Doug Stone

February 26, 2016

BY:Michael A. Capozzoli Jr.

All quotes by Doug Stone.

(What’s Doug think about all the competition he’s facing now that so many newcomers have scored hits since he’s taken two years off?)

I’ll tell you, everybody has been telling me,’ It’s rough out there.’ And, I was thinking that they (the fans) might have done forgotten about me. So, it’s good to see that this new single of mine is doing well and that the fans haven’t forgotten about me.

We found out the other day that my single is among the six most added singles to radio. And among that list was Garth, Shania, brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson you know(he laughs). So, hey that’s where I want to be, I want to be right in with that crowd there. You know, I think by taking some time off, the fans knew my songs but they didn’t know who I was. In the interim period of time that I was off, I think the fans found out who Doug Stone was and since I’ve begun touring, hey we’ve put it all together for them. They’re getting’ to know once again, who I am and what I’m about and then there’s this new music too.

(Where’s Doug been?)

We (Doug’s physicians) thought I had cancer in my nose. Actually it turned out to be a big polyp which was growing on the soft palate of my mouth, which in time also started hindering my voice. As it grew (the polyp) my voice grew worse and I taught myself bad habits. They finally found the thing now this was in 1995, right before I had the heart attack. Once they cut it out, I quit smoking. Then I had a heart attack. So I said to myself, ‘I think I need a little time off.’ (he laughs). So, when I took some time off and gradually I started to feel better. Now I’m feeling better and I’ll be playing a lot more dates then I did previously. I’m feeling better now then I ever have. You know, I learned quite a bit going through that time when I was ill and I believe God put me here on this earth to work and to sing and He has given me this gift of a beautiful voice and I want to use that gift to it’s fullest. It all came down to the fact that I needed to learn to take better care of my health. It’s just that simple. Now that I’m feeling better, I’m more focused then ever before.

(Doug talks about his image as a country recording artist and entertainer.)

I’ve never had an image consultant. They’ve dressed me up in everything that they could think of and at the end of the day they told me, ‘Well, he looks good in everything.’ So, as far as my image and the clothes I wear, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore(he laughs). You know, before all of this, I was a mechanic and a carpenter and I did some mason work too. Folks will come up to me and say, ‘You know it’s good to see a real person who has made it singing country music (he laughs).’ And I’ll tell them,’ I’m just lucky. I’m just like you are. I ain’t nothing special. I’m just a lucky guy to get to do what I love to do for a living. Because to me, that’s the closest thing to heaven you’ll get while you’re on earth.’ You know, you can get to thinking that you’re somebody you’re not, because in this business you have all these people surrounding you and telling you how good you are or how great your music. So, all of a sudden, you’ll start believing your own PR. So, after all that happened to me, it’s like I got slapped down, really. I got to looking at myself and I realized there ain’t nothing special about me. When I get up in the morning, I go to the bathroom and get dressed like everybody else.

(What’s Doug feel about the promotional “chores” that he as a recording artist in country music these days, must do in order to promote his recordings.)

Let me tell you about the hardest part of this business, that’ s being a politician Because as far as the music goes, that’s the easiest part of it all for me. because that’s what I love to do. But I never wanted to be a politician and yet there’s times when I feel like I am one. That’s the worst part of the business, because as far as the music goes, that’s easy, that’s what I love to do, but there are times when I do feel like I’m running for public office and that’s when I feel like I’m a politician. Now, if I say that I do like so and so and I don’t like their music, well then people will hate me for saying that when in fact, it’s just my personal opinion. That’s the worst part of the business I’ve run up against. So I try and keep my personal opinions my own personal opinions. Everything else after that in this business is a labor of love. I mean they pay me for riding the bus, for flying and loosing a lot of sleep and time away from home. That’s what I get paid to do(he laughs). Other then that, I’m doing what I love to do and that’s singing. I’d sing for free and I have sang for free all my life.

(What else has Doug been up to?)

Well, we’ve been doing a lot of radio shows where I’m doing a three piece acoustic set. It’s really cool, because I’m up close and personal and it’s for the radio stations invited guests and I’m having a lot of fun. I’m even giving thought to going out on tour and doing some three piece up close and personal shows in some small clubs across the country and seeing what happens. Because we’re packing out the places that we’re going to now.

(What kind of feedback is Doug receiving from the fans he’s been meeting on is current tour?)

The fans have been telling me,’ We’re glad to hear you back on radio with a new song. It’s good to see you’re back and feeling good.’ And let me tell you, that means the world to me. It really does.

(How is Doug feeling lately since he took almost two years off?)

You know what I learned? God showed me a few things to where I should straighten my life back up and start flying straight, so I did. When I did, He gave me my voice back and now I know where I got my voice, it’s God’s gift and now I use it for that. people have been telling me lately, ‘Boy you are singing great!’ And I’ll say, ‘It’s a gift.’