Latest News

Meet Mark Beckett: Opry Backbeat!

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Mark Beckett and me

In a recent recording session I met Alabama's own Mark Beckett, a percussionist with mad skills and razor sharp wit fueled by five hour energy products.

Mark has been a first-call session player and touring musician for years. He's been the backbeat for artists like Kenny Chesney, JoDee Messina, Earl Scruggs and Olivia Newton-John just to name a few.

Out of the blue, Mark asked my friend Gloria and I to be his backstage guests at the...(drumroll please)... Grand Ole Opry where he happens to play in the house band backing up all the famous folks that perform there. It was like Christmas came in May because a) going to the Opry is cool anytime and b) going backstage at the Opry is well, super ridiculously awesome!

Mark backed Little Jimmy Dickens, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, The Whites and Eden's Edge during the show. He also found great joy in playing an Irish hand percussion instrument for the grand finale number with Keith and Kristyn Getty, the artists above and Josh Turner. (He nicknamed it the "Devil's Drum" and is probably still trying to regain feeling in his left arm from the special experience).

I'll share more about who I met backstage soon, but for now here are a couple photos of Mark...

Mark with his "Devil Drum"

The man behind the kit!

American Songwriter Magazine Features Our Song!

Fri, 04 May 2012 18:46:00 GMT

Thanks to American Songwriter magazine for publishing the story behind "Great American Song" in their May/June 2011 issue!

Here's the write-up:

GREAT AMERICAN SONGWRITERS

When Marcum Stewart (of country duo Acklen Park) got together with Bill DiLuigi and I to write in July 2011, we had a clear mission. Marcum wanted a feel-good, sing-along anthem for Acklen Park fans. He brought a killer melody and groove idea to the session so we went in search of a hook.

While we were brainstorming, I picked up the latest edition of American Songwriter magazine from my coffee table. I looked at the cover and blurted out "The Great American Song." We all knew that was it - and a few hours later the anthem was finished. Thanks to the fans and country radio, the song made its debut on the Music Row breakout chart March 16. And, it all started with American Songwriter!

Shantell Ogden

Nashville, Tennessee

Liahonaroo 2012- It's a Wrap!

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:47:00 GMT

Performing a couple of songs on the spur of the moment
Photo credit Jamie McCormick

On April 20-21, it was a pleasure for me to host a new family-friendly music festival called Liahonaroo at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. Thirty artists from across the U.S. performed for an enthusiastic group of festival fans- and we had a blast! Special thanks to Scott Hinote and Will Barney for being the best sound and production gurus ever, Matt Peterson for coordinating artist relations, Gloria Thurn for managing all the volunteers and many, many others who donated their time and talent to the festival!

Read about the highlights of Liahonaroo in Dave Carew's Underground Nashville blog here. See some photos from the event here.

Berklee Alumni Case Study: What Happens After Berklee?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:59:00 GMT

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview a friend of mine who is a film composer in LA, Jeremy (Jezza) Borum, for Berklee College of Music's alumni blog.

LAB: Alumni Case Study - What Happens After Berklee?

After graduation from Berklee, a new kind of journey begins as alumni face the challenge of building their careers in a competitive and evolving music industry. Jeremy Borum '05 is an example of one alumni using his creativity both in music and in business to carve a path to success in Los Angeles.

After graduating from Berklee in Film Composition, Jeremy (aka Jezza) Borum settled back in his home state of California to pursue his passion of film scoring.

"After moving to LA I got a gig doing music editing for a couple network TV shows almost immediately, but my main goal in the beginning was to build film credits and relationships," said Jeremy. "I was not opposed to working on projects for little or no money just to build my resume and to forge strong relationships in the film industry. At any stage of your career, I think building relationships should be a constant focus."

Jeremy credits his Berklee classes for giving him a sense that music is 'an industry and not just an art,' something that he did not gain earlier in conservatory environments (he studied classical music at the University of California Davis and the Australian National University).

