The Story Behind The Song: “Cajun Moon”

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The album contained several highlights. Rocker Elvis Costello joined Skaggs on stage for a rendition of “Don’t Get Above Your Raising.” The record also yielded three singles. The first, “You Make Me Feel Like A Man,” and the third, “I’ve Got A New Heartache,” both reached the American Top Ten. Sandwiched between them was Ricky’s tenth chart-topping single “Cajun Moon.”

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Ricky had picked up the tune from songwriter Jim Rushing, whom he had signed to his publishing company the year before. A native of Lubbock, Texas, Rushing learned some of the fine points of writing from celebrated tunesmith Bob McDill. Jim went on to create such hits as “Pittsburgh Stealers” for the Kendalls, “Nothing Sure Looked Good On You” for Gene Watson, and Ricky’s 1988 single “Thanks Again.”

Skaggs more or less commissioned “Cajun Moon,” asking Rushing for something with a southern Louisiana feel. Though Ricky liked the song, he never pictured it as a single until his wife Sharon White insisted it was a hit. Sharon was right. “Cajun Moon” debuted at #68 on January 11, 1986 and danced its way to #1 fifteen weeks later on April 19, 1986. 

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