Published in The Parrot June 2010
A Zen Buddhist, a businessman, and a musician walk into a bar. Bartender says, “What can I get you, Fred?”
Fred Eaglesmith isn’t unusual in that he wears many hats, his uniqueness is in his well balanced approach to all things he engages in. Most famously, writing songs that continually reassure us someone understands how we feel.
Like an old mechanic fixing our cars time and time again, doing such a thorough job, even as we travel on with the inevitability of another breakdown, we feel confident that someone will be there to help us pick up the pieces. Someone who understands our frustrations, and helps us battle the futility of it all.
Fred’s songs are frequently cinematic landscapes, transporting listeners straight into the hearts of the sad and lonely, out to the dusty plains of rural America where trains roll through small towns, and trucks and relationships break down in perfect harmony. Norman Rockwell’s worst nightmare set to music.
And then there’s Fred the businessman, running his own label, a music store and a cafe most of his career. Around the time his first record was released in the early 80’s, he also ran a 6 million dollar a year wholesale flower company.
“I needed something to supplement my music career. I had 28 employees and a 15,000 sq. ft. building and I hated my life everyday. I lost it all in two days in the late 80’s. You really don’t know business until you’ve gone broke in one.”
It wasn’t the first time Fred Eaglesmith went broke. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, the family lost their farm and struggled economically. It was a volatile time for Fred, his songs, and bittersweet, comedic anecdotes between them during live shows, frequently allude to these times.
Early lessons in business and life may have influenced Fred’s record industry shrewdness. In an industry notorious for bad deals for musicians, Fred managed to do well in the 90’s with major labelpublishing and recording deals.
“Ultimately, when there’s a record deal somebody loses a lot of money. Either the artists or the label. Whoever loses the most money is mad at the other guy. So, (in the end) I wasn’t so mad... I wasn’t as angry as they were.”
Fred has earned a living for more than 30 years recording and touring the world over, mostly as a completely independent artist.
Despite escaping the corporate grip in 2001, Fred Eaglesmith admits to still being pissed off a lot of the time and has turned to Zen Buddhism for some inner peace.
“It’s very hard to not be angry, so that’s my struggle. To learn to quiet down. I’m a little better than when I was at 14, but no better since I was 24. I’m still pissed off, and I regret it everyday.”
Pissed off or not, Fred Eaglesmith delivers a healthy dose of well crafted Americana, singer-songwriter, songs that make many Texans very happy. Although he is Canadian, for much of his career Fred was more popular in Texas and Tennessee, than anywhere else.
“When I came to Texas they adopted me right away. People were giving me (honorary) citizen of Texas forms. I realized a whole culture of story telling that wasn't in Canada.”
Fred has received numerous music awards in many categories from traditional folk to bluegrass to rock. Earning praises from critics, and peers like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson. Fred wrote the title song for Jackson’s latest record, Freight Train.
Fred Eaglesmith’s latest CD, Cha Cha Cha, can be heard and purchased at FredEaglesmith.com. He can also be seen at the Old Quarter Cafe in Galveston from time to time.
In an industry that finds it more and more difficult to bring great touring artists into small, intimate venues, many thanks to Wrecks at the OQ for hosting the talent.
Watch the video interview with Fred Eaglesmith below.
Zach Tate is writer, photographer and musician.