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March 2010 Newsletter
 
Greetings Fan Club Members,
 
After spending a month on the road visiting in warmer weather, we returned home last weekend.  We had lots of fun at the Ladner’s  - can you imagine three young fellows like that!  Some of the things they say and do!!!  Since I raised four girls, it is all quite a surprise to me.  We played lots of games, Rumikub and Pictionary and cards.  We sure had lots of laughs.  I baked a large batch of cinnamon rolls that were eaten up in two days.  Bo was scheduled to play in Cleveland February 12th, but they had an inch and a half of snow and called it off!  So we stopped there again on our way back and watched him perform with the whole band in Knoxville.  It was at Patrick Sullivan’s, a three story building that used to be a bordello and is said to be haunted by a lady that worked there.  We met some people from Wisconsin there, one lady’s husband grew up near the Ridge, they are related to the Nowak’s and Prochaska’s.  It truly is a small world.  The band has a much fuller sound with four pieces, and are more danceable.  Bo has gained so much confidence performing, he is much more animated - all over the stage!  Even more fun to watch!! 
 
We went to John and Ruby Hitch’s recording studio near Knoxville and sat quietly in the back of the room while they did a live radio show with Bo as the guest.  They interviewed him between songs and he introduced some of the songs.  It was very impressive, they  even have golden microphones.  They collect all things to do with Mayberry.  John has built the jail, barber shop, etc. in their back yard, we wished we could have spent more time looking at it all.  It was getting dark and cold by the time the show was over.  He had just emceed his last Tennessee Valley Barn Dance two weeks before, Bobby G. Rice was on his last show.  Ruby sent me the tapes from both shows that Bo was featured on.  I enjoyed listening to them.  They played some neat old songs.
 
Bo had his 1965 Ranchero running and was driving it.   But the axle bearing broke last Thursday on his way to school.  He cut the back of his hand on the rusty fender trying to get the wheel off quickly. Then Joey hurt his back helping load up the truck to get it home.  (Something else I missed out on, not having boys.)  So Bo went to the doctor and Joey to the chiropractor.  They used glue instead of stitches on Bo.   It sure was hurting him Friday  but it didn’t seem to affect his performance.  It wasn’t his strumming hand,  that would probably have been worse. 
 
Till next month!
 
Sincerely,
 
Jean Slapak
Fan Club President

 

 

Greetings Fan Club Members,

 
We are having fun spending time with the Ladner family in Tennessee.  Not that it is a lot warmer here!  We are going places with them and playing games.  They have a new fun game called Imaginnif that brought a lot of laughs.
 
We went to Mayberry Country yesterday and watched Bo do a live interview.  It was with a real sweet couple named John and Ruby Hitch.   They have many buildings built like Mayberry – the jail, barber shop, etc.  It was getting dark and cold when they completed the radio show, so we didn’t spend near as much time looking at the memorabilia as we would have liked to.   John used to sing and record, plus he emceed many shows.  He knows many many stars, he told of talking with Joe Stampley at Carl Smith’s funeral last month.  He emceed his very last show on the Tennessee Valley Barn Dance January 16th and Bobby G. Rice was one of the performers there.  They have thousands of records and CD’s, he had one I have been looking for for years.
 
The show will be aired Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, or 9:00 Central time.   Local people can hear it on WLIL which is 730 AM, we can all hear it on the Internet at www.wlilcountry.com.   Please spread the word and listen to it if possible.  He sang two songs, introduced a few of the old time gospel songs they played, including an old hymn by Hank Snow and Sonny James and just chatted with John and Ruby.  We really enjoyed being there.  Actually you may hear John saying a few words.  (Something about not getting a chance to get a word in edgewise). 
 
I will write more when I get back home.  We are going to Las Margaritas in Cleveland tonight – it will be the first time we heard him with these bandmates.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jean Slapak
Fan Club President
 

 

Winter  2010 Newsletter  ………………………………........ Happy New Year

 

Dear Fan Club Members,

 

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and are all keeping your New Year’s Resolutions so far!!  I hear Bo got another guitar (he says you can never have too many guitars) and a black leather jacket.  He had a month off for semester break and was taking it easy.  They had a show in Lenoir City, but the weather was pretty nasty. 

 

I was only able to hear parts of Bo’s interview on WLIL because I was working, and it came at a busy time.  John heard most of it.   He was interviewed by a nice couple named John and Ruby Hitch, two very interesting people.  They have Mayberry Country Classics, a miniature Mayberry in their back yard and an old Country Museum in their basement.   They were obviously smitten with Bo and said lots of nice thing about him.  We hope he will have another interview later. 

 

  This is an internet radio station that plays requests.  Click on the  link http://musictogousa.com/Requests.html

then click on B, then scroll down to Bo Ladner and hit request and they will play Bo's songs.

