Music is My Mission

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Now the devil's nightmare. Welcome back to another episode of It's Time to Man Up. When you think of your mission in life, what do you think about? What do you consider?

Well, my guest today has clarity on what his mission is. Music, he says, is my Mission. With me today, a longtime dear friend Jamie Warden. Welcome to the Man Up Show, my brother. How are you today, Sir Nick?

I am doing well.

Well, you just threw some people off there. They're going to go, Sir Nick, wait, I've never heard anyone call him that before. All good. I generally make up names for people.

Well, and I got a friend over in Missouri. I think he's got a nickname for every single person he's ever met, actually. And pretty funny. But so we're going to dive into, we'll dive into some of that today as far as your music career and kind of what got you started in music. And we'll talk about all that.

But before we get there, though, I'm trying to remember, and I don't know why, but we probably go back 25, 30 years, probably. What do you think, Jamie? Uh Getting pretty close. What year did you um leave Spring Hill or Nashville?

So 2004, yeah, because we so, yeah, I okay, so so it's probably about 2003. We were living in Spring Hill for a short stint, and as I reflect back now, we were at a church there. We went to a church called Thompson Station. Right, church. Correct.

And I got this random email one day from some guy who said, Hey, I think I saw you in church today, but just checking to see if it was really you. You know, I've been a fan of wrestling and this, that, and the other. That was, of course, Frank. From you and I responded, I'm like, Oh my gosh, that's pretty funny.

So I responded and said, Yup, really really me. And then from there, I think we met up at a coffee shop or something. Is that how you remember the story? Yeah, pretty much. How and why I recognize you.

Um I was working with a rap artist at the time called LG Wise. Yep. Yep. And he had been touring the country with these conferences Oh gosh, I'm blanking out. I think they were called Acquire of the Fire Meeting.

Ron Luce, Acquire the Fire. Yeah, that's where I first met LG. Yeah. Yep. So.

LG walked into my office one day and we were we were friends and just chatting and he handed me a brochure. Of one of the Acquire the Fire events that he was on. I guess it was like a whole spring tour or something like that. Yep. And uh I started looking at all the guest speakers, and I see your picture and name at the bottom, and I'm like.

Is that Nikita Koloff the wrestler? Like, wait, what? Wait, what? Hold on. And he was like, well, yes, it is.

He's like, Nikita's a good friend. And I think it was literally, that was during the weekend. I think it was literally that following Sunday. that I was sitting in church and I looked up and I'm like, That has to be the same guy on the card, on the brochure. And honestly, I may not have put two and two together or recognized.

that was you if I literally had not seen that brochure a couple of days before. That that is great. God works in mysterious ways, does he not? And now, out of curiosity, because I hadn't talked to L G in forever. Have you any time recently been in touch with L G?

I honestly have not. It's been. It's been quite a while since yeah, I had not spoken with him since Probably, I left the music distribution company that I was at when I actually met him. And I think it was he was doing an Acquire the Fire here in Nashville, I think was the last time I actually saw him.

Okay, yeah, we, yeah, we shared the platform a number of times and, of course, stayed in touch for quite a while. You know how life is, right? You kind of get separated. People come into your life, you know, for seems like just a season for whatever reason, right? They come in.

Yep, that's one of those things I had to. learn and you know be okay with you know as I got older because you know when you meet somebody and you hit it off and you're like man we're gonna be friends forever this person's great yeah right and then all of a sudden you're like wait a minute I hadn't seen or talked to that person in a year For two years. Or whatever. And then you realize, like you just said, sometimes. your paths cross for a very specific reason, and sometimes it's literally for a specific season in your life.

Yeah, and it can become, and I'm sure there's people out there listening that can probably relate, I would venture to guess. But yeah, it can be, I mean, exactly. I mean, I had an evangelist from South Africa that for a season, you know, was in my life in the 90s and early 2000s and, you know, sat under that mantle and just was fed. I mean, gosh, I mean, full-blown, you know, revivals for a week or two or three or four and just, you know, just learned and watched and was discipled. And then, you know, life goes on and, you know, you kind of go for whatever reason, you know, go your separate ways.

