The Coleman Cooler (With a Yeti Sticker) song came to me early one morning right after I woke up. I can't remember if it was before or while taking a shower, but it came to me fast. I make up stupid songs all the time while walking around the house, usually for the amusement of my kids. About 99% of the time it's just pure nonsense. But this time I thought, I need to write this down. I started constructing the song and wrote most of it pretty quick. I spent the better part of the day shuffling words around and tweaking everything. I'm always asking my wife Ericka for her opinion, "does this word sound okay or should I use this word instead?". She's a big help and is always ready to offer her suggestions. After I had the words laid out just how I wanted them, I imagined different singers voices with it. I thought to myself, "I can hear Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith or one of those other guys singing this". I felt that if I could get it in the right hands, perhaps somebody would make something out of it. But how was I supposed to get it to anybody while I'm sitting here in Arkansas? Jimmy Buffett came to town and I thought, "I'll give my song to Jimmy!". After all, he does know a lot of people and he has recorded with other guys like Kenny Chesney. I made three copies of the lyric sheet and placed them in three separate envelopes. One for Jimmy Buffett and the other two for long time Coral Reefer Band members Mac McAnally and Michael Utley. Knowing Michael Utley was born and raised right here in Arkansas, I thought that just maybe I might have a shot. At any rate, there's a whole other story to the Jimmy Buffett concert I will save for later. Anyway... to make a long story short, I basically said “screw Jimmy” and went over his head. I say that jokingly. I knew if I wanted this song to come to life, that I would have to take matters into my own hands. Instead of wasting a lot of time chasing down someone else or trying to find the one record company that may or may not let me use their money to fund my project, I decided to go straight to Nashville and finance the thing myself. I was lucky enough to stumble across an award-winning producer and incorporate his expertise, along with some of Nashville's most talented musicians. My attitude was, I will make this song so good that Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney will wish they wrote it.

Growing up, I had always admired artists like Charlie Daniels and John Anderson. They are both great storytellers and a lot of their music was somewhere between country and rock. I’ve always loved the song, 'The Legend of Wooley Swamp'. The words still keep me captivated, and the music is just freakin’ awesome. I wanted my song to have that same rough edge to it. I wanted more than just your standard four-piece band. I needed a Banjo, Fiddle, Harmonica and anything else that would make the sound explode. I wanted the song to be happy and upbeat. One that would make people want to rise up out of their seats and dance along with. I believe each instrument should be equally as important as the words coming out of the singers mouth. To me, it seems like many people allow the music to act as some backdrop to the singer. I want the listener to be just as engaged in the music, as I hope they will be with my lyrics. Stacy (the producer) did a wonderful job of threading all those different sounds together. I’m thrilled with the way things turned out and I wouldn’t change a thing. Even if someone like Kenny Chesney came knocking on my front door tomorrow and told me he wanted to record my song, I’m not real sure that I would let him. I just don’t know. I would probably have to ask him, “how much money you got boy?" LOL.

Swattin' skeeters while spillin’ my rum!
Tim