In 1976 something big was happening in Nashville. The label head of RCA Nashville, Jerry Bradley—son of legendary music producer and executive Owen Bradley—had put together a concept album called Wanted! The Outlaws. This album featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. It was the very first platinum album in country music history. It seemed to start a movement of country with an “edge.”
Because of the impact of this album, RCA decided to give Jerry his own pop label called Free Flight Records with an office in Los Angeles. Jerry Bradley asked David Briggs to refer someone for the A&R job and Briggs suggested me! Bradley gave me my first A&R job at RCA Free Flight Records, officially making me an executive in the music business. I moved to LA in 1978 at the age of thirty-two. The label closed in 1980, and I worried that I would lose my job. But Jerry’s promise to me, as written below, meant that I could breathe a sigh of relief.
Jerry moved me to RCA Nashville’s country division, where I remained until 1984. After working there for three years, I signed the band Alabama. It became my first success story as an A&R guy. Jerry was the original country music outlaw, and his vision regarding Wanted! The Outlaws changed Nashville forever.
“If you don’t make it out there, I’ll get you back here before we fire you.”
Jerry Bradley