Album Notes

"I guess the reason that I didn't record for twenty years," Floyd Tillman said, "was simply that no one asked me. Well, maybe I just wasn't ready-or ready to do it with those willing to record me. I think this is going to be one of my best albums ever." April 2003 "Floyd Tillman-The Influence" combines the special phrasing and vocals from one of Country Music's true pioneers with the works of those who admired him the most. The album was produced by Justin Trevino and Tracy Pitcox and recorded in San Marcos. The album was released on Heart of Texas Records in Brady, Texas. This is Tillman's final album as he is joined on his biggest hits with some of his biggest fans. At 87 years of age, Tillman delivered superb vocals along with six other members of the Country Music Hall of Fame-George Jones, Dolly Parton, Ray Price, Hank Thompson, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Tillman is also featured with Frankie Miller, Johnny Bush, Connie Smith, Leona Williams, Lawton Williams and Darrell McCall. "We are so thrilled with this project," KNEL disc jockey Tracy Pitcox said. "To be able to work with Floyd Tillman on his final album was a great honor. When we decided to take Floyd back into the studios, I asked Willie Nelson if he would record a duet with Floyd. Of course, he readily agreed. That duet led to thirteen others and instead of a solo Floyd Tillman album, we created the ultimate tribute to one of the greatest songwriters and stylists of Country Music." Johnny Gimble lends his great fiddle and mandolin talents to this historic project. The other musicians include Dave Kirby (in his last session), Bobby Flores, Floyd Domino, Dicky Overby, Levi Mullen, John Smiley Reynolds with harmony vocals by Leona Williams, Justin Trevino and Frankie Miller. Country Music historian Bill Malone wrote extensive liner notes for the project scanning Tillman's seventy year career as an entertainer. Never before seen photos were contributed by Rick Henson, Les Leverett and Dean Gibson. "Floyd was still very sharp and musically sound at 87 and even wanted to play rhythm guitar on the album," producer Justin Trevino said. "Of course, Floyd had a very unique way of phrasing his vocals and playing rhythm as well. Some of the artists had trouble trying to stay (musically) with Floyd, but that was part of the magic of Floyd Tillman." The stellar performance of the guests on the record show the love and admiration they shared for Floyd. The songs include: 1. Slippin Around with Dolly Parton 2. It Makes No Difference Now with Mel Tillis 3. I Gotta Have My Baby Back with Ray Price 4. Drivin Nails In My Coffin with George Jones 5. I Love You So Much It Hurts Me with Connie Smith 6. Each Night At Nine with Willie Nelson 7. I'll Take What I Can Get with Hank Thompson 8. This Cold War With You with Merle Haggard 9. I'll Keep On Lovin You with Darrell McCall 10. Let's Make Memories Tonight with Leona Williams 11. They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven with Johnny Bush 12. I'm Still In Love With Every Girl with Justin Trevino 13. Just As Long As I Have You with Frankie Miller 14. It Just Tears Me Up with Lawton Williams Merle Haggard even added a special guitar solo to the Tillman classic "This Cold War With You." "During our early days," Johnny Bush said. "Willie (Nelson) and I would be on the road. We would be listening to music and I was always a fan of Ray Price. Willie always wanted to listen to Floyd Tillman. Floyd influenced all of us." Tillman was born in Ryan, Oklahoma in 1914. He became a singer, guitarist, mandolin and banjo player with the Mark Clark Orchestra and the Blue Ridge Playboys during the 1930's. He signed his first recording contract with Decca Records in 1939. His first hit was his self penned "It Makes No Difference Now." During the late 1940's, Tillman wrote such compositions as "I Love You So Much It Hurts Me" (1948), "Slippin Around" (1949) and "I'll Never Slip Around Agai