- And to honor Mac like this, we had the pleasure, several of us here, of working with Mac through the years, and he was absolutely one of the finest people I've ever met in my life.

And besides being, he was the most humble guy I've ever known that was such a genius, but I think it is time to just kick some music off, what do you think?

(audience applauding and cheering) No better person to kick it off than Kenny Maines, right here.

(audience applauding and cheering) ♪ Well, it was New Year's Eve ♪ I was 14 at the time ♪ I was celebrating at 4:00 a.m. ♪ ♪ With them hoodlum friends of mine ♪ ♪ And I heard a boy named Elvis Presley singing ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ It turned me on ♪ I've been hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music from that moment on ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ Well now all my friends thought ♪ ♪ I was one brick less than a load ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'd stop the car and I'd jump out ♪ ♪ Start dancing in the road ♪ When I heard Jerry Lee Lewis singing ♪ ♪ Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On ♪ ♪ And it turned me on ♪ I've been hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music from that moment on ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ Well I'd steal them fancy hubcaps ♪ ♪ Off the cowboys' pick up trucks ♪ ♪ Fender skirts and mudflaps ♪ Anything to make a buck ♪ I'd sell 'em right back to 'em out behind the rodeo ♪ ♪ Just to make a little money to take my little honey ♪ ♪ To a rock and roll show ♪ And I hung around that skating rink ♪ ♪ Where Buddy Holly played ♪ I never knew a man could have such fun and still get paid ♪ ♪ When I heard that local DJ playin' That'll Be the Day ♪ ♪ It turned me on ♪ It turned me on ♪ I've been hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music from that moment on ♪ Play it boys.

♪ I finally got some tickets to see Elvis live and hot ♪ ♪ My girlfriend almost jumped my bones ♪ ♪ Going back to the parking lot ♪ ♪ I knew that it was not my great physique ♪ ♪ Good looks and charm ♪ That kept that teenage teenybopper rockin' my arms ♪ ♪ So I bought myself a guitar and I wrote me a lady's song ♪ ♪ I changed the name to fit my latest flame ♪ ♪ And that sucker never turned out wrong ♪ ♪ I'd sit back singing soft and low ♪ ♪ Watchin' as it slowly turned 'em on, it turned 'em on ♪ ♪ I've been hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music from that moment on ♪ ♪ Hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music ♪ I've been hooked on music ♪ Hooked on music from that moment on ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) - What was it like growing up?

I think it was like growing up anywhere else, except you pretty much had to toe the line a little more.

Lubbock, Lubbock is a typical west Texas high sense of value and character.

It's just one of these places where doing a job right is respected and you're expected to do the job, do it right, and you know, we were just like any other typical teenagers, rebels without a clue.

I don't know, it's something, something about west Texas and Lubbock in particular that, if you're gonna run outta gas without a, you know, without a gas can or have a flat without a spare tire.

Well, that's where you'd want to be.

- Mac Davis.

(audience applauding) So y'all ready to have some fun tonight?

(crowd cheering) You're gonna hear a lot of great music, a lot of great songs written by one of Lubbock's favorite sons, and the first song.

One of Mac's earlier songwriting successes was a song written for his firstborn son, Joel Scott Davis.

And in 1971, Watching Scotty Grow was recorded by Bobby Goldsboro, where it raced to the top of the Billboard Easy Listening charts and remained there for six weeks.

However, one record executive actually questioned releasing the song at all.

And he said, and I quote, "I just don't think anyone will buy a record about a father and a son."

Well, here to sing a song about a father and a son, please welcome Junior Vasquez.

(crowd cheering) - All right.

You know, a connection that I have to Mac is not just being from Lubbock, but also graduating from Lubbock High School, graduated in 1975.

Mac graduated in 1958, but one of the things about Mac that impressed me the most, just watching some of the videos, I got to meet him a couple of times, was just how he made people feel at home, how he made people feel comfortable and like he never met a stranger.

Like we were watching that video a second ago, and I can see Mac, I know the last few gigs that I saw him do, he would bring out a stool, and he would bring the stool and sit down, and just say, howdy folks, how's everybody doing?

And that's what we wanna do tonight.

And we want you guys to feel at home, all right?

Like you're in his presence.

Anyway, here you go, Mac.

♪ There he sits with a pen and a yellow pad ♪ ♪ He's a handsome lad ♪ That's my boy ♪ BRLFQ spells mom and dad ♪ That ain't too bad ♪ That's my boy ♪ you can keep your TV and your movies ♪ ♪ You can keep your drive-in movie shows ♪ ♪ I'll sit here and drink a beer and listen to the radio ♪ ♪ Biding my time and watching Scotty grow ♪ ♪ Making castles out of building blocks ♪ ♪ And the cardboard box ♪ That's my boy ♪ Mickey Mouse says it's 13 o'clock ♪ ♪ It's quite a shock ♪ That's my boy.

