>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY:
>> SCHOOL IT ALMOST OUT AND
SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE
CORNER.
>> CELEBRATE THE SUNSHINE BY
EXPLORING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
STATE.
SOAK UP THE SWEET SMELLS OF
SPRING AT THE WILLOW FIELD
LAVENDER FARM.
PLAY BALL WITH THE WEST TERRE
HAUTE LITTLE LEAGUE.
AND JOIN JESSICA NUNNEMAKER AS
SHE GOES TO CONVERSE, INDIANA.
AND WELCOME SONGWRITER AND STORY
TELLER KERRY RAY AS SHE COMES
INTO THE STUDIO.
>>> AND IT'S ALL COMING UP RIGHT
NOW ON "THE WEEKLY SPECIAL."
♪♪
>>> WELCOME TO THE "WEEKLY
SPECIAL."
I'M DARRYL NEHER.
>> AND I'M ERICA SAGON.
>> SPRING IS HERE.
THE WEATHER IS GETTING
BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
OUTSIDE.
>> I LOVE GETTING MY GARDEN
STARTED BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST
HOPEFUL TIME OF THE YEAR BEFORE
EVERYTHING STARTS TO GO WRONG.
WHAT ABOUT YOU.
>> I LIKE TO GARDEN IF BY
GARDENING YOU MEAN FARMER'S MARK
AND JUANERING AND WANDING AND PURCHASING
THERE.
THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO SMELL
THE FIELDS THAN THE WILLOW
LAVENDER FIELDS IN INDIANA.
>> BEHIND ME, 15 YEARS AGO WAS A
CORN FIELD.
♪♪
KNOWING I WAS GETTING READY TO
RETIRE FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS
FIRE DEPARTMENT, I WANTED TO
GROW SOMETHING HERE AND HAVE A
SMALL BUSINESS INSTEAD OF GOING
TO WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
♪♪
MY WIFE LIBBY AT 5:00 IN THE
MORNING WOKE ME UP ONE DAY AND
SAID, HOW ABOUT LAVENDER?
>> AND I SAID, COOL, THAT WOULD
BE GREAT.
SO WE GAME THE FIRST LAVENDER
FARM IN THE STATE.
WE PUT 100 PLANTS IN THE GROUND
AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.
♪♪
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VARIETIES
OF LAVENDER ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE HAVE IT DOWN TO FOUR.
WE HAVE TWO HYBRID LAVENDERS.
THE STRONGEST SMELLING IS
GROSSO, IT CAN GET 7-FOOT WIDE
ON THE WEST COAST.
HERE IT GETS ABOUT HALF OF THAT
BECAUSE OF OUR WINTERS.
THE OTHER ONE IS PROVINCE WHICH
IS THE COOKING LAVENDER.
THESE HAVE BEEN PROVEN ONES THAT
HAVE COME DOWN.
LAVENDER NEEDS AT LEAST SIX
HOURS OF HOT SUN EVERY DAY.
IT NEEDS WELL DRAINED SOIL,
ROCKY, LYMEY, AND IT LIKES IT ON
THE ALKALINE SIDE AND DO NOT
OVER WATER IT.
I'M TELLING YOU, AFTER 12 YEARS,
I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE AN
EXPERT.
THE PLANTS ALWAYS TELL ME
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THEY ARE THE EXPERTS AND THEY
ARE ALWAYS TEACHING ME.
THERE'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY YEAR
AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS US
STIMULATED.
THE WEEDING, ALL OF THAT IS DONE
BY HAND.
THERE ARE NO SPRAYS.
THERE ARE NO HERBICIDES OR
PESTICIDES.
BESIDES, THERE ARE SO MANY NEAT
LITTLE BUGS AROUND HERE THAT IF
YOU SPRAY, WOULD YOU NEVER GET
TO ENJOY THOSE THINGS.
LAVENDER HAS JUST BECOME A
CULTURE AND SO WE HAVE A RETAIL
SHOP IN OUR BARN WHERE WE SELL
THESE PRODUCTS, LOTIONS AND
SOAPS AND CANDLES AND SACHETS.
15 YEARSA. I WAS CRAWLING DOWN A
HALLWAY WITH THE TOP FLOOR OF A
BUILDING ON FIRE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRIM
STIMULATING, EXCITING LIFESTYLE
AS IT WAS.
TO GO FROM THAT TO A GENTLEMEN
FARMING GROWING LAVENDER, NO, I
HAD NO IDEA I WOULD DO THIS.
