← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
"Walking to the Beat of the American Soundtrack with Craig Morgan"
00:17:50
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- [00:00]
Matt Rogers
Hi, friend. It's your inner child calling. And they want churros, a new toy and a new adventure. Or maybe five with the bestest besties on earth. Find your moment at Walt Disney World Resort. Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang just won Podcast of the Year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.
- [00:38]
Bowen Yang
Oh, wow, you're kidding.
- [00:40]
Craig Morgan
Stop it.
- [00:40]
Matt Rogers
Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas.
- [00:50]
Craig Morgan
Thank you so much for having me.
- [00:51]
Matt Rogers
Here, but please, please, please don't make me get angry about anything in public. Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and and listen now.
- [01:01]
Ed Helms
Prohibition is synonymous with speakeasies, jazz flappers, and, of course, failure. I'm Ed Helms, and on season three of my podcast, Snafu, there's a story I couldn't wait to tell you. It's about an unlikely duo in the 1920s who tried to warn the public that prohibition was going to backfire so badly it just might leave thousands dead from poison. Listen and subscribe to snafu on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:31]
Matt Rogers
Are your ears bored? Yeah. Are you looking for a new podcast that will make you laugh, learn, and say, que? Yeah. Then tune in to locatora radio season 10 today. Okay, now that's what I call a podcast. I'm Diosa. I'm Mala, the host of Locatora Radio, a radiophonic novella, which is just a very extra way of saying a podcast. Listen to locatora radio season 10 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:04]
Ed Helms
45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished business.
- [02:20]
Craig Morgan
The Edge of Daybreak, Eyes of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.
- [02:25]
Ed Helms
Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:34]
Buzz Knight
Taking a walk?
- [02:35]
Craig Morgan
You know what? I've been my platform has been for some time, and I. I know it now is God, family, country. My music is going to be in and around those things regardless. And I personally believe that the majority of our listener base is Middle America, and those three things are of most importance to them.
- [02:52]
Buzz Knight
Welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast, the show where Buzz Knight speaks with musicians of all type on their music, their influences and their passion for creative excellence. And today, Buzz is joined by country music singer songwriter Craig Morgan. Craig's work spans beyond his music with his service to country, his philanthropic work and his love of the outdoors. But his music carries all of the message. And he's got a new album out called American Soundtrack on BBR BMG Nashville. And we're thrilled to have him join Buzz Knight on the Taking a Walk podcast right now.
- [03:32]
Bowen Yang
Craig, thanks for being on Taking a Walk. It's a pleasure.
- [03:36]
Craig Morgan
Well, thank you. Thanks for having me.
- [03:38]
Bowen Yang
So, since the podcast is called Taking a Walk, I do want to ask you a question. If you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, who would you take a walk with and where would you take that walk with them?
- [03:52]
Craig Morgan
Ooh, that's fascinating. Probably Mother Angelica and I, wherever we walked, it wouldn't matter. I'm sure it would be someplace peaceful. I just thought she was so insightful and so loving and caring and honest. I've listened to some of her older stuff and I just absolutely love anyone who is so spiritual. I would also say like Billy Graham, you know, I would love to listen to him and have questions for them, you know, and it would be a.
- [04:32]
Bowen Yang
Calming walk, I have a feeling. Right?
- [04:34]
Craig Morgan
No, no question. For some reason, when I can't help but think it would be in a garden.
- [04:42]
Bowen Yang
Not a bad place to be.
- [04:43]
Craig Morgan
Right.
- [04:44]
Bowen Yang
With anybody, but particularly those folks for sure. Well, congrats on American Soundtrack. We're going to talk about the making of it and sort of the behind the scenes of it. But I did want ask you who were the earliest influences that gave you the inspiration to pursue a career in music?
- [05:05]
Craig Morgan
Well, country wise, it was the, my, my all time favorite who is now very dear friend, Mr. John Conley. I can remember as a kid listening to a song called Rose Colored Glasses and I just absolutely loved it and then listen to everything that he did. But I was also listening to Gene Watson, George Jones, Merle Haggard, all of the likes. And then into the that brought me in and then Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Those guys really influenced as well. But unlike a lot of country artists, I was also very influenced by the likes of Luther Vandross, The Commodore, Lionel Richie, 38 Special, Leonard Skynyrd. I had a wide range of influences in my life. James Taylor was one of my all time favorites. Anyone who sang a song that told such a great story that that's what.