♪ In four short years I've gone from rags to riches ♪ ♪ Where I was before that, I don't know ♪ ♪ You can let it rain on my window pane ♪ ♪ I've got me own rainbow ♪ Sitting here shining, watching Scotty grow ♪ ♪ Up on daddy's shoulders and off to bed ♪ ♪ Ooh, sleepy head ♪ That's my boy ♪ Gotta have a drink of water and a story read ♪ ♪ An old Teddy bear named Fred ♪ That's my boy ♪ What's that you say momma, come and keep your feet warm ♪ ♪ Just save me a place I'll be there in a minute or so ♪ ♪ I think I'll stay right here in little prayer before I go ♪ ♪ Just me and God are watching Scotty grow ♪ ♪ Yeah and me God are watching Scotty grow ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you, thank you very much.

- Junior Vasquez.

This next song was released as a single in 1963, when Mac was 21 years old.

And it's also the title cut for Mac's first album.

It may not be easy to find this album, but tonight you're gonna hear the song.

Take a listen to Honey Love, performed by west Texas favorite.

Here's Gypsy Jayne.

♪ Love me, love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna need a little honey love ♪ ♪ I need it ♪ When the moon is bright ♪ I'll need it ♪ Oh, I need it in the middle of the night ♪ ♪ I'm gonna need a little honey love ♪ ♪ I want it ♪ When the lots are low ♪ I want it just before you go ♪ I want it oh 'cause I love you so ♪ ♪ I want a little bit of honey love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna need a little honey love ♪ ♪ Now put your arms around me ♪ Pretend that we love each other ♪ ♪ And then we'll kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss ♪ ♪ That's my honey love ♪ I'm gonna need it in the morning sun ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get it when the day is done ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get it baby and have some fun ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little love ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little honey love ♪ ♪ If you put your arms around me ♪ ♪ Tim will love you so ♪ We'll kiss, kiss ♪ That's my honey love ♪ I'm gonna get it in the morning sun ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get it when the day is done ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get it and have some fun ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little honey love ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little honey love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ Love me, love me, love me, love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little honey love ♪ ♪ I'm gonna get a little love (audience applauding and cheering) - Gypsy Jayne.

Late his career, Mac came up with a musical answer to the age old question, where do songs come from?

Where does that buzz come from?

(audience laughing) And the answer in true Mac Davis style, reveals the source from which songs and everything else comes.

Here's Brandon Gwen.

(audience applauding) ♪ Sitting on the front porch ♪ With a nice young friend of mine ♪ ♪ Playing my guitar ♪ just chilling, killing time ♪ Humming this old song that my mama used to hum ♪ ♪ She'd say, where do songs come from ♪ ♪ I must have heard this question half a million times ♪ ♪ But when I went to bed that night ♪ ♪ It was weighing on my mind ♪ Just before I fell asleep ♪ I know this might sound dumb ♪ I said Lord, where do songs come from ♪ ♪ Then somewhere in the night ♪ I heard a voice inside my head ♪ ♪ So I jumped right up and wrote it down ♪ ♪ And this is what it said ♪ They come from poets and balladeers ♪ ♪ From age old stories ♪ Passed down through the years ♪ ♪ From a little baby's laughter ♪ ♪ From a lover's tears ♪ From good old boys and girls after one too many beers ♪ ♪ And sometimes God just whispers in your ear ♪ ♪ Oh that's where songs ♪ That's where songs come from ♪ And all these years I've been writing songs ♪ ♪ Just trying to make a living ♪ But I never stopped to think about ♪ ♪ the gift that I've been given ♪ ♪ So this morning over second cup of coffee down at Joe's ♪ ♪ Someone asked where the songs come from ♪ ♪ I think now I know ♪ When I thank heaven for the good ones when they call ♪ ♪ 'Cause mostly that's where songs come from ♪ ♪ Sometimes they come from broken hearts ♪ ♪ Sometimes they come from love ♪ ♪ But most of all they're a special gift ♪ ♪ from someone up above ♪ They come from poets and balladeers ♪ ♪ From age old stories passed down through the years ♪ ♪ From a little baby's laughter ♪ ♪ From a lover's tears ♪ From good old boys and girls after one too many beers ♪ ♪ But sometimes God just whispers in your ear ♪ ♪ Oh that's where songs ♪ That's where songs come from ♪ Oh, that's where songs ♪ That's where songs come from - You know, I struggled for a lot of years.

I was a late starter.

I was 28 before I ever got a hit.

And in rock and roll or in the record business, that's pretty old.

You're getting a late start.

In fact, I used to say I was 28 and gaining weight, when I finally got a hit.

And that year, that started with Memories.

I think I had a, not one week went by that I didn't have a bullet in the charts.

All of a sudden people started recording my songs, and that's the way it works with songwriters.

You beg and you push and you plead and you hope and you pray and, you get turned down and then one day you get a hit, and all of a sudden, all those songs you were taking to 'em before start getting cut, just because you had success with, you know, the big success with Elvis or whoever.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Bruno Mars' co-producer Jeff Bhasker asked Mac to stop by the studio while they were writing songs for Bruno's album, Unorthodox Jukebox.

While they were struggling to find a hook, a special catchy line for that song, they asked Mac for help.

And in true spontaneous Mac Davis style, he came up with, all you young wild girls you make a mess of me, you young wild girls, you'll be the death of me.

And they had their hook.

Singing Bruno Mars' Young Girls, here's Craig Elliot.

- Thanks for coming out tonight, y'all.

We really appreciate it.

