The Swallow At The Hollow

Wil Nance

 Wil hit the top of R&R & Billboard with his Brad Paisley  smash “She’s Everything”, which stayed at #1 for three  weeks. In addition; he also wrote the song “Hard To Say  Hello”, which was on Brad Paisley’s “Time Well Waisted”.  Wil received a BMI Award for “Round About Way”, a #1 Hit  Single for George Strait (co-writer Steve Dean) and in 2004  received a BMI Award for “Cool To Be A Fool” by Joe  Nichols. Other cuts include Tracy Lawrence “You’re Why God Made  Me” and “Just Like Her”. Joe Nichols’ “Honky Tonk Girl”,  Rhonda Vincent “To The Moon And Back”, two cuts on Lisa  Shaffer, “I Know I Love You” & “Sittin’ On Top Of The  World”.

Some of his other songwriting credits include “You Are” by  John Michael Montgomery, “Next To Nothin’” by Gene  Watson, “Same Boots” by Neal McCoy, “Everything’s A  Thing” by Joe Nichols, “Big Time Lonesome” by Diamond  Rio, “It’s Me” by Craig Morgan, “What You Do To Me” by  Craig Morgan and “Lonesome Lovelist” Jerry Kilgore.  And he’s a nice guy too! Some people are just cool and  Wil’s right on up there.

Steve Dean

When Steve comes to play the Swallow I introduce him as  “the Legend”. Looks like I’m gonna be proven right! Steve has had six number one songs, including the smash  song “Watching You” co-written with and recorded by Rodney Atkins. Steve’s songs have been recorded by artists including  Alabama, Joe Nichols, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell,  The Oakridge Boys, Waylon Jennings, George Strait cut Steve’s “Round About Way” and  on and on.

Steve has also been part of many performing groups over  the years, and toured Europe as part of the duo James  Dean.  He has recently started using his studio talent in  producing several new artists, continues to write songs and loves performing live.  Steve says, “Being a singer/songwriter is the best of both  worlds… I can take my music to the people in its purest  form”.

We like his attitude!!

Brice Long

Brice landed his first paid songwriting job at a publishing company, Starstruck, owned by Reba McEntire. In 2004, Brice was signed by Columbia Records, which teamed him with award winning producers Mark Wright (Gretchen Wilson/Brooks & Dunn) and Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson) for his debut project. Brice co-wrote eight of the eleven songs on the album. He’s had charted singles with “It’s Only Monday” and “Anywhere But Here”.  Brice is currently signed to EMI Music Publishing. He’s had cuts with John Michael Montgomery, Josh Turner, Gary Allan, Darryl Worley, Tracy Byrd, Chris Young, Steve Holy, Randy Travis and Porter Wagoner. Including the 1 single “Nothing on but the Radio” for Gary Allan. Currently he has a single climbing the country charts with Universal Records South newcomer Randy Houser on “Anything Goes.”

Monty Holmes

In 1983, Monty took the plunge and moved to Nashville, to a job as a respiratory therapist to pay the bills, but he also worked diligently as a staff writer and singer ondemo recordings. Through his demo work, Holmes quickly gained a reputation for his voice, but it was songwriting that he really loved. Throughout the years, Monty has worked with and learned from the best:Whitey Shafer, Hank Cochran, Glenn Martin, Don Sampson, Donnie Kees, Tony Mullins, Gerry House, Kent Blazy, Leslie Satcher, Scotty Emerick, Al Anderson, Norro Wilson,Wynn Varble, and Buddy Cannon just to name a few.
Holmes has penned several hit songs for George Strait, including the chart topper “I Know She Still Loves Me” and the top five “When Did You Stop Loving Me,” as well as “What I Do the Best” for John Michael Montgomery and “Never Again, Again”, Lee Ann Womack’s debut single.
He has cuts by ClayWalker, Neal McCoy, Laura Bryna, the legendary Johnny Bush and George Jones. Holmes is currently an ASCAP writer, but is a multiple BMI “million-air,” an honor for writers of songs with over 1million broadcast performances.
Monty is writing better now than ever before. He has the  the title cut “Troubadour” on George Strait’s CD of the same name. Not bad. Not bad at all!

