Country Music Broke My Brain

PRAISE FOR

Country Music Broke My Brain

“Sharp, witty, insightful, opinionated, passionate, and always unpredictable . . . is how one would best describe Allyson House. Oh, what? Gerry wrote this book? Well, you couldn't be married to all those qualities without some of it rubbing off! . . . You could? (Gerry, I love you like a brother. I got the top bunk though!)”

—
Keith Urban,
singer/songwriter and
American Idol
judge

“There was never a time Gerry House wasn't in my house or in my car when he was on the radio and I was in Nashville. I'd listen just so I could steal his stuff. Seriously, he is such a funny, talented, and good human being. I always loved going to the radio station and visiting with him, and I always felt so good for hours after I left the station, just basking in my Gerry glow. I can't wait to read this book and I bet you can't either.”

—
Dolly Parton

“I've known Gerry for almost 20 years. In that time he has made me laugh out loud 15,602 times, give or take a few. He's a great man and a great friend.”

—
Martina McBride

“Only once in my 30 years in Nashville have we been blessed with what I would consider ‘true talent' on the airwaves. I, like most everyone in town, would look forward to waking up and tuning in to the humor, quick wit, and reflective wisdom of Gerry House—he was always far more than a jock—his timing was impeccable, but the cards that he brought to the table were Will Rogers good! He bailed on us and left a void on the radio that may never be filled.”

—
Kix Brooks,
singer/songwriter and nationally syndicated radio host

“Gerry House, radio personality, a songwriter of note in the Nashville recording community. So now my friend Gerry writes a book . . . (insert cricket sounds here) . . . No doubt the closest thing to a death blow the literary world will have suffered to date.”

—
Michael McDonald,
Grammy Award–winning singer and artist

“There's nothing more uncomfortable than being around someone that tries to be funny and isn't. Gerry House IS f***ing funny!”

—
Ronnie Dunn

“Gerry is the funniest, most knowledgeable, creative, and interesting person I know. From the day we met, he has made me think, laugh, and stare in amazement at the way he can make the simplest things in life interesting and compelling. He's traveled the world, sat with sinners and saints, cheated death when no one thought he could, and made a name for himself like no other. He became an icon to an industry that often forgets fast about the great people that built Country music and radio. He is in the Hall of Fame for a lot of reasons (an even bigger honor because he's still alive), but even if he weren't, he would definitely be at the top of my ballot every time!”

—
Clay Hunnicutt,
Executive VP of Programming, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment

“Gerry is simply the very best at what he does. The radio sounds lonely without him on it.”

—
Jay DeMarcus, Rascal Flatts

“I've spent more than 20 years building a reputation as a trusted, responsible leader. And now I've thrown that away overnight by admitting that I know Gerry House.”

—
Dave Ramsey,
New York Times
bestselling author
and nationally syndicated radio host

“Gerry House is a personal friend of mine. I cannot think of another single person with as much talent and imagination as he possesses. We have been friends for many years. He has written things for me to use on television and in my road shows. When we get the chance to go out and have dinner together, I can verify that his table manners are impeccable. He married pretty well, too.”

—
Barbara Mandrell, recording and television star

GERRY HOUSE

BENBELLA BOOKS, INC.

DALLAS, TEXAS

Copyright © 2014 by Gerry House

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

BenBella Books, Inc.

10300 N. Central Expressway

Suite #530

Dallas, TX 75231

www.benbellabooks.com

Send feedback to
[email protected]

First e-book edition: March 2014

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

House, Gerry.

  
Country music broke my brain / by Gerry House.

     
pages cm

  
ISBN 978-1-939529-90-9 (trade cloth) — ISBN 978-1-939529-91-6 (electronic) 1. House, Gerry. 2. Disc jockeys—United States—Biography. 3. Songwriters—United States—Biography. 4. Country musicians—United States—Anecdotes. I. Title.

  
ML429.H78A3 2014

  
781.642092—dc23

  
[B]

2013037796

Editing by Erin Kelley

Proofreading by Michael Fedison and Jenny Bridges

Indexing by Jigsaw Information

Cover design by Ty Nowicki

Text design and composition by John Reinhardt Book Design

Printed by Bang Printing

Distributed by Perseus Distribution

www.perseusdistribution.com

To place orders through Perseus Distribution:

Tel: 800-343-4499

Fax: 800-351-5073

E-mail:
[email protected]

Significant discounts for bulk sales are available.

Please contact Glenn Yeffeth at
[email protected]
or 214-750-3628.

This book is for Allyson, Autumn and Shane, Willa and Holland, Lucy and Desi, and Charlene.

Contents

       
Foreword

       
Introduction

  
1
   
Alligator Clip Radio

  
2
   
The Fights

           
Quizzicle #1

  
3
   
Don't Bother Me

  
4
   
Country Music Causes Brain Damage

  
5
   
Johnny Paycheck

  
6
   
Glossary of Terms

  
7
   
The Lid Incident and Smoking with a Monkey

           
Quizzicle #2

  
8
   
Baby's in Black

  
9
   
Garth Brooks

10
   
Gay Country

11
   
Gorilla Glue

12
   
Grand Canyon Reba

13
   
John Rich Gatlin Boxcar