- [06:01]
Bowen Yang
I was really into and who embodied this spirit of incredible resilience that you've had through. Through your life, through your work and through your life of serving the country. Who were the folks in your life that inspired that resilience?
- [06:21]
Craig Morgan
All kinds of folks. I mean, I could, from my parents up to military personnel in particular. There's a gentleman who I served with by the name of Bill Greer, Colonel Greer. He was an extremely influential individual. In fact, he's one of the main influences on my being in the music business. He's a guy that, when I went to reenlist, I asked him because I was contemplating the music business at the time, and I said, should I stay in or should I get out and try this music thing on. His honest opinion, and he said, I'll be honest with you. If you. You stay in the army. I think you'll be the sergeant major of the army someday. He said, but I also think you've got a really good skill set with this other thing, and you should at least try it. He said, stay in the reserves. If it don't work, you can come back in. You don't lose your rank or time in service. So I did that. And by the time I was at a point where I thought I might stay in or get back out or whatever, you know, I was doing so well with the music that it made sense.
- [07:19]
Bowen Yang
How do you make your. Your faith impact so brilliantly and seamlessly the music that you write?
- [07:30]
Craig Morgan
Oh, that's. That's not me. That's just when I say that's not me. That's a God thing. But here's what I will say. I have said that music is. Does not dictate who I am. It's what I do. And I'm honored and grateful to God and everybody out there for it. But that my faith is what dictates who I am. That's what I would. You know, I hope people remember, and I think people remember a lot of the songs that I've been blessed with over my career. But I would hope that when they think of that or when they hear those songs, they remember me as being a guy who genuinely cared about people, genuinely cared about truth. And that all that. That's. That's my faith and that, you know, my. Our goal as Christians is to attempt to be Christ. Like that's what a Christian is, is someone who. Flashlight. So that's what I want to be. So my faith is everything. It's. It's. You know, I always say God, family, country, and it's in that order. God is always first.
- [08:31]
Bowen Yang
Well, you were kind enough to be on our Music Save Me podcast which deals in the, you know, the, the healing power of music and what it can mean to people. And so you, you keenly know that and you certainly intersect that in your, in your work. When you wrote the Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost, you know, that's the feeling of faith, but that is also, you know, a healing power of music moment in my view as well.
- [09:06]
Craig Morgan
Oh, that was, that was an all, all knowing God thing right there. I woke up about 431morning, wrote that song from front to back, back the way everybody hears it today. And what I've learned in my life, and I think I talked about this, I do talk about this a lot and I speak on it when I do speak to soldiers especially, is understanding and appreciating that we suffer in life in order that things may be better. And sometimes that suffering is not necessarily just for us. You know, you think about Christ. His suffering was not for himself. He didn't have to do that, but he did. He suffered for others. You think about service members, men and women in the military, and they're not necessarily suffering just for themselves now. They are. I'm not comparing, don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing soldiers to Christ, but they're willing to put themselves in harm's way for others and for the well being of others. When I wrote the Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost, I never intended for anyone to hear that song. It just happened. And, and some psychologists, psychiatrists would probably say that was, you know, one of those healing moments for me. But I don't know that it was because I'm under the mentality that, the old hot stove mentality, you know, if you touch it and it burns, you don't touch it again. But this song, it burns. But I continue to sing it, but I sing it not for me, but for other people. And the stories that I have heard, the people that have come up and told me how this song saved them, lets me know that my suffering wasn't just for me, it's for other people as well.
- [10:45]
Bowen Yang
Congrats on American soundtrack. Can you tell me and take us behind the scenes to the beginnings of the creation of it, the, the writing aspect of it and how this all came to this brilliant, you know, culmination of a, of a great release.
