Who is this band Liberation? And what is the secret to their long term success? Twenty one years have passed and they’re still rocking Bowling Green’s biggest night club The Executive Inn. Bands do not usually last that long. The Corvette plant was not here when they started. They’ve endured the test of time long enough to be considered a Bowling Green landmark. They are as much a part of this town as that all American water tower we all hold so dear.

Liberation consists of four members – Philip Douglas, Rolland Thomason, Tommy Hendrick, and Amy Frederick. Just as every business has a founder, so does every band. With the Beatles it was Lennon with Liberation it is Philip Douglas.

Philip in and of himself is one of Bowling Green’s biggest success stories. He never mentions it while he is on stage at the Executive. I’m speaking of his phenomenal success as a songwriter.

Philip’s first big hit was “My Blue Angel”, after that it was “Workin Man’s Ph.D.”. Both were recorded by his buddy Aaron Tippin and both sold over a million copies. Aaron has recorded four more of Philip’s songs, “Many Many Beers Ago,” “Standing on the Promises”, “Lovin Me Into An Early Grave”, and “Trim Yourself To Fit The World”.

Well! How did all of this happen? It all started with a young man, Philip and a dream. A young man with all odds against him, yet with enough faith to drive toward that dream and not deviate in any other direction.

Philip’s home life in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was far from pleasant so he went out on his own at the age of fourteen. Although he was a musician he had to support himself so he got a job welding. The company he worked for had to deliver some garbage dumpsters to Monarch Environmental in Bowling Green, Ky. it was on that trip that Bob Tincher met Philip and took an interest in him. Bob asked Philip about his job. Philip responded, “I weld to pay the bills, but my real profession is music!” Bob found out Philip had been renting a guitar and amp because he was not able to afford the equipment. He then loaned Philip $500.00 and told him to repay him whenever he was able. Had it not been for that meeting of fate this story might have never been told.

In 1974 the Executive Inn was known as the Red Carpet Inn. A band by the name of “Wild Country”, who later became known as “Alabama”, was playing there. They were also doing road gigs to N.C. and other states. Philip got a gig filling in for “Wild Country” while they were out of town. Within a short time the Red Carpet Inn hired Philip’s band full time.

Five nights a week Liberation plays till 2 am. Phillip gets up at 6 am and drives to Nashville, to his job as a staff songwriter for RCA-BMI. I asked him how he does it. What keeps you going? “I just love it”, Philip replied.

I asked how he became a professional songwriter and his response was, “I just kept knocking on them doors until they said – this boy just’s not gonna go away, so we might as well let him in.” I just kept meeting people and introducing myself in elevators, hallways, etc. I would play them one of my tunes or give them a copy.” Finally people started getting interested. Several times he did not have money for gas to drive to Nashville, so Bob and Mary Tincher loan him the money and tell him, “Son, don’t give up cause your gonna make it!”

Persistence was the way that opened the door and along the way there were scrapes and bruises.

Philip researched several hundred old country songs, and in 1976 he found one he knew would be a hit. Bob and Mary loaned him the money and his band recorded the song. He took the song to RCA where a music business executive looked at him and said, “Son, it will never be a hit!” The song was ELVIRA. A year or two later the Oak Ridge Boys recorded it in four part harmony just as Liberation had, and it became the Oak Ridge Boy’s biggest smash hit. “That’s a bloody shame,” I remarked. Philip just said, “Oh well, that’s where life’s little saying come from. Like being in the right place at the right time.”

Philip has had the good fortune of meeting several people before they became big stars. Lots of these people dropped in at the Executive and played with Liberation. People such as Aaron Tippin, Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney. Phillip was responsible for getting Aaron Tippin on the Libby Knight Show. This gave Aaron the exposure he needed which led to Aaron’s recording contract.

When writing a song you’ve got to have a “hook-line”, something that sounds familiar and sticks in your mind. Philip told me about one day when he and Aaron were having a few beers. Philip asked Aaron to repeat something he said, Aaron replied, “that was many many beers ago.” Philip’s eyes light up, “Man that’s a great hook line for a song.” Needless to say, another hit song was the result.

Philip’s success has allowed him to meet and work with some of country music’s all time legends . He has pictures on his wall of himself with Roy Acuff, Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, etc.

He has done concerts with Waylon Jennings, Stelia Pardon, Eddie Arnold, and Freddie Fender.

His ability to create melodies and song lyrics have put him in a place of prominence among Nashville’s elite in the Country Music business.

After his success with Aaron’s songs Philip received tow awards at the ASCAP Awards Show.

Several major artist have used his songs. “Love and Honor” was recorded by Ricky Van Shelton. Two of Philip’s songs are in the Stacy Keach movie False Indemnity. Several of his songs are recorded by various gospel groups. There have been appearances on the Ralph Emery Show and featured articles about Philip in “Country Music Magazine”. His song “Workin Man’s Ph.D..” was used on a Ford Truck commercial. The new CD “Storm in the Heartland” by Billy Ray Cyrus has on of Philip’s songs on it “Heart With Your Name On It.”

