How Pepsi Man became a hit song for Kentucky music legend Bobby Mackey

One of my friends, Carla, shared a photo of a vinyl record that she had in her Pepsi collection.  Her father and grandfather were both employees of Pepsi.  The first thing that caught my eye on the record was the name Bobby Mackey.  Needless to say, I had to find out more on the story behind the song, “Pepsi Man.”  As you know, Bobby Mackey owns the legendary haunted honky tonk in Wilder, Kentucky.  Click here to read my adventures of visiting it.  Over the years, I’ve gotten to learn some country music history through Bobby.  I will say that he is a legend in his own right and should be included into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.  Next month, they will celebrate 37 years in business as one of the oldest honky tonks in Kentucky.

The story behind the song, “Pepsi Man,” is a unique one.  In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers went on an illegal strike.  President Ronald Reagan ended up breaking the strike and fired all of the air traffic controllers.  Two air traffic controllers that use to work out of Cincinnati wrote the song, “Pepsi Man.”  They gave the song to Bobby Mackey and upon hearing it, he saw the promotional possibilities.  He would record “Pepsi Man” and give a copy of it to the local Cincinnati Pepsi distributor.  They would forward the song on up to New York City to the Pepsi World Headquarters.

At the same time, Scott Wills was a marketing person at Pepsi and was organizing Pepsi Rallies with the Pepsi distributors across the country.  The rallies were to challenge people to take the Pepsi Challenge.  They needed a theme song and Scott remembered having the cassette tape with Bobby Mackey singing on it.  He thought it would be fun to have the song performed live at the larger distributors.

Scott Wills met up with Bobby Mackey in Nashville, Tennessee, to make a customized version of “Pepsi Man” for the rallies.  Andy Di Martino of Moon Shine Records Nashville saw the promotional opportunity and talked Pepsi into help promote a national release of the song on his label.

Bobby Mackey, as well as his promotional guru, RJ Siefert, few up to New York City to meet with the Pepsi Brass and spent a night viewing the NYC night spots, including Studio 54.  The Pepsi Brass loved the song, as well as Bobby Mackey.  Moon Shine Records released the song and it would chart in the Top 50 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart in June of 1982.  For several months, Bobby Mackey would perform on a National Tour of the Rallies.  By the fall, the rallies were completed and as they say, the rest is history.

There are actually multiple versions of “Pepsi Man” recorded over the years beyond the customized version for the distributors.  Below is one that has more of a bluegrass vibe, but still includes Bobby Mackey singing lead vocals.

So the next time you are sipping on an ice cold Pepsi drink among friends and family, be sure to tell them the story of “Pepsi Man.”

Jamey Johnson and Blackberry Smoke bring southern sounds to Cincinnati

Blackberry Smoke - by Jessica Blankenship

Over the summer breezes blew in the southern sounds of country rock Sunday night at the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati. No stranger to Ohio or Kentucky, Jamey Johnson, along with Blackberry Smoke brought in a night of entertainment to country music fans in attendance.

Blackberry Smoke would mix their own blend of country southern rock with their 30 minute set. Even though it was short, it was precise with a relaxed mood and a good time. Just a couple of days earlier, the band performed at the famed Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA, and filmed a DVD.

Right of the bat, Blackberry Smoke showed off their talent with their set of original tunes. From "Good One Coming On," to blending in "Sleeping Dog Lie" with "Midnite Rider," the soulful groove kept playing. Cowboy Eddie Long, longtime steel guitar player for Hank Williams, Jr. and currently with Jamey Johnson, sat in to play on "Yesterday's Wine." At the end of the set, the band paid tribute to the Navy Seals with "Freedom Song."

As the lights darkened and the sounds of the prison door opened, Jamey Johnson set up shop at the home of the honky top up on stage. Fans quickly got to their feet and sang word for word to "High Cost of Living." Johnson's set would be intertwined with covered songs of Waylon, Merle, and Willie, alongside his hit songs.

Jamey Johnson - by Jessica Blankenship

One of the most haunting moments of the night was when Jamey Johnson sang "In the Pines." The gravel in his voice with the lonesome wail of the song as the breeze blew through the background made it one to remember. Johnson has a way to make a song his own without hesitation.

When Jamey Johnson takes to the stage, he makes it clear that his talking is through the lyrics of the songs, not the stories or banter talk in between. Just as he gives it his all, the fans give it their all with the cheering and singing along. With singers like Jamey Johnson, there is a renewed faith that real country music is not lost.