I was narcissistically and personally sad that he would never hear the song in this life.” “I was sad for his family and the rest of the world. Mike is sad for obvious and personal reasons. “I had written literally several pages of lyrics, and quite frankly, it was all garbage. Plenty of material, but none would prove worthy. The next day in front of my word processor, I went to work.”Īnd work he did. “In my mind, I had composed the chorus and the melody on the drive over. On the drive over Mike is ecstatic, believing that the song is coming quickly, the outcome excellent. On Monday, Mike and Connie have business in Nashville. I looked over at Connie and said, “I’m writing a song about Arnold Palmer.” Then Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said, “Arnold Palmer will always be part of the Masters.” His statement was so powerful, so resolute. It was a look of hurt that penetrated my spirit. “I will never forget the look in Jack Nicklaus’ eyes. It is painfully obvious he is not in good health. Arnold Palmer will be there, but not hit his shot. The traditional beginning of the tournament, tee shots by the honorary starters is markedly different this year. Jim Nantz welcomes the audience and a summary of the traditional events leading to Sunday are presented. They have just returned from attending the tournament on Thursday and Friday. It’s April 2016, Connie and Mike Stone are watching the beginning of the Sunday round of the Masters telecast. “One Week in April” will take nearly two years to record in its first iteration. Returning to his Tennessee home the following week he heads to the recording studio and begins work on his new favorite song. It begins on Wednesday afternoon, by mid-morning Saturday, he will have written a tribute to the Masters titled “One Week in April”. Without intention, no previous ambition, he picks up his guitar and starts articulating his feelings. It’s the kind of yearning that feels like an out of body experience.” “I remember feeling like I’d been punched in the stomach. As the music starts and the high definition pictures pierce his senses, the realizations that he will not be attending this year’s tournament, that he will not see Augusta National this year, are overwhelming. He settles in mid-afternoon to watch the par three tournament. Wednesday morning of tournament week he plays golf with his friends. He will be fine not attending the tournament this year, right? Well, that’s the plan. Instead, he envisions spending the time playing golf at his Florida home, and watching the tournament. Since he has been the last 6-7 years in a row, he’s not going this year. Other than a brief absence 2000 to 2006 Mike has regularly attended the Masters golf tournament since the late 1980’s. Not his day job, he’s winding down a successful career in his family company. For close to half a century he’s been playing guitar and piano and singing lead. Mike’s wife Connie two years earlier has convinced him to start writing songs and take them to the recording studio.
The better part of a lifetime has passed. “ This is the Masters golf tournament son, and that is Arnold Palmer, my favorite player.”įast forward to April 2014. Eight-year-old Mike Stone walks into the den and asks his father what he’s watching on TV.
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