Highway to Phoenix

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November 19th, 2019
Back Highway to Phoenix

My sister Debbie was working as a cocktail waitress at a nightclub called Mr. Lucky's. She shared an apartment with a high school girlfriend and was thoroughly enjoying her life in Phoenix, AZ.

One night she called me and invited me to the club.

"Brother, have you ever heard of Glen Campbell," she said. I told her I had heard of the country western star.

"Well, he's headlining the show tonight and I think he'd make a terrific interview for you," she said.

I agreed with her and drove over to the club located just off 35th Avenue and Grand Avenue. I got there around 9 p.m. and the parking lot, which could accommodate 6,000 cars, was already filled.

Friday night was my evening for poker at the American Legion Post No. 1. I knew my fellow players Carl Collins, Western and the others would be there until at least 2 a.m. so I wasn't worried about getting a seat. After finding a parking place, I entered the club.

Mr. Lucky's was divided into two sections:

The upstairs area was for country western fans...

...while the downstairs was for lovers of rock and roll music.

The club manager was a friend of mine and knew I wrote for the magazines, so he quickly found me a prime table near the stage.

Campbell turned out to be an impeccably dressed western star who was a perfectionist when it came to his music. He did several songs which drew thunderous ovations. Then he took the microphone and spoke to the crowd.

He told the audience he had just recorded a new song and wanted to play it for them. The lyrics were written by Jimmy Webb, a talented songwriter, he said. Then he began singing.

I was mesmerized by the song: the words, the story and the music flowed so smoothly I knew it would be an instant hit.

Ray Odom was a friend of mine who owned a country western radio station, KHAT. I called him at home and invited him to Mr. Lucky's.

"This is going to be the song of the year, Ray," I said. "You have to interview this guy." He promised he would be right down and showed up 30 minutes later.

Campbell went on to make many hit records, from "Wichita Lineman" to "Gentle On My Mind." He made movies like 'Rhinestone Cowboy' to "True Grit.' But 'By The Time I Get to Phoenix' remains one of the most popular country western songs of all time.

Odom, who owned race horses that he raced at Turf Paradise Race Track, featured his interview of Campbell on KHAT. My articles on Campbell appeared in the Phoenix Gazette, Country Style Magazine and the Star, a weekly tabloid that I was writing for in those years.

My sister worked at the club until she returned to Pennsylvania. She helped me get several interviews of some of the top country legends from that era, including Tom T. Hall, George Jones, Loretta Lynn and several others.

But the one with Campbell was one of the best!

Thanks, Sis.

“I think he'd make a terrific interview for you”

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