I was a school safety specialist for many years when I worked at Medora Schools in Medora, Indiana.

Last weekend I drove by the school and saw the numerals I affixed on each door some years ago when we were told, to help authorities with a schematic of the building, to make the entries to the building easier to keep up with.

Oh my.  Today, as the news came from Florida of the tragic school shooting, my mind went into safety specialist mode.  So many things went through my head as to wrap my brain around what happened.

It is going to be a long night.

I’m done.

Speaking the reluctant rights…

Danny Johnson

Peyton Manning changed the game of football in Indiana all by himself.  He just had to show up and the pigskin dominoes started to fall.  No, I am not going to discount his hard work.   If you know about his prep work with Coach Cut that has made a difference, you know Peyton Manning made football in Indiana.

Peyton Manning was the first round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.  My dear wife, Carrie, and I were watching his first preseason game in August of 1998 on Pine Street in New Salisbury.  I hand turned our TV antennae to the North to find a snowy picture on WTTV…Channel 4…the channel I watched Cowboy Bob on as a kid.

In that game, Peyton Manning hit Marvin Harrison for a 48 yard TD pass on Peyton’s first pass in an NFL game.  Never mind Marvin caught it and ran 43 of the 48 yards, it was still “a moment”.

Peyton’s first season in Indy was growing pain central.  He led the league in interceptions.  He also showed us rookie brillance.  I was at the Bengals-Colts game at the RCA Dome in 1998.  In earnest, the quarterback I was more delighted in seeing was the Bengals quarterback coach, Ken Anderson.  He was throwing passes in pregame warm-ups and I thought I was going to faint.  I did not think I’d see him throw another pass.

In that game, the Colts won 39-26, Peyton threw 3 touchdown passes.

In P’s second year, the Colts finished 13-3 and won the division.  It all got better from there.

I don’t have much Peyton memorabilia.  The bear is a 1998 model, Peyton’s rookie season.  The action flat is draft pick model, before he threw that pass.  The cup, I think it is 1999.  I have one with Peyton, one with Edge, and one with Marvin.  If you know the Colts you know those names.

I was fortunate to see Peyton play a number of games.  One that stands out in my mind is a 38-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in 2003.  I was sitting on the first row in front of the end zone pylon and watched Peyton throw 4 of his 5 td passes in that end zone.  But…the most amazing thing I saw that day was the footwork and horizontal movement of Michael Vick.  To this day I have never seen anyone move like that.  I’ve seen a great deal of football.

I was there the night Peyton and Marvin Harrison set the record for the most TDs between a quarterback and a receiver.  That was on Monday Night game against the Rams in 2005.

But know this…I was calling high school football games on radio in 2004-2009.  During that time an Indiana high school football renaissance was happening that still lives today on Friday nights at high schools all over the state of Indiana.  Folks show up to watch and they know what they are watching for a change.  Friday nights are a happening now.  Thank you, Peyton.  We owe you.

In 1978 I was at a high school football game in Mitchell, Indiana.  One of the opposing fans was yelling at the ref…calling him a “Homer”.  A lady sitting next to the man said,  “How do you know that Homer fella?”

I was ten.  I thought I would faint.

Peyton Manning changed all that.  He is the State of Indiana’s all time football ambassador.

Let’s not forget that.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

Am writing this now in case I don’t get a chance to add to it this evening.

I won’t I am sure.

Duty calls.  Got some serious work to take home with me and I need to do some schedule rearranging.

So that is it.

Speaking the brief rights…

Danny Johnson

The 16th installment of my heading toward my 50th birthday.

I know a few days ago I referenced a wonderful circumstance of events that led me to find an old set of lyrics written by a special person who wanted me to score them.  I tell you again, like I said earlier, I was not ready to do that when the piece of paper was readily handed to me those 15, 16, 17 years ago.  Now…I am ready to do something with them.

It is time to call Jefferson.

Jeff Carpenter is one of greatest friends I have ever known.  For whatever reason, I wish I knew, I am not the most social person that ever walked the planet.  I delight in helping others.  As a school counselor, I can do that and enjoy the success that is in the works.  When I see a former student “make good” it only reaffirms what I saw before others did not.  That is all I need.

I met Jefferson, that is what I call him, in 1996.  He was, reluctantly I would say, at my wedding reception 22 years and 1 day ago.  At the time his wife and my VERY NEW BRIDE were working together.  I am sure Mary had to drag him there.

