Rockie Lynne’s life has never been conventional, and the singer-songwriter is prepared to share his story in his new album, Love, and the accompanying documentary, Where I Belong, which premiers on Amazon Prime today, April 26th.
Adopted at age two from Barium Springs Orphanage, a veteran paratrooper, and a global performer, the under-the-radar country star has many stories to tell through his music and the intimate glimpse of life through a lens.
The documentary traces Lynne’s extraordinary journey from his early abandonment to a profound reunion with his biological family, capturing the emotional depth of his personal story. Complementing the film, the album introduces a collection of 13 tracks that resonate deeply with the themes explored in the documentary, which is directed by JC Summerford.
Notable tracks such as “My Father’s Guitar” express the tale of Lynne reuniting with his biological father, which is essentially the focal point of the new documentary. This along with the remix of the opening track, “More,” a song dedicated to his adoptive mother.
We got to chat with Lynne to learn more this monumental moment in his life, the making of the album and documentary, and much more.
You’ve got two big coinciding projects that released today with your documentary, Where I Belong, and accompanying album, Love. Can you talk about how this joint process played out from idea to fruition?
It’s been quite a journey for the last couple years. I was asked to host a home “makeover” show called “Operation Build” (that airs on A&E Network) and the scriptwriter for the production company, JC Summerford, also happened to be an independent filmmaker. When she found out that I was abandoned as an infant and put up for adoption, her exact quote was, “I know a good story when I hear one.” It was her idea to make the documentary. We started filming around the same time I was recording the Love album, so naturally the two became intertwined.
Would you say this is one of the biggest milestones in your life and career? What else might compare?
I’m humbled beyond words that there was an interest in telling the story of my life. Discovering my birth parents, meeting my biological families, and ultimately being included in them is more than I could have imagined for myself in this lifetime. I would compare it to the birth of my children but in this case, I guess you could say it was the birth of my original family.
What appears to be the most compelling moment in the film is your reunion with your biological father. Can you talk about what that momentous experience felt like and how it all transpired?
We contacted a company called 23 and Me and sent them a DNA sample. My half-sister had submitted a DNA sample to them as well. From there it was a matter of connecting the two parties. My sister Melinda made everything so loving and inclusive that it’s hard to put into words how comfortable she made me feel.
She arranged the initial meeting with my father and me. He was skeptical of DNA and a little apprehensive about meeting me, at first. Within 10 minutes it was obvious to both of us that he was my father. He was a guitar player in a country band, a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne – the same unit that I served in — and he rode a motorcycle his whole life! We were like adjoining spokes in a great big wheel. After that first meeting, I was treated exactly as a member of their family. In fact, that makes me feel loved and included in a way that most people take for granted that I had never experienced before.
What were some of the first things you talked about?
One of the very first things my father said to me was, “If I had known you were in that place, I would have taken you out of there.” He was obviously talking about the orphanage and how I was abandoned and left there as an infant. He never knew that I’d been born or that I even existed, but once he knew about me, and that I was his son, he wanted me to know that he would have been there. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.
You talk a lot about family and finding your roots when discussing your music. Can you talk about songs on the album you feel best express this and the album’s central message?
I think the song “More” exemplifies what it’s like to love someone more than yourself. I think the true definition of unconditional love is only fully experienced when you become a parent.
“Real World” is a message to my daughters. And to my fiddle player’s daughter, Daelyn, who sings harmony on the album and in my band– basically asking them not to grow up too fast. That’s hard to do in this modern world, for sure. The title song, “Where I Belong,” speaks to the inner-core of emptiness that I felt when I did not know where I came from and then, in turn, how fulfilling it was to finally find my tribe.
The song” My Father’s Guitar” is the story of my life and how it intertwines with my father’s. It’s the first song I wrote on the guitar that he gave me before he passed away.
How else might Love and Where I Belong play off of one another and correlate together?
My wish is for the film to inspire hope in anyone who has a dream or anyone who is looking for their true purpose in life.
I hope that after watching the film, the music will be even more relevant to people. In a world full of tribute bands, I have always been an advocate for those of us who are creating original music. It takes guts to put yourself out there, and I applaud anyone who answers the call to become a professional songwriter and musician. The reward, other than the art itself, is finding an audience. I am hoping the film will help that along. And at the same time, inspire others to do the same.
Working on an album and documentary at the same time sounds like an exciting if not stressful process. What did the day to day look like for you when tackling both projects?
With a team is small as ours, everyone wears a lot of hats. The days start early and go well into the evening. This was all an act of love by the people involved. No salaries, no pier deims and no cartage service to haul everything around. It was hard, as it should be. If you are going to build a fire, you will need to chop some wood.
What audience are you hoping to reach with these projects, and can you talk more about the impact you hope it has on them?
Every corner bar and VFW has a cover band with at least one 40-somethin-year-old member that thinks, “What if I had tried to go for it? Could I have made it?” But I’m not just talking about singers and guitar players. I’m talking about plumbers, carpenters or a guy that wants to have his own rickshaw business in some foreign land. I hope that someone finds this film encouraging. I hope it reminds you that the only thing that will stop you from reaching whatever it is you’re reaching for, is you. Resilience, determination, dedication, and perseverance are the underlying themes of the film and the record. May everyone have a dream. May everyone have a chance.
What advice would you lend to young musicians and creatives who might be living through a similar path that you endured?
The old cliché “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is appropriate here. Even if you can’t see it or if nobody believes it… and even if nobody from your little town has done it before, you can find your way. You can find your tribe. Don’t just dream, dream big. It costs the same.
What else might you have in store for spring and summer after the release?
The film will be streaming on Amazon Prime and rolling out on PBS stations nationally starting in September. We are going to tour and meet these wonderful people who are sharing this journey with us. We’re going to play. I’m going down singing. Count on it.