As Jeremy's list of composer credits grew, in addition to independent and foreign films he began working on films like Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" and Scott Derrickson's "The Day The Earth Stood Still." He collaborated with composers such as Alan Menken and Stewart Copeland, working with major orchestras on several continents.

From 2007 until 2009 he toured worldwide as the keyboard player of Christafari, an internationally recognized reggae band, exposing him further to aspects of the music business and ultimately reaffirming his desire to work in film. He also started to work more as a producer and his latest album project with Mark Abel was released in April 2012 on Delos Records.

In 2009 he helped launch ZMX Music, a company that creates sheet music products for non-mainstream artists, as a master engraver and arranger. This music-related side business provides an additional stream of steady work to augment slower periods in the film and TV industry.

Jeremy plans to continue to work with the team at ZMX to build their services and client community in the coming years. He currently studies classical piano at the prestigious Colburn School, taking time away from working on the business of music to focus on developing his artistic voice as a film scorer. He is also considering a book about film scoring in the independent film industry.

"The music industry isn't well defined with a clearly defined ladder of success," said Jeremy. "It's more like a wide and tall rope ladder and you can step sideways as well as up. It's both empowering and scary at the same time to choose your own career path."

To learn more about Jeremy, visit his website at www.jeremyborum.com.

To view the original posting on Berklee Blogs, click here.

My First International Review!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:06:00 GMT

Thanks to the kind folks at Maverick Magazine in the UK for reviewing my album "Stories Behind Songs" in their recent issue! I'm blushing...

"Shantell Ogden?s STORIES BEHIND SONGS embraces the raw materials of country music and folk, marries them together with honest lyrics and sweet melodies, and gives the nine track album refreshing dimension."

"Beautifully romanticised lyrics of love and fairytales are told and enhanced by Shantell?s sugary spun vocals, giving it album gem quality."

"This album is a songbook record of beautiful acoustic quality that is an absolute credit to its thoughtful creator. Play it in the house; listen to it in the car but I guarantee, it?s an album well worth the listen and has my highest recommendation."

Read the full review by Emily Saxton here- and thanks again to Maverick!

"Hello Tom Hambridge, it's Lynyrd Skynyrd."

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:16:00 GMT

Grammy-winning Tom Hambridge and Me

Every once in awhile I have a reaction of 'that's just so cool' and that's exactly how I felt when I heard Tom Hambridge and The Rattlesnakes at a recent house concert hosted by Wanda and Terry Seay.

In addition to being a killer songwriter in many genres (hits by Keith Anderson, BB King, Meatloaf and Gretchen Wilson to name a few- read full list here), Tom won a Grammy for producing Buddy Guy's "Living Proof" album in 2010- a project also features his gifts for songwriting, percussion and harmonies.

Tom sings and plays percussion- which is both interesting to watch and musically captivating. During the show, he had us all laughing and singing along to his songs like "The Upside of Lonely" and "I Got Your Country Right Here" while his song about serving in the armed forces, "Nineteen," swept a wave of emotion through the room. He even had his daughters join him on stage for an Amy Winehouse cover- and it's clear that talent runs in the family.

Tom and The Rattlesnakes

Tom shared several great stories about playing at the White House as well as getting called by Lynyrd Skynyrd to write for several of their albums at an 'undisclosed location.' Tom said it was during one of these trips he took a song idea that became "Mad Hatter," the only new song included on their double platinum greatest hits album.

Can you imagine taking that call for a co-write? Yeah- I'd say that's just so cool.

The Story of Liahonaroo...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:24:00 GMT

Liahonaroo Interview with Kevin from WSMV News Channel 4

A few years ago I was with a group of people from my church, and we started brainstorming about how 'cool' it would be to host our own music and arts festival. Three years later, I believed it was time to make it happen, so I called up some of those folks (Scott Hinote and Matt Peterson) and said "Let's do it!" The adventure of planning Liahonaroo, a family-friendly music and arts festival, began...

I could go into a lot of details here, but let's just say we are having a blast and learning a lot! One of the most awesome things about the festival is that even in the first year we were able to attract some very talented artists (promo video below to check out).

