One round with Byrd reveals his fondness for fans, songs

A songwriter with a local connection has cracked Byrd's circle of lyricists.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Country music singer Tracy Byrd says he likes performing ballads in concert, but even he reacts in a big way to his most playful songs.
Asked when was the last time he went "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo" -- one of his hits -- Byrd let out a loud "Whoo!"
"Man, I don't even want to remember it," Byrd said, calling before a recent performance in Berrien Springs, Mich. He doubts that he ever lasted more than four or five rounds; "I'm a lightweight when it comes to that. I do still like tequila. ... It's all just a big joke. Nobody needs to try that at home."
Fan favorites
When Byrd gives the first concert of the 2003 Canfield Fair on Wednesday night, he expects fans to holler for their favorite songs -- "Watermelon Crawl," "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous" and, of course, that drinking song of his:
"I walked in the band just stunk
The singer couldn't carry a tune in a bucket
Was on a mission to drown her memory but
I thought no way with all this raucous
But after one round with Jose Cuervo
I caught my boots tapping long with the beat
And after two rounds with Jose Cuervo
That band was sounding pretty darn good to me ..."
Byrd is happy to oblige audiences. "I still thoroughly enjoy doing the 'Watermelon Crawl,' " he said. "Other than that, it's the ballads I enjoy the most." He specifically mentioned "Keeper of the Stars," an earlier hit, as well as two new songs, "Tiny Town" and "You Feel Good."
Local connection
The latter was written in part by Bob DiPiero, who grew up in Liberty and attended Youngstown State University before becoming a successful Nashville songwriter. Byrd said he's been friends with DiPiero and co-writer Tom Shapiro since he began his singing career a decade ago, but he didn't remember another time when he recorded a DiPiero song. It's a "great song," he said, that starts with an attention-getting line: "I like sleeping in the nude."
"The last person you want to picture doing that is Bob DiPiero," Byrd said with a chuckle.
DiPiero can laugh now, because he's finally made his way into Byrd's small circle of songwriters. Byrd said he listens to many songs when he's preparing to record an album, "but it seems like I keep coming back to my old favorites" -- Casey Beathard, who wrote four songs on each of Byrd's last two albums, Bill Anderson and Paul Overstreet among them. "I found the guys that I believe write like I think and write the things that I want to say and sing."
In 101/2 years, Byrd has released nine CDs. One of them was a greatest hits record. He'd prefer putting the greatest hits packages together himself, rather than letting fans do it for themselves.
A compromise of integrity?
The latest computer technology includes Apple's iTunes Music Store, which allows people to purchase downloads of individual songs. Some artists say that practice will hurt the artistic integrity of albums.
"It does bother me a little bit," Byrd said. "When I was growing up, as a rock and country fan, I always loved the concept of an album. It's akin to reading a book in a way. ... It can carry you to different places.
"It's disturbing to think of someone downloading your one hit," Byrd said. He expects iTunes to do well, but he doubts it'll replace the release of CDs.
While other performers' tours are winding down with summer, Byrd will be on the road well into October. "I've been called a road dog before," he said. "We work pretty hard and we work all the time. I don't think in this business extended vacations are good for your career."
That's one more reason why he won't be going 10 rounds with Jose Cuervo anytime soon.
shaulis@vindy.com