 I tried it twice - it’s pretty neat to have his songs played.  It is very easy to request, I had a little more trouble getting it to play.  I finally deleted all the address after .com (the request part).  Then I clicked on “play”.   It tells you right away if they will play it or not and they always play it within an hour.  

 

This is a notice from www.spacecoastiradio.com  

 

January 2010 Spotlight Music Artist(s) and Their Music Are:

Week-2 Guy Leroux - Jan 11, - Jan 16, 2010
Week-3 Bo Ladner - Jan 18, - Jan 23, 2010
Week-4 Mike McGuire - Jan 25, - Jan 30, 2010

 

Keep Tuning Into SpaceCoastIRadio.com (Live365) To Listen To Their Spotlight Promotion and Their Music

 

Bo will be the featured artist on the Rhode Island Public TV station on January 22nd.  There is no internet viewing, but we are promised a CD after the fact. 

 

We will be heading down to visit with the Ladners in a couple of weeks.  We hope Bo will be playing the weekend we are there, and that we don’t have too big of  a fight about the Super Bowl.  Some of us are still Brett Favre fans, and some of them are not.  (Can you tell which side I’m on?)  Enjoy the beautiful winter days while they last. 

Till next time!

 

Jean Slapak

Fan Club President

 

 

Dear Fan Club Members,

Things have been very busy for Bo Ladner this fall.  Since his first
appearance on Fro-Daddy’s on woop.fm, he and his band have appeared at
Pearney’s and Gypsy Rose in Cleveland and Angela’s Café in Athens.  He
celebrated his birthday on October 25th.  His favorite gift was tires for
his Ranchero.  The next weekend, which was Halloween, he played at a
campground near Saddle Valley.  They are also trying out Wednesday nights at
a new place in Cleveland called Pokies.

Bo was supposed to be the  Artist of the Month in November on
AirPlayDirect.com.  Unfortunately Jimmy Lawson quit doing that the
end of October.   You can still click on this link, sign the guest book and
request more Bo Ladner songs.  (He is great and we love his songs, don’t
we).   http://www.jimmylawson.com/

When I am working or playing on my computer at night, I started listening
to some of the Internet Radio stations.  If you like old country music like
I do, www.woopfm.com/ plays songs and artists I haven’t heard for years.
www.NBRNfm.com/ plays new artists, that is fun to listen to also.  Both can
be accessed from Bo’s site under links.

Bo and his band are appearing at a new place in Cleveland tonight called
Angelo’s.  They had a good and appreciative crowd at their first appearance
at Pokies and will be playing there again.

Enjoy the beginning of winter.

Sincerely,

Jean Slapak
Fan Club President


 

 

Fall Newsletter
> On September 26th, Bo Ladner performed on stage at the South Boston
> Harvest Fest, not only without me in the audience, but also in the rain.
> It sprinkled on him during the first set and rained harder during his
> second set. About 4:00 p.m. they canceled the rest of the day, and his
> third appearance. Making the trip much more worth while, he got booked at
> the Berry Hill Resort and Convention Center that night. It is very
> exclusive; it used to be a plantation with beautiful grounds and a rich
> history. It seats about 1000 and he played to an enthusiastic crowd. Check
> out www.berryhillinn.com if you want to find out more about it.

> October 3rd and 4th Bo, lead guitarist George Beech and bass guitarist
> Carl Summer played Friday and Saturday nights at a Motorcycle Rally near
> Birmingham Alabama. They had a good crowd of over 3000 people there also.

> Bo is well into the first semester of his sophomore year at Lee
> University. He says Theology is one of his best classes and is looking at
> his major in English. He was able to get all his classes on three days, so
> that helps with the driving.
> Bo has become very interested in old cars. Besides his copper colored ‘77
> Lincoln Continental Mark V, he now has a 1963 Ranchero. He said they
> finally have it running; now they just have to get it to stop! He said the
> brake line comes next. He is spending a lot of time working on them. He
> even went to an old car rally in Atlanta last month with a buddy. There
> were many many antique cars there, including Model A’s. It was a fun
> camping weekend and they saw an entertainer from back in my days, Wanda
> Jackson. Do any of you remember “Right or Wrong” and “In The Middle of A
> Heartache”?

> Bo has been appearing on WOOP 99.9 FM radio
> http://www.woopfm.com/index.htm with Frodaddy as the DJ and is starting
> to get bookings in Cleveland, TN night clubs. I hope some of you were
> able to hear his first appearance this Wednesday. You could actually see
> the DJ in the studio. Unfortunately it was just over when I got home. I
> called in anyway and they played one more song of his for me. I requested
> "Show Me the Way".