Bill LaBounty wrote Brooks and Dunn’s smash “Rock My World” and he’ll do it this weekend!!

Bobby Tomberlin 

Grammy, CMA, and ACM nominee Bobby Tomberlin has had great success, including the Top 10 single by Darryl Worley, “A Good Day To Run” as well as singles by Chely Wright, Diamond Rio, Ty Herndon, Linda Davis, Russ Taff and Lee Greenwood. Bobbys songs have received 8 BMI awards and he co-wrote the number 1 country and Top 5 AC single and CMA, ACM, and Grammy nominated “One More Day” and also co-authored the inspirational book by the same name. “One More Day” has recieved over 3 million radio performances according to BMI.
Bobby’s songs have been included on numerous Gold and Platinum projects including the double platinum Faith Hill CD “Fireflies”, the gold CD “Everything is Fine” by Josh Turner and the platinum CD by Rodney Atkins “If You’re Going Through Hell”.
Other artists whom have cut his songs include Terri Clark, Kenny Rogers, Joe Nichols, Josh Turner, Faith Hill, Rodney Atkins, Joe Diffie, Eddy Arnold, Billy Dean, Little Jimmy Dickens, Deana Carter, the Oak Ridge Boys, Porter Wagoner, Chris Young and many others.
Bobby can be seen on CMT’s “The Singing Bee” with Steve Dorff.
 
Candi Carpenter

Singer/Songwriter Candi Carpenter knew at an early age that she wanted to be in the music business. As a child, she toured and performed with her family’s gospel band. She moved to Nashville at the early age of 14, and has accomplished many achievements in a short period of time. Candi spent four years touring with multiple CMA award winner and Grand Ole Opry star, Jack Greene while under L&L Management. She has also shared the stage with legends such as Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, and Vince Gill. Candi made a cameo appearance in the Alan Jackson music video for “Too Much of a Good Thing,” and Brooks And Dunn’s “Put A Girl In It”.
She has appeared on many television and radio programs. Candi sang the National Anthem at the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens game in front of 65,000 people, live on CBS. She has recently co-written songs with hit writers such as Sam Tate, Bill Labounty, Beckie Foster, Bobby Tomberlin, Mark Narmore, John McElroy and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. She has also been in the studio recording vocals on new songs written by Loretta Lynn and Brenda Lee. This past year, Candi has performed at the Bluebird Cafe, here at the Swallow at the Hollow, and many other songwriting venues. We’re glad to have her back!

Bill LaBounty

 An accomplished keyboardist and synthesist, LaBounty has worked in the studio with such artists as James Taylor, Jennifer Warnes, Patti LaBelle and Peter Cetera.
 In 1983, while working in Nashville, LaBounty met his wife, songwriter Beckie Foster, which led to a joint career in Nashville and L.A. and resulted in Steve Wariner’s #1 record “The Weekend” and Peter Cetera’s “No Explanation”, the end theme for the movie Pretty Woman.
His hits include Robbie Dupree’s “Hot Rod Hearts”, Michael Johnson’s “This Night Won’t Last Forever”, Steve Wariner’s #1 records “Lynda” and “I Got Dreams”, “Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart” (a Grammy-winning record by Alison Kraus and Shenandoah), Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton’s “Tell Me About It”, “Tequila Talkin’” by Lonestar, the #1 Shenandoah single “I Want To Be Loved Like That” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”.
To date, he has had over 100 songs recorded by other artists, resulting in 25 BMI Awards, including numerous”10 Million Performance” awards.

