Artists
Walt Aldridge
Walt Aldridge, a songwriter, singer, musician, engineer and producer has exercised his musical skills in Muscle Shoals and Nashville for more than thirty years. Billboard magazine named Aldridge one of the Top Ten Country Songwriters of the year twice based on the strength of his chart activity. His song “No Getting Over Me” was named one of ASCAP’s most performed country songs. “Holding Her and Loving You” was named Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters’ Association International.
His work spans a wide spectrum of music, including artists as diverse as Lou Reed, Peter Cetera and Blessid Union of Souls. Traditional country acts from Conway Twitty to Reba McEntire have also found success with Aldridge’s songs. Recently he produced and co-wrote “I Loved Her First,” a number one chart topper for Lofton Creek Records act Heartland.
Sonny Lemaire
I grew up around Louisville, Ky., where I joined my first band that would put me on a career path that I'm still following. Graduated and moved to Lexington, Ky. where I would eventually join my next band that really changed my life. That was 1977 and the band was "Exile." From '77 to '94 we recorded 4 pop albums, 6 country albums, had 10 number 1's, several greatest hits packages, worked with amazing artists from Aerosmith to George Jones and toured the world. I have lived in the Nashville area since '93 and continue to write songs and have been blessed to have had continued success. I work with some of the best writers on the planet and live in a part of Tennessee that's simply beautiful. I have a great family, great friends, who could ask for more.
Will Rambeaux
Will Rambeaux was born in Lafayette, Louisiana in the heart of cajun country. He grew up listening to the classic pop, rock and country music of his day, as well as a healthy dose of the Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans R&B native to Louisiana. With a degree in Literature under his belt, Will left home on a musical odyssey that took him first to Austin, Texas and then to New York City. On a chance visit to Tennessee in the 1980's Will managed to get a tape to his boyhood idol, Roy Orbison. Mr. Orbison took note of his talent and offered to bring Will to Nashville where his career as a writer and producer has blossomed. Will fronted his own original roots-rock band for years, but really hit paydirt with his first cut as a songwriter in 1993. Recorded by Warner Bros.artist Faith Hill, "Wild One" took the country charts by storm staying at 1 for four weeks and breaking all records for a new female artist. He then had a pair of back-to-back 1 songs for country crooner John Michael Montgomery, the first one, "How Was I To Know", followed by "Hold On To Me". He has also had several other Top 10 singles, including "Nobody Gonna' Rain On Our Parade" (Kathy Mattea) and "Can't Get Enough" (Patty Loveless) and his songs have been recorded by such diverse artists as Dolly Parton, Hal Ketchum, Jo Dee Messina, Trick Pony Tammy Cochran, Lee Greenwood, Danielle Peck and Ronnie Milsap. Will's songs have also garned many BMI "Most Performed Songs of the Year" awards, as well as several BMI "Million-Air" awards. More recently, Will has been dividing his time between songwriting and record producing. He has recorded four albums for singer/songwriter Sherrie' Austin, "Words", "Love In The Real World", "Following A Feeling" and "Streets Of Heaven" which have yielded many chart singles including "Lucky In Love", "Put Your Heart Into It" and "Never Been Kissed". He is also currently working on several new artist projects which should see the light of day in the coming months.
Jillia Jackson
“I didn't choose this dream this dream chose me...” This line, from ‘Watch Me”, Jillia Jackson's first song written in Nashville, couldn't ring more true. But Jillia's journey into country music began long before she wrote a song or stepped foot on any of Nashville's stages. It began in Arkansas where her passion for country music began at an early age.
Like so many country artists, she first learned about music in church. Her father in the pulpit, she grew up singing a cappella in the Primitive Baptist Church of Fort Smith Arkansas. With her dad also moon lighting as a DJ, she spent her early days singing jingles on the local radio station then later hosting her own radio show.
She later studied vocal technique at the University of AR by day while learning the ways of the honky tonk by night. She also won a handful of talent contests and opened shows for several major country touring acts.
On her first trip to Music City, Jillia loaded her mother, grand mother, and great grand mother into a car and set out for Nashville with nothing but a three song demo and a ton of passion. On her first day in town she met the unofficial mayor of Nashville, Chris Bergeness, and one of Nashville's great songwriters Will Rambeaux. “My grandma Sue had gotten lost somewhere on Music Row. Somehow she stumbled into Song Garden Publishing Co. where Bergeness worked. Long story short, on my first day in town my Grandma met and connected me with several of the folks that I still work with today.”
t took only that one visit to Nashville for Jillia to realize Tennessee was going to be her future. “I passed the Cracker Barrel sign on my way into town that read, ‘Welcome Home'. They say that home is where the heart is...and I knew right then that country music was going to be my home.” So she packed her bags and within months she was Nashville bound.