Bo will be the Artist of the month in November on the
JimmyLawson@jimmylawson.com . I will remind you all again when he is
Artist of the Month to vote for him as Artist of the Year. He is still in
first place at this time.

Till next time,

Sincerely,
Jean Slapak
Fan Cub President

 

           

August Newsletter

 

 Dear Fan Club Members,

 

July was a busy month for Bo.  They spent a week here in early July.  Bo played at the Red Room and then appeared on the stage with Lyle Foley on Farmer’s Appreciation Days.  He was well received, got lots of good comments, signed autographs and sold several CD’s to fans.  Of course we had a great time visiting with the family.

 

Bo participated in some Colgate Country contests, both in Georgia and in Tennessee.  He won the first round, but got knocked off in the second in Georgia and he came in second in Tennessee.  It is giving him some experience . 

 

Bo was spotlighted as the Artist of the week July 26th through August 2nd.    With a big thanks to you, the fans, Bo is # 1 since May .. 

 

His fourth song was released as a single to AirPlay Direct.  It is “Show Me the Way” a soft, sensuous ballad that really showcases Bo’s tender side.  Click on  http://airplaydirect.com/ to listen to it.  When his picture comes up, click on it and enjoy.  I think this is a fabulous song, Bo sings it with such emotion.   

 

Bo‘s English teacher from Cleveland came to see him perform one night.  Here is a quote from him.  “You have an extraordinary gift my friend. Your ability to inhabit and move so freely within each isochronous unit of your music is nothing short of genius. It's as if the split second that we hear exists more for you as a leisurely couple of minutes. I think that must be called singing in the zone! At any rate, we enjoyed your music last night tremendously and are off just now to the blue hole in a borrowed van--with a cd player. So we'll all be rocking down ol' Copper Road to Bo Ladner.”    You might want to look up “isochronous” in Wikipedia and see if you can understand what he means.

 

 

 

    July 2nd Newsletter

  Hello Everyone,

 

Because of the number of the news reports, etc.  I haven’t really written a newsletter for a while.  It’s much more fun to be passing on news flashes, etc.  I also received a list of radio stations that are playing Bo’s songs and copies of reviews.  I will include one. 

 Subject: Critique for Bo Ladner’s 3 songs off Airplay Direct!

 Howdy Keith,

 I just finished listening to the 3 songs by Bo Ladner that you sent me.  “Midnight Train” just took me on a “Runaway Train” ride, down the rails, with no turnin’ back.  Definitely some “Junior Brown, Derailers, Marty Stuart, BR549 influences, goin on here!  This artist is definitely one to watch and my scale here awards Bo “nothing less than a solid 10! Love it!!

90MPH definitely , definitely exceeds the musical speed limit!  Nice Boogie Woogie piano “in your face music goin on here, that took me past the speed of sound, and this song brings out a style resembling Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley and George Thoroughgood and the Delaware Destroyers, all rolled into one!  Great smooth vocals by Bo on this one!  My 1 to 10 scale on this one merit’s a firm 10 here Keith. 

“The Drugs or Me” took me down ole memory lane with shades of Johnny Rodriguez and Billy Crash Craddock shining through!  This song by Bo can definitely be deemed the modern day sequel for the old classic “Rollin’ in my Sweet Baby’s Arms.”  Bo gets another perfect 10 from me, on my musician scale.  This artist, in my opinion, has the voice, unique style, presentation and “complete package” to be a  huge major artist with a major label in Nashville.  One of them is bound to snatch this fella up soon.  Bo would be a huge marketing investment with the  potential of paying “High Dividends” in a short period of time.  Great job on all 3 songs Bo!  Thanks for the great entertaining songs by Bo.  I so  enjoyed them all.  Have a great weekend.  Gilbert  

 Gilbert is on the Songwriters and Artist Directory, but I don’t know exactly what his title is.   I do agree with his taste!!  One of my friends says when she plays “90 Miles an Hour” while she is driving, it makes her go faster! 

Midge and boys are coming to visit us next week.  Bo is playing at the Red Room in downtown Dodgeville from 9:00 to midnight  Saturday night, July 11th   .  If you attend the Fireworks that night, stop in afterward.     Bo will also take the stage with Lyle Foley on Sunday July 12th for the Farmers Appreciation Days and sing a few songs there. 

 Another news flash!!!

 On Tuesday, June 30th, Bo won the preliminary round of Colgate Country Showdown held at Rascal's Bar and Grill in Valdosta, GA. Bo sang "I've Been Everywhere", "Ridin' that Midnight Train" and "Allassippi" to a packed crowd of over 300 people and edged out some very good singers to claim the win. Shotgun Charlie Walker, the MC of the event from KIX country 99.5 said Bo had awesome stage presence and the vocals to back it up. "Bo, man, you got what it takes, you are gonna have a great career." He even mingled with the audience during Bo's performance to make sure he was right and the crowd was loving Bo Ladner. What a great birthday present for fan club president Jean Slapak!

