Saturday late show wraps a great week at Tin Pan South 2018
Dillon Dixon, Doug Johnson and Danny Wells were joined by The Darlins and Nick Sturms on the final day of this year’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival.
Dillon Dixon – Dillon began his part of the writers’ round with a song he had with his band, High South, called ‘Bootwork.’ He followed that with his Josh Gracin radio hit ‘Invisible.’ Next up: ‘Follow the Smoke,’ a co-write with German songwriter Phil Sunday and U.S. writer Brandon Chase. Dillon has lived in Europe for the past few years to keep his music as his main income. He secured a publishing deal in Austria and has been touring all over Europe in various bands.
Dillon’s final song is one of my all-time favorite songs of his writing career. Dillon told the story of his friend Jimbeau Hinson coming in and helping him through an emotional “pre write” that had nothing to do with the session. After a Dillon got his composure, they finished the song ‘Wishing Others Well.’
Doug Johnson – Doug Johnson kicked off his first song with a tune that he and hit writer Pat Bunch (She is 79 years old) wrote. Doug says, “We wrote a honky tonk song,” and, sure enough, that’s the title: ‘Hony Tonk Song!’ Love the song that he co-wrote with Dave Gibson and Nick Sturms called ‘World Gone Mad.’ The next song, ‘Ain’t Nobody,’ is one that Doug wrote to his beautiful wife Lisa. It was amazing. I wish I could have sung this song to my honey! Doug played the song he co-wrote with Nick Sturms for Nick’s 10-day-old son, Rollin Sterling Sturms. Ready or not, ’Here You Come’ is an amazing song for a first-time dad ormom, even though it was sung through the father’s point of view of his first born.
For Doug’s final round, he dedicated his songs to his co-writer, the award winning songwriter Kim Williams. Doug added, “Who is with angels.” Then he started the mega hit for Randy Travis, ‘Three Wooden Crosses.’ Rumor has it that Chesney passed on this song. Goes to show, a GREAT song will find a GREAT home, and a GREAT artist!
Danny Wells – Danny started out with a song he co-wrote with Jeffrey Steele, ‘I Found You.’ LOVE IT !!!!!! Next pass, he sang the Rascal Flatts song he co-wrote with Gene Nelson, ‘This Everyday Love,’ a top ten hit for the group. “On this next song,” said Danny, “Tony Mullins and I wrote this song on actual paper! It made its way to Craig Morgan. It’s called ‘Little Bit of Life.’”
Danny wrapped his segment with his super mega smash for George Strait, ’Check Yes Or No,’ written with co-writer Dana Hunt Black. He told the story: “The [demo] cassette actually got stuck in the wrong box in the mail room. It was meant for another artist in that building. It ended up in George’s hands. Strait played it for his son, Bubba. Bubba said, ‘Dad, I didn’t want to like but I do!’” That’s the rest of story!
Nick Sturms – Also on stage was Nick Sturms, a talented songwriter and musician, who provided wonderful accompaniments.
The Darlins were up next. They jumped right in with ‘Pistol,’ a single from their ‘Crush’ album. Just wonderful harmonies that seem like they are coming down from heaven. The Darlins are a female duo composed of Erinn Bates from Nashville, (lead vocals/mandolin) and Jude Toy from Portland, Oregon (guitar/vocals). The Darlins’ won Duo of the Year at the 2017 Josie Music Awards.
One of my favorite songs they sang was ‘Knock and The Door Will Be Opened.’ The final song for the Darlins was their single, ‘Blackberry Whiskey,’ that they co-wrote with super instrumentalist Robin Ruddy and released it in 2017. Robin joined them on stage as the surprise guest! Muisic critic and author Robert K. Oermann has said of The Darlins: “This female duo has a sensuous sound on this slow burning track. A resonator guitar weaves through the arrangement as they languidly drawl their desire in harmony. Feverish.” He nailed it !!!
CORRECTION: In a previous post about a Tin Pan South show featuring Anthony Smith, Clint Daniels, Lance Miller and Jamie Paulin, due to an editing error, the final paragraph incorrectly read: ‘All in all, another memorable Tin Pan South night of great music and stories from three masters of the art of songwriting.’ Of course, it should read: ‘All in all, another memorable Tin Pan South night of great music and stories from four masters of the art of songwriting.’ Apologies to all four great writers!
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival is produced by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). The Festival’s Presenting Partner is Regions Bank.
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