Come on out to Liahonaroo at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN on April 20-21- it's going to be a blast! Buy your tickets in advance and save some $!

Deric Ruttan and the Hit You Haven't Heard...Yet!

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:19:00 GMT

Deric and me at The Listening Room in Nashville

One day about three years ago, I was sitting on my couch watching TV when I came across a 'Words and Music' interview Harry Chapman was doing with Canadian artist and songwriter Deric Ruttan. I immediately recognized many of Deric's hit songs recorded by artists like Dierks Bentley and Eric Church (complete list here).

On any given day in Nashville, you can hear hit songs performed by hit writers in venues all over town (we're kinda spoiled like that here). Sometimes you walk away inspired to write and sometimes you walk away depressed because you're reminded again and again how high the bar is set for songs and songwriters. In all my years of listening and writing, though, I can count on one hand the number of songs that touched me so deeply that I cried the first time I heard them.

Deric's song "That's How I Wanna Go Out" was one of those songs for me.

When he played it, I couldn't help but cry. It was everything real and honest about love, not that fluffy storybook stuff, the kind that hits your gut 'cause you know that's what you really want when it gets right down to it.

Deric performing- next to Rhett Akins

Tonight at Tin Pan South I had the chance to meet Deric and ask him a little bit about the song. He said he had the hook idea for awhile and had thrown it out at a couple of sessions before writing it with Lee Thomas Miller. He said that he felt Lee would 'get the idea' as a writer. Deric said the story and 'going out in the arms of a woman who loved me' came to them as part of the session.

Deric recorded his own Sunshine album in 2010, but said that he'd love to have someone else record it in the U.S. too. I think it's just a matter of time before someone does just that- in my book it's a sure-fire hit!

Is there anything Gary Nicholson can't do?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:17:00 GMT

Gary Nicholson and me

Gary Nicholson has really done it all- and done it all well- in the music industry. He's a stellar player, writer and producer who has crossed genres with ease. And, if that's not enough to make you an instant fan, his friends include a list of musical royalty that's, in a word, jaw-dropping.

The Early Years

?I started playing when I was a kid," said Gary. "My mom bought me a plastic guitar and took me to see the Elvis movie Love Me Tender. When I left the movie, I wore it out playing it so much.?

Gary grew up in Garland, Texas with friends Freddie and Stevie Ray Vaughn (yes, that guy), hanging out as kids playing blues and rock. ?Stevie was four years younger than us, and I think he had the attitude of ?I?ll show you, big brother.? He practiced constantly.?

One of his first bands was a Beatles Tribute Band. ?We went out to the airport and had our picture taken by an airplane to make it look like we were traveling,? he joked.

Like any writer, Gary soaked in his early life experiences. One of his songs was inspired by the racial landscape he grew up with called ?The Blues in Black and White.? He shared a couple of stories about touring through the South with a blues band in the mid-sixties.

?The black guys in the band would drop us two white guys off at the wannabe Motel 6 in town and then they?d go stay with their friends. We took turns going to get the cheeseburgers- either at a white or black restaurant,? he said.

Gary went to North Texas State to study music, but they didn't have a songwriting program so he quit school after two years and moved to Hollywood. (Sidenote: While at North Texas, he met a pre-Eagles Don Henley who played on some of his early demos.)

?I made $50 a week on my publishing deal if I created 20 lead sheets for demo sessions," he recalled. I was really slow at making charts, so I guess I made about 50 cents an hour. I could have made the same money collecting garbage, but I wanted to do music so I stuck with it.?

A Ticket to Nashville

Gary moved back to Texas in the mid-70?s and absorbed country music. In 1980, a song he?d written called ?Jukebox Argument? ended up in the movie ?Urban Cowboy? and that song became his ticket to come to Nashville.

He signed a publishing deal with Tree publishing (now Sony/Tree) and immediately began to get his feet wet to the Nashville writing scene. ?I was used to writing songs when the inspiration hit me,? he recalls. ?In Nashville you have sessions everyday.?