Bo has been very busy doing internet radio interviews and has been heard all over the world on NBRN.fm. Please visit them at http://nbrnradionetwork.com/artistvotes.htm to vote for Bo as your favorite new artist of the month. Bo is very glad he chose to use Keith Bradford of KMA Records to release his first singles to an international audience. "Ridin' that Midnight Train" went straight to #1with requests for radio stations to play his songs.   Voting closes on July 15, so please take the time to vote for Bo.

 Bo called me at 9:45 Tuesday night to wish me Happy Birthday and to tell me he won.  Then they stayed over to do a radio interview the next afternoon.  I am looking forward to seeing many of you next weekend at one of his shows.

 Sincerely,

 Jean Slapak

Fan Club President

     

April 2009 Newsletter

 

Last Friday night I received a phone call from Bo on his way back from his recording session in Florida.  He was excited, wanted me to listen to his new recordings that he would send via e-mail when he arrived home, and then he wanted to discuss them with me.  He wouldn’t tell me any more until I listened to them. He was able to have some actual input this time and helped run the mixing board, so I was curious to see how it worked out.

 

    He sent them to me about 2:00 a.m.  After my morning walk and shower, I listened to a few songs until I had to do other things (like bake cinnamon rolls for Easter).  I would hurry to my computer and listen to a few more songs every time I had a few minutes free.  I had listened to them all at least two times and called about noon.  Bo wasn’t available at that time, but I talked to Jay and I said,  “I bet that’s Bo’s voice singing the bass harmony on the chorus of “If I Give My Soul”.  Jay said, “Yes, all four voices are his, he laid down the track for the high voice and both medium ones as well as the bass.”  So he did all the harmony!  When I finally talked to Bo, he said he got the idea the day before in a dream he had involving shuffleboard and Queen Elizabeth and waited until they got to the studio to spring it on his dad and his producer.  He also changed a few things instrumentally, so it sounds different than his previous version of it.  By the second time, I decided I liked it better.  He also played the piano on “Amy,” the new song he wrote and added wind chimes in a few places, which made a nice, light, angelic touch to the piece.   It’s great to see he has progressed that much with his piano technique.   I was very impressed! (Bo said, “and so was I.”)  He had amazing emotion on “Show Me The Way”, a song he introduced at the Dodger Bowl on New Years Eve.  Remember, it was one you voted overwhelmingly that he add to the album.  And the way he did Waylon Jennings’ “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean,” a real knockout. He aced it!!!   There was also a song called “Monopoly on the Blues,” a song about the loss of small town businesses and a spirit of Home in a small town. I think Bo added so much feeling to it.  It’s the kind of song you want to hear over and over again. The songs are being sent to KMA records to make the CDs.  I should have some copies soon.  I will let you all know when my first shipment arrives.  I can hardly wait!  And many of you have told me you are anxious for it too. 

 

Did you ever wonder why a singer will sing all night and act like he never wants to quit?  He doesn’t care about the pay, how big the audience is, just so someone is listening and enjoying.  This is how Bo describes the feeling.  “The thing I like best about singing for hours on end is that 2 or 3 hours into it, something divinely special happens and through the smoke-filled mystical air of the room and the torn-up gruff in my voice, my singing finds a tone that is truly worthy of being called “country” - it embodies all the pain and hurt and despair of the working man yet retains the hopeful nature and inner joy of the penniless but pious Preacher.  It hurts  to sing, but I never want it to end.  That’s what leads true singers like Johnny Cash,  Elvis and Hank Williams to do 4, 5, even 7 encores - because they have realized their purpose and want it to carry through.  It’s just a shame it can’t be like that all the time.”   (Did I tell you Bo is an excellent writer - so good his English Professors want him to consider a career in writing? He told them with a smirk, “that’s what I’m doing – songwriting.”)

 

In addition to having the CD’s soon, Bo and family are planning to come here in June or July.  I will let you know as soon as we get a firm date.  I know many of you are anxious to see him perform again, and many of you that were unable to see him this winter will be glad to get another chance. 

 

I have decided to add the words to “Monopoly On the Blues” because there are so many words and they are hard to catch.  Maybe everyone will get more out of the song having these in front of them.  I had to hear it many times before I caught it all.