♪ I spent all my money ♪ Got a big old fancy car ♪ For these bright-eyed honeys ♪ Oh, yeah, you know who you are ♪ ♪ Keep me up until the sun is high ♪ ♪ And the birds start calling my name ♪ ♪ I'm addicted and I don't know why ♪ ♪ Guess I've always been this way ♪ ♪ All these roads steer me wrong ♪ ♪ But I still drive them all night long, all night long ♪ ♪ All night long ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ You make a mess of me ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ You'll be the death of me, the death of me ♪ ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ No matter what you do ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ I always come back to you, come back to you ♪ ♪ Keep me up until the sun is high ♪ ♪ I get lost in the words I say ♪ ♪ Start believing my own lies ♪ Like everything will be okay ♪ Oh, I still dream of a simple life ♪ ♪ Boy meets girl, makes her his wife ♪ ♪ But love don't exist ♪ When you live like this ♪ That much I know, yes I know ♪ All these roads steer me wrong ♪ ♪ But I still drive them all night long, all night long ♪ ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ You make a mess of me ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ You'll be the death of me, the death of me ♪ ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ No matter what you do ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ I always come back to you, come back to you ♪ ♪ Yeah you ♪ You ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ You make a mess of me ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ You'll be the death of me, the death of me ♪ ♪ All you young wild girls ♪ No matter what you do ♪ Yeah, you young wild girls ♪ I always come back to you, come back to you ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) Thanks, y'all.

- Craig Elliot.

After a number of Mac's songs became hits for artists such as Elvis Presley, Bobby Goldsboro, Helen Reddy, BJ Thomas, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, well Mac finally decided to start recording his own music, and that began a long list of chart-topping songs on both the pop and the country charts.

Now you'll be hearing a lot of those tonight.

Ironically, his first top 10 country song was a lighthearted view of how fame and good looks can go to your head.

So please welcome the lovely, the talented, and the humble, Jenni Dale Lord.

- Thank you, Kenny.

You know, when Mac Davis wrote this song, he tells a story about how he was headlining the biggest concert venue, and he was put up in a hotel, and he woke up one morning at eight o'clock, alone.

And that was really disturbing to him, and the only way he could cope with that is to write a song about it.

Well, I've never headlined at one of the biggest venues, and I've never woken up alone, but, as he said, this is a story about what it feels like to be at the top and all alone and trying to figure out why.

♪ Oh Lord it's hard to be humble ♪ ♪ When you're perfect in every way ♪ ♪ I can't wait to look in the mirror, ♪ ♪ 'cause I get better looking each day ♪ ♪ To know me is to love me ♪ I must be hell of a man ♪ Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble ♪ ♪ But I'm doing the best that I can ♪ ♪ I used to have a girlfriend ♪ But I guess she just couldn't compete ♪ ♪ With all of these love-starved women ♪ ♪ Who keep clamoring at my feet ♪ ♪ Well, I probably could find me another ♪ ♪ But I guess they're all in awe of me ♪ ♪ Who cares, I'll never get lonesome ♪ ♪ 'Cause I treasure my own company ♪ ♪ Alone it's hard to be humble ♪ When you're perfect in every way ♪ Everybody sing along.

♪ I can't wait to look in the mirror ♪ ♪ I get better looking each day ♪ ♪ To know me is to love me ♪ I must be a hell of a man ♪ Oh Lord it's hard to be humble ♪ ♪ But I'm doing the best that I can ♪ ♪ I guess you could say I'm loner ♪ ♪ A cowboy outlaw, tough and proud ♪ ♪ Well I could have lots of friends if I wanted ♪ ♪ But then I wouldn't stand out from the crowd ♪ ♪ Some folks say that I me egoistical ♪ ♪ And I don't even know that means ♪ ♪ Well, I guess it has something to do with the way ♪ ♪ That I fill out my skin-tight blue jeans ♪ You all sing along with me, come on.

♪ Oh Lord it's hard to be humble ♪ When you're perfect in every way.

♪ When you're perfect in every way ♪ I can't wait to look in the mirror.

♪ I can't wait to look in the mirror ♪ 'Cause I get better looking.

♪ I get better looking each day ♪ To know me is to love me ♪ To know me is to love me I must be a hell of a man.

♪ I must be a hell of a man Oh Lord it's hard ♪ Oh Lord it's hard to be humble ♪ Cause we're doing what?

♪ We're doing the best that we can ♪ One more time, what are we doing?

♪ We're doing the best that we can ♪ Give yourselves a hand.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Jenni Dale Lord.

Yeah, great job, Jenni.

Y'all did the great job singing too.

So yeah, that was great.

Mac's first gold record came in 1972, topping both the country and pop charts, and selling well over a million copies.

Here to perform for you tonight, Jeff McCreight.

(crowd cheering and applauding) (soft country music) ♪ Girl you're getting that look in your eye ♪ ♪ And it's starting to worry me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I ain't ready for no family ties ♪ ♪ Nobody's gonna hurry me ♪ Just keep it friendly girl 'cause I don't wanna leave ♪ ♪ Don't start clinging to me girl ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can't breathe ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ Girl, you're a hot-blooded woman-child ♪ ♪ And it's warm where you touching me ♪ ♪ But I can tell by your trembling smile ♪ ♪ You're seein' way too much in me ♪ ♪ Girl, don't let your life ♪ Get tangled up with mine ♪ 'Cause I'll just leave you ♪ I can't take no clingin' vine ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free ♪ ♪ Baby baby, don't get hooked on me ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) - So far, every song you've heard tonight was either written or co-written by Mac Davis.

