A local musician is celebrating the release of his latest CD, the title of which not only reflects his outlook on life, but the journey in seeing the project through to fruition.

John Scott Neese, a lifelong resident of Seminole, began recording “Long Road Home,” a collection of original songs and covers, in November 2019. After several delays that were beyond his control, the album is now available on compact disc.

“With Covid and everything else that was going on, it took about 18 months for all the musicians to be able to get together and play,” Neese said. “But now it’s done and I’m very pleased with how it turned out.”

Neese recorded the CD in Nashville and several A-list musicians took part in the sessions, including pedal steel ace John Heinrich, a member of Ronnie Milsap’s touring band, and lead guitarist Eugene Moles, who graced the “Hee Haw” soundstage with the legendary Buck Owens.

“John Heinrich is phenomenal. He plays anything and everything that you want him to play,” Neese said. “All of the musicians who played on it are fantastic.”

The subject matter of the album’s title cut, written by Neese in 2015, is based on personal observation.

“Long Road Home talks about choices that we make in our journey in life,” Neese said. “Sometimes we get off that path and it can be a long road back home. Some people make it and some don’t.”

The other original on the CD, “Red White and Blue,” is an ode to the veterans who have served the country, both past and present.

Neese also included his version of traditional country favorites such as “I’m So Lonesome I could Cry,” “I Never Go Around Mirrors” and “You Gave Me a Mountain.” He also recorded a country take of the Sinatra classic “My Way.”

Neese has been around music virtually all his life and took up the guitar when he was about seven years old. He says it was his older brother, Robert (who went on to play bass for country star Stoney Edwards), who turned him on to music.

“Robert was a big influence on me. He got me into the music industry and I fell in love with it,” Neese said.

When he was in high school, Neese was the lead guitarist of the southern rock band “Fantasia,” which included classmates and friends Kenny Childers, Bruce Coates, Jeff Griffin and Sean Morgan. Later in life he played bass and guitar in “Southern Comfort,” a country band that opened for Gene Watson several times.

“Long Road Home,” as well as the rereleased gospel CD “He Left An Empty Tomb,” is available by contacting Neese at (405) 380-5628 or by email at jneese63@yahoo.com.