 

 Well, folks still call it Main Street
But it ain't too main no more
Just some red brick houses line the block
With old stains and bolted doors
But it still runs into old US 13 a few blocks down
Though nowadays US 13 turns to dirt just south of town

But there's still a Bank on main street
So you can take out one more loan
Post Office keeps a zip code
For young folks to write back home
And there's a fire engine still on call
When there's someone 'round to drive  (He said when John’s {Slapak} around to drive)-
But other'n that, man, all that's left
Is this talkin' down old dive

{Chorus}
But when the dark comes down on Main Street
And the street lights try to shine
We unlock the front door at night
Put up that old NEON sign
And it tells folks if they're lookin', man,

We still got beer and boo-oze
Folks ain't got much 'round here no more
Just the memory, and the drink we pour
But inside of that door,
We got ourselves a monopoly on the blues

Old Johnny used to sell us all our groceries
'Cross the street
'Till the supermarkets opened up
Down in the county seat
And little Joe, he woulda taken over
Big Joe's hardware store
But the bankers beat him to it
And put a padlock on the door


Now the legionnaires come around Wednesday night

Since the Legion Hall burnt down
And we hear about their wives and wars
And buy 'em a couple rounds


Friday nights the farmers sit and bitch about the drought

They been bitchin' here forever,

now they're talking 'bout selling out

{Chorus}

Jenny's kept her looks since graduating
A few years back next June
Now she stares up out the window
Past the Neon at the moon
When the cash dried up for college
She came home to live for free
And work a register at the Wal-Mart
Down in the county seat

{Chorus}
But sometimes she stays till closing and
She turns off that old sign
I walk her to her parents' house,
Sometimes home to mine
Someday I 'spose I figure we got
Nothin' left to lose ~
Folks ain't got much 'round here no more
But the best is still inside of that door
And I'll offer her a share in this
Monopoly on the Blues

 

 

Till next month!  Or if I get some news that can‘t wait, which as you know happens with great regularity .

 

Sincerely,

Jean Slapak

Fan Club President


          March  2009 Fan Club Newsletter

 We were on vacation most of the month of February.   We stopped in Tennessee and watched the Super Bowl with the Ladners, as is our custom.   We were all pulling for the Cardinals, so were a little disappointed in the final minutes of the game.  Final seconds, actually.

We went to the Log Cabin on that Thursday night and watched Bo perform.  He was joined by a lead guitar player named George Beech for the first time.  Bo put on a great performance and enjoyed having someone playing with him, I think he seemed more relaxed.   And George did a great job; think how hard it must be when Bo starts ad-libbing and the line needs a few more licks so they will end at the same time.  George is a good singer also; he did “Just Close Your Eyes” very nicely, but he prefers to just let Bo do the singing.  They decided to add a bass player and form a band so they can play in bigger venues.  It makes for a fuller sound, and places where they have dances appreciate more pieces.  

Bo was on his way to school Friday Feb. 20th and some deer ran in the road at him.  He swerved to miss them, skidded in the gravel, lost control and ran into a power pole.  Thankfully he wasn’t hurt much, just sore ribs, arm and wrist, etc.  His cute little red car was totaled.  I had decided to use the picture of him and his first car.  I feel bad that he no longer has it. 

Larry Butler, who produced Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler" album, wants to meet with Bo. They are driving to Nashville tomorrow to meet him.   Butler is the only producer ever to win a Grammy award for Producer of the Year.  He has worked with Bo’s idol, Johnny Cash, as well as Waylon Jennings, John Denver and Crystal Gayle, to name a few.  I will let you know next letter how that went.

Bo is going back to Florida soon to put the finishing touches on his new album.  I’ll be sure and let you know when it is available for sale.

On Saturday, March 21, Bo and his new band mates 'The Benton County Boys', will be performing at "Talk of the Town" on Hwy. 411 in Etowah from 7 to 11pm. "Talk of the Town" is a neat, new cafe and ice cream shop with a newly redecorated lounge and dance floor. They serve food as well as alcohol, and strive to achieve a family friendly, non-smoking atmosphere. Bo is very excited about his young fans' opportunity to come hear him perform. 

 

Till next time!

Sincerely,

Jean Slapak

Fan Club President

 

 

Dear Fan Club Members,

 We had a very nice Christmas and a fun time with the Ladners visiting for a week.   Many of you got to see them and visit with them.  Bo made new friends and appreciates all the support and encouragement.  I have great pictures of a group of  Fan Club members.  We added several new people to our fan club.

  At the Dodger Bowl New Years Eve, the second set he played was all the songs he was considering for his new album.  Most of you voted for “Show Me The Way” over “Take the Long Way Around”.  He had sent me some of the songs he was considering earlier to see which ones I liked best.  So I was familiar with most of them, but it is amazing the way he can take a song and make it so completely his own.  “Monopoly on the Blues” was a folk-like song with a lot of words and I couldn’t imagine him singing it.  But I loved the way he did it!  He had learned at least a dozen songs that I had not previously heard him do.  Probably the song that got the best response of all was “Crying”, a song made famous by Roy Orbison.  He went up so high, then his voice breaks, just gives you chills.  That was requested over and over.  