Mac was so well known for writing and recording his own music, but he also enjoyed listening to the songs of his fellow songwriters, and every once in a while you might find one of those on a Mac Davis album.

This next song, released in 1984, was co-written by Jeff Silbar, Sam Lorber and Michael Noble.

You're going to love the song, and you're going to love the singer.

Here to sing Secrets is Jake Pyett.

(audience applauding) (soft country music) ♪ Can't be no secrets ♪ If we're going to last ♪ Can't keep anything from me ♪ Future, present or past ♪ Unanswered questions ♪ And shades of gray ♪ Lead to suspicion ♪ That ain't the way ♪ Secrets ♪ There should never be ♪ Secrets ♪ Between you and me ♪ Hidden truth or fantasy ♪ Got nothing to hide ♪ Come on and open up for me ♪ Let me come inside ♪ What I don't know haunts me ♪ Nothing you can tell ♪ There's nothing you can show me that'll shock me baby ♪ ♪ Nothing I don't want to learn ♪ ♪ Secrets ♪ There should never be ♪ Secrets ♪ Between you and me ♪ Oh ♪ Secrets ♪ There should never be ♪ Secrets ♪ Between you and me ♪ Oh ♪ There should never be secrets babe ♪ ♪ There should never be secrets ♪ - Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mac.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Jake Pyett.

In 1968, the management moguls for Elvis Presley contacted Mac to write a song about looking back over the years for an upcoming Elvis television special.

The kicker was, they had to have the song the very next day.

So Mac held up all night in his buddy, Billy Strange's garage, and delivered the next day this song.

Here to make some musical Memories for us all, it's my good buddy, Hannah Jackson.

(audience applauding and cheering) ♪ Memories pressed between the pages of my mind ♪ ♪ Memories ♪ Sweetened through the ages just like wine ♪ ♪ Quiet thoughts come floating down ♪ ♪ And settle softly to the ground ♪ ♪ Like golden autumn leaves around my feet ♪ ♪ I touch them and they burst apart ♪ ♪ With sweet memories ♪ Sweet memories ♪ Of lollipops and red bouquets ♪ ♪ Twilight trimmed in purple haze ♪ ♪ Laughing eyes and simple ways ♪ ♪ Quiet nights and gentle days with you ♪ ♪ Memories ♪ I couldn't hold and tremble till the dawn ♪ ♪ Memories ♪ Are all that I have left now that you've gone ♪ ♪ Oh what would I do without my ♪ ♪ Sweet memories ♪ Sweet memories ♪ Of lollipops and red bouquets ♪ ♪ Twilight trimmed in purple haze ♪ ♪ Laughing eyes and simple ways ♪ ♪ Quiet nights and gentle days with you ♪ ♪ Memories ♪ Sadly fragrant flowers turning brown ♪ ♪ Memories ♪ Soft distant showers coming down ♪ ♪ Coming down ♪ Sweet memories ♪ Memories ♪ Memories ♪ Sweet memories (audience applauding) - Hannah Jackson.

Are you ready?

I can't hear you.

Bring on Jason Fellers.

(crowd cheering) (rock music) ♪ She's a woman ♪ She's a baby ♪ She's a witch and she's a lady ♪ ♪ She's a free ♪ And gentle spirit ♪ She can be what she wants to be ♪ ♪ If she wants to be with me tonight ♪ ♪ That's all right ♪ She's one hell of a woman ♪ Young, strong and tame ♪ But soft when she loves me ♪ Like a gentle kitten in my hand ♪ ♪ She makes me feel like a hell of a man ♪ ♪ She's wild ♪ Warm and tender ♪ She'll resist ♪ Then she'll surrender ♪ She's a free and gentle spirit ♪ ♪ She can be what she wants to be ♪ ♪ If she wants to be with me tonight ♪ ♪ Oh that's alright ♪ She's one hell of a woman ♪ Young and strong and tame ♪ But soft when she loves me ♪ Like a gentle kitten in my hand ♪ ♪ She makes me feel ♪ She's one hell of a woman ♪ Young and strong and tame ♪ But soft when she loves me ♪ Like a gentle kitten in my hand ♪ ♪ She makes me feel ♪ Like a hell of a man (audience applauding and cheering) - In 1974, Mac released a song co-written with the legendary band leader, Doc Severinson.

Apparently Doc gave Mac the inspiration for this song, and the song became Mac's second top 10 pop hit.

And it reminds us that while it's sometimes necessary to make sacrifices to succeed in our chosen profession, we must also take time to Stop and Smell the Roses.

Please make welcome a group that, I don't want to emphasize this point, but they bring down the average age of the band considerably when they're up here.

Ages 14, 15 and 16.

Here's Blackwater Draw.

