Mothers of children with talent are among the most persistent people that I have ever met.  They are convinced that their children’s talent is unique and must be heard by the masses.  Mother’s are always right in that their children are wonderful and unique . . . but sometimes they are wrong about them needing to be heard by the masses.  But . . . sometimes they are right about it all.

There is a mother in Highland, UT who persistently encouraged me on Facebook for almost four years to give her three children a listen.  She used what I call TRT (tactful relentless tenacity), with emphasis on “tactful”.  I liked the respective way she patiently operated.  Finally I invited them to come to an NTB show in Logan in October of 2010.  I told them if they wouldn’t mind waiting until after the show that I would be happy to hear them perform a song or two.  That night, at almost midnight, then 14 year old Mady, 15 year old Tiann and 17 year old Tel (known as Dyer Highway) stood on the back of that stage and made me smile.  They were good . . . and they would get better.

I talked to them outside for a while after the show.  I believed that I could record them and get them a record deal.  I said to Tel, “What about a mission?  What if . . . well, what about a mission?”  Tel looked at me straight in the eye and said, “Jason, no record producer, label or record deal could stop me from turning in my papers the day I turn 19.”  His two sisters looked at me with proud smiles on their faces.  I was in.  Those were the kind of kids I wanted to hang around.  We went on to record a six song EP that they could sell until Tel left on his mission and while he was gone.  Upon Tel’s return, then we could get really serious.  In the mean time, you can learn more about Dyer Highway and purchase their music HERE.

Tel received his mission call and entered the Mission Training Center in February of 2012 where he is now preparing for his mission to Korea.  His sisters cried the day he walked away from them through the front doors of the MTC, but they too are confident as they are firmly invested in their testimonies and know of a surety that their talents will provide better instruments in the hands of their Father in Heaven when Tel returns.

On March 31st, Elder Tel Dyer stood with an army of MTC warriors who sang at the top of their lungs at the 182 Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 I felt like a proud musical papa seeing him on the screen doing THE WORK!  I can only imagine how his own family felt seeing him there.  May God continue to bless the wonderful missionaries of the world and may He forever bless THE WORK they do!

Thank you so much for your continued support of The Nashville Tribute Band.  I sincerely feel it an honor to be able to do what we do with the support of so many people.  We’ve got some big show announcements coming up in 2 weeks.  In the mean time, dont hesitate to help spread the word of NTB and follow us on Facebook or by signing up on the Email List.

Sincerely . . . Jason