 It was such a busy and fun week.  We had a great and enthusiastic crowd at Wolfy’s in Muscoda also. One lady said “He had me from the first song”.   Many people from both Dodgeville and Muscoda said they were coming to Bootleggers in Highland Saturday night.  But the ice covered roads kept all but a few hardy people home. 

 We celebrated both Christmas and New Years with most of our family that week.  We spent lots of time cooking and eating, shooting pool, playing card games and Rumikub and playing with our little triplet great grandbabies.  They smile and coo, are almost ready to crawl.  They are so adorable and it was the first time Midge’s family had seen them.  The boys made a snow man and went sledding at Blackhawk Park also.

 Bo and Midge were in Florida Thursday and Friday, the 8th and 9th.  Bo spent all day Thursday in the studio recording for his new album, but didn’t quite get done with it.  He finished up the last  two songs Friday.  Bruce Goodwin, Executive Producer of MCE said it is a sign of a real artist to put your whole self in a song like “Midnight Train” and then do a song  with a completely different feeling like “Show Me the Way” and just nail it also.  What I wouldn’t give to be at a recording session sometime!  Midge says it is very interesting and exciting.

 When my grandchildren graduate from high school, I have made a scrapbook for each of them.  Besides pictures, I include things they said when they were little, etc.  When I made Bo’s, I listened to all the songs he wrote over and over to be sure I got the words exactly right and made a page from each song.  I listened to them on the computer, that was before I had a CD.  I couldn’t stop and start them, just played them over and over.  This month I am featuring “Midnight Train”.  When I came upon the pictures of the boys in Engineer caps, I just had to include that on this page.

 Sincerely,

Jean Slapak

Fan Club President

              

 

 

 

Christmas Greeting from the Ladners and Slapaks

 

 

Joey, Midge, Bo, Jay and Josh Ladner, along with John and Jean Slapak

  wish you all the blessings of the Christmas season and the New Year!

 

In November Bo was very busy with school work and working up new songs for the upcoming CD.  He won the Freshman Award for English and is to attend an award ceremony the first week in December.  I understand he is considering a minor in English.   Getting your new class schedule is always a challenge.  He is trying to figure out a way to keep his Fridays free.

 

 He did his usual Thursday night stints at the Log Cabin in Benton and his monthly performance at the Etowah Nursing Home.  They sure love to have him come.   I am glad that, even though he is in college and doesn’t live at home, he has still been able to find time to go there every month. 

 

This month I am featuring his song “90 Miles an Hour”.  Although he wrote it in one sitting on a trip to Nashville in mid January and recorded it in late January, he didn’t think he was ready to perform it without the background music until August.  So I haven’t heard him do it “live” yet.  This is a page someone put together to possibly be used as a CD cover.  Midge was with him when he recorded the songs.  She said it was really neat to see him in the glass enclosed studio singing along with the musicians  in another room.   Bo’s signature is on the bottom.  They gave him the first copy of it.  So if it ever does make a cover, “you saw it here first.” 

After his  first very serious songs, it was surprising to me to have him do something so “playful”.  And his growl just tickles me!  I do love the beat and the way he sings it.   The video maker from Sweden that expressed interest in this song definitely wants to use it in a future project!

 

 

December is shaping up to be a very exciting month.   They are flying to California this weekend and he will perform on the Queen Mary for a Christmas party.  Then he will be performing twice at the Nashville Palace in Nashville for a “New Writer’s Night” hosted by James Breedwell.  Singers can only perform their own material.  It will be Monday and Thursday the 15th and 18th.  He will also play at Hooters and Chik-Fil-A in Hermitage on the 16th and 19th.  So they will be spending the week in Nashville.  Where they live, between Athens and Etowah is about two and one half hours from Nashville.  How exciting!! The Nashville Palace is right across from the Opry.  If I wasn’t working, you better believe I’d be on my way down for that!  His meeting with the producer  has been re-scheduled until mid January. 

 

Now for the BEST news of all.  They are coming home the week after Christmas.  I booked him at the Dodger Bowl on New Years Eve.  I hope you Wisconsin fans can all get out to see him.  We are planning a little something special for his Fan Club members.  We will have picture taking sessions with him.  We are also working on another booking for the following weekend.

