Free Tragedy's Gift: Surviving Cancer by Kevin Sharp, Jeanne Gere Page A

“Let’s do this.”
     
    I wasn’t sure what that meant, but as I glanced over at David and saw that he was smiling, I knew things went well. Then it hit me, I was right in the middle of realizing my biggest dream. I was getting my record deal after all!
     
    I ran out into the back alley and called my parents. I was so excited I didn’t want anyone to see me jumping around like a lunatic among the dumpsters and empty crates as I told my father all about every detail of my incredible experience.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The Real Journey Begins
     
    After listening to literally thousands of songs and weeding them down to what we felt was the best of the best, was it time to record.
     
    I remember the first day I went into the studio to record my first album. I was the one who got to be the fan. The best studio musicians available were all there. I asked each of them for an autograph. They looked at me like I was crazy, but I wanted to have memories of this day that I dreamed of for so long throughout my illness. Everyone there was important to me. I even asked the studio assistant who filled the coffee, hot chocolate and snacks to sign an autograph. Long days in the studio concentrating and trying to get everything just right would be unbearable if the coffee and snacks ran out! That assistant was very important to me!
     
    Each time I entered the studio I wanted to be sure that every song I performed was one that I loved and could see myself singing hundreds of times over as though it was the first time. I wanted to make sure that all of the never-ending hours on the road; radio station interviews and concerts would be fresh every time. I always wanted my fans to get my best!
     
    The road to getting fans was the hardest part. Once my first album was finished and everything sounded great, the craziness started. Now it was time to get the radio stations across America to play my first single, "Nobody Knows.” I was an unknown artist, the radio programmers didn't know me, and no one ever wants to be first to try out an unknown. I spent months on the road going to radio stations doing interviews and meeting the programmers and DJ's. It was exciting and exhausting at the same time. The radio turned out to be very friendly to me. 105.1 in Sacramento showed their support from the very beginning, even before I had a major label deal. They were the first station to ever play, “Nobody Knows” on the airwaves. The morning team of “Pat and Tom” at KNCI were very good to me then and now. Hearing myself on the radio was a joy that doesn’t get any better!
     
    Before I knew it, I was on almost every country radio station and television talk show. I was making guest appearances on TV, doing many live performances, and was nominated for an “Academy of Country Music Award” and “American Music Award.” I felt like I had died and gone to Heaven.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The Business of Making Mus ic
     
    When I finally got my record deal I was so excited. I let my mind wander and dream about how much money I was about to make and all of the great things I would be able to afford to do. I was going to be rich! After all if I was going to be on the radio and television and making guest appearances and doing concerts, I should be able to expect the riches to follow, right?
     
    The only thing I had to do was to listen to the advice of my new lawyers and everything would be great. Record contracts are tricky and need to be handled with a keen eye and sharp mind. I was a wide-eyed kid whose dreams were about to come true. The law firm I was referred to was tops in the entertainment field. They represented the top artists in the business. I was told that my contract was “standard” and I trusted them to do a good job for me.
    I knew in my heart that money was never a driving force for pursuing my career in music; it was only a great bonus. I simply wanted to sing and record great songs.
     
    I had