POWERGRAMS

6 Sometimes, life pushes the "stop" button and gives one pause to see what really matters. Since 2020, Skip Cochran has had two close calls that gave him a new outlook on life. At retirement, Cochran settled into a comfortable routine, enjoying life with his wife and son and playing music whenever he wanted. But in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a deadly drug interaction sent him to the ICU. A second incident made Cochran do a life U-turn. "I have cheated the Grim Reaper twice since I retired," Cochran said. "I had a four-wheeler accident where it flipped over on me. I broke seven ribs and punctured a lung. I got through with that and got to thinking, 'I've walked out of these two things where they weren't sure I was going to.' So, I've got one more blessing to either give or to receive, and I'd be dadgum if I'm going to let my talent just sit here and not do something for some kids." Cochran has entertained many a crowd with his guitar playing and original songs at venues in Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee, and beyond. Cochran's close calls cemented his desire to share his bluegrass tunes in events to help children. This past July, he played for Amped Up Kids in Nashville to help children play musical instruments, and provided six hours of musical entertainment during a fundraiser for Alabama Childhood Food Solutions in Sylacauga. In September, he played music for two Jasper churches in support of the community, earning 12 volunteer hours for the Jasper Energizers. "I wanted to go help somebody, especially kids," Cochran said. "I like to give more than I like to receive. I want my blessing to go to help somebody." Cochran's musical talent is gift to others Cochran, 65, is a natural-born songwriter. On his mother's side, Cochran is a distant cousin of Francis Scott Key, who authored "The Star- Spangled Banner." He recalled trying to write a song in the sixth grade after seeing lyrics in the "Hit Parade" school magazine. Though he'd never heard the song, Cochran started using the lyrics while playing guitar with his own music. "It's not like you decide to become a musician," he said. "It just kind of happens – it's inside. And especially when I started writing, that's when I realized that I can't not write. I have to write to purge, if nothing else." After graduation from Parrish High School in Walker County, Cochran chased the music business, touring with a gospel group throughout the Southeast. In 1983, he went to Nashville and stayed for about three years. Four years later, his son, Chris, was born. "In April 1987, I was sitting up there in a studio called the Song Cellar recording some songs, and I had this pull to get back home as quick as I could, to be a dad more than I wanted to be anything else in the world," Cochran said. While he built his career at Alabama Power, first working at Plant Gorgas before moving to Plant Miller, his love of music never left. "I've done it all my life," Cochran said. "It's something that I can't not do." Around 1995, when Alabama Power founded its Powder River Band, Cochran helped entertain company crowds at Family Fun Day and other events. He and some friends from the band, including Miller Mechanic-welder Richard Boles, also performed during benefits for children's advocacy organizations. "We'd donate our time and people would donate to the groups," Cochran said. "We had a friend who had a restaurant and he opened it up for us to do this stuff." Cochran spends a few hours a month playing bluegrass music with friends. He practices at Sugar Creek Supper Club in Hayden, where he and others play their original songs and discuss their inspiration, sometimes laughing and occasionally shedding a tear or two. "Art is an opinion, and that's all it is," Cochran said. "Some will like it, some won't. But it doesn't make it bad nor good. It's all just how you perceive it." Pursuing happiness In the early 2000s, Cochran returned to Nashville, performing two or three times a year at venues such as Millennial Maxwell House, Bobby's Idle Hour, the Commodore Grill and the Five Spot. "I wrote a song, 'When I go,' and it's one of my most-requested songs when I'm in Nashville," Cochran said. "It's been recorded three times already." "I've got some good friends now that I've made up there over the years," said Cochran, who plays banjo on a third of his songs. "I can play up there easier than I can play around the house." His albums include "5 More," "Giddy-up, Ya'll," "Rough Landing," and EarlyBird Special," with another album in the works. Cochran's musical performances are on YouTube, and his albums are available on Spotify. His inspiration comes from the world around him: "I've got songs for every occasion you might want to have one." "The phrase is 'the pursuit of happiness,' and I'm in charge of the pursuit part," Cochran said. "Always play with somebody better than you because you'll always learn something else, something new." Energizer Skip Cochran's tunes are good for the soul By Donna Cope

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