 

Holiday Blessings,

Jean Slapak

Fan Club President

Charter Member Fan Club Newsletter
From Fan Club President, Jean Slapak
Hello everyone,
I am Jean Slapak, the grandmother of Bo Ladner. Who better to promote his music and help out in every way I can! I was there when Bo sang on stage for the very first time at the Country_Eagle in Athens. And I got him his first paying gig in June 2007 at Geno'˜s Bar in Cobb. Not an easy feat, considering he lives in Tennessee and I live in Wisconsin. But something I am very proud of.
I fell in love with country music when I was a teenager. I knew the words to all the songs that were popular then. Imagine what a thrill it is to me to hear Bo singing all the songs I loved back then! I have occasionally helped him out with words of some songs. Every time I see him perform, I am amazed at all the new songs he has learned. It's fun for me to think of an old song or hear it someplace and write Bo, you need to listen to this song
What can you expect when you see Bo Ladner perform? Bo has lots of energy and wonderful crowd interaction. He has a quick wit and adlibs in his songs to fit the occasion. That usually brings lots of laughs..
He started out doing many Johnny Cash songs and sings with the same blunt emotional honesty as his hero. I Still Miss Someone, Folsom Prison and Train of Love he performs very well. Then he brings forth his soft smooth sensitive tone with Gentle on My Mind and Bed of Roses
Some of his best songs are I've Been Everywhere, Six Days on the Road and King of the Road .
Bo wrote four songs and went to Nashville in January 2008 and recorded them. You can hear them by clicking on Music at the top of his web page.  You may also purchase them from me.
Bo is very thankful for his God given talent, and works very hard to develop it to the best of his ability. He loves to praise the Lord with old fashioned and meaningful gospel songs. If I Give my Soul and Take a Message to My Mother will definitely bring a tear to your eye. Can't You Hear the Blessed Savior Calling You is one of my favorites that he does. He usually ends his show with Will The Circle Be Unbroken and invites a sing-along.
Bo kicked off the month of September with a Labor Day bash at Cottonport Landing in Decatur, TN. He had a huge, enthusiastic crowd and looks forward to playing there again. In addition to his usual Thursday nights playing at the Log Cabin in Benton Tennessee and his appearances at the AmVets, he traveled to Georgia to play at the Legion in Lexington.
With the help of Mike Bradford, he now has his own web site Bo appeared as the featured guest on "Nashville Seen" hosted by Keith Bradford the first week of September. It is an Internet one half hour show, similar to old television shows we used to watch. He was interviewed and sang two of his original songs. He had many visitors sign his guest book.
Bo traveled to GA to meet with Bruce Goodwin and Amy Ahr from Music City Explosion. Bruce has been in Nashville over 30 years and was so impressed with Bo's performance on Nashville Seen that he called Bo and asked to work with him. Bo signed a development deal with Bruce's MCE Music Group to record his first complete CD. He is currently in the process of writing more songs to include on the CD; he hopes to begin another recording soon.
Because of his invitation to perform at the Hamilton County Fair on September 28th, Bo had a whirlwind week of media promotion. He was a featured guest on the WDEF morning show both Monday and Friday. On Thursday, he performed The Drugs or Me live on WGOW, 102.3 out of Chattanooga. Bo had a great crowd at the fair, where over 50,000 people were in attendance throughout the weekend. Thanks to all of you who showed up to support Bo!
He played at Cotton Eyed Joe's in Knoxville September 26th, which also broadcasts live on station WIVK, 107.7. It was his first live radio show and his biggest audience to date. They immediately invited him back.  Apparently he made a good impression!
A meeting with Keith and Mike Bradford resulted in his signing a contract with KMA records and discussing international distribution and a potential tour in Indonesia with Ambassador Charlie Ray's company.
Electronic press kits are now available. If you know of any fairs, music festivals, or venues in your area where you would like to see Bo perform , send us the contact information and we will make sure they get a professional press kit. Bo's sample demo CD is also available under the KMA label to radio stations nationwide . Please let us know what radio station you listen to, so we can send them a copy.
Bo is busy attending Lee University and is spending as much spare time as possible working on new songs for the upcoming CD. During semester break he will be able to concentrate more on new songs and hopes to have it recorded by the first of the year.
Be sure and check Bo's schedule frequently, as it is updated as new events are scheduled.
The highlights of his October so far include two performances on the main stage at Pumpkintown in downtown Athens, TN, (at noon and 3pm) on October 11; featured guest of Ducks Unlimited annual banquet on Bo's birthday, October 25; and a Halloween bash at AmVets Post in Decatur, TN. Be sure to come and see Bo, and purchase his sampler 4 song CD and have it autographed.
When important matters come up, I will send out mass emails to fans. I will let you know about the release of a new CD, last minute TV and radio appearances and the like. These flashes come as events happen...there is no schedule! You NEVER need to worry about your email address being used for any other purpose . I would never sell or distribute your name to another party. That is a promise.
If you have questions, just drop me an email at boladnerfanclub@charter.net.
I'll find the answer for you. I promise to answer in a timely manner.  I also have CDs for sale.
Visit this section often. Sign the guestbook. Consider joining Bo's Fan Club. I will keep you in touch with Bo and what is happening in his career and life.
 

