This episode is full of great stories from bus industry veterans. They mention artists like Joe Cocker,  Dolly Parton, &  Johnny Cash and talk about the early days of the business, how they all met, and talk about how the bus industry is competitive but also cooperative. 

They talk about the early days of Army cots and no air conditioning, chopping buses and extending them - these guys have seen it all.

Thanks to Jay Boy Adams, Tim Dillman, Mike Slarve, Chip Huffman, Don “Rabbit” Arkon and Milo Liggett for being on the show!

Eric’s company, All Access Coach Leasing is building a bus for George right now.  They talk about the touring industry and how it’s changed.  They discuss how many buses George runs and how George’s runs his shows.

They also discuss talk Lee Roy’s part in the movie Pure Country, and the importance of having a great co-driver. 

Lee Roy Eichler has driven for George Strait since 1982.  He and Eric talk about the early days when he first started working for George, and they were originally playing small honky-tonks. He’s playing stadiums now and it’s been quite a journey.

From running lights to the family aspect of road life, Eric and Lee Roy cover lots of ground, including a short stint with Kenny Chesney when George was on a break.

In this episode Eric Blankenship talks with legendary driver Lee Roy Eichler, who is George Strait's driver. Lee Roy has been driving since 1964.

A club owner introduced him to George Strait and he’s been driving George since 1982. George’s first bus was a 1971 Eagle. He and Eric talk about his journey with George and all of the different buses George had on his way up.

Troy pulls double duty for The Perrys.  He drives for them AND he sings with the group.  He got his start singing on the road with The Wilburns and driving for them. The first bus he drove was an Eagle and his first drive was through Atlanta traffic!

Troy talks about the variety of live shows The Perrys has performed, including a coon dog rally! Troy has known Eric since he had a mullet and made sure to mention it in this episode.

Olan and Eric share some fun stories about drivers, including one of Olan’s drivers and a fake snake that really made him squirm. Eric and Olan agree that when the tour starts, the driver becomes the most critical part of his staff.

Eric continues his talk again with Olan Witt, the Owner of Coach Quarters Entertainment Transportation. Olan reveals funny stories from the road including a hilarious story about a clown hating artist!

Eric has a fun discussion with Olan about his evolution in the bus business.  Olan started as a musician riding a bus, then became a driver and eventually helped the company he was working for run the business before starting his own company in 2007.

He also discusses his catering business and how one of his greatest memories was serving food to hurricane victims.

Eric continues his discussion with Bill Parks, legendary driver for Conway Twitty.  Bill talks about traveling the country for 40 years, how great Conway’s band was and how after driving for Conway, some of the standout artists he worked with like Dierks Bentley and Randy Houser.  He mentioned he still has the steering wheel from one of the buses he drove for Conway.

Eric continues his discussion with Bill Parks, who drove for Conway Twitty.  When Bill was driving for Conway in the beginning, there wasn’t any leasing.  Only a few artists had buses.  Only artists like Bill Anderson, Conway, Loretta, Charlie Daniels and a few more of them owned their buses. 

Bill tells stories of how Conway was one of the initial investors in the Nashville Sounds.  He shared about his life after Conway as well, and how he did ‘radio tours’ with up and coming artists (like Dierks Bentley).