A nice fuzzy picture of the Cody band. From left to right is M. Cody, D. O'Lannerty, S. Grossman, G. Ford, and me.After meeting Cody, we ended up writing a couple of songs that made it on to vinyl (Glenn Campbell, Margaret Becker) and then somehow got this band together. I'm fuzzy on the details, but this was one great band. We went through a few bass players, but Cody and I along with G. Ford, and S. Grossman, stuck it out for awhile. We recorded the Cody Band in 1990 (I think), and had a little regional success in N. Carolina. If I remember Cody's songs "Thunder and Lightning" and "Fresh Horses" ended up being fairly successful on radio...I'm sure Michael will correct me on that!
Having a good run with the band and getting close to that major label deal...we called it quits. Michael decided to go back to school and I ended up running my recording studio, continued writing, and then ended up helping run a new record label based out of Chicago. After a couple of years of that, went back to being an independent writer, producer, and studio owner, until 2004.
Sometime near my birthday in 2004, (which was yesterday!), I had finished up my last production job on a great artist named eLi. I had nothing on my books for the future and decided it was time to walk away from the music world. My wife, me and son Tom had always wished there was an indoor batting cage so we could work all year round on Tom's dream to play baseball in college. So...I went to our local mall and walked into the managers office and asked him if I could rent a space for a batting cage. He said yes but it would have to be a real business, opened up to the public. As they say...the rest is history. We started NBTA and opened our doors on April 20, 2004. Now it 2007, Tom's dream has come true. He'll be headed to Tennessee Temple University to play baseball and hopefully, get a college degree! I haven't looked back and hope that the next few years will be profitable enough to keep NBTA going. It's tough making a living doing this...but it sure is a lot of fun!
7 comments:
Hope you had a great birthday.
Thanks Roz, I did have a nice b-day! Came home after work and my lovely wife had cooked me a dinner of things I enjoy! In other words...no spinach, squash, or a useless salad with bad tasting bottle dressing on it!
I believe that dreams are the gateway to our future.....now that you son has his dream, where will you and your wife be heading? You are my new best hero Mark.. God bless you in your next year on this earth... john
I'm glad you had a happy birthday, Mark. Sorry to have missed the actual day. And thanks for sharing the Chesshir history with us. Oh, by the way, around the house here we still refer to lettuce as useless, just as you taught us.
Useless lettuce! I'm glad I was able to teach the Professor something in all those years! It was a trip to think about the history. 30 years and it only took a few paragraphs to write!
Quig...I've been asking that same question! Yes, my wife is pretty incredible to have come along my journey! I have always wanted to go to China and minister the Gospel...but this is where I think my wife will put her foot down and not budge. Can't blame her...so whatever she wants is what I'll do! Yet, who knows how the Lord will move in our lives. We do seek Him and desire to follow and I know we will both seek His will. Bless you...I can't wait to come to JC and actually meet you and the others in person!
well Mark, I will be in JC April 19 to the 26TH...come on over
Never know!
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