Hello Fan Club Members and potential Members,

 I thought I would start this month’s letter with a little background information on Bo.  His parents, Midge and Jay lived in Las Vegas when he was born.  I flew out the very next day to spend a week and get acquainted with him.  That is a picture of me holding him when he was three days old. 

I know I have changed a lot in 19 years, but  not nearly as much as he has!   Midge had worked in a casino before he was born.  We took him down there to show him off to her co-workers.   I had a fit about all the noise, I worried it would make him deaf, (you know how grandma’s are) and Midge said, “It won’t bother him.  It’s what he’s been hearing for the last nine months”. So he was trained early to be around noisy places. 

 They moved to Hawaii when he was one, California when he was two, and Wisconsin for a few years where his brothers Joshua and Joey were born.  He attended four year old kindergarten in Horicon Wisconsin. Maybe that’s why he can sing “I’ve Been Everywhere” with such conviction.

He was always a precocious child; he had a photographic memory.  I remember one time when he counted every time his mother said something that was not exactly right.  He said, “Mom, that’s the seventeenth time you said something wrong,” then “Mom, that’s the nineteenth time you said something wrong“, etc.   Midge said she was afraid when he went off to college he would still be counting and saying, “My mom was wrong one thousand four hundred and twenty -nine times when I was growing up.”

Jay always sold air conditioners, parts, etc. and it didn’t matter where he lived.  He traveled  a lot with his job.  We loved having them near enough to visit occasionally, but Jay got wanderlust again and moved them to Winston, Georgia.  You should have heard the accent the boys developed, it was so cute.  Then they moved to Athens Tennessee when Bo was in third grade and really put down roots.  Midge home schooled them for the next few years.   Bo went to McMinn Central High School and graduated this spring.  He is now in Lee University in Cleveland, studying music.  I understand he makes his English teacher proud with the “quirky brilliance of his analytical mind” and “sophisticated writing style“.  In fact, Mr. Troy Gregory thinks Bo should be an English major and predicts great things to come in Bo‘s future.

 The biggest excitement in October was a meeting  with Bruce Goodwin from MCE to write and choose new songs for Bo’s upcoming album.  Bruce was instrumental in  many stars career, including John Michael Montgomery and Joe Diffie. 

February 2008

 Bo is going to learn and perform approximately twenty new songs and see how audiences react to them.  That will help them determine the upper 50% of them to record.  So he will be very busy learning and perfecting them in his spare time.  Bo will work on a song over and over until he is sure it sounds as good as he can  possibly do it.   He will work on a song for weeks or months until he decides it is good enough for the public.  Bo puts a lot of thought into whatever he is going to do next and prayerfully considers every decision. 

I decided to spotlight one of his songs this month.  So. I start out with his best, his serious song, “The Drugs or Me”.  It has such a powerful message and heartfelt words.  I get goose bumps just knowing that he actually wrote a song so touching and meaningful.  He was talking to a carnival worker at a fair and he told him how he had fallen in love with a girl who became addicted to methamphetamine..  He finally couldn’t take it anymore and gave her this choice.  Luckily, she made the right choice. It only took him a few hours to write it.   Here is a page from the scrapbook I made for his graduation.

 

Bo turned 19 on Saturday, October 25th.  I bought him a fancy shirt to wear while he performs.  Black, of course.  His brothers baked him an ice cream cake, and in the Ladner tradition, lunch consisted of as much ice cream cake as they could eat. For the main dish!!  He also went horseback riding, not something he does every day.

 He played at Ducks Unlimited that afternoon and that led to another booking this weekend.  Plus he will play at the AmVets in Decatur on Halloween.  He is looking forward to Thanksgiving, having a few days off from school and having his other grandmother “MiMi” Ladner from Portland Oregon visit for a while.  In December he will be playing at a Christmas party on the Queen Mary for an international import business.

 They just heard from someone in Sweden who might be interested in using one of his songs for a video.  Very exciting!!  I’ll be sure and keep you posted. 

 I received  a shipment of CD’s with the four songs he wrote and 3 more that he does very well.  They sell for $5.00.  Please let me know if you would like to buy one.  I usually have some with me.  If you haven’t signed up for his Fan Club yet, please consider it.  It is free, a chance to get in on the bottom floor.  Think how exciting it will be if he does go far!  There is nothing to lose, just a chance to hear what is going on in his career and some inside information about the workings of the whole recording world. 

 Sincerely,

 Jean Slapak

Fan Club President