(crowd cheering) ♪ Hey, mister where you going in such a hurry ♪ ♪ Don't you think it's time you realized ♪ ♪ There's a whole lot more to life than work and worry ♪ ♪ The sweetest things in life are free ♪ ♪ And there right before your eyes ♪ ♪ You got to stop and smell the roses ♪ ♪ You've got to count your many blessings everyday ♪ ♪ You're gonna find your way to heaven ♪ ♪ Is a rough and rocky road ♪ If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way ♪ ♪ Before you went to work this morning in the city ♪ ♪ Did you spend some time with your family ♪ ♪ Did you kiss your wife and tell her that she's pretty ♪ ♪ Did you take your children to your breast ♪ ♪ And love them tenderly ♪ You've got to stop and smell the roses ♪ ♪ You've got to count your many blessings everyday ♪ ♪ You're gonna find your way to heaven ♪ ♪ Is a rough and rocky road ♪ If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way ♪ ♪ Did you ever take a walk through the forest ♪ ♪ Stop and dream a while among the trees ♪ ♪ Well you can look up through the leaves ♪ ♪ Right straight to heaven ♪ You can almost hear the voice of God ♪ ♪ In each any every breeze ♪ You've got to stop and smell the roses ♪ ♪ You've got to count your many blessings everyday ♪ ♪ You're gonna find your way to heaven ♪ ♪ Is a rough and rocky road ♪ If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way ♪ ♪ You got to stop and smell the roses ♪ ♪ You've got to count your many blessings everyday ♪ ♪ You're gonna find your way to heaven ♪ ♪ Is a rough and rocky road ♪ If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way ♪ ♪ If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way ♪ (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- I got demoted.

(audience laughing) You know, there are two aspects of a person's life once they've passed that I've always been captivated by.

The first one is what were their last words?

What was going on in the room when they passed?

And the second is, did they fulfill the mission of their life?

Did they do what they came to do?

Well in the songs that Mac Davis wrote, there were two that stand out.

He gave us some commitments that he made.

And if you're in Lubbockite, you're very proud of the fact that he fulfilled the first one.

He was buried in Lubbock, Texas in his jeans.

I was there.

(crowd cheering) And the second is probably more important.

And Lise told us that right when Mac exhaled his last breathe, the last words of the song we're about to do, were played.

Now, I don't know how we are received in heaven.

We have Bible on the fact that some got this wonderful statement of well done, good and faithful servant, but that's so not Mac.

I think when Mac got there, whoever was the spokesman for God said, Mac you did it.

(audience applauding) ♪ Lord, help me be ♪ Someone special ♪ In the eyes for the people who loved me ♪ ♪ The only thing ♪ I'll ever ask of life ♪ Is just to die knowing my people are proud of me ♪ ♪ Lord, let me die ♪ Knowing my loved ones are proud of me ♪ ♪ In the eyes of my woman ♪ Let me be a shining light ♪ A man who thinks of others ♪ A strong, but gentle lover ♪ A fortress she can cling to in the night ♪ ♪ In the eyes of my children ♪ In the eyes of my children ♪ Let me a Superman ♪ A knight in shining armor ♪ A cowboy, not a farmer ♪ A circus clown with magic in his hands ♪ ♪ I want to be ♪ Someone special ♪ In the eyes of the people who love me ♪ ♪ The only thing ♪ I'll ever ask of life ♪ Is just to die knowing my people are proud of me ♪ ♪ Lord, let me die ♪ Knowing my loved ones are proud of me ♪ ♪ And in the eyes of my people ♪ Let me be a special friend ♪ A friend they can rely on ♪ A shoulder they can cry on ♪ And a fighter who will stand by until the end ♪ ♪ I just want to be ♪ Someone special ♪ In the eyes ♪ Of the people who love me ♪ The only thing ♪ I'll ever ask of life ♪ Is just to die ♪ Knowing my people were proud of me ♪ ♪ Lord let me die ♪ Knowing my loved ones were proud of me ♪ (audience applauding) You know, the life of a song is a lot like our lives.

It ebbs and it flows.

It has high times and low times.

Some people like it, some people don't.

It can be a hit or it can fall like a rock.

And sometimes as Mac taught us, it just takes time.

Never quit on a song, he told me one time.

This song was originally released in 1968.

That was about 20 years before I was born.

(audience laughing) Actually I was one year old that year.

And somebody by the last name of Presley recorded it.

And it did pretty well, but it never became number one.

And in 2002, actually 2001, it was on a movie score of the Oceans 11 film, and it hit number one.

From 1968 to 2002, and then in 2004, The Sharks Tale I think also had on their score.

Well, Mac told us this story, and Lise, where's Lise?

I'm gonna ask for forgiveness, not permission, but Mac told us this story.

They were riding, flying down the highway one in LA, I believe it was.

Little sports car, top down, having a great time.

This was in 2002, and this song came on the radio.

And Mac told us that Lise went like this, cha-ching.

