Driver Lifestyles

Eighteen Wheels of Tunes

Now celebrating his 11th year in the trucking music business, Joey Holiday has carved out a unique niche for himself in this art form, singing anywhere truckers gather, including driver appreciation events, truck stops, trucking shows, job/career fairs and many 
specialty events such as the National Special Olympics.

Joey is accompanied by his wife Vicky and brother Tommy, who travel in a 1997 Freightliner Classic XL hooked up to a 53-foot custom-painted Manac trailer. The trailer features a "drawbridge" side panel that drops down to reveal a vintage Reo cab and serves as a stage. 

Joey, Vicky and Tommy all attended truck driving school and secured their CDL's.  The three share the driving duties in the the tour truck.

"We have our setup down to a science nowadays," says the singer.  "In the early days, we'd sing on a stage of bread crates and a piece of plywood, but we're a little past that now.  We can pull in and be ready to play in about 45 minutes."

Beginnings
Born in Montgomery, AL, Joey grew up in the Fort Lauderdale, FL, area. His father variously drove trucks and worked in the construction trades.

At Joey's urging, his mother bought him a guitar when he was 15, taught him three chords and it was off to the races for the fledgling musician.

At age 18, Joey married his first wife and found work as a trainee electrician. He played clubs at night and worked as an electrician during the day. That marriage ended, although he remains close to his daughters and his grandchildren.

In 1988, Joey met Vicky who had recently moved to Florida to pursue a degree in the hospitality industry. 

The couple moved to Nashville in 1990 where Joey eked out a living playing in honkytonks and Vicky worked a variety of jobs. By 1996, he had graduated to working in casinos and it was in that setting that he experienced a life-altering moment.

One night, after working six sets in a casino, Joey sat drinking and gambling, or as he puts it, "It was blackjack and Jack Black."  He relates that after losing all of his own money, he gambled away his band's pay as well. 

It was later that night in his room that he had a heart-to-heart talk with God.

“I told God I was very sorry, I didn’t want to lead that lifestyle anymore, to be without my wife, to sing in casinos six nights a week and six sets a night," he explains.

He says that God answered his prayer in a dream a couple of weeks later -  do songs about truckers and trucking.

Truckin’ music
Although this musical form wasn't exactly topping the country charts at the time, Joey believed in the dream. With Vicky as his staunchest supporter, the couple set out to make the dream a reality.

Vicky says, "When Joey told me, 'We're going to do this, you've got to quit your job,' I was a regional manager of thirteen stores for TCBY (the yogurt stores). 

They formed Truck It Records and Entertainment and after several false starts, found ways to promote Joey's music.

By 1995, Joey had written his first trucker song, called "Knights of the Road." It was one of 10 songs on his first album, "Truckers Only, No Riders," and it was this recording he says that put him on the trucking music map.

Today
Joey and Vicky now have a recording studio in the basement of their home in Pleasant View, Tenn. to produce his music as well as to record other artists. This dramatically reduces their expenses and allows them to make the most of their limited time at home.

"Every year, I get the chance to work with  some of the great musicians in Nashville when I have them over to my studio to record my songs."

He continues, "I love writing and I love to produce the music as well; coming up with the music is a lot of fun.  I've been very blessed because I've been able to make a living playing music and performing.  Even if it's only in front of three people, I'm still doing what I love."

The long line of albums he has produced include "Truckers are the Backbone of America," "America, I Believe in You & Me," and "Hats Off to the Truckers."  There are 11 trucking music albums along with two gospel albums and a Christmas CD.

That's a lot of recorded music in a short space of time!

"We started with the dream back in the casino days and this music has provided me with a way out of the honkytonks and that lifestyle.  It's what I needed to do; I don't know how its worked, but it has, so I figure it was meant to be."

Behind the scenes
The management skills that Vicky Holiday developed in her previous employment come in handy in her present situation:   "I deal with our sponsors and at the end of our touring season (their season runs from late March to October and even later), I contact the truckstops to set up next year's schedule." 

"When we're on the road during the tour, I help with the stage setup and that includes getting the CD's (over 200 of them) displayed.  I play games with the drivers, give out prizes, answer phone calls, return emails, talk to drivers and deal with the truck stop managers."

And, as if her duties weren't already overwhelming, Vicky has the added job of putting together the annual Tennessee Truck Show. Since 2003, the Holiday's have sponsored this music and trucking event in the Nashville area and it's a chore that she says takes a lot of her free time. 

"Joey handles the entertainment and I map things out, put vendors together, send out flyers, etc."

As Joey says, “Without Vicky Holiday, there wouldn’t be a Joey Holiday.”

Vicky says that they try to make it home for three days out of the month, but their schedule doesn't always permit a return to the house.

It was soon after Joey and Vicky hit the road that Joey's brother Tommy retired from his management position with J.C. Penney and joined the couple to assist in the enterprise. 

Tommy performs the sales and marketing role with the business, taking care of the merchandise in the stores, putting together promotional packages, etc. Tommy also emcees the shows, swapping jokes with Joey and the audience between songs.

He says that there's more to the job than just making music:  "People might think that our job is just to entertain and have fun, but it's like anything else, it's work."

"We finish one show and move on to the next one.  In addition, I go out in the field and set up new stores, solicit new business for our CD's and other chores.  It's fun, but it's work."

Company sponsorships support the JoeyHoliday Show appearances at truckstops and truck shows around the country. Lucas Oil Products, RoadStar and Dave Nemo Radio Network have been with him from the beginning in addition to numerous other corporate sponsors.

Giving back
Joey has long been a supporter of worthwhile causes likethe Trucker Buddy pen pal program since he and Vicky accompanied the first Trucker Buddy Share America convoy from Wisconsin to Nevada.

The rights to his original song titled "I Want To Be A Trucker Buddy" were donated to the nonprofit organization, and a CD is sold on its web site at www.truckerbuddy.org.

Another project the singer is currently involved in is a fund-raising effort on behalf of the "Michael Abt Jr. Have A Heart Foundation". 

The funds raised by this organization will be used to purchase AED's (Automatic Emergency Defibulators) and the training in their use for public schools nationwide.  For more information, visit www.melfisher.com.

When asked about his future plans and aspirations, Joey says he intends to keep writing, recording and performing because, "As long as the fans want us out there, we'll just keep on doing it."

To order Joey's music online or find tour dates and appearances, visit www.joeyholiday.com.