1986

BILL BENNETT

My friendship with Bill Bennett started when he was working in the pop division at CBS Records in New York City. He was originally from Nashville, so he had an affinity for Country Music. Steve Earle had been on CBS Nashville and had not done so well there. When I signed Steve Earle to MCA Nashville, Bill took an interest in what I was doing with him for some reason. It was during this time that Bill would start following what Steve and I were doing in the studio.

After two albums with Steve at MCA Nashville and our third record, Copperhead Road, was finished, Jimmy Bowen refused to put it out.

By that time, in 1988, Bill Bennett had taken a job with Irving Azoff, with the resurrected UNI Records Label, along with David Simone. Bill agreed to take that record off Jimmy Bowen’s hands, and Copperhead Road became Steve Earle’s biggest album. After UNI Records, Bill helped found Madonna’s Maverick label and is now with Fender Guitars as an artist’s rep. Bill and I have remained business associates and good friends since that time.

Right: Letter from Jim Dickinson sent to Bill Bennett in realtion to Steve Earle’s Guitar Town album. To me it was a certifation coming from such a well Respected record producer.

“I have known Tony Brown for most of my life and he has never not been curious about life, art, and music. He introduced me to Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell, and Vince Gill….he is the original Jesus of Cool. Tony is generous in spirit and soul and qualifies on every level as a legend. I am proud to call him my friend.”

Bill Bennett

WHEN YOU ASK BILL, “WHAT DO YOU DO?” HE ASKS, “WHAT DO YOU WANT DONE?”