Three years later, after tragic circumstances, I was meeting up with Jeff Carpenter again.  This time to record a song I had written in honor of the Indianapolis Colts in 1999.  That Colts team, in Peyton Manning’s 2nd year, went from 3-13 in 1998 to 13-3 in 1999.  I was writing songs then.  I wrote one in honor of the Colts.  I wonder if my dear friend and Colt aficionado, Adam Disque, knows this?  I don’t remember playing it for him.

I was a nervous wreck the day I walked into Jeff Carpenter’s Alfresco Place Studio to “RECORD” for the first time in my life.  Funny…now when I am in his studio and recording a song I feel like I am back to my musical home.  There is a peace there between Jefferson and me that is pure magic, bliss, karma, whatever you want to call it.  When I am there I know I am where I need to be,  providing I have a lyric sheet with guitar chords written on it.

I have recorded properly with Jefferson on many occasion.  In 2001 we did my first CD Leap of Faith.  In 2004-2006 we did The Best Thing You Did Yesterday….and last year on my 49th birthday, he handed me the finished product of a 16 song project we had been working on.  I have not pressed it and given it a proper name.  In earnest I was waiting on this year…my 50th year…to perhaps record a couple more tunes and then pick out 14 of these latest to make a CD proper.  Jefferson and I would like that.

I owe him so much, Jefferson.  Business wise, I have tried to do him right.  When it comes to dollars and friendship, Jefferson and I have never had problems.  I am thankful for that.  I just wish I could pay him twice what I do.  Recording ain’t cheap.  Our friendship is priceless.  If I had a million bucks, his studio with a handful of songs would be my first stop.  I could write them.

Watching Rod Wurtele add keyboards.

Where the magic happens.

Rod, Jefferson, and me.

Rod is never there to have a bad time.

Barry King laying down some guitar.  He is awesome.

Jeff and me talking it over.

A session in 2016.  We look miserable, don’t we.

I don’t know what we were not thinking on this day in 2004.  To my left were Tim Krekel and Jim Baugher working on songs I had written.  This is still humbling to me.  I wish I could call these guys up and get them in to Jefferson’s place in two weeks.  I can’t.  They are not with us.  Why I did not get in a photo with these two makes me sad.  But…I’d rather have this shot.  Tim handed me that guitar during these session to clarify a few details.  He was nervous handing it over.  That is when you know you have a guy in love with his guitar.  I doubt many played it.

My love for music made sense thanks to Jeff Carpenter.  I owe him more than I can ever repay.  And now, thanks to Jackie Gayheart’s song, it is time to call Jefferson again.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

My dear wife of 22 years, Carrie, and I went to Columbus, Indiana today.  We walked around and shivered.  On the way to Columbus, we stopped in a few fields in Jackson County to look at our old friends the Sandhill Cranes that always stop off at the flat river bottoms in the area as they are heading North again.

These are awesome birds.

We stopped at the new Commons in Columbus.  It is new to me, anyway, remodeled in 2011, the work to redo the place was worked around this piece of kinetic art called Chaos I by Swiss artist Jean Tinguely.  It was paced here in 1974 and you better believe there was some confusion over this chaos.  What the heck is it?  Well, it is art.  Love it or leave it.  I like it.  It was there when I was six and it is still there.

Columbus is a cool town.  I was born here.

Looking up at the art.

The Courthouse next door.

Last night Carrie and I had a great time at the NH Cougars basketball game.  The team has won 6 in a row after a 10 point victory over the Crawford County Wolfpack.  I say keep up the good work!

And I will keep speaking the rights!

Danny Johnson

I did have brown hair once upon a time.

Tomorrow will our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.  Time waits for no one.  I always thought I got a great more intelligent the day I married my dear wife, Carrie.  I think that is true.  I am glad she said yes.

In a few minutes Carrie and I will be heading to the North Harrison High School gym to catch the Cougars as they take on the Crawford County Wolfpack.  I can see Crawford County from my back porch.  It is across the Blue River.  These two teams are always ready to play each other in basketball.  It is a good time and I think the Cougars will take care of business and run their record to 14-6 tonight…they have won 5 in a row.  Good times.

February 10, 1996 was a good day.  These two guys, Mickey Rutherford and Kelly Samons,  have probably not been adorned with greenery since that day 22 years ago.

Carrie and I got married in a one room church…Hancock Chapel.