Gary spoke fondly of his early mentors at Tree. He recalls Harlan Howard telling the young writers, ?Well juveniles, if you want you a swimming pool then write one. If you want you a Cadillac then write one.? He said sitting with these writers ?spooked him into doing his best work.?

Gary's songwriting credits are impressive: from Garth Brooks and Alabama to Etta James and Robert Plant- check out his discography here.

"I try to stay open to the lines of inspiration that can turn into lyrical ideas," he said. "I've had to learn to balance the commercial aspects of songwriting with the art side of it in Nashville. I guess you could say that I've learned to compremise because I wanted songwriting to be a business. It's a business if you want it to be."

Still Going Strong

Gary performed "Fallin' and Flying" (a song he co-wrote with Texas troubadour Steven Bruton) that Jeff Bridges performed in the 2011movie "Crazy Heart." The song later became a kind of personal confession of Bruton, who passed away shortly after the film was released.

Gary has also worked as a producer with artists like Delbert McClinton, Pam Tillis, The Judds, Ringo Starr and many others.

?You have to have success in many areas to have a career,? he said. ?I never thought I?d be a record producer but I found that it came to me in the doing of it. My job as a producer is to know who the right musicians to call are.?

On a recent project with Pam Tillis, they both decided that they were going to 'do what they wanted to' because the chances were silm that they would get radio airplay.

"It's sad that the greatest country artists of our time aren't getting played on country radio," Gary said.

When I asked what had changed about Nashville over the years he replied, "I don't think there's a mentoring process in place like there used to be. Old dudes sitting around helping you along, looking at a pitch sheet and getting together to write in rooms on Music Row."

On the plus side, he said that Nashville had much better Mexican food now then when he first moved to town.

By the time Gary finished our master class I had filled up an entire notebook. And, I didn't even get time to tell you about Whitey Johnson...

Wisdom from the Masters: Beth Nielsen Chapman

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:08:00 GMT

Beth Nielsen Chapman and me

When Beth Nielsen Chapman talks about creativity and 'flow', you can't stop yourself from opening up and letting her wisdom pour in. Today I had the rare opportunity to attend what I consider a songwriting master class, where she shared her stories and songs...and I was inspired.

Here are a few of the highlights I captured, organized by topic:

Co-writing- "Don't just co-write, write by yourself too. Write your own songs."
The 'market' for songs/songwriters: "There are more things you can do musically than just get up and down the country and pop charts. Create your own frontier."
Creative stretching- "Keep it fun, step way out of your comfort zone." She mentioned doing a 2007 project called "Prism" that include rap songs and she is currently working on an educational project.
Compensation for songwriters: "I believe in the next 10 years the compensation issue will get sorted out in legal courts- and it has to."
Writing space and writing mindset: "Keep your writing space sacred. Visualize your fear as the Saran Wrap that you peal off your skin."
Career- "I've had a crazy varied career. It's been more 'normal' in the UK because I tour and get radio play there. I recently played a dream gig there with Kris Kristofferson to a sold-out show with 3,500 people- you could have heard a pin drop."
Writing styles- "I follow the song, I write the song for the song. I let it tell me what it wants to be."
Inner child- "Take care of your inner creative child- let it play."

Beth shared a story about writing with one of her heroes, Neil Diamond. She was so nervous when she got to the session, she could barely think- let alone write.

"I kept thinking he looks like his posters and they were all over my wall as a kid," she said. She tried to play cool for awhile then confessed how nervous she was. She expected him to think she was just 'another one of those people' who was intimidated by all of his hits, but instead he said, "Oh, good. I have the same problem because I am Neil Diamond and I think I'm supposed to write only hits. Now I can blame it on my co-writer." They ended up having a good laugh and then writing a great song.

She also told the story of writing "This Kiss" with Annie Roboff and Robin Lerner.