And so, yeah, LG, you know. I think back at those times and it was fun to to hang around him and and collaborate together on some things. And so so you are so you're in speaking of music and and talking about music, you're in really kind of the mu music city, so to speak, Nashville, Tennessee, right? Correct. I'm working on what is still affectionately known as Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee.

I work at recording studio called Ocean Way National Studios, and it's arguably one of the premier recording studios in the world.

So I am unbelievably fortunate and blessed uh to be able to work here. No, and I and I have you, of course, when you first started there, I think not long after, you gave me the, I'll call it the nickel tour. And I was just like blown away by the studio itself. And it had been part of it's a converted church, right? A historical church.

And Music Row is pretty historical in and of itself, right? Correct. Music Row originally was 16th, 17th, 18th Avenue in Nashville, and it's all old houses built in the 1920s and 30s. And then at some point during history, music companies started buying properties You know, I guess a lot of it was zoned commercial and they started buying properties up and down the streets. you know, in the heyday of the music business in the nineties, you could literally go up and down you know, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth Avenue and almost for about a four or five blocks deep.

on those three streets, you know, literally. Almost every building had something to do with music, whether it was a management company or a Publishing company or a record label, or you know, you know, production company or a studio or something like that.

So that's you know, why this specific part of town was you know coined, you know, music row, because at one point a majority of all the businesses on these three streets were all music related. Yeah, incredible. I mean, like every building, every house or and/or build it was converted, right? And I remember when you gave me that tour, man, like that you would take me like there was um Like that, what would have been the main sanctuary converted? I mean, I think one time you brought me in, there was a full-blown orchestra in there, and then some of these separate rooms, like there was like a drummer off in a room all by himself, and you got permission to let me come into the, I guess, I don't know, I'll call it a sound booth or something.

You probably know the technical term, but I got to sit in and listen in and watch for a few minutes on how they put all these songs together. I mean, there was more, more. I don't think I've ever seen a I guess a soundboard with a gazillion little buttons and things on it and guys pressing it and knowing what to do. I was like blown away. I was like.

Wow. Crazy, right? Correct. And to answer your question, originally the the building we are in was an old Gothic greystone church. for decades, and it was a church of the Nazarene for many years.

Um, and then at some points, um, The church moved to a different location. I actually think. They moved to either Franklin or Brentwood or something like that. And then, you know, a couple of different. entities and businesses had the building.

after that and then in the mid to late nineties, Um Alan Sides and Gary Bell, who owned Oceanway Studios, In Los Angeles, they wanted to have a studio on Music Row in Nashville, and they specifically wanted the church. to put the studio in.

So they were looking at different buildings throughout Nashville and came across this church and ended up purchasing the church and Yeah, it took a couple of years to renovate. the actual church property into a recording studio and Um we have been you know, pretty much an operational recording studio studio since about 1997.

Well, it is outstanding phenomenal and and and now owned owned by the college of which you're employed by, right? Correct, yes.

So in the early 2000s, Gary and Alan decided after renovating the building and building in a very quick time a successful studio. They decided they didn't want to be in the actual studio business anymore, so they sold the building to Belmont University. Which um is a Christian college here in Nashville that Primarily. Excuse me, has a lot to do. Most of the students that are going there are going for.

Some sort of entertainment-based degree, whether it's music business or audio engineering, or they have a school of music. Um Marketing, publicity, all that kind of stuff.

So literally, I think there's about 9,000 students, and about 8,000 of them are doing something. You know, geared towards entertainment and or music. Music related. That's amazing. And you're piquing the interest of my executive producer across from me here because he's a music guy as well.

He loves music, writes music. And so Nick got a big grin on his face here. You may find a new client one day in the future here, Jamie. I'm just saying. Come on.

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So, okay, so what's interesting too is, and obviously, I mean, in today's world, if you're going to be involved in some level, some form of music, Nashville is the place to be.

