An Interview with Country Artists Anita Cochran and Ty Herndon
Cochran and Herndon were Originally Scheduled to Appear in Wellington on 4/26/13, But the Concert is Being Re-Scheduled to a New Date and Venue. See the End of this Article for Info.
Anita Cochran
AW:At what age did you realize you wanted to be a country
music artist? You learned guitar at a young age? What other instruments do you play? Are there people in your family who shaped your music career?
Anita: I can’t put an age on when I decided to become a country music artist. It’s something that I always remember wanting and people started tellling me as a kid that I would play the Grand Ole Opry one day. It’s something I have always dreamed of and thank God they were right!. My family was very musical so I learned to play a few different instruments: guitar, lead guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass guitar, piano, drums, dobro and have been playing steel guitar for the last few years. My main instrument is guitar. Everyone in my family played guitar…even aunts, uncles and cousins. It was just something you naturally learned in my family at a young age.
AW: Do you have a favorite song (or most meaningful song) from your own works? Which artists have inspired you?
Anita:Every song I’ve written and recorded has a special meaning but there are a few that stick out. Of course “What If I Said” since that made so many dreams comes true for me and really jump started my career. When I was writing that song, I could hear Steve Wariner’s voice singing it with me. When the president of Warner Bros. Records heard the song, he asked me who I wanted as my duet partner. I told him Steve Wariner. He made a call to him, and the next thing I knew I was standing next to Steve singing my song in the studio. First time ever meeting him and within minutes I felt like I knew him my whole life. I’m a very sentimental person, so I’m a huge fan of ballads. Some other favorites that I have written are “One Of Those Days,” “What I Leave Behind” and “Picture You In Heaven.” I think songwriting is truly a gift from above and sometime you get a little extra sparkle on songs that can bring healing.
AW:Have you ever been to Wellington, FL before? Any ties to the equestrian community here – or interest in horses?
Anita: I have never been to Wellington, FL but am looking forward to it!! I do not have any ties to the equestrian team there but I love horses and ride as much as I can. I use to board horses at my farm and miss them a lot. Hopefully someday I will get some of my own. I actually got to horseback ride in the ocean in February of this year…something I have always wanted to do and can’t wait to do it again.
AW: Your song “What if I Said” (a duet with Steve Wariner) made it to #1 on the country charts. Do you remember how you felt at that time? Or the first time you heard one of your own songs on the radio?
Anita: The first time I heard my voice on radio was in Detroit, MI. My very first professional recording after signing to Warner Bros. Records was a Christmas Song, “Please Come Home For Christmas.” I remember knowing when they were going to play it, so my whole family gathered in the living room around the stereo and listened together. I will never forget that. When “What If I Said” became a number one record, it was the most exciting thing. To get a number 1 song on the radio is like winning the lottery. I was overwhelmed with the events, the number 1 parties and the traveling. I finally felt like I had made my mark in country music and was living the dream. I still remember the phone call home to mom to tell her the news!
AW: What do you enjoy most about working with Ty (Herndon)?
Anita: I have such a great time working with Ty Herndon! I always say “he’s my brother from another mother.” Even though we are not related, I feel like we have always known each other. There are times that I catch myself almost asking him if he remembers something we did as kids and then I stop myself. He is a fabulous singer/entertainer and I respect his talent so much. But, along with his talent, he is an amazing caring, loving, funny, person. Let’s just say we laugh a lot working together and we both try to always turn anything negative into a positive.
AW: What’s your most recent album? What’s next for you?
Anita: My latest CD is titled “Serenity.” All original songs and a solo version of “What If I Said” is on the CD. Ty Herndon is actually singing on a couple songs and he is featured on the title track “Serenity.” There are a lot of personal songs on this CD and some songs that I’ve wanted to record for years. I am currently writing for a new CD and hope to have new music out by the end of the year.
AW: Is there a special cause or organization that you care about deeply?
Anita: I have a huge heart for animals and would have 100 cats and dogs if I could. It breaks my heart to see an animal that is injured, abused or not being taken care of properly. I have a goal to start some kind of charity for animals. I hope it won’t be that much longer ‘til it’s an actual charity raising money for our little companions!
Ty Herndon
AW: At what age did you realize you wanted to be a country music artist?
Ty: I always loved bluegrass and country. My Grandmother played a mean flat top guitar. Grandma Myrtle had her own radio show on WPRN in Butler, Alabama. I started doing country songs on her show, along with gospel. I got serious when I moved to Texas and started playing Honky Tonks. It eventually got me my record deal when I won the Texas Entertainer of The Year title.
AW: How did you make a move from gospel to country?
Ty: When I was 16, I got hired to work at a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee called Opryland USA. I moved from Alabama to Nashville and started working towards my country music career.
AW: Are there people in your family who shaped your music career?
Ty: All of my family can sing. But my Grandmother and my Aunt Bennie helped shape the artist who I am today. My Aunt would play piano for me when I was a young boy. I would not sing anywhere without her. I eventually learned to play the piano for myself. My Grandma taught me to play guitar and sing country.
AW: Do you have a favorite song (or most meaningful song) from your own works? Which artists have inspired you?
Ty: My song Journey On from the Christian album won a Dove award in 2010. It was written about my journey to recovery. We were also able to use it as a theme song for the ALS Foundation. We have raised over 10 million dollars for research.
AW: How did you decide to come to the Wellington Amphitheater? Any ties to the equestrian community here – or interest in horses?
Ty: One of my great friends is Anita Cochran. She got me involved with the Wellington Amphitheater. I grew up on a farm. We always had horses. I love them and eventually worked with them in Equine Therapy.
AW: What has been the high point and low point of your career so far?
Ty: Having 3 Billboard number one records and 5 million albums sold has been more then I could have ever dreamed. Being nominated for a Grammy in 2010 was amazing. I have been in recovery for over 10 years from addiction. There were some really low points during those days. But life is blessed and fantastic these days.
AW: What you enjoy most about working with Anita (Cochran)?
Ty: Anita is like my long lost sister. We have a lot of the same values and sense of humor. I adore her. She is so talented. I hope to work with her for years to come.
AW: What’s your most recent album? What’s next for you? How did you decide to do a Christmas album?
Ty: My recent album will be released in June of this year. It’s my first country album in 6 years. I’m looking forward to the tour season this summer. I’m also working on a book. Writing my story has been quiet the journey. It’s a page turner. I did my Christmas album 10 years ago. I just keep adding new songs to it every year. I love the Holidays.
AW: Is there a special cause or organization that you care about deeply?
Ty: I work a lot with the Special Olympics. I adore those kids. I also work closely with the ALS foundation. You can see my friend NFL player Kevin Turner’s story in my “Journey On” video.
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For info on the new concert date and venue, contact Extreme Events Unlimited, http://www.extremeeventsunlimited.com/, or email: Christy@ExtremeEventsUnlimited.com – THANKS for your patience!