Some singers make a career out of picking really great songs and just staying in tune. Others rely on outrageous stage theatrics. Then there are the rare few who have the kind of voice that would make you pay the price of a concert ticket just to hear them sing Jimmy Cracks Corn acapella. That's Ed Bruce.

Depending on whether you believe Wikipedia or About.com, Ed Bruce was born today in 1939 or 1940. He wrote the song made most famous by Willie Nelson, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" (a song he put into the top 20 himself in 1976 under the RCA label), as well as Tanya Tucker's Hits "Texas When I Die" and "The Man that Turned my Mama On" and Crystal Gayle's "Restless".

It was the early 80s before Ed truly shined as a solo artist. He moved over to MCA and began turning out top 10 hits of his own like "The Last Cowboy Song" (hear it on the video below, perfect), "You're the Best Break this Old Heart Ever Had", "Ever, Never Loving You", and "My First Taste of Texas" among others.

His son, Trey Bruce, is carrying on the legacy as a songwriter and record producer.

The only video I could find of Ed Bruce singing "Last Cowboy Song" doesn't have him in the video, but the way he sings it, a word is worth a thousand pictures. Take a listen.

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Simon Cowell needs a star. He needs a big one. You may know that Cowell is being considered by the British Crown for knighthood. It's been known for a long while that even in the entertainment industry where an overblown ego is essential to the trade, Cowell carries a sense of self worth that makes even the most devout Hollywood narcissist call him Sire.

Now that American Idol, the show that turned Cowell from a entertainment industry insider to the J.R. Ewing of a new generation, has pulled Steven Tyler onto the judging panel, Cowell is feeling the pressure of star envy. His show, the X-Factor certainly needs to fight for ratings against Idol, and Simon needs to win the proverbial measuring contest. So he goes looking for royalty of his own. Enter Mick Jagger.

I happen to like Simon Cowell and I like Mick Jagger. It's kind of how you like ketchup and peanut butter. Both great, just not a good combination. While the X-Factor would no doubt benefit from Jagger, I just don't see how the reality show is of any benefit to the legacy of someone like Jagger. He has plenty of money, he's been a household name for generations, and his music is respected by everyone. Cowell does what he does and he's good at it, but I'm not sure how any amount of money would make this a good move for Jagger.

I respect shows like X-Factor and American Idol. I think they do a very good thing by giving the music world names like Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, and more. They fill their stated purpose of making dreams come true. For that reason, I'm happy to see them reaching out for judges who actually know the music industry instead of compounding the Ellen Degeneres disaster. I just think with a name like Jagger, they may be shooting a little too high. They were also talking with Sheryl Crow. That makes a little more sense.

Jagger hasn't said yes and it's a pretty safe bet that he won't, but if he's taking votes, write me in as a "no".

I've had more changes in my life this year than in many, so I'm finding myself subscribing to a mindset I always rejected before. I'm actually looking at the new year as a new starting point.

I've always held to the idea that anything worth resolving is worth resolving in July rather than waiting for the turning of calendar pages, and a life that needs changes should get on with it today. I think I understand it a little better. Sometimes people need the symbolism to get thier actions to agree with their intentions. A new year lets us shake off the dust of the past and move forward with the ideas, people, and plans of our future. We gather together with the people we want to share the future with, share our hopes with them, make our resolutions together, and seal it with a toast at the turning of the year. Just today that symbolism came in and smacked me right between the eyes. So while I'm bracing for what I fear will be a pretty torturous New Years Eve, I'm excited about the new year itself.

 Since I haven't relied on the benefit of the New Year's Eve symbolism in so long, and since it's unlikely that I will again soon, I'm planning on the possibility of more than a simple set of rhetorical resolutions, but a full off-body restoration of myself. One of the most important people in my life tells me that everything happens for a reason. I'm not sure that I agree, but maybe providence does leave us breadcrumbs along the way. I'll keep one eye to the ground just in case.

So happy new year.
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and the road downhill all the way to your door.