I'm David Hoffman, filmmaker.

My Hat.

I'm about to show You a beautiful scene from a documentary feature film I made in Nashville in 1969.

Nashville, 1969.

The Center of Country Music and Really Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson and Lended Cone and others.

Everybody's coming.

The music companies are there.

The big money's there, everybody you can think of who's a star because it's the 45th anniversary of the grand old upright, the center and I get this opportunity.

Go down and make a documentary feature film on this moment, the 45th anniversary.

Why they get the job.

Because back in 1965 when I was a really young filmmaker, I made a documentary for television on the roots of mountain music.

I love about music as a boy on Long Island, so I get the chance to do this 45th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry documentary feature film called Nashville Sound.

I got the chance because my partner at the time was unbelievably good at picking stars and getting money.

He's the guy who found the money.

Otherwise I never would have gotten the chance to be on that stage, recording these incredible people with Johnny Cash with Loretta Lynn with Earl Scruggs with Porter Wagoner and thousands and thousands of young artists are coming to Nashville in order to get seen, heard, maybe get a record deal.

And if they get a record deal, maybe get on the radio, that's the big deal.

So I said in my production manager, we gotta find one of these thousands who were coming to Nashville to record somebody who's looking for a contract coming to town, hoping to be a star.

And we did Herbie Hell.

He pulls up in this broken down Volkswagen and he is incredible.

You're about to see that scene before you do.

In this scene, he meets a great record producer, Shelby Singleton, who was real famous because he had done with Jeannie C.

Reilly, Harper Valley, P.

T.

A.

So what's Herbie come to town?

And then at the end, I'll tell you what happened to her.

Be hell.

I came up in Nashville, I got off work.

It's 11 30 sided and nine, I came up hoping to get some exposure, trying to work in some way just to be saying trying to get a break came appear, uh, brought all the equipment in the station wagon.

I had a little trouble coming up.

Ignition went out, Had to push the car all and had a flat tar.

I had to.

I had a blowout.

It changed a tire.

Didn't think I was gonna make it.

You gonna make it?

Well, I'm 26 I've waited around for 34 years and I keep waiting around.

I said, Well, if I don't try, what have I got to lose that?

Don't try that.

I'm a regret it later.

And if I do it right, don't make it.

Well, I know I'm trying.

That's all I can do.

Not felt like this convention was the only time that I could come up and get his much exposure without having to go to every door, knock on every door in more or less a bag for somebody to help me out.

This is my pride and joy here.

This guitar, this is called a record box.

This is my mixer.

Gives you a little echo.

This is the list.

Rome and the world.

I believe he's very unique.

Has a lot of different sounds.

And believe it or not, he's the leader of the band.

I follow him.

Oh, yeah?

Well, thanks, player.

He's out secret combination here.

Stakes.

You have to kind of pull it hard to get it up.

There you go.

This is the lowest bass player in town.

Real low.

This is my suitcase.

Where are you staying, by the way?

Well, that's supposed to be, uh, if I don't run into somebody that could help me out, I guess I was gonna have to sleep in the car written any Yes.

I have 15 songs that I was hoping to get some people to listen to have one around.

Yeah, I've got a couple.

Um, this is one I wrote not too long ago.

This is called I Am Herbie.

This is sort of a takeoff of the song using a few of my own words.

And I am an empty pocket.

I'm a one out shoe.

I ruined everything I ever tried to do.

I'm a broken bottle.

I'm a fallen star.

Doesn't anybody need a no used car?

I'm a burned out candle.

I'm a broken toy.

I hear cheers of laughter from every girl and boy, All I am is wasted.

I live a life of thing, never any sunshine.

All I see is rain.

Hard luck, Herbie.

You all know me.

I've lived in every town.

I never seem to get a break.

I just get kicked around and I don't intend to give up.

I intend to make it maybe 10 years from now, maybe out there a long time, but maybe I won't make it.

But I have confidence that I will.

And I'm gonna try.

All right.

How over you?

I thought maybe you could tell these things, and I just sensed anything.

Sales in his president of records.

What do you do?

You write and sing, right?

I brought up 15 songs.

I was hoping to get somebody to listen to him.

You have a guitar with your something You have got a base Is Marvin and Bruce with electronic drums and a bass.

I play with my feet.

I'll need a studio set on one plate of beef base while I played the guitar.

Get inside.

It's over.

One man band called Harmony.

Bruce Invisibles.

Yeah.

Good.

Set up a play.

I would, you know, just over there somewhere to be fine.

Okay.

Okay.

