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Paula: Music can spark laughter, spark hard emo- Paula: I just wrote a song about Patsy Cline with dad knew what that decision would be, band. At gift so many desire to have. It is your responsibility
tions. Ray and Katie and recorded it. But I don’t consider his funeral, his friend Mike DeBerry said, “Chuck to grow your craft, your gift.
myself a writer. could do anything, and he did everything well.”
Katie: A person can have a beautiful voice, but And that is certainly who Chuck was. Emily: Music belongs to us all; it does not belong to
might not be able to connect their soul to the music Katie: Mom is just being modest. Ever since we just one person. My music isn’t necessarily, if at all,
they perform. The audience walks away from a were little kinds, she always had a full binder of about me, it’s about helping someone, sharing what
performance unmoved, without feeling the great where she had started a chorus or verse. She has ZGP: He stayed humble? I have with others. Sitting down with my guitar and
power music has to offer. I want to be changed written a lot. I can remember being little and Mom Paula: HUMBLE? Oh my gosh, yes, he literally had in that headspace keeps me humble, to continue
after a performance. That my life has been forever would make up songs for different things or wake no ego. to use it as it was intended to help other people get
changed because of the influence I gathered from us up with a guitar that she was learning to play. through something. I like feeling like I’m being
the experience. Of course, my life may not take a Emily: Dad was the kind of person that if he was there for people through my music, in my own way
dramatic turn but even the most subtle of impact ZGP: Paula, tell me about Chuck. going to do it, he was going to do it well. He wasn’t making the world a better place. In that space, I’m
can improve the trajectory of my life going forward. Paula: Chuck was one of the best guys you would the kind to dabble halfheartedly, he put everything surrounded by my family – dad, mom, and my sis-
ever want to meet. He was a wonderful musician, into everything he did. ter and it keeps me grounded to focus on the music
ZGP: What is this mystery about music friend, husband, and father. You could walk all over and its ability to help, through me, others.
that we can’t fully explain scientifically? the planet and never meet another Chuck McGill. ZGP: Tom Petty said in a 2015 interview
Emily: I graduated this year with a degree in He passed on August 12, 2015 at the age of 60, he that he feels he has a conduit to a music Katie: It’s weird because when someone comes up
Psychology and music therapy is a direction I’m was just good to the core and we were really blessed energy. Do you feel you have this same to you after you have performed and compliments
interested in; possibly getting a Masters. For exam- to have him. We were married nearly 36 years. We type of connection? your performance, it almost feels like it wasn’t me,
ple, people experiencing Alzheimer’s, may not be were married ten years before Katie came along. Emily: I think I have this …I don’t want to say gift perhaps I’m the conduit from some higher place to
able to name the beloved person in front of them because everyone has their own gift, something that an audience that was moved by the message. Yes,
but can remember with clarity a song or a piece of Emily: He could pick up any instrument and play they love to do, they are supposed to do, meant to I put the work into it, yes, of course I tried to put
music when played. This reveals that music remains it like he had played it for 100 years. My dad was do. I do feel I have a responsibility to music because everything into the delivery but there is something
connected to a part of our brains. People who have humble, I mean really humble and down-to-earth. I do feel it is something I was put here to do. Plus, I so much more happening in that moment. I feel
experienced cognitive trauma can still, at times, tap Someone came to the store one time asking if he feel if you have it in you, feel it is your calling, you like I’m become the vessel for a higher spirit to flow
into an emotion that music once gave them. could play the fiddle, I was around 14-15 at the should share it with the world. through my music, my given talents, to carry out its
time, and he was like nah I can’t play the fiddle, but divine mission.
ZGP: Staying with music and emotions, I was like Dad, you know how instruments work, Paula: I mean it’s like you, you must have been put
let’s talk about vulnerability. It can be a just pick it up and try it. He picked it up and played here to do this, because this is what you are doing. Emily: I certainly feel it was our childhood. I mean
daunting task taking our artistry from the entire song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” I think we were put here on earth to do certain when I’m performing it certainly includes the
within our secure places – our mind, our released by The Charlie Daniels Band. things and it just so happens that ours is music legacy of my parents, their loving and supportive
private homes – to open spaces subject to and what a blessing it is. Chuck would share his influence, and everyone who has empowered my
an audience and the hopefulness they will Katie: The crazy thing is Dad was great at every- knowledge and craft with anyone. Whenever we craft to flourish. So, if anyone should get the “You
accept and absorb the vibes we are put- thing. Most people are like he was a great musician, played and he saw a musician in the audience he did great” it should be my parents.
ting out. and he was, but he was a very gifted and talented would help grow their talent, bring them on stage,
Emily: I think the first thing any artist should do artist, he could draw, and he was an athlete. He or whatever. A lot of artists would not do that, but Katie: Yeah, like everyone that has become part of
is come at it from a place of sincere honesty. Some played football and raced motocross. When you Chuck did not take his craft for granted. the journey that placed you where you are now,
of my best tunes have been written from a deeply think of a well-rounded individual, that was my should be the intended target of that “You did
personal place. When you think about it, sharing dad. Katie: I agree with Emily, we all have been bless- great” sentiment. I feel like all their spirits, time,
your truth through your art, reminds you that you ed with gifts and often it can be easy to take it for and energy that was poured into everything you do
are not alone, that others have experienced a simi- Paula: When he was in junior high, he was placed granted because it is something you have always – singing, painting, writing, etc. comes out in that
lar event. When you can put a song out there that is on the football team. However, when he started done. The responsibility aspect resonates because moment.
vulnerable and honest, it resonates so much more highschool the coach at the time would not allow while music is our gift, it is something that you
than a typical canned tune about love, loss, and joy. members of the band to play ball. Chuck’s dad was should practice and continue to grow. Music is a Paula: Cousin Tuny told me after Chuck passed,
Specific experiences written to music can really also a great football player, so the coach went to part of me, I can’t shake it and it is a part of every that there are people who go through life never
change someone’s life. The best therapy for me is to Chuck’s house and tried to talk his dad into making day. My dad would always tell me, you have a gift knowing that kind of love that we had. I have kept
write from my personal experiences. Sitting down Chuck play foodball rather than the band. Chuck’s but there is someone always working harder than that with me.
with my guitar and writing down everything in my dad told the coach he was letting Chuck make that you are – so you keep up your talent. Others can
head as quickly as possible. decision for himself. Both the coach and Chuck’s certainly surpass you if you allow them. You have a

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