"Annie and Robin had already been working on the song, and Annie said she wanted me to come in on it with them. Annie started playing the chorus, and ended it with 'Critical Kiss.' I was listening to her and curling my eyelashes, and I shouted out that it should be "This Kiss."

Later on the beach, Beth said the second verse should start with "Cleopatra said to nah nah." The line later became "Cinderella said to Snow White"- and Beth pointed to it as proof that you should pay attention to the lines on the way to the right lines. The trio finished the song together and it became a #1 hit for Faith Hill.

Before Beth's husband Ernest died of cancer in 1994, he asked Rodney Crowell to promise him that he would give her about a month to grieve, then call and tell her he was coming over to co-write. Beth joked, "Ernest knew my ego would win out over my grief. He knew Rodney was another of my songwriting idols, and that I'd love to write with him." While dusting off her guitar prepping for the session, an unexpected tune tumbled out of her.

"I hadn't written in a month," Beth recalled. "I wrote it and thought that maybe Rodney and I could work on it and he could fix it." When she played "Sand and Water" for him, Rodney knew it was the kind of song that would travel from person to person and touch many, many hearts. "I trusted him because I knew he had written songs like that. It's still a song that I get 10 emails a day from people about- and I believe it's been my biggest hit."

I personally know that's the truth too...

When I was living in Atlanta in 2003 and still 'cutting my teeth' as a writer, my friend Angela played it for me. I cried the first time I heard it...and it gave me courage for my own journey. Have you heard "Sand and Water?"

To get a taste of Beth Nielsen Chapman's music, visit her website.

Some of My Favorite Tunes, Thanks to Rich Fagan

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:01:00 GMT

Rich Fagan and Me at the Commodore

From "Be My Baby Tonight" (a number one hit for John Michael Montgomery), "Overnight Male" (recorded by George Strait) and "Only On Days that End in Y" (number five hit for Clay Walker), Rich Fagan's songs are both interesting and intellegent as well as totally sing-a-long-able.

The first time I heard Rich was in-the-round with a friend and fellow co-writer, Kurt Fortmeyer, at the Bluebird a couple years ago. As he played I realized that many of my favorite songs growing up (like the ones above) were penned by Rich. It was eye-opening to say the least!

A stellar performer, Rich is part comedian, part commentator and one hundred percent colorful. He held out one of his notes for a full eight bars during this show- impressive- and then joked that he would have held it longer but he didn't want to "show off."

Watch this video to learn about Rich's approach to songwriting and "breaking the rules."

Rich Fagan at the Commodore in Nashville on March 10

Voice Matters - With Judy Rodman

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:22:00 GMT

Me and Judy Rodman

With 40 years of training and experience, Judy Rodman knows the voice like only an expert could. On March 6, she shared her wisdom with a group of Berklee alumni- covering everything from what it takes to make a living as a vocalist to how to 'inhale the words' and 'scream backwards.'

I soaked in a lot of things to help me personally sing better through the critique session, and captured a few notes as well:

If you're an artist, you need to find the best songs you can get- no matter who wrote them. You should be networking online and offline and have an understanding of marketing and promotion. It's also important to have a consistent 'look'. In addition, you shouldn't get a record deal until you don't need one. (There's more advice below- so check out her clip!)
As a session singer, you need 'surgical control' of your voice. This includes pitch control and the ability to sing harmonies on the spot. You need to be dependable, consistent, professional and easy to get in touch with.
For background singers, it's important to be able to 'trace' the lead singer and know how to blend. You also have to understand that if you're on the road, you're less likely to get session work- and weigh the risks of this.
If you're a musician or producer/engineer, it's a good idea to get vocal training so you can improve your chances of getting a touring gig and understand what singers are going through in the studio.

Judy also said that no amount of training is a substitute for sleep, hydration and protein from non-mucus forming foods. She said that vocal training can help heal damage, maximize your ability, protect your voice and strengthen your vocal chords so you can sing at full voice for longer durations.

For more information on Judy and a FREE guide to vocal health, visit Judy Rodman's website.