Let's Let's try it.

Okay.

Okay.

No, leave.

It works that because of the ground soft here.

Okay.

You often get the people like that coming up here for him.

I don't listen to him.

Really?

Why?

I just don't have time.

You know, it's, uh I would say probably 1000 a week come through Nashville looking for recording contracts.

What percentage?

Ever make it?

Probably 1 1/100 of 1%.

What do you think is gonna happen to a kid like that?

You never know.

Sometimes they become stars.

Sometimes they, uh, just go back home and end up writing songs all their life.

And nothing ever happened.

Oh, yeah, Yeah, we're Yeah.

You got something?

You need Thio hard, right?

Yeah.

What about, you know, to have a steel bar?

Last water water.

I can't seem to get anybody named me and still to sit on your the box around here.

What about a piece of firewood movement?

Nashville is constantly received by newcomers.

Here's a follow.

Drove all night.

I came up for an audition this afternoon.

Every What's your last name?

How Where did you drive from against religion.

Why did you want to come to Nashville?

Well, this is something I've always wanted to do, and I've always put it off.

And I felt like if I was ever going to do it, and that was a time way With two shots on Finds it Stay with memory when you need a way.

Met Sunday with red But there's pain in my soul for one that I can No, wait, wait.

And we'll stay with you Way with No way But there's pain in my soul All the one that I can wait and way, way, way, way with I don't know how all this is gonna turn out but I wish you all the luck in the world.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Good luck to you.

That's very for Herbie.

You live in Augusta, Maine.

You married?

Did your wife say if you happen to become a star and you had to travel that's already been settled already?

Decided to start traveling until I get a break.

You have the determination you wanna be a star, right?

In other words, I'm not gonna give up.

I'm going to work at it and I'm going be that even if it takes 15 years, won't you do this once?

You come by office tomorrow and we will sit down, talk to you for their Okay?

Something.

Okay.

Okay.

Well, all right.

Okay.

Okay.

Sit down and tell us what happened.

What happened?

Well, a lot happened of us.

Say it's like a drain come true.

Uh, legal or not, uh, I got a contract, but it's not what you want.

Later.

Chevy Singleton wants me to come by and pick up the contracts tomorrow.

And I'm supposed to go by and sound of management contract with Paul and things looking great.

It's what?

What?

I've been waiting.

Don't you know?

You said you were gonna call your wife?

Won't do it.

Save like now's a good time Since she was cold last night.

I'd like to get 798961 done in Augusta, Georgia with Okay.

Hello, Vicky.

Oh, is that you?

Oh, getting Listen.

Listen, guys up today what I do you so excited.

I've got three contracts.

You believe it?

Well, don't Don't tell nobody.

I don't want to tell him, Okay?

Is it true, though?

I don't know.

Let's unless it I wanna tell you something.

You won't believe what I'm doing right now.

I'm making a film.

I'm making a film that I left that out.

These these people that I met from New York.

Uh, they were coming down to make a film.

And it's a long story, but just to make it show it I fit.

I must have fitted the part that they were looking for somebody who was coming to town that was trying to make it.

And I guess that they wanted to use somebody like that and then use somebody that already made it engine.

You see, Robbie And here I am.

And they never talking to you people here from New York, Net.

Not telling the truth is gonna be a field.

I'm in nice field.

She don't believe that.

She thinks that this is a joke.

How did I call a straight If I'm in Nashville, you want somebody to tell you that it's true?

Somebody tell it is true.

Hello.

All right.

My name's Nigel, and it's absolutely true what your husband says.

We're right here.

We're filming.

There's a camera opposite your husband and I'm the sound man, and I have a microphone in my hand and it's really true.

It's all happening.

I'm going to give you back to your husband.

Thank you.

You can't leave.

What do you drive?

I use diesel.

Had the UK said uh, don't cry.

Okay.

I love you.

Yeah.

Oh, Rose, I just not doing what I find.

But I had already my mind one chance in me to find the right door This way I international driving 90 days I stand in the way I'm from New York.

I'm trying to get a stunt.

She said I've got a great idea.

I explain way I was invited Old treated brother and name it Bombing Do Ramadan Arian.

Harry, find friends like this.

I never knew I remember all of you and wait.

Booth Village, All of them.

I got to see just because my time safe.

Thank you.

Wanna know I'm running edible down in C way with Herbie was the sweetest guy.

As you could see, he was kind and he was gentle.

And I hope he was good enough.

Good enough in Nashville is off the charts.

Great as any of you watched can burn Siri's on PBS on country music.