Joe the Plumber pursued for record deal
Move over, Sanjaya, and tell William Hung the news: Joe the Plumber is being pursued for a major record deal and could come out with a country album as early as Inauguration Day.
“Joe” — aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, a Holland, Ohio, pipe-and-toilet man — just signed with a Nashville public relations and management firm to handle interview requests and media appearances, as well as create new career opportunities, including a shift out of the plumbing trade into stage and studio performances.
On Tuesday, Wurzelbacher joined country music artist and producer Aaron Tippin to form a new partnership that includes booking-management firm Bobby Roberts and publicity-management concern The Press Office to field the multiple media offers he’s received over the past few weeks.
Among the requests: a possible record deal with a major label, personal appearances and corporate sponsorships. A longtime country music fan, Wurzelbacher can sing and “knocks around on guitar” but is not an accomplished musician or songwriter, according to The Press Office’s Jim Della Croce.
Well, no one could have anticipated that. Nashville’s a cynical place--more cynical than Los Angeles, if you ask me. And you can always find folks here who won’t pass up a chance to make a buck, no matter how oddball or tacky.
I’ll never forget walking into Sunset Grill late one evening when it was in its music industry hey dey and seeing Maureen McCormick, aka “Marsha Brady,” enjoying late night cocktails. Apparently she was shopping a record deal here at the time.
So Joe The Plumber isn't the first. These folks usually come to town and leave about as fast. Country music people are funny, they don't like the idea of someone trying to buy their way into the business or trade on their celebrity to make some records. So unless Joe can really sing or play or write, I don't hold out much hope for his second career.
So, any suggestions on some song titles for Country Joe? "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?" comes to mind.
