Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Song Writer Kostas Lazarides

Kostas at his Montana Antique Store .....I can see a lot of wonderful treasures peering through the window.........


(Taken from Kostas My Space Page)

About Kostas
Kostas and his family immigrated to Montana from Greece when he was seven years old. He now has homes in Montana and Nashville, and aside from songwriting and performing, he enjoys hunting, fishing and raising vintage guitars on his "guitar ranch." Kostas received his first No. 1 Country hit with his first single release. The single entitled, "Timber I'm Falling In Love," was recorded by Patty Loveless. He also penned the songs "The Lonely Side Of Love," and "On Down The Line" for her follow-up albums which also reached Top 10. Kostas went on to write many more Top 10 singles including: "Heart Full Of Love," by Holly Dunn, "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose," and "Nothing's Changed Here," by Dwight Yoakam, "Lord Have Mercy On The Working Man," by Travis Tritt, "Going Out Of My Mind" and "Love On The Loose, Heart On The Run,” by McBride and The Ride and "Life ..9" by Martina McBride. He also scored two more No. 1 country hits with Dwight Yoakam's "Ain't That Lonely Yet" and Patty Loveless' first Epic release, "Blame It On Your Heart," which was BMI's most performed country song of 1994. His songs have been recorded by Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Allison Krauss, Brooks and Dunn, Etta James, Vince Gill, George Strait, The Dixie Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Marty Stuart, Conway Twitty, Emmylou Harris, The Bellamy Brothers, Sammy Kershaw, Tracy Byrd, The Mavericks, John Berry, Neal McCoy, Rick Trevino, Freddy Fender, Marie Osmond, Kelly Willis, Joy White, Buck Owens, Great Plains and Prairie Oyster


An odd series of coincidences brought forth my acquaintance with Kostas.....One of my Brothers was a musician and had known Kostas for many years. I believe my older Brother also knew him.
Back in the late 70's I was dating a gal who was associated with Kostas through her musician ex-husband. Kostas invited us over to Jackson Hole Wyoming where he was playing a gig at the "Mangy Moose Saloon". We spent some time with him and his (then) girl friend. After visiting with him I found that his step Dad was a co-worker of mine in Billings MT. We both worked for the same construction company. His Step Dad, "Max" was very proud of him. Max was a great guy , him and I were always friends.....

In 1981 I met my wife-to-be and during one of my first visits to her house she just had to have me listen to a new album she had purchased and just loved.....Hearing the first cut on the record I immediately recognized that it was Kostas. I asked my wife if she wanted to meet this guy and she was amazed that I could know a recording artist......"Thanks Kostas , you really helped me impress my soon to be wife" We made sure and went to all his gigs around Billings and on one New Years Eve Gig he allowed me to set up some recording equipment and record the nights' music...I still have the reel to reel tape we did that night but the back ground noise from all (us) the drunks was atrocious and drowned out a lot of the music...bummer....I really enjoyed the nights we were entranced by his wonderful guitar playing and singing.....Of course all these things happened before Kostas became a world known recording artist and song writer.
I have not seen Kostas since the mid to late 80's but I don't imagine he has changed much....other than a bit more gray hair, like me.....
Kostas was ,and I am sure, still is, a very down to earth guy who never let the "fame" thing affect who he is. I hope to run into him one of these days just to say hello and thank him for his (unknown to him) role in impressing my now wife of 28 years......

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kostas will be playing at the Mint cafe next door to his home in Belgrade on October 3rd.

Very nice place to see him and hear his stories and music.

From a co-admirer of Kostas :)

BMW HACKER said...

Thanks for the "heads up"...I'll try to get up to Belgrade on the 3rd. I did happen to cross paths with Kostas a few years ago at his place in Belgrade....and as I figured, he has not changed a bit, other than looking old like me..lol

Gila Mtns.

Gila Mtns.