However, if you go back in history just for a moment, and you correct me if I'm wrong, because you're the music guy, so you're more up on this than me. But originally, it seems like Nashville was basically known for country music, right? The Grand Ole Opry and what's the other famous building there? The Grand Ole Opry. The Rhyming.

The Rhyming Theater. Yes, yes. And then Rock and Roll really was more Memphis, right? With Elvis and stuff, I think would have been early on, would have been more kind of the Rock and Roll Center. And then Nashville, the country.

But am I correct on that? More or less. Yeah, you know, country music, the hub or, you know, the central. location for pretty much all things country music has always been Nashville. And a lot of people, oddly enough, think that that's where Nashville got the term or the phrase, you know, music city.

But music city actually. came from the Fifth Jubilee Singers. Which was Um You know, choir at Fisk University here in Nashville. They were performing in England for the Queen of England. And she had asked them You know Where are you guys from?

You know, and they were singing spirituals. and you know choir music uh you know for the Queen of England and they basically It moved her. And she asked You know, where are you from? And you know, your music moved me. And she was talking to people in the choir, and they said, Well, we're from Nashville, Tennessee.

And she said, Well, if the music that you're doing comes from Nashville, Tennessee, then Nashville must be Music City. Oh, wow. And that's where the term Music City came from and country music. Kind of coined, or not coined, they didn't coin the phrase she did, but they actually started using the phrase and it stuck. Embraced it.

And you know, most people just assume that that's why Nashville is called Music City, but it's actually because of the fist Jubilee singers. Gotcha. And, you know, downtown Nashville, anyone who's never visited, man, that place is usually packed out all the time. And there's, I mean, it seems like every. 25 feet, there's a club or somebody playing music there.

And of course, many of the churches in Nashville. On any given Sunday, there'll be all kinds of not just music artists and wannabe future stars, but big-name people, right? Jamie, like you'll see on the platform, just playing piano or playing the guitar or sometimes even lead music, right? I've seen over the years. Nashville is one of those unique cities where there are so many musicians in this town who have all.

at some point come here to make a living. in music. You could literally probably throw a stick in any direction and hit a musician. Right. Right.

But because of that you know, whether it's country music or Christian music or gospel music or, you know, now Nashville is, you know, becoming genre for all known for a lot of other genres other than you know, country music. But I mean there's musicians everywhere.

So when you go to a church Um you could literally be watching some of the best musicians Around playing in a Sunday service. Yeah. You know, which you get. It's easy to take that for granted and you get spoiled hearing that. But then, as you leave Nashville and go to other churches, you find out.

Click on that, that's not necessarily the case, but Nashville has an abundance of musicians and is, you know, it's. Yeah. I remember going to a church at one point and sat down when I was visiting different churches, looking where I was wanting to go to church. And looked over next to me, and I'm like, you know, this is another story about me recognizing somebody, kind of like the way I recognize you. I'm sitting there and I'm like, man, that guy looks familiar.

I think I know who that is. Is that really who I think it is? And it was Michael McDonald from the Doovie Brothers. He was a lot who was a longtime resident of the Fort. Plays piano, though, right?

Leads the fort. And yeah, he's a good piano player and he's out on tour right now with the Doozy Brothers.

Okay. No, we looked over it, and he was just sitting next to me like it was anybody else. No, dude, I was in that church in Leapers Fork for a Christmas production, and he was performing. Like on stage before that Christmas production. And then I looked over and I saw some of the Judds, like a row away from me, like, you're right?

Like Winona Judd. They all went to that thing. Yeah, exactly. I was trying to rack my brain. Who was that?

Yeah, Michael McDonald. Yeah, that's crazy, dude. And, of course, I know, like I say, I mean, anyone who has any interest in music, man, if you're listening out there, never been to Nashville, and you love music, just put it on, put it in your bucket list or whatever, and make your way there.

