. .the Storyteller.


 

Roy had come to Nashville at the urging of of a lifelong friend
from our hometown, Shreveport, Louisiana, Jerry Kennedy.
Jerry had  moved to Nashville years ahead  and  began a career
with Mercury Records.   Needless to say he had epitomized the
proverbial "small town boy makes good."  It was  here while
working as an A&R man for  Mercury Records that Roy first
met  and worked with Tom T. Hall.  He was in total awe of the
man and his music.

I remember conversations  I had with Roy when he first began
working with Tom T. He told me of going to Tom T.'s sprawling
farm and eating "deer and biscuits" there!  He also told me of
humanitarian causes  Tom T.  was actively involved in,  of which
no one was aware.   Why?  Because that's the way Tom T. wanted
it.  He wasn't involved for the recognition, he was involved because
he cared for  others less fortunate.  And that seemed to be quite
rare in a business  seemingly built on "bright lights and big cities."

Roy was totally impressed and in awe of this man who wrote
simple stories about country people doing country stuff.
His  songs made you feel it was "okay" to have come from  the
rural South or  "humble beginnings."   I  guess that is one of the
many  reasons we were drawn to the man and his music.
Music that  brought  back memories of sitting on the front porch
of our Grandpa's house in the evening and listening to stories
of hard times, hopes for better times,  and always with the firm
belief that they would come our way someday.   The first time I
heard  "Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine," I  can
remember thinking, "Grandpa would have loved this song."
I don't think anyone  from  south of the Mason-Dixie can listen
to Tom T.'s  songs and not find  memories of a profound heritage
in one of them.   Someone from their past, a family member, or
even themselves. ..and  all the while  feel  musically carried  back
to that old front porch.

An excerpt from the Mercury-Nashville 1995 biography of
Tom T. Hall sums  up the feelings of so many for The Storyteller:

"No other composer has explored the poetry of everyday life as
deeply. None of his peers have created as vivid a cast of
characters. No songwriter before or since has worked within
the country idiom to fashion as consistent a body of work with
such compassion, insight and narrative strength. He remains,
simply, the ultimate musical "Storyteller."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tom T.   was quoted  once as saying, "Ten years from now, it will
be  old stuff."  "Each generation should entertain their own."
Perhaps that's how it should be.  But  for the generation that was
entertained by the extraordinary talents  of this artist it will never
become "old stuff."   And the most phenomenal aspect of this is
the "generations"  entertained by Tom T. seems never-ending.
 

-  Donnis Dea Coleman

  "Ol' T's In Town"  (KOC-CD-7972)
produced  by Roy Dea and Tom T. Hall, and originally released as RCA AHL1-3495 in 1979.  In  1994  KOCH RECORDS began releasing an
incredibly  successful series of reissues and anthologies. "Ol' T's In Town"
"Soldier Of Fortune" and "Places I've Done Time" also produced by
Roy Dea  and Tom T. Hall were  reissued in 1998 on Koch Records.
The reissues are dedicated to the memory of Roy Dea.
 

"Soldier Of Fortune"(KOC-CD-7903)
Produced by Roy Dea and Tom T. Hall.  Original release on RCA
Records in 1980.  Reissued  on KOCH RECORDS in 1998.  Reissue
on Koch Records.is dedicated to the memory of Roy Dea
    

  "Places I've Done Time" (KOC-CD-7973)
Produced by Roy Dea and Tom T. Hall.  Original issue on RCA
 RCA APL1-3018, 1978  Reissued on Koch Records in 1998
“The records I made were always free-spirited and my producer
would capture that spirit on tape.”  Tom T. Hall, March 1998
 

Tracks And Credits >>

Thanks to Greg Hays for
research and documentation