Winter 2006-07
Aaron Tippin has enjoyed a long association with the military. During the 1991 Gulf War, his hit, "You've Got to Stand for Something," struck a patriotic chord with all Americans. Tippin was the first performer to play before U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. He touched the hearts of Americans again after Sept. 11, 2001, with his song, "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagles Fly." Tippin has been making annual visits to perform in Iraq since 2003, and he has also performed in Afghanistan.
With his dad serving in the Air Force and an uncle in the Army, Tippin grew up military.
The South Carolina native was a fan of the traditional country music sound even when his friends were listening to hard rock. He first started playing honky tonks in the Carolinas during the 1970s. After competing in the Nashville Network's "You Can Be a Star" competition in 1986, he moved to Nashville to start making recordings. But he still had to keep up a day job, working at a factory in Kentucky on the swing shift. By 1990, Tippin was able to ditch the day job. First, he enjoyed success as a songwriter for other performers; Diamond Rio, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney and others have recorded his songs. Then he made his own name, earning five gold records and one platinum, plus an Academy of Country Music Awards nomination.
Not only do Tippin's songs resonate, but his live performances have helped the military. He has performed many times for various branches of the service, both at stateside fundraisers and overseas concerts in the line of fire. He has played for SemperComm, a non-profit organization that seeks to boost the morale of servicemembers stationed at remote bases.
He recently was honored by USA Patriotism for his concerts to 500,000 servicemembers - and counting. He also is spokesperson for Armed Forces YMCA and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Tippin is at the point in his career where he can put everything he has into the music and keep it "in-house," too. These days, he and his wife Thea produce his recordings for his own label (Nippit Records, or Tippin spelled backwards); the two even sing a duet on his latest album. Tippin recently shut down the Tennessee outdoors/sporting goods store he had owned and converted it into an office and recording studio. Similarly, he has taken the reins of his website, www.aarontippin.com, and now controls the marketing of his merchandise.
MM: Tell us about your latest projects.
Tippin: We've got the big single, "Ready to Rock (in a Country Kinda Way)," out right now. I'm going to all the stores, like Wal-Mart, to promote it. They can have the record in the stores, but it's not their job to promote it. You have to meet with the store people, have lunch with them. You have to prove to those guys that you can perform. The marketing world, going to the stores, it's the most important part of my job.
MM: How did you got involved with performing for the military?
Tippin: I perform with Stars for Stripes, which is organized by Judy Seals. Judy used to be Minnie Pearl's manager. She lives in Nashville; she's someone we've always known. She goes to the performances, wherever they are, right in the middle of it. We've been shot at. She's the most unsung hero in the U.S. She's like one of those scout guides in the Old West.
MM: Has anyone in your family served in the military?
Tippin: My dad was a flight instructor in the Air Force. He flew T-28s. I had one uncle in the Army and one in the National Guard. I have a son-in-law who's in the South Carolina Air National Guard - the Black Guards. I'm very proud of him.
MM: How is playing for a military audience different from playing for a civilian audience?
Tippin: In my case, I think it's the lifeblood of what I do. The military started the Aaron Tippin career. I wasn't getting played anywhere. Then I had my single, "You've Got to Stand for Something." Bob Hope called me to play in Saudi Arabia, and it all started from there.
MM: When you go on a Stars for Stripes tour, are there any different logistical requirements?
Tippin: Absolutely. You gotta keep it light. When we play near the enemy, we're down to one or two helicopters. We make a good target! In Iraq, we played acoustically with a couple of speakers and a board. We volunteered to play in Falluja - the dangerous outposts. Those guys have very little entertainment. We feel quite strongly about doing that. We played around an old campfire.
MM: You have enjoyed a long, fruitful career. What money lessons have you learned during the ups and downs?
Tippin: One thing: Don't get too wide-eyed and blow it. I see bands get an advance and go out and get bank notes for a house, a car. Instead, they should pay themselves a set salary and live within their means.
MM: Sounds like good advice for anyone…
Tippin: Well, that being said and now that I have the money, I've got an airplane! But it wasn't always like that, believe me.
MM: Charity is a big part of your life. Tell us about that.
Tippin: It sounds like I'm bragging! I collect for Toys for Tots every night. It's fun. It's quite remarkable! Last Christmas, we gave away a brand new bike.
MM: What life lessons did you learn from your military dad?
Tippin: Freedom ain't free. You'd better be prepared to defend it.
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Tamar Fleishman is an attorney and writer in Baltimore. She served in the U.S. Air Force, her father served in the Indiana National Guard and her grandfather was a highly decorated Army surgeon who served as family physician to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. She may be reached at tfleishman@toad.net.
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