Tony Sheppard's Last Words

Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 23:49:48 -0500
Newsgroups: alt.smokers.pipes
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Tony was my dear friend from way back when we both lived in Queens. We met
again on asp after having lost contact over the quarter of a century since
we had both left Queens. I had moved to Nashville, Tony to Florida. Tony was
there in Queens in 1978 when I received my first non rejection slip from a
Nashville publisher. A lot of people gave me that "aw it's just bullshit,
some music shark is tryin' to rip you off." It was like no one in real life
really ever gets a publishing contract and actually ends up having songs on
the radio. Well, it wasn't bullshit, they actually thought I was a good
songwriter and I ended up coming to Nashville and, after some serious dues
payin' and near starvation, ultimately had people like Reba McEntire, et al,
record some of my songs. Tony encouraged my writing from day one. He
actually inspired me. He had written a religious song back then called "A
Little More Like Jesus And A Little Less Like Me" that I thought was so well
written and so well performed by him I was in awe that I actually knew
someone who could write a song like that. When I got that first glimmer of
hope in the form of that non rejection note Tony never once said it was
bullshit, he said he wasn't surprised 'cause he'd heard my early attempts at
writing and thought it was great. Then he moved and I moved and we lost
contact. After we met again on asp I'd contacted him by phone and asked him
if he remembered that song "A Little More Like Jesus..." and he said he did
and sent me his original lead sheet on the song. I treasure that piece of
music. I have nothing on tape or CD just that lead sheet, which is the
handwritten music to the song. He knew that I was writing for perhaps the
world's most successful publisher, Buddy Killen. Tony asked if I'd co write
a song he had started and I of course said I'd be delighted to. A week
before he died I got a package containing the cassette and a leadsheet of
the song Tony had started. I was planning on listening to it that weekend
and seeing what I could add to it to make it the song Tony wanted it to be.
It was sitting here on my desk when I saw the message that he had died.
Until tonight I couldn't even bring myself to listen to the cassette. I just
listened to it a moment ago. It's a really rough work tape. Just Tony and a
piano and there's a hum makin' it difficult to hear. But I put it close to
my ear and got every word and note and it is a finished song. He didn't need
any input from me, this thing's done. It's a Christmas song that has Tony
Sheppard's personality all over it. A wonderful, old fashioned, nice song
written by wonderful, old fashioned, nice guy. Here's what Tony Sheppard
wrote and these are the last words I got from this great friend (lyrics are
always written in upper case so I ain't yellin' it's just the way it's done)
WHATCHA' GONNA GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
Words & Music by Tony Sheppard
WHATCHA' GONNA GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
THIS YEAR
HOW 'BOUT A HOMEMADE BASKET
OF CHEER
PUT IN A JOKE OR TWO
FOR THE RAINY DAYS IN SPRING
AND DON'T FORGET A JAR OF SMILES
FOR A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
WHATCHA' GONNA GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
THAT'S NEW
SOMETHING UNIQUE ESPECIALLY FROM YOU
PUT IN LOTSA' HUGS AND SOME KISSES SWEET
WRAP IT ALL UP WITH A BOW THAT'S NEAT
THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
THIS YEAR.
Thanks Tony.
--
Frenchy
http://www.frenchyspipes.com/