(audience laughing) (rock music) ♪ A little less conversation, a little more action please ♪ ♪ All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me ♪ ♪ A little less bite and a little more spark ♪ ♪ A little less fightin', a little more spark ♪ ♪ Close your mouth and open up your heart ♪ ♪ Baby satisfy me, satisfy me ♪ Baby close your eyes and listen to the music ♪ ♪ Drifting through the summer breeze ♪ ♪ It's a groovy night I can show how to use it ♪ ♪ So come along with me and put your mind at ease ♪ ♪ A little less conversation, a little more action please ♪ ♪ All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me ♪ ♪ A little less bite a little more spark ♪ ♪ A little more fightin' a little less spark ♪ ♪ Close your mind and open up your heart ♪ ♪ Baby satisfy me, satisfy me babe ♪ ♪ Come on baby I'm tired of talkin' ♪ ♪ Grab your coat and let's start walkin' ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Don't procrastinate ♪ Don't articulate ♪ Woman it's gettin' late ♪ You're just sittin' waitin' 'round ♪ ♪ A little less conversation, a little more action please ♪ ♪ All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me ♪ ♪ A little less bite and a little more bark ♪ ♪ A little less fightin', a little more spark ♪ ♪ Shut your mouth and open up your heart ♪ ♪ Baby satisfy me, satisfy me ♪ Come on baby, I'm tired of talkin' ♪ ♪ Grab your coat and let's start walkin' ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Don't procrastinate ♪ Don't articulate ♪ Woman it's gettin' late ♪ You're just sittin' waitin' 'round ♪ ♪ A little less conversation, a little more action please ♪ ♪ All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me ♪ ♪ A little more bite and a little less bark ♪ ♪ A little less fightin', a little more spark ♪ ♪ Shut your mouth and open up your heart ♪ ♪ And baby satisfy me ♪ Satisfy me, satisfy me babe ♪ Satisfy me, oh yeah ♪ Satisfy, satisfy me ♪ Come on ♪ A little less walkin' ♪ A lot more talkin' (audience applauding and cheering) - Well, you know, I didn't really pursue country and western music.

I think most of the early hits that I had were pop hits.

The song, In the Ghetto, and Memories, and things that I wrote for other artists, Something's Burning, Kenny Rogers and the 1st Edition.

They were actually pop songs but, the fact is, if you come from Texas, everybody automatically pegs you as being a country artist, which is nothing wrong with that because I like country too.

And I've had country, I've had country hits as well as pop hits.

I've had recently an electronic dance music hit, big, total, total opposite direction from either one of them.

So I just love music, that's what it's about.

It's just plain old music.

(audience applauding) - And that electronic dance song that Mac was referring to is gonna be sung for you tonight.

And actually, Mac co-wrote this with the Swedish singer-songwriter Avicii, and it's a moving work of art being sung tonight by the incredibly talented Sheena Fadeyi.

(audience applauding and cheering) (acoustic guitar music) ♪ I don't know just how it happened ♪ ♪ I let down my guard ♪ Swore I'd never fall in love again ♪ ♪ But I fell hard, hard ♪ Guess I should have seen it coming ♪ ♪ Caught me by surprise ♪ Wasn't looking where I was going ♪ ♪ I fell into your eyes ♪ You came into my crazy world ♪ Like a cool and cleansing rain ♪ ♪ Before I knew what hit me baby ♪ ♪ You were flowing through my face ♪ ♪ I'm addicted to you ♪ Hooked on your love ♪ Like a powerful drug I can't get enough of ♪ ♪ I'm lost in your eyes ♪ Drowning in blue, out of control ♪ ♪ What can I do ♪ I'm addicted to you ♪ When night blows in through the window ♪ ♪ Dances round the room ♪ Got me hypnotized ♪ I'm getting high on the perfume ♪ ♪ I can't live without you now ♪ Oh I know I'd go insane ♪ I wouldn't spend one night alone baby ♪ ♪ I couldn't stand the pain ♪ I'm addicted to you ♪ Hooked on your love ♪ Like a beautiful drug ♪ I can't get enough of ♪ Lost in your eyes ♪ Drowning in blue ♪ Outta control ♪ What can I do ♪ I'm addicted to you ♪ I'm addicted to you ♪ I'm addicted to you (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

- It's the wind.

(laughing) It's the wind.

You know, I make the joke that I still, once in a while, I'll find a little grain of sand in my teeth from standing in the wind.

Of course I'm joking, but there is something special out here.

I don't know if it's the isolation, the flatness of it all and the bigness of it, whatever you wanna call it.

It's just inspiring.

And I can't explain because we're all so different.

You know, Natalie Maines, and her family, even they're different, you know, his band, Lloyd Maines, that group has their own sound.

She has her own sound.

The Flatlanders definitely had their own sound.

They were sort of the west Texas Eagles.

And me, I'm just plain vanilla, I am what I am.

It's nothing hugely different or, or whatever.

I just, I'm a lucky guy that wrote some pretty listenable songs, and I'm good with hooks, but I'm just, you know, I just got lucky there.

I don't think it has anything to do with other than just being lucky, being born here and drinking the water or tasting the wind, whatever it is.

So everybody has their own explanation of it, but they come out of the woodwork here, they really do.

(audience applauding) - Yeah.

You know, and I'll have to agree with Mac.

I think he wrote some pretty good songs.

You know, all of us have what we think is our favorite Mac Davis song, but I've heard Mac talk about this next song, probably being one of his favorites, one of the songs that he was the most proud of.

And it's a song that talks about something that a lot of us experience, and that's not being able to wait long enough to leave your sleepy hometown and go out and search for your fame and fortune.

But then when it's all said and done, you never forget your roots, where you came from and your hometown.

