The Ballad of Andy Rooney

Contact: Roger Wilson
Email: roger@hurricanewilson.com
Website: http://www.hurricanewilson.com
http://www.bluestormrecords.com
Phone: 678-296-9850

Songwriter: Roger Wilson
Publishers & PRO: Brux Music/ BMI


"This guy plays some great Blues".... Les Paul

"Roger "Hurricane" Wilson is a force to be reckoned with"... Francine Reed (Lyle Lovett/ Willie Nelson)

"Roger is the "Real Deal"... Walter Trout

"Roger "Hurricane" Wilson is of tomorrow's Blues generation"... Bobby Rush

Airplay Direct Record Company Link: Bluestorm Records
http://AirPlayDirect.com/RogerHurricaneWilson-BluestormRecords

8)THE BALLAD OF ANDY ROONEY(3:27)
This song tells the story of Roger’s personal friend, a household name, and CBS 60 Minutes legend,Andy Rooney,of his longtime journalism career that began in print during WWII and continued up until the time of his passing in November of 2011.

Chapter 31: ANDY ROONEY
From The Book, HURRICANE, by Roger Wilson

ANDY ROONEY
As many have, I had been a fan of Andy Rooney from the early days of watching 60 Minutes on Sunday night. It never occurred to me that would get to know him personally after writing him a letter in 2008. After reading one of his books, I thought I would just drop it in the mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope and request his autograph. He graciously signed the book and mailed it back to me. While sitting in my motorhome out on the Wyoming prairie, I finished another one of his books. Rather than just carry the book around, I decided to send that one on to him for an autograph, but this time I included a handwritten letter. I mentioned that I loved his work and that I would soon be in New York passing through on a tour, and that I would be stopping in to sit in with Les Paul at his weekly Monday night gig at the Iridium Club. Soon after he wrote back to me on his Royal typewriter and invited me to visit him at his office at CBS in New York during my next stop there. For 2 consecutive years, I made 2 visits to CBS News, and I got to know Andy on a personal level. He wasn’t the type of person to interact often with fans, but he said he had taken a liking to my handwritten letter, and the fact that I would be coming to NYC to sit in with Les Paul and his trio. Over time, Andy signed additional books for me as I would finish them, and we would stay in touch. Later, I wrote the song, BALLAD OF ANDY ROONEY, and I sent it to him. I’m hoping he got a kick out of it, but he never did say. Andy said was always happiest when he was writing, and he vowed that he would never retire. It is that kind of passion in life that I believe keeps folks to want to keep on living. He had a long and successful career beginning as a journalist in the U.S Army while flying with and reporting on the bombing missions over Normandy in WWII. He later wrote for famous guys like Arthur Godfrey and Harry Reasoner, to name just a couple. His commentaries on 60 Minutes on Sunday nights were legendary, whether or not you agreed or disagreed with him. He didn’t care. I was just so fortunate that I could hang with Les Paul one evening, and then visit with Andy Rooney the next day. It was almost too much greatness in one place. Being around a couple of guys that kept doing what they loved to do on into their 90’s was a great message to me to never quit. Unfortunately, we lost Andy on November 4, 2011 at the age of 92. He certainly won’t be forgotten.

From The Book, HURRICANE, by Roger Wilson

http://hurricanewilson.com/products/the-book-hurricane/