NO, WE HAVE' HAVE A CREATIVE LIFESTYLE
THAT'S CONSTANTLY STIMULATED.
IT'S ALL GOOD.
>> THE WILLOW FIELD LAVENDER
FARM WILL OPEN FOR THE SEASON ON
MAY 23rd.
YOU CAN FIND DIRECTIONS AT
WILLOWFIELDLAVENDER.COM.
>> YOU GARDEN, WE SEE THE
LAVENDER.
DO YOU RAISE HERBS YOURSELF?
>> YES, I NEVER HAD ANY LUCK
WITH LAVENDER.
I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO WILLOW
FIELD.
>>> IF YOU DO HAVE LUCK WITH
LAVENDER, THEN THIS NEXT SEGMENT
IS FROM YOU.
ANNIE FROM EARTH EATS HAS GREAT
FOOD RECIPES IN THE PAST.
WITH THE HOT SUN, WHAT A GREAT
TIME TO FIND SOME REFRESHING
DRINK RECIPES TO COOL YOU DOWN.
♪♪
>> HI, GUYS.
WE ARE AT FARM BLOOMINGTON IN
DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.
YOU WILL SEE WE ARE SURROUNDED
BY THESE GORGEOUS FLOWERS.
CHEF, WE ARE IN A RESTAURANT.
WHAT THE HECK ARE FLOWERS DOING
IN A RESTAURANT?
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THAT FLOWERS ARE EDIBLE AND
DRINKABLE.
WE ARE MAKING A LAVENDER
LEMONADE.
IT WILL BE BLOOMING THE MIDDLE
OF JUNE AND JULY AND GO OUT
THERE AND PICK THE FLOWERS.
I BROUGHT SOME IN FROM HOME AND
THIS IS JUST STARTING TO BLOOM
HERE, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE
LAVENDER PLANTS, YOU CAN ALSO
BUY DRIED LAVENDER BECAUSE YOU
NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CULINARY
LAVENDER.
A LOT OF LAVENDER THAT YOU WOULD
BUY TO PUT IN YOUR SACHE TS.
IT'S ARTIFICIALLY PERFUMED AND
SO THERE ARE CHEMICALS ON IT.
SO MAKE SURE IT'S A CULINARY
LAVENDER.
WE ARE MAKING A SIM.
SIR -- A SIM WILL SIMPLE SYRUPS.
IT'S EQUAL PARTS OF WATER AND
SUGAR.
WE HAVE HONEY.
LEMON JUICE HAS THE ACIDIC
FLAVOR AND THE PEEL IS THE
PERFUMING FAVORFUMING FLAVOR.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
GET ORGANIC LEMONS AND WASH THEM
WELL BEFORE YOU ADD THEM.
AND THEN I WILL ADD THE
LAVENDER.
YOU WILL ABOUT HALF A CUP OF
LEAVES AND FLOWERS, BUT WITH THE
DRIED LAVENDER YOU CAN ADD A
QUARTER CUP.
WE WILL PUT A LITTLE BIT OF
THOSE STEMS IN THERE.
>> YOU ARE JUST EYEBALLING THIS.
>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT TASTE.
IF YOU LIKE IT STRONGER,U., YOU CAN
ADD MORE.
IF YOU HIKE IT LIGHTER, YOU CAN
ADD LESS.
I HAVE ABOUT ENOUGH LAVENDER
THERE.
WE CAN BRING IT TO ONE BOIL BACK
IN THE KITCHEN AND LET IT STEEP
FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES.
YOU CAN START TO GET THAT CITRUS
AND THE LAVENDER AROMA.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND SO WE'LL LET THAT STEEP
AND COME BACK AND FINISH THE
LEMONADE.
JUST TO SPEED IT UP, I PUT IT IN
AN ICE BATH.
SO NOW WE HAVE OUR NICE SYRUP
AND I WILL LEAVE EVERYTHING IN
THERE FOR TODAY.
IF YOU WANTED TO BE FANCY AND
TAKE THE TIME, YOU COULD STRAIN
THAT OUT, BUT I KIND OF LIKE THE
WAY THIS LOOKS IN THERE.
>> YES.
>> WE WILL ADD 2 CUPS OF LEMON
JUICE.
AND THEN WE'LL ADD WATER TO
TASTE.
AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO STIR
THIS IN.
