I may work at a country station, but I love all kinds of music, and have a special affection for ’80s fare, especially big-hair bands. As a matter of fact, my friend Kathy and I are going to see Def Leppard on Monday night in Cincinnati for the gazillionth time.
Being a lifelong student of music, I like to watch marathon episodes of “Behind the Music” on VH1 to learn more. I’m always fascinated by what artists did before they were famous.
Imagine my excitement when I discovered the website www.hardlyfamous.com. Did you know Blake Shelton was a house painter, Eric Church a “shop at home” phone operator, Dierks Bentley cleaned toilets on house boat rentals and Kenny Chesney was a parking lot valet before they became country superstars?
Kelly Clarkson wore a lot of different hats before she became the season 1 winner of “American Idol”: pharmacy clerk, waitress, Six Flags performer, telemarketer, Kirby Vacuum saleswoman and Red Bull promoter. Lady Gaga says she used to work as a waitress at a Greek restaurant back in the day. Maybe that’s where she got the idea for the infamous meat dress?
Along those lines, the self-described “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne, started out working in a slaughterhouse. Gene Simmons, the “Demon” in Kiss was once an elementary school teacher in Harlem and knows five languages.
Sting and Rod Stewart both began digging early in their careers. Sting in ditches and Stewart in graveyards.
Me? I detasseled corn at Clark Landmark in South Charleston.
And when you watch Eddie Money tonight at Tattoo, picture him in a police uniform. He used to be a New York City cop before he hit it big as a singer. Just think, the next time an officer pulls you over, he could very well give you “Two Tickets to Paradise.”
Contact Nancy Wilson, a morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by email through k99online.com.
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