Aaron Tippin is not the only notable name that Philip has written songs with and for. He also writes with Tim McGraw, Stephanie Bently, Kenny Chesney, David Lee Murphy, Darrell Dodd, Chris Cummings, Chad Brock, and Del Gray. He has written songs with county music groups “Little Texas” and “Western Flyer”. Two people that Philip has co-written songs with are known as the greatest writers in Nashville. They are Whitie Shafer and Don Pfrimmer.

Three of his songs are going to be on a new NASCAR record that’s coming out. Charlie Chase and Jeff Copley are some of the new artists using his material. There is another new artist from Canada, Chris Cummings, who Nashville is getting ready to showcase to the states. Chris Cummings’ songs, which Philip writes, have reached the top ten on the Canadian charts.

His humble spirit about all this success is noticeable to those who know and work with him. His achievements have not gone unnoticed locally. He is one of the few people who has received a key to the City of Bowling Green, presented to him by Mayor Spero Keriakes. The WKU Lady Toppers theme songs for the past two seasons were written by Philip. Yet he rarely plays any of his hit songs at the Executive. The times that he has played them have only been once or twice and that was due to a request from a faithful fan of Liberation. Philip told me once on the phone, “I thank God I’ve been able to make a living doing what I love.”

Philip’s ability to separate his songwriting success form his nightly gig with Liberation is probably another key factor in Liberation’s longevity. Philip pretty much takes a back seat on stage and tends to feature the talents of the other three members of the band.

Liberation’s drummer and vocalist Rolland Thomason has been with the band eighteen years. He has known Philip since they were kids in grade school. Rolland is originally from Antiock TN. He studied percussion at Blair Music Academy at Peabody College in Nashville. Before coming here in January of 1978 he was traveling with Paul Overstreet doing gigs in the South. Rolland is the only musician I have ever met that has played Cuba. In August of 1977, while still with Overstreet, he played Guantomino Navy Base in Cuba.

Just as Ringo and Charlie Watt are largely responsible for the enormous success of the Beatles and the Stones, Rolland has been laying down a dance groove that has kept people coming back night after night for eighteen years. Rolland is also very low key about his long term success in such a hard business. He likes fixing up old cars and has built a body shop next to his house. He is currently restoring a 1970 SS Chevette. Now, here is a man after my own heart, lays down a solid groove on the drums and digs fast cars. Where would the world be without Rock & Roll and fast cars?

Tommy Hendrick who plays bass and sings for the band has always been in the music business. He was on the road for 11 years with Dixie Line, and has toured with Mickey Gilley, Rodney McDowell, and Mel McDaniels. Tommy also owns a recording studio by the name of “Fourth Floor” in Nashville TN. Most of the work done in “Fourth Floor” is writers or new artist recording their material to pitch to major labels. Tommy says it is a blessing to have a five night a week gig at the Executive. After playing the road for years he realized, “When your gone you’re gone, and somebody else is back here. Playing with Liberation gives us the freedom to play a diversity of material while at the same time I’m able to run my recording studio and pitch songs around Nashville.” Tommy spoke of how the difference in personalities of each band member has contributed to the success of Liberation, and how they are some of the most talented musicians he has ever worked with.

Amy Frederick, vocals and keyboards, is the newest addition to the band. Amy is originally from Thompkinsville, has a degree in classical piano from the University of Alabama. She lived in Michigan for five years teaching piano and playing gigs with different bands. She decided to move to Nashville so she could play full-time. Two weeks after relocating, Philip heard her and hired her. “It is an honor to me to play here”, say Amy “I feel like I’m using my degree” Amy says it is a joy to work with Philip, Rolland, and Tommy. “It’s encouraging to me because we have a very supportive audience and people get so excited.”

Traditionally speaking, November is a time to give thanks. Philip’s story echoes the sentiment of a fact we can all be thankful for; that is, some things never change. Over 2000 years ago a carpenter from Galilee spoke of faith and giving. He said, “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain, move from here to there, and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20). The same guy, commonly known as Jesus, also said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth is less than all seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater then all herbs, and shoots out great branches so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it” (Luke 4:31,32). Philip had faith in his gift for music, he kept right on nurturing that belief against all odds. Then Bob Tincher came along and also nurtured that seed that Philip had planted. Bob gave of his time and money to try to help a dream come true.

Because of one man’s belief and anothers willingness to give, that small belief turned into a great tree and several people are now able to lodge on the branches of it.

Philip said Bob and Mary are just like family. It’s good to know that in this hectic, hustle bustle world we live in there are people who still do good deeds, and they are rewarded. The next time you get a chance to help someone, don’t hesitate. Bob Tincher helped and see what came of it. The rewards for that kind of giving are greater than money or material possessions. You could easily see the sparkle of love in Phillip’s eye when he spoke of Bob and said, “He’s more than a father to me.”

It is said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Well look what has happened because of Bob’s willingness to give. Philip has had success. Rolland, Tommy and Amy have a solid career. Aaron Tippin has a recording contract, several hit records, and the credits just keep right on coming!

Thank You Bob!

This article originally appeared in the Amplifier in November 1996.

Mitchell Plumlee is a writer and musician. His blog can be found at www.blindbutnowisee.blogspot.com