Amanda Hunt-Taylor

Amanda Hunt-Taylor has been a professional songwriter/session singer in Nashville for over two decades. Originally from Marietta, Georgia, this second generation songwriter grew up in the heart of the music business, on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. Here are only a few of the artists who have recorded Amanda’s songs through-out the years: Legendary Tanya Tucker, Ricochet, Greg Trooper, Rena Gaile *Canadian Artist*, Doug Supernaw, Michael English, as well as the pop icon Janis Ian. In 1994 Hunt-Taylor co-penned the number one HIT song Your Love Amazes Me—launching the career of Country Music Artist John Berry, which earned Hunt-Taylor a BMI award for One Million Airplays along with writer of the year and song of the year awards. After years of successfully writing songs for other artists, in 2000 Hunt-Taylor and husband, Rick Taylor (bassist/composer), successfully launched their own record label AmandaRick Records, and garnered chart success with Amanda’s debut CD, Only When I Breathe, via her version of Your Love Amazes Me. In 2003, Amanda and Rick successfully launched their own Music Publishing Company AmandaRick Music (BMI), writing for Film and TV, as well as for mainstream artists in many different genres. Currently, the Taylor’s reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

 Clint Park

Clint started out playing drums in a band he formed with his best friend that covered Metallica and other hard-rock acts. “We were terrible,” Clint jokes. “We were called Armageddon, and it sounded like the end of the world.” Clint picked up acoustic guitar and formed another duo with a friend in the area. Clint’s father, Johnny Park, occasionally sat in with them, but father and son soon decided their musical connection—grounded in a deep-rooted blend of country and Southern rock—were stronger than the one Clint had with his original musical partner.

“We’d always played together, you know, pickin’ out some songs at home but never in front of an audience like that,” Clint says. “I think we were both surprised by how the crowds reacted to what we were doing onstage.” Johnny and Clint slowly assembled a band, one musician at a time and one original song at a time … The Parks built a following in the Gallatin, Tennessee area. Currently, The Parks are signed to Lyric Street Records in Nashville, Tennessee.

James Dean Hicks

At the age of 10, James Dean Hicks began making the trip from his home on a farm near Bardstown, Kentucky, to the big-city streets of Nashville. There he appeared regularly on the “WSM Midnight Jamboree” with the Grand Ole Opry greats, including Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow. By the time he was 13, James had opened concerts for Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Tammy Wynette.From this almost legendary beginning, James has traveled on to success as one of America’s premier songwriter/artist!Two of James’ compositions — “It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)” and “This Crazy Love” — became #1 hits for the Oak Ridge Boys. Then came “Goodbye Time” for Conway Twitty, and “Jesus and Mama”, recorded by Confederate Railroad which became James’ third #1 hit, followed closely by Sammy Kershaw’s chart-topper “National Working Woman’s Holiday.” James’ song “Grandpa Told Me So” soared up the charts for Kenny Chesney, “The Hole” was a hit by Randy Travis and “God Gave Me You” was a hit for Bryan White. He also has written the title cut “Sweet Kisses” for new pop sensation, Jessica Simpson, as well as, “Life is a Party” by the teen heartthrob, Aaron Carter.

The list of artists who have recorded James Dean Hicks’ songs is long. It includes Crystal Gayle, Charlie Daniels, Linda Davis, and Conway Twitty. Some of country’s hottest young performers are also well-represented on that list — John Michael Montgomery, Neal McCoy, Collin Raye, Lorrie Morgan, Bryan White, Skip Ewing, and pop superstars, Aaron Neville and Tony Rich.

Marc Beeson

This Illinois native cut his teeth playing bars throughout the Southwest during his late teens and early twenties. After a stint in Los Angeles he moved to Nashville. Marc recorded two solo projects for Warner Bros. and BNA before fronting the band Burnin’ Daylight on Curb Records…

As a songwriter Marc has had recordings such as; “When She Cries” (Restless Heart); “Even Now” (Exile); “One Clear Voice” (Peter Cetera); “From The Inside Out” (Linda Davis); “Phones are Ringing All Over Town” (Martina McBride); “This Love” (LeAnn Rimes); “I Wouldn’t Know” (Reba McEntire/Shenandoah); and songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Chicago, Ty Herndon, Buddy Jewell, Lonestar, Diamond Rio, Ronnie Milsap, Shenandoah, Lila McCann, Kenny Rogers, Steve Wariner, and many others…

