| About
a year after .38 Special recorded "Teacher, Teacher" I
got a call from their manager asking if I'd be interested in co-writing
with the band for their next album. I travelled to Atlanta, and guitarists
Don Barnes
and Jeff Carlisi also flew up to Vancouver for a week or two. We wrote
7 or 8 songs, with 6 of them making it on the record.
The writing relationship continued for a number of years, resulting in several
charted Billboard singles and a few millions albums sold.
Jeff and Don were from Jacksonville Florida, and they had thick southern accents
which they occasionally played up for effect -- if only to amuse each other!
On their flight to Vancouver, just prior to landing, the flight attendant handed
out Canadian Customs cards to be completed by each passenger. Don glanced over
as Jeff was filling out his card and noticed Jeff had signed above the line that
said "signature of claimant". A signature is only required if you plan
on claiming a purchase at the customs desk, which neither of them did, so Don
said,
"Jeff, why'd you sign there?"
"Where?" replied Jeff.
"There", said Don, pointing to Jeff's signature on the 'signature
of claimant' line.
Realizing his error Jeff paused for a moment, then, in an exaggerated southern
accent said,
"I signed there because that's who I'm a-claimin' to be!". |
