Lifestyles
Community Life Editor
When Bo Ladner began playing classical music six years ago, he was content to tour the Southeast with his viola (a cousin to the violin), giving concerts. About three years ago, he carried his love of music over to the guitar and the change is taking him in new directions.
"My passion is with playing guitar and singing," he said. "Things are picking up."
Bo recently finished taping an Internet television program in Nashville. The host of the show, Keith Bradford, was the band leader for country superstar Kitty Wells for almost 20 years, and is now the president of KMA Records. Bradford received a CD of Bo's music from a mutual friend and called the young musician and asked him to come to Nashville to tape a half-hour episode of "Nashville 'Seen'" to be broadcast online at www.NashvilleBroadcastingNetwork.com beginning this Sunday, Aug. 31. "The taping itself was really exciting," Bo said. "First, I performed two of my original songs, 'The Drugs or Me' and 'The Midnight Train,' Then Keith interviewed me about my music and my life. "The show will be broadcast throughout the world, so I hope to get lots of feedback and hopefully some gigs out of it." Bo said. The show can be viewed online for a week beginning Aug. 31. After Sunday, Sept. 2, the episode can still be viewed at www.nashvillebroadcastingnetwork.com; simply click on "past shows." "It is very important in the music industry that you can show a record label that you have lots of fans, so I would appreciate everyone going to the site and especially signing the guestbook," Bo said. "Please pass the word on to all your friends and family, I need as many hits during my week as possible. There's no limit to the number of times you can view it, either." Bo joked that, "even if you have a slow connection and cannot actually view the show, please sign the guestbook. I hope to have a video of it on my Web site - www.boladner.com - as soon as possible, along with downloads of my original songs, pictures of myself, and an opportunity to buy my sampler CD."
Bo went to Nashville in January to record the demo CD of four original songs he has written. "Recording the demo CD was lots of fun," Bo said. "We used some of the best studio musicians we could find. The guitar player had played with Reba McEntire and Mel Tillis, to name a few. The bass player had just finished working with the Gaither family." Bo said it was very exciting to be able to direct such experienced musicians and to watch his creations come to life. "Each song has a different feel," he said. They are:
* "The Midnight Train" is a fun, upbeat song with a classic country sound. "When I play this song live, the crowd just loves it," Bo said. "It's about falling in love with someone and finding out she is not what you thought she was. I think a lot of people can relate to that. The crowd loves the line 'I thought she was high class, found out she's just white trash.' * "90 Miles an Hour" is another crowd pleaser Bo has just begun to perform live. "It has a real rockabilly sound," he said. "I can tell when I sing it live if the audience already has my CD, because they will sing along with the background singers. * "The Drugs or Me" is the most meaningful song Bo has written. "Substance abuse is such a family wrecker I hope this song is instrumental in helping people realize they need to make a choice between the people who love them and the drug that is killing them," Bo said. "I wrote it in one night, in one sitting, after speaking to a man at the Regional Fair last year."
Bo and the man shared a bench and, while he ate a hot dog, he told Bo about his wife and how she had been addicted to meth. He finally told her that she had to make a choice, and, luckily for him, she chose him. "The words 'the drugs or me' just kept running through my mind all night, until I just had to get up and write the song," Bo said. * "Why Do You Always Hurt Yourself?" is the last song on the sampler CD, but the bluesy tune is the first one Bo wrote. "It is about people - not just women - who keep making the same destructive choices in life, then wondering why they can't find happiness," Bo said. "I really question people in the song to look inside themselves and examine their patterns to find out why they always hurt themselves, sometimes, there is nobody but yourself to blame." The sampler CD contains Bo's four original songs as well as covers of "I've Been Everywhere," "Gentle on my Mind" and "Six Days on the Road." "I wanted to give my fans a sampling of what they can expect to hear when they come to a live show," Bo said.
When discussing his musical style, Bo said he likes to try different types of songs.
"I try to keep all my songs original, not copying any one style," he said. "I listen to all kinds of music, but I mostly perform classic country songs by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and others. "I've had people tell me I sound like everything from blues and B.B. King from Elvis to Waylon Jennings," Bo added. "I try to play whatever I feel."
Mainly, he plays a lot of classic country and a few gospel songs as well as early rockabilly songs, and Bo's live shows are often a high-energy affair.
"I have a hard time standing still," he said. "It's also nice to hear people sing along with your songs."
So far, Bo's most exciting performance and biggest crowd has been opening for the Kentucky Headhunters at Savannah Oaks Winery. He played at the winery on Saturdays this past summer.
When writing songs, Bo draws inspiration from others as well as himself.
"Sometimes I am alone and something just pops into my head," he said. "Whenever God decides to put something on my heart, He'll put it on my heart."
A high honors graduate of McMinn Central High School, Bo received a scholarship to attend Lee University in Cleveland. "I have to keep a 3.7 GPA," he said. "At least the first year is paid for."
Bo admits it will be challenging to balance school and his career, but his parents handle as much of the business side as they can and that takes a little of the burden off him. He plays every Thursday night at the Log Cabin in Benton, "so I made sure to schedule myself a light load on Friday," he said. "I try not to over-schedule myself, but I love to play so it's hard to say no to anybody," Bo added. Bo is studying music - he is a vocal major at Lee and chose music business and Bible studies for his minors - and he said music is "hopefully" his calling.
While Bo is excited about opportunities presenting themselves, he is not sure whether school or music will take precedence for the time being.
"I'd like to pursue a degree, but if the music takes off I'll come back and finish school later," he said.
Bo said his family - parents Jay and Midge Ladner, and brothers, Josh and Joey - are supportive of his budding musical career.
"When it comes to PR work or getting promotions ready, my Dad handles that. When it comes to talking to people in a nice way that's my Mom's department," Bo said. "When it comes to music and certain technical aspects ... that's what I handle. I've been very blessed with supportive parents."
Bo also thanked his fans and friends for keeping his career going.
"I feel blessed to be able to perform the music I love and make people happy and hopefully touch some lives," Bo said. "Please check out www.NashvilleBroadcastingNetwork.com this week and sign the guestbook and e-mail all your friends to do the same."
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EDITOR'S NOTE: You can hear Bo Ladner's songs by clicking on this story on The DPA's Web site, www.dailypostathenian.com, or calling local radio station WLAR FM 101.7. Some of his songs have been played during overnight hours, but he'd like a broader audience to hear his music.
"You can call and request to hear it," Bo said, adding he is hoping for air time on WIVK, a Knoxville radio station.
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E-mail: autumn.hughes@dailypostathenian.com