Pickers

I'm married to a musician. I realize for someone living in the Nashville area to say that is like saying "I brush my teeth in the morning." What else is new, eh?

The difference in my musician is that he is a real, working one. He has never had a "real" job in his life. I didn't realize how out of touch he was with those of us who do the 9 to 5 thing until a couple weeks ago, he got an email from his fellow band members about a Wednesday meeting and someone referred to Wednesday as "Hump Day." The musician in him assumed it was a dirty connotation. He had NO idea what "Hump Day" meant!!!!! I had to explain to him that Hump Day is Wednesday because it is the middle of the week...we're getting over the hump of the week yada yada....claims he has never heard that phrase before.

Mr. Smiff is part of a band called The Grascals. They do bluegrass and do it very well. They won two awards in October from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), have opened at Radio City Music Hall and are nominated for a Grammy next month. They're playing the Station Inn on February 3.

To say I'm proud of Mr. Smiff is an understatement. We've been married 16 years and through 3 kids, ups and downs of musician life, I'm still his biggest cheerleader. He's had numerous near misses in his musical career. Been this far from major record deals only to have them taken out from under him; has secured a couple major record deals,(one record deal was all signed sealed and delivered, project recorded, and about a week later, taken away from him a couple days after we had brought our daughter home from the hospital. It was one of the worst moments in our married life) publishing deals, brushes with greatness, highs, lows, disappointments like you wouldn't believe. He's been a professional musician since he was 5 years old and he's still at it. Still, in my not so humble opinion, one of the best upright bass players and singers that's ever graced any stage. We've not been foreclosed on and we still have our cars. We don't live in a mansion but it's in a nice part of town and our kids go to the best schools in the county.

For him to get a Grammy nomination has made all the heartaches and hassles worth it. He has played SO many less than glamorous gigs in his time. Good lord, the stories he can tell. He's also played some pretty cool gigs all these years and crossed paths with some pretty interesting folks. I would be quite happy to have a Grammy on my mantel (wait, I don't have a mantel) but, if he doesn't win, that's ok. The competition is fierce with Rhonda Vincent, Cherryholmes,Del McCoury and Blue Highway. He's going to go to Hollywood and enjoy the moment. I can't help but think in his mind, some of the naysayers and jackasses he's had in his life will get the middle finger ala the famous (and fabulous) Johnny Cash photo.

The Grascals video "Me and John and Paul" is beginning to air on GAC and hopefully in the next little bit will air on CMT. Check them out. www.grascals.com