Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/596928
November 2015 | Overdrive | 35 didn't realize our friendship would soon turn out to be our love story." Jessica and her young daughter moved back to California in 2010, but she and Nate stayed in touch. They took turns flying to see each other and to meet each other's family. "On one of our trips, he surprised me with rose petals and a ring, but being the stubborn woman I am, I accepted as a promise of commitment in our relation- ship more than a [marriage] proposal," To enter Overdrive-Red Eye Radio's Truck- er Talent Search, Nate Moran submitted a video of himself covering Michael Ray's popular country song, "Kiss You in the Morning." He became an audience favorite and was voted one of three finalists, along with Don Whatley and Paul Marhoefer. But when Moran performed in the con- test finals at the Great American Trucking Show, he chose "Middle of the Moonlight," a song he wrote and sang for his wife, Jessica, at their April wedding. She joined him at the Dallas playoff, sitting in the front row, tapping her leg to the beat. Later she recalled how his music helped win her heart. "I realized I was falling in love with him when he would write me a song and play his guitar for me, and I was like, 'Oh man, he's got me!' " In Dallas, he also got the judges. Deem- ing him the winner were Lindsay Lawler, a country singer who promotes the Highway Angel trucker recognition program; Keith Sampson, last year's Trucker Talent Search winner; Brad James, a 2014 Trucker Talent Search finalist; and Mike Ryan, a Class 8 truck racer and stunt driver. Moran won $1,000 in cash, a crystal trophy and a Justin Boots certificate provided by Red Eye Radio. But perhaps the most valuable prize was provided by fuel efficiency app provider AxleOutPro: an eight-hour recording session for one song at the historic January Sound studio in Dallas, an interview and production of a music video based on his original song, "Crazy." Moran plans to record the video in Dallas "on a country road where there's a farm, and we may get a couple of shots at a marina in front of a lake." ORIGINAL SONG WINS A HEART, THEN A CONTEST You got my head spinnin', heart beatin' faster than adrenaline I get lost in the way you move when I see you swayin', Aw, girl yeah, break it down low, go ahead yeah, you're stealin' the show, Yeah girl you're lookin' so fine in the back of my truck bed in the middle of the moonlight. Oh baby after all this time I can't believe you're still mine, Five years, two kids, then you're my wife, you're my best friend Girl I know, we should have took it slow, but I wouldn't trade anything, yeah girl, you still drive me wild, baby, yeah Drivin' me wild, drivin' me wild, yeah. Jessica and Nate Moran have two daughters, Alexa, 8, left, and Haylee, 4. From 'Middle of the Moonlight'