Now, let's back up just for a moment, though. And we were, because we're talking about modern day and you mentioned Belmont University. You're actually teaching courses there now, in addition to running or helping run Ocean Way, right? Correct. And with students.

But at what age, Jamie, did you first get interested in music? Um I can tell you exactly. Um the day that it was. Because it was one of those significant days in history that most people who were alive will never forget. Um it was the day Elvis died.

Oh wow. But I remember sitting in my living room playing at the time I was six years old. And the news came on and they said, you know, Elvis had died. Of course, I didn't know who that was. But they were showing all the clips and playing his music, and everybody they were showing was.

you know, crying and upset. And I remember distinctly asking my mother, you know, who was this person? Why are they so upset that he died? You know, of course they were playing his music so you could hear his music in the background. And um So, my mother starts telling me who Elvis was, and I remember asking and telling her that I would like to have.

You know, some of his music at some point. And then, you know, that was in August. And then the following Christmas, I got some 45s of Elvis. And that's where my. musical path and career.

Our interest in music started, it was just by hearing that music literally on the T V, seeing the reaction that. And the emotion that Calls people to have the world. And then once I started listening to his music, I just immediately started going down the rabbit hole at that point. That's cool. Age six.

And the little side note for our listeners: Jamie and I actually toured Graceland together. You remember that, Jamie? Absolutely. Went and toured Graceland. And man, like I was overwhelmed at one point.

Like Amazing Gray, he came on a converted racquetball court. Amazing Grace came on. And I was overwhelmed with emotion. And not to embarrass myself, I had to step out. I'm like, oh my gosh, Amazing Grace with Elvis Presley.

And, well, another side note, I was in 12th grade, and he came to Minneapolis. And for whatever reason, I'm like, maybe the tickets were too much. I don't know, whatever. But I remember saying, the next time he comes, I'm going. Because I ran into friends who went and they're like, oh, man, it was the greatest thing on earth.

And I'm like, I'm going next time. And then two months later, three months later, whatever it was, he like passed me. I'm like, no, no, right?

So I never. Got to see him.

So, and well, and from there, Jamie, so you're six years old, you fall in love with music, and I know you've been. How many years now have you been involved and around the music industry at this point?

So I'm going to age myself really fast. But part of it is because I have been blessed and fortunate to do this my entire career. and I started in my teens. But I have been in and around or working with music or in the music business in some way, shape, or form for 37 years. 37 years.

Well, yeah, because I know you were involved in distribution for a while. You actually lined up a couple, I was going to say, a couple gigs, speaking gigs, speaking opportunities for me. And I remember one, it was the guy that gave his life to Christ from corn, I believe, that you had, you got me on that event and had the opportunity to meet him. Am I accurate on that? Brian Hedwolch.

Yep. Yeah, yeah. He was speaking, and I had the opportunity to kind of tag team with him. And that was pretty cool to hear his story and his testimony. And so that's pretty.

So 37 years. I know for many years you were kind of on the distribution end of things. And now you're more on the teaching end and overseeing the studio there, Ocean. Way and again, pretty remarkable. And you've had some, let me just ask this real quick.

You've had some pretty name drop for us here. Like, who are some big names that have used your studio that just pop in your head? Maybe a couple, three, four names.

Well, when you. Um think of when the studio started. It was the mid nineties, which was or the mid to late nineties, which was the boom of the music business where the music business had seen growth like it never had before. And then country music was exploding at that time.

So they literally the studio was right in the middle of all of that.

So you could literally Probably name almost any country artist of the last 15, 20 years, and they have been in this studio at some point. Um you know so anybody from you know you know, Blake Shelton to Morgan Walland, um, you know With Brian to, you know, literally any country artist you can think of. Hank Williams Jr., I'm guessing. At some point, most of them have been here. And then, you know, we've, you know.

We do a lot of, you know, like what you'd mentioned earlier, we do a lot of orchestration. Yeah. And that could be anything from You know, for a movie soundtrack, it could be for a video game score, it could be for commercial, or it could be orchestration on somebody's record.