Now a full time Nashvillian, Jillia spends her days writing songs, recording, and performing live. Blending traditional country, bluegrass, and commercial songwriting with a modern eclectic edge, Jillia Jackson has quickly found her place in Nashville, TN. This stunning red headed country vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter consistently delivers the energy of a trained professional in her live show while managing to harness an organic creativity in the recording studio.
Drawing influences from Loretta Lynn, Alison Krauss, Don Williams, Alan Jackson, and Hank Sr. among others, Jillia's sound attempts to fuse old country with a contemporary and original tone. “I want to bring the simplicity and beauty of traditional country music into the hearts of modern country fans.” says Jillia. “I can't imagine doing anything else.”
Thom Shepherd
Thom Shepherd is a songwriter and performer from Nashville, Tennessee, whose songs have been recorded by Tracy Lawrence, George Jones, Trailer Choir, Montgomery Gentry, Pam Tillis, Buddy Jewell, Kevin Fowler, and Cledus T. Judd.
He is the writer of the number 1 hit single, "Redneck Yacht Club," from Craig Morgan’s GOLD certified album "My Kind of Livin'."
His first number one was "Riding with Private Malone," recorded by David Ball. It won an Achievement Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association, voted on by their members as "the song you wish you had written." Thom even got to be in the video, playing the title role. The song opened the door for Thom to perform for our troops overseas; he has been on seven tours for Armed Forces Entertainment, bringing his music to servicemen and women in thirteen different countries.
"As songwriters, we have no idea how our songs are going to affect people," says Thom; "I met a soldier in Qatar who was on leave from Baghdad, and he told me he joined the military because of Private Malone. He asked me how that made me feel and I said Responsible! Then when we went to get our picture taken, he showed me the shattered LCD screen of his digital camera - shattered because it was in his shirt pocket behind his flack jacket when he took a round from an AK47. That camera saved his life. That is powerful stuff."
Thom was born in St. Louis, Missouri and spent his high school and college years in Stephens City, Virginia. He is a graduate of George Mason University and moved to Nashville in 1993. He is a two time cancer survivor, and a full time songwriter and performer.
He is co-owner of a publishing venture called The Bourbon Street Music Company, and co-president of RedneckYachtClub.com, a website that sells merchandise relating to the song and the boating lifestyle.
Charlie and Dana Hunt Black
Dana: A North Carolina native, Dana moved to Nashville in 1993. She signed her first publishing deal with Double J Music in 1994 and had her first number one song in 1995 with George Strait’s “Check yes or no,” which went on to win song of the year. While at Double J, Dana also landed cuts on Clay Walker, Perfect Stranger and James Bonamy.
Upon signing with Neon Sky Music in 1996, Dana landed Gary Allen’s top five debut single, “It would be you” (co-written with Kent Robbins) and “You haven’t left me yet” on George Straight’s “One step at a time” album. In 1999 her song “Write this down” proved to be another big hit for George, staying at number one for four weeks and once again winning song of the year. Some of her other cuts include “I know what I want for Christmas” on George Straight’s last Christmas album, two cuts on his self-titled album called “Which side of the glass” and “Home improvement,” “Goodnight” recorded by Suzy Boggus, “Whole night tonight” cut by Clay Walker, “What do I do now” recorded by Tracy Byrd” and “The thrill is back” cut by Alan Jackson.
Charlie: Arriving in Nashville in 1970, Charlie has been named songwriter of the year three times and was elected to the NSAI Songwriter Hall of Fame in 1991.
Beginning with his first hit “I don’t know you (anymore),” recorded by Tommy Overstreet, Charlie has written 14 number one songs including “Shadows in the moon light” by Anne Murray, “Right on the money” by Alan Jackson, “You lie” by Reba McEntire, “100% chance of rain” by Gary Morris, and the Grammy nominated songs, “A little good news” by Anne Murray and “Come next Monday” by K.T. Oslin.
Over 200 of Charlie’s songs have been recorded by such legendary artists as Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Don Williams, Paul Anka, Crystal Gayle, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Lee, Faron Young, and Marty Robbins. His song “Goodbye says it all” was Blackhawk’s first big hit, and he helped launch Phil Vassar’s rising star with “Charlene” and “Six-pack summer.”
Charlie and Dana, along with their pal Tim Ryan, have recently written the title song for George Straight’s platinum album “Somewhere down in Texas.”