It was 60 degrees that February Day.  Where we went to next day was even warmer.  We went to Las Vegas.  We saw Huey Lewis and the News at Caesars Palace. We rented a car and took a cruise.

It was 96 degrees in Death Valley that day and we went a long time without seeing another soul.  We stopped a few places and I have never heard nothing, literally,  like we did that day when I reluctantly turned the car off.  But…we lived to tell the story.

This story has been a great one!

Speaking the Rights…

Danny Johnson  (Go Cougars!)

Have always been fascinated by the Winter Olympics.

Franz Klammer the great skier is still my individual hero of the Winter Games. He was The Kaiser.  My apologies to Eric Heiden.

Team-worthy…I still give that to the 1980 USA Hockey Team.  I believe in miracles.  A team picture of this bunch is in my office at school.

I also believe I am heading to my TV to watch some 2018 Winter Olympics.  I cheated earlier this evening.  I recorded the ski jump today and watched it as I spent some time on the exercise bike and the elliptical.

I can hear the Olympic Theme Song now.  Where is Jim McKay when we need him?

Speaking the brief rights…

Danny Johnson

Another in a series of posts as I head toward my 50th birthday.

A few weeks ago I rediscovered a single sheet of paper that had been handed to me a least a decade and a half ago.  It was song lyrics written by the mother of an old friend of mine.  A prolific writer of prose and verse, this wonderful lady knew that I was finding my way musically.  At the time I had written some songs and recorded them and did a few things playing some places and it probably appeared like I knew what I was doing.

She had confidence in me, I suppose.  She had more confidence than I did, I can tell.

She handed me a that piece of paper and asked me to put music to her words.  I am quite sure I had a silent scream on my face.  I was trying to find my own words and music at the time.  And now this wonderful lady, whom I respect beyond words or music, was asking me to score some lyrics she had written?  Oh my.

“Now don’t rush.  I’m in no hurry.  But if you find time and can do something with it, I’d like to hear it one day if you can.”

She said these words with the same cadence and delivery that she used when her son’s friends would show up and she would show us to the kitchen table for some home-cooked vittles.

“Oh boys, it ain’t much.  I got some fried taters and fried chicken and here’s some green beans and a few biscuits.  Get what you want if you can find anything there worth eatin’.”

They lived in Milltown.  We quickly renamed the place “Mealtown”.

So a few weeks ago I found those lyrics.  When she handed those to me I was scared to death.  I was not worthy!  The gravity of putting music to her words was too much for me fifteen or seventeen years ago. I couldn’t do it.

When I came across those words on that sheet paper recently I was relieved that I found it.  I was glad I still had it.  Of course I had it.  I keep all important writings.

I pulled out my guitar and in fifteen minutes I was singing this song and a shiver went up the spine.

A few days ago I called my friend, this lady’s son.  I asked if he had ever heard mention of a song his Mom wrote of a particular title.  He told me he had not heard of it.  I was not shocked.  I have written scores of stuff that I have not introduced to anyone.  If you write, that is what you do.

I told my friend my old fear of touching this song was replaced with relief that I had found it and could now…musical confidence is not a quite the same problem anymore…do something with it.  I told my friend I was not scared of it anymore.  He said something prophetic to all these recent speaktherights.com posts, “I think that happens when we get older.”

So I plan on stopping by her house soon to pull a guitar strap over my neck and say, “Jackie, do you remember that song you gave me to put music to a very long time ago?  I hope you like it.  This my debut of putting music to someone else’s words.  I like it.  I hope you do to.”

Glad I could share this with you.  It means a great deal to me.

Now I got some practicing to do.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

I had to put The Moody Blues in.

I was actually sitting here warming up my laptop and I thought, I have not listened to my one Alice Cooper CD is ages.  I put it in and got through 5 of the ten songs and it did nothing to help me write.  But now you know the Moody Blues fan who likes listening to Barry Manilow (if you have read earlier posts) also has Alice Cooper on the shelf.

The music collection is pretty wide.  Travis.  Train.  Fastball.  Willie Nelson.  Bill Anderson.  Frank Sinatra.  Davis Gilmour.  The Byrds. The Platters.  The Drifters.  Boz Scaggs.  David Foster.  Alicia Keys.  Dusty Springfield.

Here is the teller…which music artists are represented most on my shelf?

The Moody Blues:  I have everything they have released.  After The Moodies the top ten include:

Bob Seger, Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Asia, Huey Lewis and the News, Jimmy Buffett, Bruce Springsteen,  The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, and Billy Joel.  I probably have more Chicago than I think.  Tim Krekel is also well represented, as he should be.