♪ I was just 15 and outta control ♪ ♪ Lost to James Dean and rock and roll ♪ ♪ I knew down deep in my country soul ♪ ♪ That I had to get away ♪ Hollywood was a lady in red ♪ Who danced in my dreams ♪ As I tossed in bed ♪ I knew I'd end up in jail or dead ♪ ♪ If I had to stay ♪ I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas ♪ ♪ In my rear view mirror ♪ My mama kept calling me home ♪ But I just did not want to hear her ♪ ♪ And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams ♪ ♪ So I lit out one night in June ♪ ♪ Stoned on the glow of the Texas moon ♪ ♪ Humming an old Buddy Holly tune called Peggy Sue ♪ ♪ In my favorite jeans and a cheap guitar ♪ ♪ I ran off chasing a distant star ♪ ♪ If Buddy Holly could make at that far ♪ ♪ Well I figured I could too ♪ I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas ♪ ♪ In the rear view mirror ♪ My mama kept calling me home ♪ But I just did not want to hear her ♪ ♪ And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams ♪ ♪ But the Hollywood moon didn't smile ♪ ♪ The same old smile ♪ That I'd grown up with ♪ The lady in red just wanted my last dime ♪ ♪ So I cried myself to sleep at night ♪ ♪ Too dumb to run, too scared to fight ♪ ♪ And too proud to admit it at the time ♪ ♪ So I got me some gigs on Saturday nights ♪ ♪ Not much more than orchestrated fights ♪ ♪ I'd come home drunk and I'd try to write ♪ ♪ But the words came out wrong ♪ Hellbent and bound for a wasted youth ♪ ♪ Too much gin and not enough vermouth ♪ ♪ And no one to teach me how to seek the truth ♪ ♪ Before I put it in a song ♪ I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas ♪ ♪ In the rear view mirror ♪ My mama kept calling me home ♪ But I just would not, could not hear her ♪ ♪ And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams ♪ ♪ Now, I thank God each and every day ♪ ♪ For giving me the music and the words to say ♪ ♪ I'd have never made it any other way ♪ ♪ He was my only friend ♪ Now I sleep a little better at night ♪ ♪ When I look in the mirror in the morning light ♪ ♪ The man I see was both wrong and right ♪ ♪ He's going home again ♪ I guess happiness is Lubbock, Texas ♪ ♪ In the rear view mirror ♪ But now happiness is Lubbock, Texas ♪ ♪ Growing nearer and dearer ♪ And the vision is getting clearer in my dreams ♪ ♪ And I think I finally know just what it means ♪ ♪ And when I die, you can bury me ♪ ♪ In Lubbock, Texas ♪ In my jeans (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you, Mac.

Thank y'all.

Thank you, Mac.

Oh my gosh.

You know Mac once said, songwriting would never, ever leave him.

And that's why he never stopped writing songs.

And a lot of those songs you've heard, some of those you've heard for the first time tonight, songs that had never been recorded.

And this is one of those songs, but this song was actually sung at Mac's celebration back in 2020.

Please welcome back to the stage, Brandon Gwinn.

(crowd cheering) (soft country music) ♪ Well, I may not meet your standards ♪ ♪ I may not suit your taste ♪ But there'll be hell to pay someday ♪ ♪ For the things I've said in haste ♪ ♪ Let my gravestone say, not a moment went to waste ♪ ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ I'm rough around the edges ♪ But I live to love and laugh ♪ And if you are my friend ♪ I'll tear you IOU in half ♪ I hope it brings a smile when you read my epitaph ♪ ♪ He lived until he died ♪ Really lived until he died ♪ I'm gonna live until I die ♪ Gonna laugh until I cry ♪ Gonna love my life and write it in a song ♪ ♪ When it comes down to the end ♪ ♪ I want all of my good friends ♪ ♪ To gather round, join in and sing along ♪ ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ When the party's over ♪ And all is said and done ♪ When I lay beneath the clover ♪ ♪ The hymns have all been sung ♪ I hope the preacher says ♪ You know, he had a lot of fun ♪ ♪ He lived until he died ♪ Really lived until he died ♪ Oh, I'm gonna live until I die ♪ ♪ Gonna laugh until I cry ♪ Gonna love my life and write it in a song ♪ ♪ When it comes down to the end ♪ ♪ I want all of my good friends ♪ ♪ To gather around, join in, and sing along ♪ ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died ♪ He lived until he died (audience applauding and cheering) - Yeah.

Brandon Gwinn.

What a beautiful song.

And by the way, Mac wrote that song about two weeks before his passing.

He never stopped writing songs.

And I have a feeling he still hasn't stopped.

Long before crafting the masterpiece, "In the Ghetto," Mac had wanted to write a song about the vicious cycle of falling into the wrong circle of people, making the wrong decisions, dying at a young age.

And then that cycle starts all over again.

Elvis recorded the song in 1969.

It topped out at number two on the charts, and remained there for 19 weeks, a long time for a song.

Through the years a number of artists have produced their own version of the song.

And tonight you're about to hear your next favorite version.

Backed up by the incredibly talented group, Unity, please welcome back to the stage Sheena Fadeyi.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Is it okay if we take y'all to church for a little bit?