The song “When She Cries“, recorded by Restless Heart, won both ASCAP Country and Pop Song of the Year awards. Most recently, his songs have been recorded by Little Texas, Bucky Covington, JoDee Messina and Pat Green…

 

Jerry Salley

 Originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, Jerry Salley has been writing and singing in Nashville since 1982. To date, he has had 300 songs recorded in his career, including; “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain” – Reba McEntire, “Breaking New Ground” – Wild Rose, “I Fell in the Water” – John Anderson, “How Do You Sleep at Night” – Wade Hayes and ten top twenty gospel songs.
As an artist, Jerry has performed on numerous stage shows, including the honor of performing as a soloist many times on the world famous Grand Ole Opry. His television appearances include Late Night With David Letterman, Regis and Kathy Lee, NBC’s Today Show and several different TNN (The Nashville Network) shows.
In addition to his “SESAC Country Music Songwriter of the Year” award and Dove recognition from the Gospel Music Association, Jerry has received numerous awards from different associations for his songwriting accomplishments (NSAI, SESAC, Gospel Voice Magazine, etc.).

Larry Cordell

 At last count, Cordle’s songs had appeared on projects that had sold a combined total of more than 50 million records by artists such as Alison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson and others.

Though songwriting took Larry to Nashville, his desire to perform has never subsided. With his band, Lonesome Standard Time, Cordle has the perfect platform to share his music with fans everywhere. The band has been awarded Song of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association on two separate occasions, garnered GRAMMY nominations for Best Bluegrass Album, and landed #1 slots on the Bluegrass and Americana charts. Lonesome Standard Time is comprised of seasoned, esteemed musicians in their own right, providing Larry with an outlet to feature his trademark singing, original material, and engaging personality that immediately connects the fans to his music.

Richard Leigh

Richard is best known for penning “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (sung by Crystal Gayle). In 1978 he received a Grammy Award for “Best Country Song” for it. It was nominated in both pop and country categories and reached number one on both charts. His first number one song was “I’ll Get Over You” also sung by Crystal Gayle. Other prominent singers who have brought his songs number one status over the years include Billy Dean, Mickey Gilley, Reba McEntire, Steve Wariner, and Don Williams. Kathy Mattea had another number one hit with “Come From The Heart ” in 1990. In 1999 the Dixie Chicks recorded Leigh’s “Cold Day in July” for their album Fly, reaching Number 9 on the country music charts in 2000.
He has been nominated for songwriter of the year seven times and in 1994 he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Foundation Hall of Fame.

Arlos Smith

Arlos had his first #1 hit with John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Home To You’ and was named Songwriter of the Year back in 2000. Smith hit #1 again in 2004 with Rascal Flatt’s ‘Mayberry’, which gained him SESAC’s Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. He has also had cuts with Michael Peterson and Canadian country singer, Jessica Robinson.
“I have been lucky enough to make a living writing songs for folks like John Michael Montgomery, Rascal Flatts, Trent Tomlinson, James Otto, Michael Peterson, Steve Holy, David Kersh, Neal McCoy, etc. But, I believe the real reason I came to Nashville is to “think out loud” with the other “wonderful misfits” that gravitate here!!!
My favorite funny quote? “Never,never, EVER!…moon a werewolf!!!!!!!”

My favorite original quote? “Sometimes I look so hard at how far I have too go that I can’t see how far I’ve come!”
Amen, Arlos.

While friendship may be the glue that holds Due West together, it is their music that moves them forward.  All three gentlemen are accomplished songsmiths, full-time staff writers who have earned cuts by Lady Antebellum, Bucky Covington, and the Gaither Brothers.  With a wealth of songs to choose from their own catalogs, let alone the gems to be found from outside writers, Due West’s debut album is replete with songs written from the heart that connect with listeners in a truly meaningful way.  
With an independent spirit as great as the American frontier, Due West is staking their claim to Nashville fame.  Three brothers in spirit, if not by blood, Tim Gates, Brad Hull and Matt Lopez comprise the energetic young band based on tight three-part harmony, smart, sincere songwriting and perhaps most of all, the kind of friendship legends are made of. 
Real issues jump to life in the band’s lead single, “I Get That All The Time,” a celebration of the highs to be had from everyday family life.  “Whether we’re a parent, a child, or an adult looking back on our lives growing up, there’s just something to be said about walking in the front door of your home and feeling the weight of the day whisked away by the chaotic familiarity and peacefulness of family,” Matt says.   
Oh, yeah, they sound great!! This will be a legendary Swallow show!!

