Actor And Texas Native Dennis Quaid On His Spiritual Journey And New Gospel Album

Dennis Quaid
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Dennis Quaid

About Dennis Quaid

Before he starred in "Breaking Away" or The "Big Easy," Dennis Quaid was a kid from Houston, Texas, who grew up loving Elvis Presley and wanting to play rock and roll. His early success as an actor led him to a major career in movies, but he never gave up his musical ambitions. As the longtime frontman of Dennis Quaid & the Sharks, he’s built a reputation as a legitimate, high-energy rock star. Recently, though, he’s moved to Nashville and produced an album called “Fallen: A Gospel Record For Sinners,” that reconciles his rediscovered faith with years of hard living and addiction.

What Dennis Quaid Talks About On This Episode

  • Growing up in Texas
  • His mother's cooking
  • His latest Gospel album, "Fallen"
  • The church's influence on his life
  • Musical influences on his life: Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash
  • Learning to play the guitar at age 12
  • Songwriting and storytelling
  • Moving to Nashville and finding community

Quotes From Dennis Quaid

"When I started playing guitar is when I really got into Johnny Cash. Got my first guitar at 12, and so I started playing Johnny Cash right off the bat. For one thing he's easy for young guitarists – it's simple chords and I could never shred a guitar. I knew I was never going to do that and so songwriting was my defense. And Johnny's songs, they're stories, and, you know, they really stay with you. He's simple, love his sense of humor, and love that rebel. I wanted to be him." - Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid

There's so many Texans out there in the world. They go back and they always come back. They got out. They come back. Love the place, every part.



— Dennis Quaid

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road. Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Dennis Quaid on Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music, or everywhere podcasts are available.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors

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