♪ As the snow flies ♪ On a cold and gray Chicago morn ♪ ♪ A poor little baby child is born ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ And his mama cries ♪ 'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need ♪ ♪ It's another little hungry mouth to feed ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ People, don't you understand ♪ This child needs a helping hand ♪ ♪ Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day ♪ ♪ Take a look at you and me ♪ Or are we too blind to see ♪ Do we simply turn our heads ♪ And look the other way ♪ As the world turns ♪ The hungry little boy with a runny nose ♪ ♪ Plays in the street as the cold wind blows ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ And his mama cries, yes she does ♪ ♪ As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man ♪ ♪ Face down on the street with a gun in his hand ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ And his mama cries, yes she does ♪ ♪ As the crowd gathers 'round an angry young man ♪ ♪ Face down in the street with a gun in his hand ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ And the young man dies ♪ On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' ♪ ♪ Another little baby child was born ♪ ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ And his mama cries ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto ♪ In the ghetto (audience applauding and cheering) - Sheena Fadeyi.

(audience applauding and cheering) Wow.

Wonderful, Sheena.

Right now we'd like to get the entire cast to come back out on the stage for you.

Come on now, everybody, let's get the cast out.

Let's hear it for the cast of the show tonight.

These incredible singers.

Special thanks to the band.

Man, you guys nailed 'em.

How about all these incredible artists?

Unity over there.

(audience applauding) (crowd cheering) Wow, incredible.

Look at that.

Y'all take a bow, everybody take a bow.

Come on, tie in the back.

Oh wow, look at that.

They're all in sync.

I love this.

How wonderful.

We got one more song.

There's no, I mean, Mac Davis ended every concert he did with the song that he loved so much.

And the way he came about writing it and everything is a really interesting deal.

And Alan Crossman, our audio engineer, who is one of the best engineers in the country, recorded Mac live at the Cactus Theater, and recorded this song, and thanks to modern electronics, Lise, we're doing this, we wanted to surprise you with this, Mac actually pulled, I mean, Alan actually pulled Mac's voice off of that tape.

And we're gonna sing long with Mac Davis on the last song.

Thank you, Alan Crossman.

- [Mac] I've sung this at every show I've done since 19 (mumbling).

And, I'll tell you how it came about writing it.

I was in England doing a television special for the BBC.

They did some half hour specials on different songwriters, and guys like me, and I happened to be one of the lucky ones that got to go over there and perform.

And while I was there, my manager, my manager's the guy out front going, superstar, superstar.

(audience laughing) He got me booked, which was his way, you know, I wasn't making enough money from the BBC, so he got me booked on Lulu's show.

Lulu was a singer, very famous English singer, had some hits over here.

And then she had her own TV show in England, and I did her show, and that night they had a wrap party at her house.

And she was married at that time to Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees.

And they had this beautiful house.

And I went there, and of course this was when they still, a lot of hippies, like 1970 or something, there were a lot of hippies around.

And I walked back in the kitchen and there's just a room full of hippies in there, and stoned out of their gourds, and they were gonna have a seance.

And they looked at me and says, would you like to have a seance with this?

Would you like to join us for a seance?

I said, no, man, seance is not in my book, no.

They said, you don't believe in the occult?

And I said, no, I don't believe in the occult, I believe in music, man.

I believe in music.

And it's like something in a movie, I turned around and looked, and there was Maurice Gibb's guitar sitting there in the hallway on a stand.

I reached around and picked that guitar up, and I kind of slid down the wall, and I sat there on the floor while they were trying to call up the dead or whatever it was they were doing.

And, and I started going, I believe in, I believe in music.

I believe in music.

♪ I believe in music (audience applauding and cheering) ♪ I believe in love I went back to the Dorchester Hotel, and I wrote the song.

I still have the original lyrics on Dorchester Hotel stationary, but it's kind of my theme song.

♪ I could just sit around making music all day long ♪ ♪ Long as I'm making music ♪ I know I can't do nobody wrong ♪ ♪ And who knows, maybe someday I'll come up with a song ♪ ♪ It makes people wanna stop their fussing and fighting ♪ ♪ Just long enough to sing along ♪ ♪ Help me out now.

♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ Music is love and love is music ♪ ♪ If you know what I mean ♪ And people who believe in music ♪ ♪ Are the happiest people I've ever seen ♪ ♪ So clap your hands and stomp your feet ♪ ♪ And shake your tambourine ♪ Lift your voices to the sky ♪ God loves you when you sing ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ Music is the universal language ♪ ♪ And love is the key ♪ To brotherhood and peace ♪ And understanding and livin' in harmony ♪ ♪ So take your brother by the hand ♪ ♪ Let's sing along with me ♪ Find out what it really means ♪ ♪ To feel young and rich and free ♪ ♪ Everybody sing ♪ I believe in music ♪ God knows that I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in music ♪ God knows that I believe in love ♪ ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ I believe in music ♪ I believe in love ♪ I believe in music ♪ God know that I believe in - What do we believe in?

- [All] Love!

- [Mac] That's what I came to hear.

Goodnight, God bless you.

Thank you so much.

("I Believe in Music") (audience applauding and cheering) - Thank y'all so much.

Have a great night, and remember if you have a flat going home, you're in Lubbock, Texas.

(upbeat country music)