- [11:03]
Craig Morgan
Well, first of all, let me say I appreciate the, the brilliant comment because none of us that work on this project are brilliant. You know what I've been, my platform has been for some Time, and I know it now, is God, family, country. My music is going to be in and around those things regardless. And I personally believe that the majority of our listener base is middle America. And those three things are of most importance to them. The American Soundtrack project, I always was like any other music project I've ever done. I just try to write, record, produce and deliver songs that we think will be hits and that the people will want to listen to. And we did that. And in the process of doing that, when we recorded American Soundtrack, after we wrote that, I'm like, this whole project is an American soundtrack. Blue collar prayer.
- [11:58]
Bowen Yang
That's.
- [11:59]
Craig Morgan
I mean, that's as middle class America as it gets. God's problems. Only song on the project I didn't write and I had the most trouble singing it because I do not want to be one of God's problems. Country education, Middle America. When we, when we wrote that song, that song was all about the education that you get. Not from a scholastic academy or school, but in life, you know, and. And I know I'm all over this country, I'm all over the world, but those people who have those basic life skill sets always do better than those people who don't have those. And country education is all about that. And the American soundtrack, which this whole thing encompasses in the title cut, is all about songs that have impacted our lives and how our lives literally can just about be laid out to music. And two songs.
- [12:51]
Bowen Yang
You are with the folks at BBR BMG Nashville, which is a great label that is very much of a, you know, artist first label. Can you characterize as an artist how important it is to, you know, be in that environment when you're creating such a project like American Soundtrack?
- [13:13]
Craig Morgan
Oh, well, I can. It's like. It's kind of like being in a marriage and if you come home every day and. And your wife is griping about everything you're doing and not supportive, or vice versa. If you're coming home and you're not content, it's very uncomfortable and it makes for a. I was almost a combative environment. I'm very fortunate. BBR bmg, those folks allow us as artists. And I can say that because I'm friends with the other artists. Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, we're all friends. Blake, one of my closest friends. And when you're in an environment where they're supportive and they love you and allow you to use your creative sense to develop a project, it makes for a. It makes for a much more comfortable, a much more creative environment. It Allows you to be that way. If they're not restrictive, they allow us to do our thing and then give them what we. What we do. And then they'll have some input after the fact. Maybe, but. But yeah, it's. It's again, a whole lot like a marriage.
- [14:21]
Bowen Yang
Well, you mentioned, you know, making hits, and obviously that comes down to airplay as well. But as an artist, when you're really working that creative process and pouring out your heart for a project such as American Soundtrack, isn't that the almost last thing you're thinking about, the airplay, the hit aspect? It's certainly in your mind, but you're really trying to be true to yourself as an artist first and foremost and what you stand for. Is that right?
- [14:57]
Craig Morgan
You know, for most people in our business, yes, I do believe that, you know, and I think it's imperative that for me, it's the music industry. And I think you must, absolutely, must find a balance in order to maintain relevance. There's not a successful artist who did just what they wanted to do. They're just not. They do great in coffee shops. They have fun in the. In those little places like that. And I'm not knocking it by any means, but if you want to be successful, you must be appealing to the masses. So you. That's the biggest. For me, that was always the biggest struggle, finding the balance. And I've just. That's why I take a whole lot more time in pre production. I might spend a year writing and listening to songs in order to find those songs that are great for me to be able to sing, be believable, to deliver, and at the same time, be appealing to our demographic and sometimes even reaching beyond our demographic. You cannot just do what you think is best. I'm sorry. And I would apply that to everything in your life, you know, your faith. How arrogant of someone to think that they can completely comprehend every line in the Bible in their own way. And that is their truth. You know, that's the problem with our society these days. We've gotten away from the truth and gone to their truth or my truth. And that's a problem. And you can apply that same analogy to what you're doing in your occupation. And for me, the music. I absolutely have stayed true to my message, who I am and what I believe. But at the same time, I feel like we've delivered music that is appealing to our fan base, and that's what I want to do. And someday I may not. And if I'm no longer relevant, I'll move on.
- [16:47]
Bowen Yang
I Want to pick a song like Roots off of American soundtrack as an example. So from the beginnings of the creation of Roots and then to the ultimate final product, how much does that shift and change and get tweaked as you as an artist are sort of working through that until its final delivery?
