|
ME AND ERNIE Hi, my name is Betty Johnson (no, I am not the 'famous' Betty Johnson of 'Little Blue Man' fame.) I get many, many emails asking if I am. I am not famous. I am a wife, mother and grandmother from Ohio. I have been singing and playing guitar for most of my life and have written TONS of songs that nobody knows. If I have any claim to fame, it would be that I used to be a regular on a television show- back in the 50s- called 'Cornhusker's Jamboree'. I have sang in many nightclubs, sang at fairs and stage shows around Ohio and Kentucky, and I still play and sing- now and then- locally. I discoved the 'internet' a little over a year ago. A whole new world opened up! Since that time 5 of the songs I've written have been signed with publishers... and I am just waiting for that big break. I found Ernie Ashworth through the internet!! What a sweet man! I can certainly understand why he has so many fans. I emailed him.... and, unbelievably... he emailed me back! I wrote a song, for Ernie, called "Play Talk Back Trembling Lips".... It tells about someone standing at a jukebox, playing old country songs and someone comes up from behind and says "Play Talk Back Trembling Lips.... I haven't heard it in a long, long, time.... I used to play that song-all day long.... in those younger days of mine.... I wanna hear Ernie tell that story.... like only he can do.... I don't have long, so let me hear that song.... you see.. I'm just a-passin' through... ooooo" The person making the request is the ghost of Patsy Cline!! Well.. I put this song on tape, and sent it to Ernie, thinking "Well, this is the last I will hear of this!" But... amazingly... Ernie liked the song and wanted it on his upcoming cd! I couldn't believe it! He also wanted ME singing it! He and Carl Motsinger worked SO hard getting this song on the album. We did it long distance. I sent them my tapes and Carl worked with what he had, adding steel guitar.... and you would almost believe that I was there in the studio making this tape. He was super! Ernie stayed in touch with me all the way, keeping me updated on how it was coming along. Now... Ernie didn't have to do this, he is a VERY busy man, traveling all over, to other countries, member of the Grand Ol Opry, doing radio shows, just very, very active and busy! But, he did. He thought that I was important enough to stay in contact with. Me... There were delays. The cd was supposed to be released in May. I waited, Ernie stayed in touch. Finally, October 1st.... it was released!! Ernie personally, put a copy of the cd in the mail to me. I think that was one of the happiest days of my life... when I got that cd. ME on a cd with ERNIE ASHWORTH! Now, I can die happy. I have always admired Ernie... and actually, it was ME who "Used to play that song, all day long, in those younger days of mine......" When I would sing "Talk Back Trembling Lips" (years ago) I never DREAMED that one day I would actually be ON an album with Ernie. So... if you pick up that album "STILL HANGIN' ON".... and you see at the top of the album, where it says "with a special song by Betty Johnson...." and you ask yourself "Who in the heck is Betty Johnson?". Well.... now you know.
Written By: |