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We had just pulled up in front of our hotel in Huntsville, Alabama, and our manager went to check us in. I was tired, extremely exhausted, from the road. The party lifestyle I had been indulging in for years certainly had imposed its share of wear and tear, and it was beginning to take a toll on me. I was rundown and wanted to rest, but I knew that we had to go out this evening. It’s just something the band did. We would find a bar, usually be given VIP status, and once in, we would mingle with fans. We were on tour with Three Doors Down at the time, and we were indeed making a reputation for ourselves. But this night was different. I just didn’t want to go out. I asked my tour manager at the time if I could have the night off. I didn’t much feel like partying. His response was, “Absolutely.” “As a matter of fact,” he added, “here’s the key to the hotel room, and it’s all yours for the night. Me and the guys will be staying on the bus. Just make sure to meet us back down here at 10:00 am for bus call.”
I grabbed a backpack and threw some clothes in it, excited to have a room to myself for the night and finally get some rest. This rest was much needed after the prolonged chaos of life on the road. I made my way up to the hotel’s second floor, entered the room, and set my bag down. After a few moments of sitting on the bed, I decided that I was going to take a bath ... but before continuing this story, I need to go back to the beginning.
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Typically, we would get yelled at for playing on the manicured grass. But on this occasion, I remember my grandfather coming up to me and saying, “I talked to the entertainer, and he is going to let you get up there and sing a song.” I told my grandfather that I couldn’t do that. He told me that he had already made the arrangements and that if I didn’t, he would never speak to me again. He then proceeded to walk away. At that point, the pressure was on. I’m sure he would have spoken to me again, and that probably wasn’t the best way to motivate me. On top of my grandfather’s pressure, all of my friends joined in pressuring me to do it. I finally agreed. I got up there on the stage. It was quiet. It was as if the whole city was out that night, and that moment had all been set up just for me. I took a breath, and then I sang. The people loved it, and I received a standing ovation.
Now that we knew I could perform, my cousin and I came up with an idea to have a community talent show. This would be an opportunity for all of the local kids to show off their gifts. We cut out tickets that we handwrote on pieces of paper and sold them to the community people. My grandmother made us keep the price extra low. I would again sing, “I Swear.” The kid who hosted the event even dressed in a tux. It was classic. It was amazing to see all the parents and grandparents out there supporting us. What a fantastic night it was. This was my first real step into show business, and I loved it indeed.
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