- [17:11]
Craig Morgan
I think just like anybody and anything else in life experience time, if you're referring to this simple song, the song of roots, we wrote that song pretty much the way you hear it. But it's easy to do that because we're applying what we know, feel, think, hear to our writing process. But the roots, the roots have never changed in my life. Where I come from, who I come from, the upbringing, the, the, the philosophies, the basic simple life's philosophies that I learned as a child are still hold very true to me today. And that's what that song's all about. Being, being true to your roots.
- [17:59]
Bowen Yang
It comes through shining, shining clearly for sure. In closing, the art of performance is so critical to, you know, releasing and then getting out in the road and connecting with your fans and, and showcasing it in front of a crowd. Can you just, for someone who's never done that, describe the magic of being out there performing in front of your fans, making them happy, moving them, engaging them. What's it like from an artist perspective to experience that?
- [18:35]
Craig Morgan
It's very. What is the word I'm looking for? It's. It's very empowering. I think people have to be real careful when they're doing something like that, whatever it may be, you have to be real careful not to allow it to dictate who you are. It's a moment and again, it's very empowering, it's very energetic and it can be extremely exciting. For me, I know what's going on and I'm grateful for it. I'll be honest with you, most time I'm so focused on just trying to remember the words to my songs, especially the ones I wrote. But it's also very exciting. And for me it's humbling and I'm honored. I'm just always so honored to see so many people. I mean, this tour we're doing right now, every night, it's over 20,000 people there and to see the reaction and to hear that, it's very humbling and I'm just grateful. And my objective is to always maintain that sense of gratefulness and not allow it to dictate my thought process.
- [19:49]
Bowen Yang
Greg Morgan, I'm grateful for you being on taking a Walk and for the music you continue to give us. And congratulations on American Soundtrack. It is awesome. And thanks for being on Taking a Walk.
- [20:02]
Craig Morgan
Well, thank you. Thanks for having me.
- [20:05]
Buzz Knight
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.
- [20:24]
Matt Rogers
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang just won Podcast of the Year at this year's iHeart Podcast Awards.
- [20:31]
Craig Morgan
Oh, wow.
- [20:32]
Bowen Yang
You're kidding.
- [20:33]
Craig Morgan
Stop it.
- [20:33]
Matt Rogers
Lady Gaga will take home the Innovator award at Monday's iHeartradio Music Awards. Now these iHeart Award winners are teaming up on a brand new episode of Las Culturistas. Thank you so much for having me here, but please, please, please don't make me get angry about anything in public. Just open the free iHeartRadio app, search Las Culturistas and listen Now.
- [20:54]
Ed Helms
Prohibition is synonymous with speakeasies, jazz flappers, and of course, failure. I'm Ed Helms, and on season three of my podcast, Snafu, there's a story I couldn't wait to tell you. It's about an unlikely duo in the 1920s who tried to warn that prohibition was going to backfire so badly it just might leave thousands dead from poison. Listen and subscribe to snafu on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:24]
Matt Rogers
Are your ears bored? Yeah. Are you looking for a new podcast that will make you laugh, learn and say gay? Yeah. Then tune in to locatora radio season 10 today. Okay, now that's what I call a podcast. I'm Theo San. I'm Mala, the host of Locatora Radio, a radiophonic novella, which is just a very extra way of saying a podcast. Listen to locatora radio season 10 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:57]
Ed Helms
45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished business.
- [22:13]
Craig Morgan
The Ends of Daybreak. Hours of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.
- [22:18]
Ed Helms
Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:27]
Matt Rogers
This is Mel Reid, LPGA tour winner.
- [22:29]
Craig Morgan
And six time Ladies European tour winner.
- [22:31]
Matt Rogers
And Kyra K. Dixon, NBC sports reporter and host.
- [22:35]
Craig Morgan
And we've got a new podcast, Quiet, Please.
- [22:37]
Matt Rogers
With Mel and Kira, we are bringing you spicy takes on sports and pop culture. Some interviews with incredible people who have figured out how to make golf their superpower.
- [22:46]
Craig Morgan
An iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:53]
Matt Rogers
Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.