This iconic venue is a showcase for songwriters and upcoming artists that gives you an up-close, hard-to-find personal experience. We get here more than an hour before the show and are 5th and 6th in line. As they seat the ticket holders, the door manager says they usually seat at least 6 walk-ups. We are the last 2 through the door.
Music City, Nashville, above all else, is a songwriters' town, and last night we got to listen to 3 of the best. Listening to their music and their journey to success was a transcendent experience.
Kent Blazy - had a long tribute to Kris Kristopherson. He said he was the most driven songwriter he ever met. Kristofferson, an Army officer whose father was an Air Force general, taught English at West Point, became a Rhodes Scholar, and was on the fast track for an illustrious Army career. He gave all up to be a songwriter in Nashville. His family disowned him, and he started in Nashville at Capitol Records, cleaning toilets and sweeping floors. The rest is history.
Merv Green sang a song he wrote for Willie Nelson: "If We Knew We Were Going to Live This Long.
Leslie Satcher sang a song she wrote the day before the show - I Love a Man with 18 Wheels.
You could write a separate book on each about their many hits.
Marv Green is known for co-writing Lonestar's 1999 single "Amazed", which reached number 1 on both the Hot Country Songs and Billboard Hot 100 charts. This song won him a Song of the Year award from Broadcast Music, Inc. He has had artists including George Strait, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Reba, Jewel, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Lonestar, Faith Hill, Brooks And Dunn, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Ann Womack, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Jessica Andrews, Kelly Pickler, Brad Paisley, Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington, Danny Gokey and Joe Diffie have record his songs.
Leslie Satcher is known as a country singer and songwriter; her talents cross all genres. She has written or co-written songs that have been recorded by everyone from Willie Nelson to Ariana Grande; Vince Gill to Sheila E.; George Strait to Sheryl Crow; Martina McBride to Keb'Mo; Blake Shelton to Bonnie Raitt and many, many more She has received multiple BMI "Million-Air" awards recognizing a song's one millionth airplay, and her incomparable vocals contribute to an astounding number of Grammy, CMA & ACM award-winning projects.
Kent Blazy met with a then-unknown Garth Brooks, who gave him the idea for a song entitled "If Tomorrow Never Comes." He and Brooks co-wrote the song, which went on to become Brooks' first number one hit. He has gone on to write seven #1 hits among many others with Brooks. Many of his songs continue to be recorded by artists such as Kenny Chesney, Diamond Rio, Terri Clark, Clay Walker, Patty Loveless, Julie Roberts, Andy Griggs, and Blaine Larsen"
