MY NASHVILLE SONG...
There is no doubt whatsoever that Nashville TN is the heart and home of country music...
From the bright lights and busy streets of Broadway, to the Ryman Auditorium - home of the Grand Ole Opry...
Landmarks like the Country Music Hall of Fame, where Hank Williams keeps his Martin acoustic and his Nudie suit;
RCA Victor where Dolly & Elvis recorded; Tootsie's Orchard Lounge, where Kenny and Willie sipped their after show beers...
Robert's Western World - one of the last true Honky Tonks, where $5 will buy you a grilled cheese, a PBR and a Moon Pie...
A place where a broken heart is all but guaranteed - and the song you write about it just may be your ticket to the big time!!
Growing up in the North West of England, Nashville represented to me what I imagine Hollywood represents to aspiring actors.
A mythical land, that seemed both untouchable and utterly irresistible.
So to finally catch that flight to BNA and realise my dream was, and always will be, one of the single most significant steps in my personal and professional life.
The album "Leave Tomorrow" - is in some ways a concept album about me making that trip. It is a documentary about what it was like to face the unknown and measure my ability as a writer and artist against the weight of my own expectations, those of the team that have shown belief in me, and the childhood dream of travelling to The City of Music, drenched in neon and whisky.
My cynical side reminded me on the flight out, that I should expect to be disappointed...
In actual fact what I discovered was a community of like minded people, collaboration, excitement for my project,
respect for my songs, kindness and a warm welcome to every home I entered... friends for life.
My Nashville Family.
I didn't visit Nashville for a holiday, nor did I write and record my album there for window dressing!!
I went to Nashville in the hope that I would capture the heart and soul of country music in my songs, so that my roots remained authentic - never losing sight of where I come from, but knowing that the space between the words that tell my story,
was warm Tennessee air, sweet ice tea, cold beers, crackling valve amps, crickets and the Highway.
Here is a list of my musical collaborators and the amazing artists I share them with - I am truly honoured to be in such prestigious company, and I also hope this shows a little insight into the creative and highly talented world I am immersed in on my trips to Nashville as well as LA and London, and why I spend such long hours in my home studio in Cheshire producing my songs !! …
Steve Dorff - Piano/Writer/Producer
George Strait, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Dusty Springfield, Glen Campbell, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard,
Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw.
Steve has been nominated for 5 Grammy awards and 3 Emmy's, and is inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame.
Fred Eltringham - Drummer
Chris Stapleton, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Lainey Wilson, Sarah Jarosz, Lucinda Williams, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker,
Amanda Shires, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney.
Fred was The ACM Drummer of the Year in 2018 and has been nominated each year since.
Robbie McIntosh - Guitar/Dobro
John Mayer, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Thea Gilmore, Paul Carrack, Norah Jones, Tori Amos,
Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Mark Knopfler.
Robbie played lead guitar for John Mayer's Grammy nominated "Battle Studies" album,
and the platinum selling live album "Where The Light Is".
Jeff Trott - Guitar/Writer/Producer
Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Joe Cocker, Hootie & The Blowfish, Stevie Knicks, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris.
Jeff has been nominated for a Grammy and was BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2008.
Jeff wrote the hits "Every Day Is A Winding Road" and "If It Makes You Happy" for Sheryl Crow.
Marie McGlone - Fiddle
Travis Tritt, Richie Sambora, Darius Rucker.
Marie is one of the house musicians at Tootsie's Orchard Lounge on Broadway; Nashville.
Marla Cannon-Goodman - Writer/Vocalist
Buddy Cannon, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson.
Marla wrote the No.1 Country Billboard hit "The Fool" for Lee Ann Womack.
Mando Saenz - Writer/Vocalist
Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, Stoney LaRue, Aubrie Sellers, Midland.
Adam Wright - Guitar/Writer
Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Brent Cobb, Randy Newman, Lonesome River Band, Martina McBride.
Adam has had numerous Grammy nominations and produced Alan Jackson's "The Bluegrass Album".
Anna Lise Liddell - Recording Engineer
Lee Ann Womack, Aubrie Sellers, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies.
Anna Lise is the daughter of Frank Liddell & Lee Ann Womack.
Warren David - Mix Engineer
Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, Jelly Roll, Lady A, Miranda Lambert.
Pavel Dovgalyuk - Writer/Producer/Mix Engineer
Chris Janson, Justin Moore, Austin Michael.
Christopher Stevens - Writer/Producer
Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood.
Christopher has 5 Grammy Awards and was named BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year three times.
Diana Walsh - Recording Engineer
Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Brother & The Hayes, Matchbox Twenty.
Diana is the studio manager at RCA Victor Studio B.
Owen Lewis - Recording Engineer
The Cast of “Nashville”, Sadler Vaden, Willie Nelson, Snow Patrol, Morgan Wade.
Pete Maher - Mastering Engineer
U2, Damien Rice, Lana Del Ray, The Fray, The 1975, The Rolling Stones.
Other collaborators include;
Calum MacColl, Matt Cartsonis, Justin King, Kathleen Ord, Ruby Titus-Cobb, Daisy Chute, Tom Webber, David Troke, Oli Harding,
Paul Adams, Lis Birks, Stephen Tams, Helienne Lindvall, Bryan Corbett, Nia Fisher, Simon Eugene.
