Bill Byrne is a renaissance man: a lawyer, judge, mayor (of Morgantown, West Virginia) and musician with a Top 40 song. He’s packed a lot of living into his life. He also tells a great story. I caught up with Bill at a Hero’s Journey Foundation weekend retreat where we played a lot of music together. Listen below to learn how Bill was able to move from competition to collaboration in law and politics, what it’s like to have a Top 40 hit as a teenager, what it’s like to be the family musician, and simply enjoying the act of playing music. You can also hear Hootenanny – his Top 40 hit from the summer of 1963 with his band the Glencoves – both the original version (thanks to YouTube) and a special solo acoustic version recorded just for you. The words are also below if you’d like to sing along. Listen and enjoy the Mayor of Morgantown’s musical story! Listen here: The journey from competition to collaboration Bill’s Musical Journey “It’s always brought out a better part of me” – On being the family musician Letting Go of Perfectionism and Just Enjoying the Act of Making Music Hootenanny solo acoustic version Check out the songs on YouTube: Hootenanny Here are two other songs by Bill’s band The Glencoves: It’s Sister Ginny’s Turn to Throw the Bomb Devil’s Waitin’ (On Bald Mountain) Sing Along at Home! Here are the words to The Glencoves Top 40 hit Hootenanny: There’s gonna be a big Hootenanny, hootenanny Everybody’s gonna come along All join in at the Hootenanny, hootenanny Sing a hooting, hollering song Put on your hat Put out the cat Bring a little money Cause you might need that Throw out the blues Kick off your shoes Sing a little, sing a little Make a little love a little Bring a little honey to The hootenanny, hootenanny Everybody’s gonna have a date Hurry hurry, hurry to The hootenanny, hootenanny We don’t wanna be late You get the girls I’ll get the car Bring a banjo and an old guitar Get out the spoons You know the tunes Hey diddle diddle with A fiddle in the middle If you can’t fiddle At the hootenanny, hootenanny Play a little paper and comb Once you get to the Hootenanny, hootenanny You’ll never wanna go home You get the girls I’ll get the car Bring a banjo and an old guitar Get out the spoons You know the tunes Hey diddle diddle with A fiddle in the middle If you can’t fiddle at the Hootenanny, hootenanny Play a little paper and comb Once you get to the Hootenanny, hootenanny You’ll never wanna go home You’ll never wanna go home You’ll never want to go home