GARNISH OR GLASSES WITH A LITTLE
BIT OF LEMON.
IF WE WANTED TO, WE COULD PUT A
NICE PIECE OF LAVENDER IN EACH
ONE.
AND VERY IMPORTANT, WE WILL GIVE
IT A TASTE.
I THINK YOU WILL REALLY LIKE
THIS.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE IT
MORE OF AN ADULT BEVERAGE, YOU
COULD ADD A LITTLE BIT OF
INDIANA VODKA OR YOUR FAVORITE
VODKA TO IT.
>> I WILL TAKE THE ONE THAT HAS
SOME OF THE LAVENDER PIECES IN
IT, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
>> CHEERS!
HERE'S SUMMER.
>> ABSOLUTELY!
>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT REAL
FOOD AND GREEN LIVING ON THE
EARTH EATS WEBSITE.
PRINT OFF RECIPES, READ THE
LATEST IN FOOD NEWS AND
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY PODCAST.
IT'S ALL AVAILABLE AT
EARTHEATS.ORG.
>> AND ANNIE'S NEW EARTH EATS
BOOK IS ON SALE NOW, FEATURING
MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES,
GARDENING TIPS AND GREEN LIVING
STORIES.
VISIT IU PRESS.
>> WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO DRINK.
>> TALL COLD ON THE PATIO.
IF I HAVE A GO-TO IT'S A MOSCOW
MULE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED, SPRING
FOR ME IS BASEBALL.
THANKS TO THE WEST TERRE HAUTE
COMMUNITY FOR A LOT OF KIDS OVER
THE LAST 60 YEARS, IT'S MEANT
BASEBALL AS WELL.
♪♪
>> THE CRACK A BAT... THE CHEERS
IN THE STANDS, AND THE SWEET
TREAT WHAT IS A BETTER WAY TO
ENJOY A SUMMER DAY?
THIS IS WHAT GILL AND A GROUP OF
GENTLEMEN PROBABLY ENVISIONED
WHEN THEY CREATED THE WEST TERRE
HAUTE LITTLE LEAGUE 56 YEARS
AGO.
BUT ONE YEAR AGO, THIS
IDEALISTIC SCENE WAS WOULD NOT HAVE
EXISTED AS TERRE HAUTE STRUGGLED
AGAINST UP EMPLOYMENT AND
POVERTY LEVEL, HIGHER THAN THAT
OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THIS
BASEBALL FIELD AND THE COMMUNITY
FAMILIES WERE LOST TO TIME.
>> I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GETTING
LOST WITH THE PARENTS WORKING
AND THE PARENTS NOT BEING THIS,
AND THE GRANDPARENTS RAISING
THEM.
THEY NEED A PLACE THAT THEY CAN
FEEL SAFE AND THEY HAVE A GROUP
OF INDIVIDUALS THAT TRULY CARE
FOR THEM AND CAN MAKE THEM THE
NEXT BIG THING AND THAT'S THE
REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.
>> IF IT WEREN'T FOR WADE SULFUR
AND PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS THIS
COMMUNITY WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF A
SAFE OUTLET FOR THE LOCAL YOUTH.
>> WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WE
NEEDED A PLACE FOR THE YOUTH TO
COME AND RIDE AND PLAY AROUND
AND JUST PLAY A LITTLE BASEBALL
AND RIDE AROUND AND ENJOY THE
TIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND A
HUGE KEY IS BEING SAFE.
>> IN 2014, WADE AND HIS
VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED A GRANT AND
WITH THAT GRANT, THEY BRIDGED
CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> THERE'S A GROUP THAT NEEDED
TO COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON
GOAL AND A COMMON PURPOSE, AND I
JUST WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A
GROUP OF FRIENDS AND A GROUP OF
FAMILIES THAT CAME TOGETHER.
>> AND BOY, DID THEY COME
TOGETHER WELL!
>> WE ARE HAVING THESE
BUSINESSES SUPPORTING US.
WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTIONS TRADES
PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO DO IT
AND THEN WE HAVE THE PHYSICISTS.
THEY KNOW HOW THINGS ARE BUILT
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE SCIENCE
BEHIND IT.
WHY DON'T WE BRING THE STUDENTS
IN AND WANT TO MEET EMPLOYERS.
WHY DON'T WE BRIDGE THAT AND
BRING THEM TOGETHER.
IT'S A PERFECT FIT.
