. I have a song on this record entitled 'Bama Bound' and Lord I hope its prophetic. - DB

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