Watch a clip of Judy's workshop here:

Backstage Pass to The Grand Ole Opry...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:50:00 GMT

Anneke Scott, Dan Truman and Me

Thanks to friend Dan Truman of the country band Diamond Rio, I had the incredible opportunity to be backstage at the Grand Ole Opry- the home and heartbeat of country music.

Country music is a genre rich in tradition, and it felt like a big family reunion all night. The older artists reach out to the newcomers, and the young artists have the utmost respect for their musical elders. During the night I was able to hang around Vince Gill, Lee Brice and Tyler Farr- while soaking in the incredible musical talent, sights and sounds (SEE THE PHOTO COLLECTION HERE.)

Dan told us that each of the performers and artists are paid $140 per Opry appearance- union scale. Everyone gets paid the same amount, from Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks to Bill Anderson and The Gatlins. He also mentioned that his top four artists/writers/players were Steve Wariner, Keith Urban, Vince Gill and Brad Paisley- the rare guys that could truly 'do it all.'

In a quiet moment, I stopped in a small room with quotes on the wall:

"Talent is being able to please people."- Marty Robbins
"Be better to your neighbors and you'll have better neighbors." - Ernst Tubb
"The Opry is a way of life, it's an institution that gets passed on every weekend. If you're going to be a country performer, the Opry is the place to be." - Marty Stuart
"This is the pinnacle of what I do. Nothing has ever touched being a member of the Grand Ole Opry." - Garth Brooks
"The best of America is sitting in those Opry seats tonight." - Charlie Daniels
"Let 'er go, boys!" - George D. Hay

I pinched myself several times during the night to remind myself that it was real. :) Thanks to Dan for making it possible!

Video Collaboration: "I MIss Dating That Truck"

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:31:00 GMT

Recently I connected with a talented photographer in California named Thomas Black. He specializes in photography of what he calls the "abandoned art"of rural America. He has traveled all over the U.S. to capture unique images of old trucks, barns and other rustic images.

Tom and I decided to combine our arts into making a video for my song "I Miss Dating That Truck" (co-written with Scott Jarman) showcasing his exceptional photography. I love how the images support the story behind this tune, and it was a pleasure to work with Tom on the project.

Here's the video- how do you think it turned out?

A Benefit for the "Heart and Soul"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:17:00 GMT

It's a pleasure to be asked to perform at charity events in Nashville, and I'm excited to be participating in the 8th Annual Heart and Soul benefit this year! The event will be held on Saturday, February 18 and I'll be playing from 7:00- 9:00 p.m. with Bill DiLuigi and Andrew Kugler.

Heart disease is the number one killer in America, and it's personally hit members of my family in the last year. I hope you'll join me in buying tickets and supporting this important cause! Be sure to check out the Facebook event page for more information, too.

Master Session: Mike Chapman's on Bass!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:07:00 GMT

A-list session bassist Mike Chapman (above) shared some great wisdom about being a session player in Nashville in the form of a 'pizza' at The Fillin' Station in Kingston Springs, TN at Eric Normand's first Berklee Alumni Jam Session on February 7, 2012.

Mike said that he believes there are a few key slices that make someone a great session player...

Talent/Skill- You've got to have the musical talent and skill to be a session player. In Nashville, this includes knowing the 'Nashville Number System,' a numerical system used as a road map in the studio to tell players what the chords are regardless of the key. He said this is part of being what he called studio ready.

Attitude- Be personable, positive and upbeat at sessions. Don't be 'that guy' that brings a negative vibe; ultimately you're in a service industry as a music professional.

Work Ethic- Show up the session at least 30 minutes early, be responsible and be ready to start on time. Some publishers and songwriters will need to record up to five songs in a three hour session, so you have to be ready to play.

Flexibility- Sometimes you have to read the minds of people that may not be able to give you concrete feedback in musical terms. It's good to be familiar with current hits in other genres in case someone says, "Can you play it like that Keith Urban tune or like the riff in that Lady Gaga song?"

