Tracy Lawrence In Control As His Fortunes Climb Again

Had Tracy Lawrence given in to his feelings, he’d probably be back home in Arkansas right now instead of watching his records jump to the top of the charts.

Lawrence will appear Saturday at Silver Mountain.

In a career marked by a spectacular series of highs and lows, Lawrence hit the bottom after his second record, 1992’s platinum “Alibis,” was released.

Despite a string of four No. 1 singles and one of the top-selling albums in the land, Lawrence was stunned to discover he was broke: Trusted associates had cheated him.

“There was a time during the past year when I almost completely withdrew and shut down,” he said later. “I was going through lawsuits and almost had to declare bankruptcy. I walked around with my head down thinking everyone I met on Music Row was someone negative. I really think I had some kind of nervous breakdown. I spent a lot of time on my knees.”

But Lawrence, who is one of the more talented newcomers on the country scene, has been serious about his career from day one, and the lesson he took from that experience was this: “I learned that you have to take control of your life and make decisions.” Consequently he earned a reputation for being a difficult man to work with.

“I was having to learn to be the boss,” he said. “It can be difficult to tell people twice your age to do things. But I’ve gotten real good at it. I don’t have a problem anymore getting something done or getting someone to pay attention.”

Determination has been a hallmark of his career. At 22, he sold everything he owned but a beat-up Toyota with one bad cylinder and a piece of innertube subbing for the fan belt. Within three days he met drummer Pat Buttram, an equally hard-headed sort who believed in the young Lawrence and began to assemble the troops.

“He put my entire band together,” Lawrence said. “He introduced me to everybody in Nashville. He believed in me through the whole process.”

Lawrence lived on the winnings from club talent shows and got his first big break, a major club showcase, in January 1991.

“I got a lot of label interest out of that showcase,” he said. “Atlantic decided to sign me. In May I went in to cut my album.”

“Sticks and Stones” was finished just nine months after he landed on Music Row. It went gold and produced three No. 1 singles, but not before Lawrence ran into another piece of patented bad luck.

He and an old school friend who was visiting town went to see Alan Jackson the day the record was completed. After the show, in a hotel parking lot, three armed men confronted and robbed them. The robbers then demanded the woman’s room number and forced them to walk to the room. Fearing his friend would be raped, Lawrence spun and grabbed the gun pointed at him. He was shot twice as his friend ran to safety.

The release of “Sticks and Stones” was delayed while he recuperated. Clearly, his injuries didn’t slow him down much. He was soon back in the studio recording “Alibis.”

Lawrence’s hit list is already long, with hits such as “Sticks and Stones,” “Today’s Lonely Fool,” “Runnin’ Behind,” “Somebody Paints The Wall,” “Alibis,” “Can’t Break It To My Heart,” “My Second Home” and “If the Good Die Young.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Tracy Lawrence Location and time: Silver Mountain Amphitheatre, Kellogg, Saturday, 7 p.m. Tickets: $29.50/preferred seating, $24.50/general admission