Hit songwriters share their stories
The only problem with Tin Pan South: having to decide WHERE you are going to go! There are 100 venues, all with a full schedule of amazing songwriters, performing their songs to packed audiences of appreciative listeners.
Here’s a taste. Tuesday evening, April 3 at 3rd and Lindsley…
Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano
Super songwriter extraordinaire Ashley Gorley kicked it off with his first Number One for Jon Pardi, ‘Dirt On My Boots.’ As of this week, Ashley (ASCAP’s Songwriter of The Year, for five consecutive years) has the current number one record on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for Thomas Rhett with ‘Marry Me.’ This makes Ashley’s 37th or 38th Number one record. I have lost count! This Kentucky boy sure makes us proud J.
Then next up was Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist and dad, Chris DeStefano. Chris started out with his celebrated number one as a co-writer with Dan + Shay’s ‘From The Ground Up.’ Chris also co-wrote the Carrie Underwood, 7-week, #1 song ‘Something in the Water,’ the third-longest running female #1 Hot Country song in chart history.
Brett Young surprise guest
The show’s surprise artist was BMLG’s ‘Golden Boy’ Brett Young. Every single Brett has released (all three) have gone to number one status. He told the story of his first number party experience. It was about award-winning songwriter Jon Nite’s second number one party. He talked about how Jon told about his journey and Jon and his wife’s move here for him to be a songwriter when they were both just 18 years old and had a 18 month old child. They had all they owned in a Uhaul trailer. So Brett dedicated his next single song to Jon Nite, ‘Beautiful Believer.’
As another artist surprise, Chris brought up newcomer Warner Brothers/Nashville artist Morgan Evans. Morgan is from Australia and is Kelsea Ballerini’s better half. He surprised the crowd with a “Story Behind the Song and the Song” for his recent chart-climbing single ‘Kiss Somebody’ that he co-wrote with Chris and Josh Osborne.
As things ended, the best quote of truth, that made me smile was Brett’s. “God‘s plan was a little different from mine, but he got me up here.” — Brett Young talking about his journey as songwriter that turned into an artist.
… and then on to the next venue!
For more about Tin Pan South, click here. And for info about Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) click here.