Tasty- Make sure what you play is creative but tasteful. You might be able to but your own little twist on a George Jones song, but it still needs to sound like George Jones. Be creative within the boundaries you have to work with.

Mike grew up playing clubs in northern Alabama, when he and his friend Milton Sledge (drummer) hatched a plan to get out of playing in clubs to doing studio work. They worked locally doing demos for songwriters for free or $15 a song to get started, and over time, the songwriters they worked for ended up with publishing deals in Nashville. Those same songwriters hired Mike and Milton to come to town to play on their demos, helping them to begin to build relationships leading to more session work.

"We played on songwriters' demos, then got to know their publishers and song pluggers. These folks would hire us for more sessions. And, as I tried to do my best with the slices I've shared tonight, work kept leading to more work," said Mike.

It was during one of these sessions that he met Garth Brooks, then an unknown demo singer making $40 a song. They forged a friendship through playing sessions together, and when Garth was signed, his producer asked him if he had specific musicians in mind for his record. Garth asked for Mike to play bass on all of his albums (Milton was also recruited to play on the records by Garth's producer Allen Reynolds).

A genuinely nice and down-to-earth guy, Mike Chapman is a versatile musician who doesn't believe that 'it's better if it's old or it's better if it's new'; as he put it 'it's all good.' And with Mike behind the bass, I can tell you that is indeed all good!

Now Playing: The LDS Film Festival

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Last week I attended the 11th Annual LDS Film Festival in Orem, Utah. The festival was founded by Austrian filmmaker Christian Vuissa (pictured with me above) to help independent filmmakers network and showcase their work. According to Christian, it was really surprising to see the growth in the festival in the first few years. But now, as the festival has grown to attendance of an average of 6,000 attendees and seven feature films annually, it's time to "plan the vision for the future."

A vibrant filmmaker, Christian is also preparing to produce his next project- the story behind how the hymn Silent Night was written. The film will be called "Silent Night" and will air later this year on local networks. (I really enjoyed his film called "The Letter Writer" shown at this year's festival as well, though it's not quite available for purchase yet).

While many of the films reflected Mormon history and culture, filmmakers Amy and Shawn Kenney are aiming to share Christian values with a broader market through film. "Stand Strong" is their first film- shot in an astounding 12 days- about a family learning spiritual priorities through financial hardships.
The film has already been recognized among leading Christian films; it was just accepted into the 2012 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. I even had a chance to catch up with actor Chris Steele (pictured with me below) who gives a compelling and honest performance as the film's leading man, Matt Webster.

It was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the role of music in film, directing and producing independent films and network with filmmakers. In short, I give the experience TWO THUMBS UP!

Lookout Country Radio, Here We Come!!!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:45:00 GMT

On January 26, "Great American Song" (DiLuigi, Ogden, Stewart) will be impacting at Country Radio! What this basically means in fancy music industry speak is that radio stations will begin adding the song to rotation and reporting spins each week.

Will you please help? Contact your closest country station on this list and request "Great American Song."

"It's about US, so raise your hands up!"

Acklen Park to Release "Great American Song" to Country Radio!

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:32:00 GMT

Christmas came early this year! Acklen Park just announced that a song I co-wrote with Marcum Stewart (of Acklen Park) and Bill DiLuigi is going to be released as a single to Country Radio early in 2012.

Check out the promotional video here:

Cappo's Christmas Party: A Benefit for Nashville Humane Society

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:35:00 GMT

L to R: Cappo, me and Dave Carew, music journalist

Garry Fedele (aka Cappo) has been hosting an annual benefit for the Nashville Humane Association for more than 20 years, and I had the pleasure of performing at this year's event (featuring Andrew Kugler on percussion) held at Douglas Corner on Dec. 3, 2011.

The room was packed and thanks to the generosity of Cappo, the patrons and performers an impressive list of goods were donated to the Humane Association- from pet food and treats to toys and collars.

As the proud owner of a rescue dog myself (see Jessi Lu here), it was a pleasure to perform and support this important cause. Christmas is about giving- and that includes remembering our furry friends!