How do a Texan and a Yankee stay married for over 45 years?
We just try to drink from the same well that Johnny and June Cash, Paul and Linda McCartney, Paul and Joanne Newman and Ruth and Billy Graham drank from. There’s no magic bullet. We just surround ourselves with lifelong friends, hope and pray for the best and live every day as if it were our last.
Chris and Jan Harris—Rodeo and Juliet, respectively—have been producing, writing and singing for a wide array of artists—Stevie Ray Vaughn, CeCe Winans, Loretta Lynn, Amy Grant, Kristin Chenoweth, Dolly Parton, Michael W. Smith & Kenny Rogers to name a few—for over 40 years. Throw in 15 years of writing, producing and singing on hundreds of commercials including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, McDonalds, Transformers, Chick-fil-A and Southwest Airlines on top of that and this Lubbock / El Paso / Dallas Texan boy and New York Lady from Bridgeport, NY will tell you how fortunate they have been in following their musical dreams. In addition, they also managed to raise two musically gifted sons while residing in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2008, Chris and Jan sold the farm and figured out a way to sing sweet, soul harmonies throughout the rest of their lives as none other than Rodeo and Juliet. After spending time recording in the studio, they decided to work up 100 love songs and hit the road at the seasoned age of 55, celebrating staying together through “the good, the bad and the ugly”. Singing timeless American Roots music, with original songs The Honey Do List, All the Men in My Life, Pennies, Nickels and Dimes and Sit and Watch the Sun Go Down, they draw on stories of the ups-and-downs and challenges of trying to stay saddled in through “all the changes of life’s circumstance” (a lyric from the title cut), as well as trying to keep the love light burning bright. “Hey, 45 years ain’t bad for a Texan and a Yankee”. Chris muses. “We’re middle-aged crazy and we’re not throwing in the towel yet.” I think Albert Brook’s character—David Howard in Lost in America—might have described how Rodeo and Juliet made it this far when he confesses, ‘I’m insane and responsible. This is a potent combination.’
CHRISTOPHER DWIGHT HARRIS has been singing, producing and writing on records in Nashville that have collectively sold over 30 million units. He was a pioneer in bringing jingles to Nashville and spent many years singing, producing and writing national commercials and also worked at WFAA ABC-TV and was a DJ at KFMN Abilene TX while studying Mass Communications at Abilene Christian University class of 77’. For additional information and credits on Chris, click here.
JANET HEIMERMANN HARRIS came to Nashville in 1978 and took Music Row by the reigns. She started singing on publishing demos and background vocals for hit songwriters almost immediately. The fact that she could read music made her a favorite among some of the boys-making-the-noise down on 16th Avenue. Soon thereafter, she was asked to join Amy Grant’s very first band as a backup vocalist and it all blossomed from there. Jan graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Major in Social Work / Minors in Music and Psychology) from Abilene Christian University in 1977.
Chris has also been a part of a few things along the way…
40 years: NARAS Recording Academy/ Board Member and Grammy Review Committee
42 Years: SAG/ AFTRA Vested Member
40 Years: ASCAP Writer/ Member
35 Years: GMA Member
40 Years: Christopher Harris Productions
23 Years: Co- Owner FunAttic Music Publishing Co. with Mark Heimermann
15 Years: Producer/ Vocalist/ Writer for Hummingbird Productions
2 Time: Grammy Nominee
15 Time: GMA Dove Award Nominee
8 Time: GMA Dove Award Winner
3 Years: Bass/ Vocalist for Michael W. Smith Friends/ Big Picture Tours
3 Years: DJ KFMN- FM, Abilene, Texas
1 Year: WFAA- ABC TV Production in Dallas, Texas
2 Years: Skyline Career Development TV Arts in Dallas, Texas
1 Year: EDS/ In-house Television Production/ Ross Perot Company