When Jim Halsey, The Oaks Godfather wrote his critically acclaimed book How
To Make It In The Music Business a few years back, he gave me the honor of
writing this forward / introduction. I think I may have written a better
tribute to Jim in the up and coming Oaks Book, American Journey, nevertheless
I was proud to be a small part of this project. I Love Jim Halsey! (JSB)

According to Comptons Dictionary, the term Godfather first appeared in the
12th century as, "One having a relation to someone or something analogous to
that of a male sponsor to his godchild: and as one that founds, supports or
inspires that child."

March 2nd, 2000
I am a firm believer in what I call the crossroads theory. In essence, I
believe that there are many times in your life that you consciously or even
unconsciously arrive at a meaningful crossroad where an event takes place
that tends to mold, shape, and influence the rest of your life on Earth.
Sometimes it is merely a simple decision that we make in our Hearts and Minds
to take the right road instead of the left. Or, to choose the right thing to
do instead of the wrong. Many of these decisions that we make are simple and
very self directed. Most, however, are Divine interventions where God in His
infinite wisdom has a definite plan in mind for you. But you must possess an
open mind and an open heart to be aware of what it is that God is trying to
tell you. So many missed opportunities exist because we just weren't
listening.
I believe in my heart that at the most meaningful crossroads, God places a
human being right there on the fork of the road at the appropriate time. A
special human being whose influence changes our hearts and our very direction
forever.

The Oak Ridge Boys, as a group and to a man, found ourselves at one such
crossroad in July of 1975.
We were a struggling and starving bunch of boys who were not really sure of
our talent or worth and were just about to give it all up and go Home. All
of a sudden, There he was. Standing right smack in the middle of the road,
smiling, and pointing out the right way to go.
That man, was Jim Halsey and for 25 years now we respectively refer to him as
our Godfather

On this night in July of 1975 Jim Halsey heard us sing for the first time.
He told us that he believed that we were the most entertaining and energetic
act that he had ever seen and that we were just "Three Minutes Away" from
being the biggest act in Country Music.
After all these years Jim's famous "Three Minutes Away" speech has become a
part of Music Business Folklore and of course, he meant that we needed a hit
record. Under his leadership and management The Oak Ridge Boys did indeed
become a household name with a wall full of Gold and Platinum albums that are
chock full of "Three Minutes Miracles," for which we are all so very
thankful.
We remain a hard working and popular act today because of the Foundation that
Jim helped us to build.


Jim Halsey has spent most of his life on the cutting edge of the music
business. His Jim Halsey Agency out of Tulsa Oklahoma once booked over half
of the major acts in Country Music. I know that you are about to read a lot
more about the Oaks and Jim in the pages that follow but let me just provide
for you, the reader, a slight recollection of milestones. A small collage of
accomplishments that were simply unheard of BH. (Before Halsey!)

Country Music on the Tonight Show when Country wasn't as mainstream as today.
The Oaks alone have been on the show twenty seven times.
Country Music acts on every major television network on various variety shows.
Country Music acts under Jim's influence headlining all the major hotels on
the Las Vegas Strip. (we still do it today!)
Roy Clark and The Oaks touring The Soviet Union.
Playing International festivals from Sweden to Switzerland and from Amsterdam
to the Acropolis in Nice, France.
Headlining venues from Radio City Music Hall to Carnegie Hall and everywhere
else and garnering major press for each performance.
Playing with Big Symphonies in Major cities.
Shooting Videos back when there was NO CABLE TV!!
Appearing at the famous Jim Halsey ranch parties in Tulsa where literally
every fair buyer and concert hall booker in the world attended.
TV shows, concert halls, fairs, theaters. Jim could book us in all of them
and make a huge, "bigger than life" event out of each and every one.
No idea too big. No problem that cannot be solved, no Mountain that cannot
be climbed.
This is Jim Halsey and believe me, there is no one quite like him.
But allow me just a few more words.

Jim Halsey is the most positive thinking man that I have ever known in my
life. He is not only a man of knowledge and know how, but he is a man of God
who puts his Family first. He has always possessed in his soul certain ideals
and values that come from years of studying the American Indian Way of Life
which teaches us to respect all of God's Creatures and to possess a childlike
Love for this great Land in which we live.

So you see, Jim Halsey is so much more than our Manager. He is spiritual
advisor, a healer, a peacemaker, a leader and a teacher.

I have seen him dance on top of a record company Presidents desk and I have
seen him raise a family.
I have seen him fight for what is fair and right and I have watched him light
up and shine like an angel when he teaches his class.

Jim has never said, "Have A Nice Day." he always says, "This is a great
day." It is always an "incredible week" and you had better believe, "that
this year is going to be the best year yet!!"
Even "better than last year."

What a joy to have this man as a friend and what an opportunity for a young
student of the music business to read this book and to learn from the very
best.

I am honored to have been asked to write a few words here about our Godfather
and Impresario Jim Halsey.

Look real hard at the road ahead students. I guarantee there will be a
crossroad around the next bend. Listen. Pay attention. Through the words
of this book you will find Jim Halsey standing there ready to point the way
down the right road.

Listen to him. Learn from him. He is the best of us.

Joseph S. Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys

Joseph S. Bonsall is a twenty Seven year member of the Oaks and author of the
Molly The Cat Book series published by Ideals Children's Books.