More songs, stories and surprises
It was a real pleasure to see these great songwriters on the stage together: Aaron Barker, Billy Dean, Eddie Raven, Frank Myers and Jimmy Nichols. They shared many memories behind the hit songs they have written.
Aaron Barker: I was fortunate enough, when I moved to town, to get an internship at this new label called BNA Records. Aaron was an artist just signed to the label. I feel like I sorta grew up with him, as I continued to follow his career. I remember his mega hits for George Strait like ‘Baby Blue,’ ‘Easy Come Easy Go.’ I loved it when he performed ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ and ‘Love Without Ending Amen.’ NOTE:Barker also writes and performs commercials for Blue Bell Ice Cream. Aaron was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the fall of 2016.
Billy Dean: Every time he sings, he has the audience in the palm of his hand. Especially when he sings his song ‘Somewhere in My Broken Heart.’ Billy co-wrote the song with Richard Leigh. It had been previously recorded by Randy Travis on his 1989 album ‘No Holdin’ Back.’ Billy has recorded a total of eight studio albums (of which the first three – ‘Young Man,’ ‘Billy Dean’ and ‘Fire in the Dark’ – have been certified gold by the RIAA) and a greatest hits package which is also certified gold. His studio albums have accounted for more than 20 hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including 11 Top Ten hits. As a special treat he brought up ‘America’s Got Talent’ season eight contestant, Chloe Channell.
Eddy Raven: The Louisiana born Cajun-country star Eddy Raven brings the heat and six number ones to the stage. He has charted more than thirty-five singles in his career, including the Number One hits ‘I Got Mexico,’ ‘Shine, Shine, Shine,’ ‘I’m Gonna Get You,’ ‘Joe Knows How to Live,’ ‘In a Letter to You’ and ‘Bayou Boys,’with seventeen consecutive Top Tens between 1984 and 1990. His songs have been cut by Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Roy Orbison, George Jones, Toby Keith, Waylon Jennings, Lefty Frizzell, Carl Smith, Heather Myles, Brenda Lee, Don Gibson, Faron Young, Jack Greene, Gene Watson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lorrie Morgan, Roy Acuff, Jerry Reed, Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith and Charlie Louvin. He ended with the super song for the super group Oak Ridge Boys, super hit ‘Thank God For Kids’ that was a solo write for Eddy.
Frank Myers just kept playing hit after hit after hit. One of my favorites was the number one record for Lonestar, ‘I’m Already There,’ co-written with Richie McDonald and Gary Baker. Frank said, “I never thought I could top Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle’s mega hit duet ‘You and I’ but I did!” Frank also said, “This next song I pitched a hundred times. Finally, [songplugger] Matt Lindsay took it. All-4-One recorded it and it stayed eleven weeks at number one on Billboard’s Top 100 charts and four weeks at number one on the country charts.” It was also a number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for John Michael Montgomery who actually cut it first. The song? The ginormous hit, ‘I Swear.’
Jimmy Nichols was the surprise guest. He is one of the busiest and most respected keyboardists in town, and has appeared on albums with Buckcherry, Scotty McCreery, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Drake White, Reba, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tim McGraw and this is just starting the list!
One of the exciting things about attending any show at Tin Pan South: you never know who might show up as a surprise guest!