Linda Davis

Labeled a ’song stylist’, Davis’ unique ability to interpret a song soon made her one of the most sought after session singers in Nashville.  She caught the attention of label executives and landed her first record deal with CBS/Epic Records.  Davis quickly gained a legion of friends and fans in the music industry, one being superstar Reba McEntire. McEntire loved Davis’ music so much that she invited her to become a featured entertainer on tour with her. Their mutual respect led them into the studio together where they recorded a duet entitled “Does He Love You” that went on to become a #1 hit and earn both artists several awards including a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
On the heels of her success with Reba, Davis inked a new deal with Capitol Records and later with Arista Records.  There she continued her string of chart success and building her rapidly growing fan base on tour.  She was later recruited as one of the first artists signed to Dreamworks Records.  It was there that she appeared on the soundtrack for the motion picture Black Dog starring Patrick Swayze.  She also partnered with another superstar, Randy Travis, to record the song Make It Through, which was included in the gold-selling companion CD for the award winning movie Prince of Egypt.
Davis’ latest cd, I Have Arrived (including three songs she penned), received rave reviews and garnered country music critic Robert Oermann to say “Her performance is full of fire and passion.  This can stand toe to toe with any product out there.”  Davis’ latest single, of the same title, recently reached #5 on the Christian Country Charts. 

Bill Whyte

Bill Whyte’s unique presentation of funny and twisted songs makes him a favorite everywhere he entertains.
Whether he’s picking on pseudo celebrities in his song “Celebutard” or wondering how much he could get away with in “If I Had Boobs” he always leaves the crowd laughing.  Bill’s song “I’m Goin Ugly Early Tonight” which has been recorded by Cledus T. Judd is the perfect howling climax for his stand up-singing routine.
Bill’s other career is that of a morning radio guy.  He’s on the air currently at B105.1 in Cincinnati.  He’s been on the air in Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Nashville and has won numerous broadcast awards including the CMA Award for Best Large Market Personality.
Bill is also a serious songwriter and has written with hit writers and artists like Keith Anderson, Billy Dean, Linda Davis, Wil Nance and others.His current comedy cd is titled “Off The Wall” and was recorded “live” at the Bluebird Café in Nashville.  He’s worked with Jeff Dunham, Heywood Banks, and Larry The Cable Guy to name a few. His current projects include co-writing  a movie script about his first experience in small market radio.  And he’s co-writing four redneck themed CD’s for Wal-Mart.

Ray Herndon

Ray may be new to the world of country music as a solo artist, but this singer/songwriter is far from new within the industry.  As a former member of McBride & The Ride, Herndon already has eight country chart hits including four Top 10 songs.  He is the longtime guitarist for Lyle Lovett and the co-writer behind the Kenny Chesney hit “Me and You.”  It’s no wonder why he titled his debut solo album Livin’ The Dream.
Throughout the five years of the McBride & The Ride trio, Herndon honed in on his songwriting and realized how important it was. “I always grew up a player, singer and performer,” Herndon states.  “Of course I loved songs, but for some reason growing up I didn’t think about where they came from.  It became very apparent to me how important it was to have your own songs.”
Over the years, several artists have cut Herndon’s songs such as Kenny Chesney, Aaron Tippin, Lee Greenwood, Linda Davis, Sonya Isaacs, and McBride & The Ride.
Ray Herndon knows that he’s been livin’ the dream for a long time, and for a long time to come.  “I’ve gained a lot of experience over the years from not actually being in the hot seat myself as a front man,” says Herndon.  “I think going in knowing what to expect at this point in my life is better for me than when I was 19years old.  I’m just a believer that things happen when they’re supposed to and when you’re ready.  I feel that now it’s my turn.”