>> MERCEDES McCALL SURE DID
THINK SO.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS
HIGH SCHOOLERS WE GET OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG CHILDREN,
NOT JUST AT OUR SCHOOL.
>> WADE AND HIS CREW MADE SOME
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK.
THEY BUILT A SHELTER AND 12
PICNIC TABLES ADDED SETS OF
BLEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTED A
BATTING CAGE.
>> FOR US, IT'S A SENSE OF
SERVICE, IT'S A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST A SENSE
OF FELLOWSHIP.
WE ARE TEACHING, WE ARE TRAINING
AND WE ARE JUST ENCOURAGING THE
PROPER HABITS AND THAT GOES FOR
COACHES AND PLAYERS AND PARENTS
ALIKE.
FAMILY, REFAMILY VERY FAMILY ORIENTED.
>> THIS SHIFTED THE CULTURE AT
THE GAMES FOR THE BETTER BUT
TRANSFORMED THE FAMILIES AND THE
COMMUNITY AROUND IT.
>> THE BALLPARK HAS BUILT
STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS TOWARDS
THE LITTLE KIDS.
I KNOW THAT THESE LITTLE KIDS,
THEY IS THAT RIGHT OFF IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYING BALL
THEY ARE GOING TO MAY PLAY TOGETHER
ALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT'S THE BOND CREATED JUST
WITH THE USE OF A BALLPARK IS
UNBELIEVABLE.
>> YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR FACES
AND I THINK THE -- IT'S ABOUT
THE PERSONALITIES, THE CULTURE,
REALLY HAS CHANGED WITH THE PARK
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I THINK YOU SEE A LOT MORE
FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE PARENTS
WALK WITH THE KIDS AND THEN THEY
CAN STOP AND THEY CAN POINT OUT,
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DID THIS.
I PLANTED THIS TREE.
I HELPED TO BUILD THIS SHELTER.
I MEAN, THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO
SEE THAT AND MY DAD HAS BUILT
THAT.
I CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> AND WITH THE COMMUNITY'S NEW
FOUND PRIDE IN THE BALLPARK,
THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE
CLEANUP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE
GROUNDS.
>> AS FAR AS LITTER AND DEBRIS
AND TRASH, IT DOESN'T REALLY
EXIST ANYMORE.
THEY SEE THE GROWTH, WHAT'S IN
THE PARK AND WHAT'S IN THE
BALLFIELD AND THEY DON'T WANT TO
SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO THAT.
THEY GET VERY OFFENSIVE.
THE PARENTS STEP IN, THE
STUDENTS STEP IN AND THEY TAKE
CARE OF IT THEMSELVES.
IT'S THEIR PARK.
THEY OWN IT.
>> THE IMPACT OF THIS RENOVATION
GOES FAR BEYOND BASEBALL.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD
BRIDGES BETWEEN FAMILIES,
GENERATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY
WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
>> IT'S ALL STARTING TO KICK IN,
AND WE DON'T SEE THE FIGHTS.
WE DON'T SEE ANY KIND OF, YOU
KNOW, POOR CHOICES BEING MADE.
THESE ARE -- THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT WE WORK FOR.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR AND IT'S
ACTUALLY WORKING FOR US.
WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET
EVERYBODY TOGETHER LIKE IT
SHOULD BE.
THAT'S THE DREAM.
♪♪
>> GET IN ON THE ACTION AND
SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE LEAGUE.
FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
UPCOMING SEASON AT
WESTTERREHAUTELITTLELEAGUE.COM.
>> SUCH A SWEET STORY.
DARRYL, I BET WITH YOUR LOVE OF
BASEBALL THAT YOU HAVE TODAY,
YOU PROBABLY PLAYED BASEBALL.
>> I PLAYED BASEBALL FROM LITTLE
LEAGUE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND MY
MOM PLAYED AND MY MOM COACHED.
>> WHAT DID YOU PLAY?
>> FIRST BASE.
I WAS SLOW AND SLOWER.
>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO GET.
>> THE SMALL TOWN SPIRIT,
JESSICA IS HERE TO SHARE A NEW
DESTINATION.
>> TODAY IS ONE OF THE SMALLER
SMALL TOWNS THAT WE HAVE COVERED
YET.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP
IN MIND THAT NO MATTER HOW SMALL
THE TOWN, THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING TO SEE AND DO.
YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO
FIND IT UNTIL NOW.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND AMAZING
BARBECUE, A FANTASTIC ANTIQUE
SHOP COMPLETE WITH A HUMOROUS
JOHN DILLINGER STORY, A WOOD
CARVING CLUB AND VEGAN SHOP?
IN CONVERSE, INDIANA.
THAT'S WHERE!
CONVERSE MAY SEEM LIKE A SLEEPY
LITTLE TOWN AT FIRST GLANCE, BUT
JUST YOU WAIT!
ITTY-BITTY ACRES IS AN ADORABLE
HOME DECOR SHOP WITH PLANS TO
BECOME A FAIRY GARDEN
DESTINATION.
REALLY, IT'S CUTER THAN CUTE AND
FULL OF SEASONAL AND GENERAL
GIFT ITEMS.
I JUST LOVE IT!
UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE A
CAHOOTS SOAP COMPANY AND FOUND
YOURSELF SURROUNDED BY HOMEMADE
SCENTS IN.
THIS CASE, SMELLING IS
BELIEVING.
EVERYTHING IS MADE ON SIGHTS,
SOAP, CANDLES, LIP BALM, AND
BROWN SUGAR AND FIG, OH, AND
HONEY.
YOU WILL SEE SPECIAL BLENDS LIKE
OUTDOORSMAN OR GARDENING.
IF YOU ARE FEELING HUNGRY, YOU
ARE IN LUCK.
RIGHT NEXT DOOR LIES A
PHENOMENAL DINING OPTION.
JEFFERSON STREET BARBECUE.
ALL THE FRIES ARE HOMEMADE.
THEY SMOKE THEIR OWN MEATS AND,
WELL, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH
THE PULLED PORK WRAP.
EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
EVERYONE IS SO NICE AND THE
PLACE ITSELF IS TASTEFULLY
DECORATED.
HOOSIERS CERTAINLY HAVE A WAY
WITH BARBECUE.
WE ALSO KNOW OUR HISTORY, DON'T
WE?
ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES AND GIFTS
MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR USUAL HOME
TURNED ANTIQUE SHOP BUT THEY
HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
ONCE UPON A TIME, THIS WAS
ACTUALLY A BOARDING HOUSE.
ONE OF THE MALE BOARDERS KINDLY
TOOK THE LADY OF THE HOUSE
SHOPPING WHEREVER HE ROLLED
THROUGH.
DURING ONE AFTERNOON ERRAND RUN,
THE MAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES
PICKED HER UP AND APOLOGIZING
STATED THAT THEY HAD SUDDEN
BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO AND HAD TO
CUT THEIR TIME SHORT.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HER SURPRISE
WHEN SHE SAW A PICTURE OF JOHN
DILLINGER IN THE PAPER FOR
ROBBING A BANK NEARBY.
SO GO, EXPLORE.
THERE'S MORE TO INDIANA THAN
RACE CARS, CORNFIELDS AND
BASKETBALL.
EVEN IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE
CONVERSE, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL
TOWN LIKE CONVERSE.
HEAD TO WWW.LITTLEINDIANA.COM.
SMALL TOWNS, DESTINATIONS NOT
DRIVE THRUS.
>> CONVERSE PRIDES ITSELF ON
BEING INDIANA'S FIRST FAIR.
IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
SO BE SURE TO VOTE
SHOWMEGRANTCOUNTY.COM FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
>>> GREAT NEWS FOR LITTLE
INDIANA.
JESSICA NUNNEMAKER WON A BEST IN
INDIANA JOURNALISM AWARDS FOR
HER BOOK.
IT'S FULL OF GREAT SUMMER ROAD
TRIP IDEAS FOR DESTINATIONS THAT
ARE HER FAVORITE AND PROBABLY
YOURS TOO.
>> WHEN YOU TAKE THE WEEKEND
ROAD TRIPS, YOU NEED GREAT MUSIC
TO GO ALONG AND WE ARE LUCKY TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THE
BEST.
MEET KERRY RAY!
♪♪
>> I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A REALLY
MUSICAL HOUSEHOLD.
YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILY REUNIONS
WERE JAM SESSIONS OR THEY ALWAYS
ENDED UP THAT WAY.
I WOULD PUT DAD'S BOOTS OWN AN
GRAB A UKELELE AND I SANG MY
FIRST SOLO WHEN I WAS 3 IN
CHURCH.
I FOUND THE BLUES ON MY OWN.
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT REAL
PEOPLE AND REAL CELEBRATIONS.
