Scott Burgess, vocalist and bassist with Deeper Shade of Blue, has released his first solo single, Son of a Truck Driving Son of a Gun, on Huckleberry Records, a division of Turnberry. It has an old country feel with a pedal steel, fiddle, piano, and a Telecaster providing the musical foundation for Burgess’ butter-like vocals melting the truck-driving story lyrics.
“He was getting them gears, climbing them hills, and keeping that hammer down. He said, ‘White lines and coffee black, blue skies and being free, are all I need for this life I lead, in this eighteen wheeler’s dream.”
Co-written by his former DSOB band-mate, Frank Poindexter, and songwriter, Brink Brinkman, it is based on Scott’s lifeline and livelihood. It was spawned from a talk between old DSOB band mates.
Burgess recalled…
“We were going down the road after a gig. I told Frank about my dad. He made the comment that if your dad was that inspirational, he must have been a truck driving son of a gun and said, ‘That makes you a son of a truck driving son of a gun.’ He took that and ran with it.”
That conversation jogged Poindexter’s memory of a song idea he had considered years ago. He contacted Mark “Brink” Brinkman and the two composed the piece.
Frank noted, “Brink added a lot of terminology to the song, and made a demo to send Scott.”
Brink admitted he didn’t even realize that Scott was a truck driver until Frank’s call. “We sharpened our pens and went back and forth for about a month between texting, MP3s, and emails. It all came together and I said, ‘This is a country song.'”
Each composer had his favorite lyric. Frank’s favorite installment was “riding high on chrome and steel.” Brink had his, too. “From Walla Walla to Wilmington. I pulled out a map and found a west coast and east coast (city) that would work.”
Burgess even had a little input in the lyrics. The original line in the chorus was “cut his teeth in a diesel car,” which is old ’70s and ’80s CB lingo for an eighteen wheeler. He made a suggestion, “I don’t know if the regular public will get what that is. What about ‘cut his teeth on a steering wheel?’ Like a kid cuts his teeth on a teething ring.” The composers agreed.
After the song was recorded, Scott noticed that a line in the second verse refers to Joe. “Joe was the subject of [Red Sovine’s song] Phantom 309. I told Frank, ‘That’s a nod to that classic trucking song and you didn’t even know it!'”
Poindexter is pleased with the end result. “It all worked out perfectly. It was meant to be and destined for Scott Burgess to do it. It’s the first country song that I played a part in writing that will be on the country market.”
To better appreciate the song’s message, Burgess shared his truck driving bloodline.
“Dad passed in 1984 when I was 19. He drove for a local cotton brokerage in my hometown of Lincolnton [NC]. He had a 42 year career with over 3,500,000 safe miles. He did this the hard way before the interstate system and before a lot of the conveniences we have in trucks now.”
Burgess admired his dad’s profession. “I grew up in a truck. That was why I wanted to do what I’m doing now. I sat in the passenger seat and watched. I learned at the feet of the master. I wanted to be like him,” and started driving a truck right out of high school, driving locally for a textile company. He was then offered a long distance position.
“I’ve never looked back. In my career, I have ran all 48 states and Canada. I’ve seen a lot.”
Eventually, the singing truck driver took a job driving across the southeast for Walmart and has been a faithful employee for 22 years. Burgess has racked up driving awards, winning the NC State Driving Championship in 2011 and 2014. He advanced to the American Trucking Association Nationals three times, coming in 10th in the nation at his best.
“This song is really hits home for me. I would love it if Dad could hear it, but I think he does. He and Mom are looking down and I hope they’re proud of what their kid has done. This is a legacy industry. There are tons and tons of second and third generation drivers out there because they had a dad or mom that did this. This song speaks to that.”
Burgess expressed his gratitude for seeing the single released.
“Keith Barncastle [Turnberry Records] made this possible. I want to thank Frank and Brink for writing a great song and my DSOB boys [Troy Pope and Milom Williams] for laying the harmonies down. And these guys in the session that laid the tracks down. [James Mitchell-electric guitar, John Willis-acoustic guitar, Joe Spivey-fiddle, Mike Johnson-pedal steel, Gordon Mote-piano, Kevin Grantt-bass, and Greg Cole-drums]. It was everything I envisioned. It is my hope that everybody likes it, and that it will mean as much to them as it does to me.
Above all I want to thank the good Lord for blessing me everyday with a career I can be proud of, and being able to do more with music. Now I can say I’m a solo country artist that has a song available on country radio.”
It isn’t bluegrass, but it’s pure classic country music at its best. The song features a strong vocalist telling a great story with toe-tapping accompaniment; the way real country music is supposed to sound (before it was murdered on Music Row). Deeper Shade of Blue fans will adore it so the band had better figure out how to feature Burgess singing it during their live shows.
A Son of a Truck Driving Son of a Gun is available on all streaming sites, and to radio programmers at Get It Played.
