A TRIBUTE TO TODD


I wanted to take a minute and mention the passing of my Bud and co-writer Todd Cerney. Todd and I were friends for about 15 years and wrote two songs, one called "Have a Little Faith" which is another one of those songs that is really cool, but just never found it's way.

Todd was a great guy as well as a wonderful writer. He had been in Nashville about 30 years starting out as an engineer. Told me some of the funniest stories. He would be working at some of the really huge studios as a second engineer, (getting all the crappy late night jobs.) He would work in the studios from about 6:00 in the evening, working sometimes till 2:00 or 3:00, THEN start doing his own stuff.

It was before automation, so he would have to perform each track live. He would push the "Record" button, then go in and do a full live drum track. Had to do it from start to finish. Then finish the track, run in, push "stop." If he messed up, he would have to run in, and start it all over again. Then he would do bass, guitar, madolin (he actually was a GREAT mando player) He taught Natalie Maines and Emily (Dixie Chicks) mandolin before they got their deal. He did that for several years.

He wrote with a TON of people and then met and started hanging out with Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy,who were pretty well established writers. One of the songs they wrote was called "I'll Still Be Loving You." He did one of those late night demos on it and it was cut by Restless Heart, who was a GREAT band in the 80's-90's. I LOVED that song and one of the cool times was when I had to call him from the road when I was hired to do a wedding and they wanted that song for the main wedding theme. I had to call him and get the lyrics, which is a pretty fun thing to do when you know the writer.

We met at the Frank Brown festival where he and Wood Newton sat in a very cold room to listen to me. He was always like that. Would listen to people and really spend time with them. We got together quite a bit for a while, wrote a few songs and finished two. His Wife, Kip was a local television personality and she was great too. I really feel for her.

About 6 years ago, Kip lost her job and Todd was hit by a stroke type illness that paralyzed the right side of his body. He couldn't play and was really having a tough time. He was making his way back, but they were close to losing their house. As they were getting down to losing everything, a song he had written with a newcomer to town (sound familiar?) artist, who had no shot at a record deal, suddenly ended up with one and released a song they had written about 8 years before. the guy's name was Steve Holy and the song was "GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL".It went to number one and was one of the biggest songs of the year.

His Tin Pan round that year was several people that had gotten nearly to being broke between hits and the round was called "Don't Have to Sell the House after all".

He was a warm, wonderful guy and I hate that I didn't see him for a while. That is what happens here. We all get into our own lives and even when you live in the same town you miss things. for the past few years he had been diagnosed with Cancer and was living with it. I had heard he got better for a while, then, I wrote with another friend Leslie Ellis about three weeks ago and she had played a benefit with him a few nights before that. Todd did about four songs and then had to quit. He was in a lot of pain and just was giving out.

We knew this was coming but you never expect it. So I heard this morning from Tina, who had heard it from someone. So thank you if it was one of you. I have been in the studio with Big Ed all day so haven't been able to get much news.

So I will remember my friend and co-writer Todd Cerney. One of the most decent guys I have ever known here. He brought a lot of joy to this world. It is very interesting that the song we wrote that we both liked the best was called "HAVE A LITTLE FAITH.' It really speaks well of him and a message we both wanted in the world.

I will post that so you can read and hear my friend Todd. The world should still hear him.

Thanks,

MAB