So, I mean, we. we've diversified where we, you know, do a lot of stuff with a lot of different companies, whether it's movie production or video game company or just a client wanting to come in, even do a choir recording or do acquire an orchestration.

So we get a lot of unique clients in business because the facility that we have and the room we have is larger than any other recording space in Nashville because The actual old sanctuary of the church is what is the tracking room.

So we can fit, you know, 50, 60, 70 players in that room at one time and record. Yeah, it's a bit.

Well, that's a, I think about how many that day you snuck me into the sound booth there or whatever. Would this be an accurate statement? Before we run out of time, I want our viewers to hear that. Would this be an accurate statement? I'm thinking about your life, Jamie, and just your story.

And would it be fair to say you have been living the dream? And what I would consider a dream 100% accurate. Yeah. Because music is a God given passion that was given to me. I didn't ask for it.

You know, it's just, you know, and this is one of those things where people literally. You know, why does this person have this, or why does that person have that, or why does this person have that gift? You know, whatever the case may be, but God put a passion in me for music like nothing else, and I have been fortunate and blessed. To be able to work in it and around it my entire career.

So, you know, even now when I'm teaching students, um, I try to instill in them that it's A blessing to work in this business. It's something that should not be taken for granted. And just, you know, be it a place or a position in your life where you can appreciate the things that you have and be able to. you know Understand and know while you're in something that you should be appreciating it, not just. you know, it's a grind or it's a gig or it's a job or whatever, but So me being in this business as long as I have.

Uh with it being my passion and calling. I look at it as I've Had a career for 37 years, but I've never looked at it as work. I've never worked a day in my life. For my career, because I enjoy what I do, and it's my passion. You love it.

I get paid. I'm blessed to get paid to do what I love. Yeah, and for the listeners out there, I mean, what you just said, wow, I think that'll resonate with some people and inspire some people to want to have maybe they don't have that or they're not in that position and be inspired by Jamie's story today. And we didn't really dive into this, but I sense to say that you probably already picked up on Jamie Warden, dear, long, longtime friend of mine, is a man who loves the Lord Jesus. If you hadn't picked up on that, I can just vouch for him and say that.

And even though we didn't dive into really that part of his story, he has a beautiful family. Tell, we got a minute left. Your wife and kids, just give a shout-out to your wife and kids here in our last minute. Chris is my lovely wife, and someone who God truly. In my life, I think she's almost as big of a music fanatic as I am.

So we are fortunate and blessed to get to go to concerts and be around music and do stuff all the time. You know, so it's one of those things that, you know, I don't take for granted the situation or position I'm in and try to give back and do what I can every time. And then I have. Two wonderful kids of my own from a previous marriage, Asher and Shannon. And then she has three kids from a previous marriage, Megan, Vanessa, and William.

And then Grand kids galore. Like yourself. A full quiver. Jamie Warden, just such a dear friend. Music is his mission, and he is living the dream.

You know what? If you hadn't quite reached that pinnacle yet, keep. On that path, keep pursuing that and really embrace what he said in these last few minutes. You know, about if you can ever get to that place where your work doesn't feel like work because you love what you do. And if you're not there yet, pursue that.

And thank you for being on the show today, Jamie. I appreciate you. Love you, my friend. Appreciate you. And I will say this if we have a few seconds left.

Even though I've been on this path for 37 years, that doesn't mean it's always been easy. Yeah, well, we can do another whole show just on that, right? 100%. And thank all of you each and every week for being so faithful to tune in and help spread the word on the Man Up Show. Let others know, download, subscribe to the podcast as well.

And until next time, go out and have a God-filled and live a God-blessed day. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God. And your faithful prayers, support, and generous gifts. May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to coloph.net and donate.

Good day. If you are enjoying the Man Up Show, would you help us spread the word? Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors to download, subscribe, and leave a comment. Hi, Nikita Koloff. Be sure to check out the Man Up Show now available on television, broadcast, and podcast.

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