Introducing...

The hair that went with those boots was perfect. The overcoat fit magnificently and the cigarette was a Marlboro red. A-LIVE and in the flesh and standing in front of me was the one, the only Porter Wagoner. I guess in Nashville Music City, US of A they call it a "package show", and that night I was playing with Chris Knight, Mike Ireland and various other "Americana" acts. The backstage manager asked each of us to write two or three sentences for Porter to use as he introduced us. INTRODUCE US???? INTRODUCE US!!!!!!!

I was thrilled, to say the least.

And here is what happened: I wrote down in my shaky (i.e. sober) hand: "I'm from the Shenandoah Valley---home of the Statler Brothers. I was a V-roy, a band on Jack Emerson (I love putting that name first) and Steve Earle's E Squared Label."

Porter read it and asked me about a truck stop on I-81 near where I lived. He then said it was really nice to meet and to have a good show.

And he walked out into the spotlight in his purple suit and those silver boots and his whole BEING and said to the crowd:

"Folks, this next performer is nice young man from one of the most beautiful places in the whole United States, the Shenandoah Valley. Now, they got some windy roads up there. In fact, the roads was so windy that my bus driver burned out his battery honking the horn at his own taillights...
(laughter and chortling)
But I think you're gonna like this next young performer. I talked with him back stage and he seems like a real nice young man, so make him feel welcome, A. Scott Miller!!"
(light applause)

Porter smiled to the crowd, shook my hand and whispered in my ear: "You're in show business now, boy." I felt like I was playing covered in afterbirth...