WHEN I FIRSTOR FIRST STARTED, I KNEW
VERY LITTLE ABOUT HOW TO MAKE A
RECORD.
I COULD BARELY PLAY GUITAR AND I
WAS STRUMMING AND WRITING SONGS.
AND BY THE TIME I MADE THE
SECOND RECORD, I HAD MOVED TO
BROWN COUNTY AND MADE IT IN THAT
AREA.
IT WAS A LITTLE MORE EARTHY, AND
BEGAN TO SOUND MORE LIKE NEAT TO
ME.
AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I
MADE MY MOST RECENT REPORT
"SWAGGER."
I PLAY EVERYTHING FROM SOLO
SHOWS.
I LOVE TO DO THAT AND I LOVE THE
INTIMACY IT CREATES WITH THE
AUDIENCE.
AND THEN I DO A DUO.
THAT DUO IS NEARLY ALWAYS MYSELF
AND DEON O'BRIEN.
WHEN IT COMES TO INSPIRATION FOR
SONG WRITING, I THINK THE TRITE
THING TO SAY BUT THE HONEST
THING TO SAY IS IT'S LIFE.
NOT EVERYBODY WRITES SONGS FOR
THE SAME REASON AND FROM THE
SAME MACE.
THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM IS
THE TRUBY TROUBADOUR, I THINK THAT'S
MORE THE TRADITION THAT I COME
FROM, AND THE PLACE THAT I WRITE
FROM.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT ALL THE
SONGS, WHETHER DIRECTLY BEING
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL OR NOT ARE AT
LEAST CONNECTED TO MY LIFE IN
SOME WAY.
IT'S WATCHING SOMEONE ELSE'S
LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S STRUGGLE
OR CELEBRATION AND TRYING TO DIG
DEEP.
I TRY TO FILE OFF ALL THE
PARTICULAR EDGES THAT ARE ABOUT
ME IN A WAY THAT THEN I CAN
DISTILL IT DOWN TO A MORE
UNIVERSAL PART OF THE HUMAN
CONDITION.
ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO HAVE THE
LISTENER BE ABLE TO PLOP
THEMSELVES IN THE SONG AND
IMAGINE THAT IT'S ABOUT THEM.
I WRITE ABOUT LIFE, THE GOOD,
THE BAD, THE PROUD MOMENTS, THE
EMBARRASSING ONES AND I THINK
THAT BRINGING THAT VULNERABILITY
JUST BY EXAMPLE AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO BE HONEST ABOUT
IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE
BETTER ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN
EXPERIENCE AND ACCEPTING
THEMSELVES.
IT'S LIKE A CALLING.
I THINK IN LIFE WHATEVER YOUR
CALLING IS, WHATEVER YOU FIGURE
OUT IT IS.
IF YOU ARE UP TO IT IN I WAY YOU
ARE WINNING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD FEEL
ANY LEVEL OF CONTENTMENT DOING
ANYTHING ELSE.
IT FEELS WRONG NOT TO BE
PLUGGING MYSELF BACK INTO THAT
EXPERIENCE, AND SHARING THAT
EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE.
NOW WE'RE IN THE STUDIO WORKING
ON A BRAND NEW ONE, AND IN A LOT
OF WAYS WE ARE MAKING THE
SIMPLEST, MOST ACOUSTIC, MOST
STRIPPED DOWN RECORD I HAVE EVER
MADE.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE HERE IT IS IF
YOU LIKE IT AND HERE IT IS IF
YOU DON'T.
YOU KNOW?
>> AND NOW KERRY RAY.
♪♪
♪♪ IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO
TELL ME ♪♪
♪♪ OH, I HAVE TRAVELED ON ♪♪
♪♪ YOU KNOW, I GOT NOTHING AT
HOME.
♪♪
♪♪ YES, IF I LOOK AROUND I
SUSPECT I KNOW WHY ♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> KERRY RAY JUST RELEASED HER
THIRD ALBUM ENTITLED "SWAGGER"
PRODUCED BY "WEEKLY SPECIAL"
FAVORITE REVEREND PAYTON.
LEARN MORE AT HER WEBSITE,
KERRYRAY.COM.
ERICA WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS
WE CAN DO THIS SPRING.
IT'S WONDERFUL WONDERFUL.
>> COLD DRINKS, BASEBALL, IT
DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN
THAT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE GO,
KERRY RAY.
♪♪
♪♪
>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY: