Moe Bandy’s autobiography, Lucky Me, chronicles the story of how a young man with genuine talent and ambition pursued his dream to write, record and play country music that people would connect to, and in turn became a country music legend.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Bandy moved to Texas with his dad when he was six years old. After his sister was born she and his mother joined them. Growing up in a low-income family, Bandy’s parents showed their love differently but nevertheless he knew he was loved, and he wasn’t alone. According to Bandy, it was his parents that had the greatest impact on his musical career: “My dad was a guitar player and he inspired me a lot. My mother played the piano at church and at home. She loved to sing gospel songs and hymns.”
After graduating from high school, Bandy went to work with his dad in a sheet metal factory in Temple, Texas. He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret, when they were both just nineteen years old. A little over a year later they welcomed their first child, a daughter they named Laura and two years later they welcomed their son, Ronnie. Ten years after that they were blessed with a third child, a daughter, Lisa.
Working in the sheet metal factory, getting married and starting a family were all a big part of who Moe Bandy was during those years. He had a short stint as a bull rider but his heart was still in music. Then, at just twenty years old, he saw Hank Thompson perform at a local club. He was in awe and that’s when he knew music would be his career.
Texas bars and clubs welcomed him, but trying to get a career started while working to feed his family was more than he could take. He struggled with demons in a bottle and almost gave up on his dream.
Country fans around the world are so glad that he chose to continue as Bandy’s career has blessed him to perform for many great events and people. Bandy’s list of friends includes former Presidents, other artists, and foreign dignitaries. In fact, the forward to his book was actually written by the late Former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Bandy hopes that when people read his book they see the healing power of music that speaks to their soul, but mostly he hopes they see his hard work making sure his family knew he loved them and that they came first no matter where he was at in the world. “It’s the memories. Memories of a time when country music was real. Today’s country music has too much of a rock n roll influence. And it’s about family. I traveled a great deal of the time but my family, my kids we stayed close. My son Ronnie is my best friend. I love my daughters too. Ronnie knows all my songs, when they were released, everything.”
With his current wife Tami, Bandy now resides in Branson, Missouri where he had his own show for several years. He still plays there once or twice a year but he loves to travel around the country to perform, especially in Texas where it all started.
Lucky Me, which was was written with Scot England, is a fascinating read about a life that started quite ordinary and became extraordinary. You truly get an inside look at the business of music and how it shaped one man’s life.
You can find out more about Moe Bandy, his music and purchase a copy of his book, Lucky Me, by visiting his website www,moebandy.com.