“I was at my whit’s end.” Said Clifton Hill of Baltimore, MD. Hill,
the once almost famous singer and songwriter had formerly made quite a
name for himself as a rising star on The IRS/ MCA Records label.
Hill rode the wave of the Rock-A-Billy sound emanating from Athens,
Georgia in the 1990’s. That music scene was made infamous by bands like
REM, Indigo Girls and The B-52’s. Fifteen years ago Hill was
on the ride of his life, performing concerts for thousands of screaming
fans and gracing the cameras of
MTV.
When asked what he thought the catalyst was for his downfall Hill remarked confidently, “It was my
ego, without question.” Plagued with a series of unfortunate events and a horrific addiction to drugs,
Hill watched helplessly as his lifetime dream of being a Rock Star faded as quickly as it had risen.
“It was hard adjusting to a normal life again. Getting that close, it’s nearly impossible to accept the
fact that the ride is over.” Hill said.
Hill finished college taking with him only a degree from the college town and the harsh memory of
the dream that had now washed away. He spent the next ten years consumed with depression and
regrets, finding any hint of a normal life nearly impossible to cope with.
Like many middle aged people, Hill found himself searching for something more. “It wasn’t until
reading “Becoming God”, that I truly embraced a second chance on life finding a new appreciation
for the drama of it all and in the sheer beauty of struggle.” Hill went on to say, “I found myself
reading this book page after page and getting excited because here was finally something that made
sense to me... I was doing it to myself, all of it! I found this comforting and even humorous.”
Hill said “I also found comfort in the fact that Ford was a professional musician, it was a common
ground that made the book seem as though he was introducing me to new ideas without preaching
them to me. There were no authoritative tones and I felt like I was part of a conversation rather
than reading a book. Many times Ford would propose an idea and then work his way through it as
I read along with him.”
Hill never imagined just how much he did truly connect with the writer. In the first chapter of the
book, Ford makes a reference to a man who was one of the main influences in his decision to pursue
a musical career. Hill found connection with the book immediately because of the similarities in life
with both the writer and the man Ford writes about with a similar back ground. “The book changed
my life.” Hill said “I finished reading the book and I started it over again from the beginning. I would
tell anyone who would listen about this book and these ideas. They made life worth living again, they
made life fun again.”
Hill also felt a compulsion to write Ford a letter thanking him for the book and telling the author
what an inspiration it had been.
“I just felt like he should know that he made a difference in someone’s life.” Hill said. Ford received
the e-mail from Hill along with the barrage of letters he had been getting since publishing the book a
few months earlier. Ford said, “I got to the end of the letter and I just couldn’t believe my eyes”.
The next day Hill turned on his computer surprised to find a reply from Ford. “I thought, “Wow!” what
a cool guy he wrote me back.” Hill had so many questions and so much he wanted to converse about
and share. “It was great that I had this opportunity now.” Hill opened
the email to find a very simple response that read; “Thank you for the
kind words. Could this be the same Clifton Hill, brother of
David and lead singer of the Kilkenny Katz?” Hill was stunned, “My hair stood on end and I was like,
how does this guy know so much about me, how did he know David?”
Hill recounts the short phone conversation between the two men later
that day, “I said to him; Didn’t you realize that the person
in the book who inspired me to follow my dreams as a musician was you?”, said Ford. Ford had
written a section in the book describing a moment when the older brother of his best friend was
an almost famous Rock Star named Cliff, and how with a few short kind words encouraged him to
drop out of flight school to pursue his dreams in the music business. Now, 17 Gold & Platinum Records
later, Ford found himself returning the favor to the man who had changed his life 15 years before.
This month Hill and Ford worked together in the studio, writing and producing a brand new song
entitled, “Everything”. It goes to show you that a true gift is what we do with it after we get it, we
give it back.
To hear Clif & Ford's Collaborative Recording "Everything" Click on the Link Below.