What is not on my music shelf that you might think may be there?

There is no Led Zepplelin.  Won’t be. I have no Fleetwood Mac, though I enjoy hearing them on the radio.  I have no REO Speedwagon.  I have no Bon Jovi.  I have no Journey.  I have no Def Leppard (sp?).  Aside from Hotel California, I was never a great Eagles fan.  I really get a kick out of Joe Walsh though.  I have no Bob Dylan,  I have heard he is genius.  I’d rather listen to Alice Cooper.  I do stop in my tracks when I hear Dylan sing the song “Jokerman” and his songs “My Back Pages” by The Byrds and “I Don’t Want to Do It” by George Harrison are tops.  But that is all the Dylan I want to listen to.  Don’t tell me about a genius writing a line like “the sun’s not yellow it’s chicken”.  I don’t want to hear that.

Bob Seger is my American Rocker poet.  I listened to him in a football locker room as a kid and I got it.  “Against the Wind” is pure poetry.  No one brought more personal sounds to the lyric like Bob Seger did.  The sounds don’t seem to be looking for lyric approval.  They  fit .  They are perfect together…Seger’s words and the music he puts together.

John Mellencamp?  I got a couple of his CDs but I don’t reach for them often.  I don’t need to listen to Indiana when I am sitting here.

Those are my musical thoughts tonight.

Speaking the RIghts…

Danny Johnson

10 days in, 40 days to go and I will be 50 years old.

I decided to do something a little different tonight.  I went into the speaktherights.com photo vault and decided to comment on some of my favorite pictures in no particular order, other than I wish I had time to show more.

This basketball goal is on a tree in front of the house of one of my mother’s older sisters.  The tree and the goal are outside of Forest, Mississippi on a road that hasn’t changed much in the over forty years of it that I can remember.

I will never forget the shiver up the spine I received when I looked at this on my Directv screen in 2016.  Too cool.  Thank you ladies.

Bob, Tim, and Davis lead blocking for me into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to watch the third Saturday in October.  That means BAMA and UT.

It means…

and a little…

That old boy was melting my earwax!

A great picture of Jarrett and Cody one day on Blue River fishing…and catching fish, I might add.  Best photo I ever took with crappy old phone.

Carrie and me at Kingsport, TN to see a Train concert.  We sat on a high school football field watching it.  Thank you Eastman Corp. for sponsoring such an event that cost 20 bucks to attend.

Taking a photo of Carrie in front of the fictional Hill Street Station building in Chicago from the 80s cop show Hill Street Blues.  I was a nervous wreck.  “Lets be careful out there…”

While in Chicago, at the behest of dear old (he’s 50 already)  friend, Kelly Samons, we went for a Pizano’s pie and it was a good call.

Imagine that.  Me and my Dad at the Santa Monica Pier.

Don’t know how many of these I have in me.  But this was a good day.

So was this.  Taking a photo on a Friday from the Red Rocks stage near Denver.  The next night it looked like this…

The Moody Blues, of course.

Me and my Granny looking at and reminiscing over her spoon collection.  This photo was taken not long before she left us.  I still miss her.  The spoons are on a wall not far from where I am typing these words.

Never tire of these.

Working on a song with Rod Wurtele and Dr. Millard Dunn was a dream come true.  An English professor, a Wulfe Brother, and me.  I am a blessed man for sure.

There was never a better old hound.  I told him so to the end.

The renaissance of North Harrison Football has been a dream come true.  I got back just in time.

Before I left Medora, I got to Kiss the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Made that trip three times with 4th grade class.  Thanks to Mr. Disque and the kids for asking me to join them.  It was great.

I’ll never claim photography skills.  All I can say was the light was right.  My friend Jerry Brown and his son Clay.

Adventures?  Yes, I have had a few.  But I can’t tell you how good it has been the past week to talk to kids heading off for visits at schools like Southern Illinois and East Tennessee State.  The looks on their faces when I point out landmarks or have tangible knowledge about Carbondale, Illinois or Johnson City, Tennessee is priceless.  They are glad I get it and I am glad I can help.  Getting around a bit never hurt.

I think this photo was in the second post I put here.  Bob and Davis took me to Fenway and there on the big board was Fisk’s iconic homer against the Reds in the ’75 World Series.  Then they showed Fisk at the game that night.  I could write about that night the rest of this one.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson