Thank God I’m a country boy
It was always Regan Tucker’s dream to own a dairy farm.
And eventually he bought one in Tasmania.
But when the dairy downturn hit, the Waikato native had to sell up.
So Tucker, born and bred in Morrinsville, turned to his other dream: recording a country music album.
‘‘I was always singing to the cows,’’ he said.
‘‘Things got a bit harder [in Tasmania] than [New Zealand]. They got a bit down with drought after drought and Fonterra cutting back on what they paid.’’
Tucker thought he would give country music a proper nudge as a way to channel all his grief.
It seemed a more positive move than suicide - he knew a few farmers who thought that was a plan.
He came home to New Zealand to be with family and make a buck as a commercial mower.
‘‘I’m mowing lawns because I got my heart broken on the farm. I’m not one of those guys to tap out.’’
Tucker has now released two albums independently. The first one, The River, had a song of the same name hit number 11 on the independent country music charts in the United States.
His second album produced two number one singles, How Long and Long Way to Go.
Then he won the Independent Music of America Impact of the Year Artist award.
‘‘After winning this award I thought I got recognition that I must be alright.’’
Tucker’s third independent album, Stone Cold Country Boy, has just been released in Australia.
It features a song called So Long.
‘‘ So Long is me saying goodbye to my farm - it’s tear-jerking stuff.’’
He is heading back to Tasmania to play in front of a crowd of 2500 at the end of February, but it’s not his first large crowd.
‘‘I realised I was good when they asked me to sing in front of 3500 people in Tasmania. They cheered me on, didn’t want me to leave, so I realised I was good.’’
Though he is not sure Kiwis will ever hear his music. Country music has a small following and although his songs are played on radio stations in the US and Australia, the audience isn’t here for his brand of music.
‘‘I do believe I have got a sound.’’