July 15 , 2021 The Beacon • 23

By Jen Jones

Bruce Uher credits Coshocton High School for the skills he learned to become an interactive media specialist . “ I was lucky to go to Coshocton High School . We had the TV studio and video equipment . I learned so much from Mr . Mitchell . We were so fortunate to have that . And I was always interested in the Atari games — wondering how they worked . So I learned how to program computers .”

That started Uher on a path he never dreamed of — becoming a media king . He has worked on marketing campaigns for Budweiser and Coke , several other large corporations , and can say he has many music superstars who call him “ friend .”

He said , “ It ’ s amazing to me . I grew up listening to these people , and then they became friends . I ’ ve met people from all over the world .”

He works on web pages and designs promotional items ( such as posters and shirts ) and videos .

Uher was working on different projects when he answered a call one evening to discover Charlie Daniels on the other end of the call . Daniels had heard about Uher from other people but couldn ’ t track him down . Finally , Daniels met someone who could give him Uher ’ s number .

Uher stayed in Nashville an extra night and met Daniels the next day to talk about a new website project . This was when the internet was just beginning to catch on and many people didn ’ t know what it was or what having a website could do for an artist .

“ After just a month , Charlie was amazed at how well his sales were doing . His sales jumped , and we never looked back ,” Uher said .

He said Daniels was one of the nicest people on the Earth . “ He cared more about our country and our veterans than anyone I ’ ve ever known . Once , we were at a show , and there was a large group of people with disabilities to one side of the stage . Charlie went over and started talking to each one and signing autographs and getting pictures taken . The promoter of his show kept coming over and telling him he needed to get on stage . Finally , Charlie pulled him aside and told him he was going to meet each person in that group and take his time . He told the promoter the show could wait and not to bother him again . That ’ s the kind of person he was .”

Uher also has worked on

Submitted

Bruce Uher credits Coshocton High School for the skills he learned to become an interactive media specialist . He has worked on marketing campaigns for Budweiser and Coke , several other large corporations , and can say he has many music superstars who call him “ friend .”

promotional items and web pages for Waylon Jennings , George Jones , Clint Black and Johnny Cash .

“ Ricky Lynn Greg was the first country star to have a website . I designed it , and we had to explain to people what a website was and how it could help ,” Uher said .

Uher met many of these

people because in the early ‘ 90s he was one of the few people who knew how to design the sites . “ I also had people from LA and New York contact me because I had little overhead and could work cheap ,” he said .

Uher had an office on Music Row in Nashville and got to know many people there .

Uher has a few memories that stand out . “ The first time I went golfing with Waylon Jennings , I could drive the ball great . I hit the ball , and Waylon looked at me and asked where the heck I learned to hit a golf ball like that . I couldn ’ t putt at all , though . Having Charlie Daniels call me and Hank Williams Junior . I still work on Hank , Sr .’ s media .

“ I would have liked to meet Jerry Lewis . I had the opportunity , had tickets and backstage passes and couldn ’ t find anyone to go with me , so I skipped it . I wish I had met him . And I

would have liked to meet Jackson Browne . I always liked him .”

Uher said he thinks most people get an image of a singer in their mind that isn ’ t really the true person . “ Take Alice Cooper . There are those who think he ’ s some evil guy because of his stage show , but he is the nicest guy . His dad and father-in-law were both preachers , and he ’ s been married to the same lady for years . His show is just an act . My daughter will tell you his shows are the best she ’ s ever seen . I give him a lot of credit . He didn ’ t let the record industry change him .

“ I got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage once . We were tearing equipment down , and I looked around and asked if the microphone was still on . I did a few ‘ la la la ’ s .’ I actually did sing with Confederate Railroad once . I was standing on the side of the stage , and the lead singer asked me to come out and sing , so I did . I have no idea

why . I ’ m sure the sound guy had his hand over the slider to shut off the microphone if I was terrible . Later , the lead singer told me he never thought I would do it .

“ The first time I had to accept an award at the Grand Ole Opry , I about had to be pushed onto the stage . Once I got out there , I couldn ’ t see anyone anyway with the lights , but I still mumbled thanks and walked off quickly .”

Uher had helped many local places raise money . “ When the government wouldn ’ t buy a new van for our local veterans , we put on a free concert from Friday to Sunday . We blocked off Main Street . I asked several singers to donate autographed items . We auctioned them off , and we raised enough to buy the van .”

He is still working to raise money for veterans with a Jeep raffle . “ The money will be split between our local veterans and Journey Home , which is Charlie Daniels ’ charity for veterans .”