Jon Michaels

Jon’s songs, from the outrageously clever “Check Please”, to the unforgettable “Stones” (destine to be a classic) recorded by Tracy Lawrence and Ty Herndon, show a range of colors and emotions rarely found on Music Row or anywhere else. Speaking of anywhere else, a feisty Philadelphia TV show hostess named Christina Pirello heard Jon play his music one night at the Bluebird Café and invited him to perform on Christina Cooks, her natural foods cooking program on PBS. Christina, who overcame the crippling disease of Leukemia (in large part through a regimen of healthy eating), says: After lots of cooking, I wrap up the show with singer/songwriter Jon Michaels joining me right in my kitchen, playing his inspiring and heartfelt original songs, while I cook. Together, we create a celebration of life, love, health and of course, great food. It doesnt get sweeter, with no sugar added. The response was so overwhelming that Christina invited Jon to sing on every episode. The show is carried by over 150 PBS affiliates and has introduced Jon’s music and warm personality to a coast to coast audience. In early 2005, Whole Foods Market teamed up with Christina Cooks for a live cooking show called Christina Cooks Live at Whole Foods Market and asked Jon to be the Paul Shafer of the show. Michaels said, “So now Im on PBS and Comcast Network up and down the East Coast. All this for a song!”

Kent Blazey

In 1982 Gary Morris took Kent’s “Headed for a Heartache” to number 5 on the charts. In the years that followed other artists, such as The Forrester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo and Moe Bandy recorded Kent’s tunes.
In 1987, Kent was introduced to a new demo singer by Bob Doyle, then with ASCAP, soon to be the manager for this emerging talent, Garth Brooks. Garth became Kent’s most requested demo singer and Bob Doyle also advised, “Garth writes a little bit too.” The first song Garth and Kent penned together was “If Tomorrow Never Comes” which became the first number one song for both. The friendship and writing partnership continued as Garth included eight more of their songs on his albums. Four more captured the number one slot: “Somewhere Other Than the Night”, “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)”, “It’s Midnight Cinderella”, and “She’s Gonna Make It”. Garth’s CD, The Lost Sessions, includes another Kent and Garth song, “For a Minute There”, written for their fathers.
Kent’s songwriting continues with established writing partnerships, as well as developing partnerships with new writers and artists. Many of his crafted works continue to be recorded by artists such as Diamond Rio, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Clay Walker, Patty Loveless, Julie Roberts, Andy Griggs and Blaine Larsen.

Kent’s latest #1 hit is Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song), recorded by Chris Young.

Cory Batten

Cory moved to Nashville in 1998 with bunch of songs and a dream. That dream was specifically to write and network in nashville for ten years and then have two hits on the charts “You Can Let Go” Crystal Shawanda and “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” Blake Shelton. That dream amazingly came true when both happened in 2008.

Cory is in the beginning stages of recording his own album which will have five hits and five fillers and a picture on the cover that looks much more attractive than he really is. Cory was born premature and that was the last time he was early. His mother was a fitness instructor and dad was in the air-force so yes… he has saluted while wearing tights before. Cory lives by one quote..”if you quit you suck, ’cause there are others who never even get the chance”.

Mason Douglas

In 2007, Mason’s original song “Home Free”, gained national media attention and airplay throughout the USA on the syndicated “Big D & Bubba Show”, opening the airwaves for other Mason Douglas songs like “Beautiful You” and “The Blues Never Looked Good On You”. That year also found him sharing audienceswith other popular artists such as Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, Jewel, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson, bringing his extraordinary energy and voice to larger and larger crowds throughout the USA. When asked about his rising status, Douglas says “As long as they’re listening, I’ll be playing”.
The majority of the songs on his freshman album have been written and/or co-written by Douglas. With every song he writes, Mason draws from his own life adventures and experiences to tell the story. Mason’s eye for what works and ear for what sounds amazing are what sets him apart from the the others artists saturating the airwaves today.