Nashville. Scratching the surface.

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Billy Ray Cyrus went from support act to superstar. Harold Shedd was the guy who did it. 

How does one man discover the biggest Country stars in the world ?  Harold Shedd a mere 94 years young tells us the night he saw Billy Ray Cyrus live and how he went from support act to superstar.  The man with the golden touch. 

Sad times. Dolly Parton and Hayden Panettiere have both gone to a better place  since our last podcast. Both Nashville legends,  Andrew reminisces about the first time he met and worked with them both. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

The expression living legend is overused but Harold Shedd, age 94 is the real deal. 

A man walks into a bar, sees a guy, calls a record company and says. I have just seen the new Elvis Presley. 

That man was Harold Shedd, that guy was Billy Ray Cyrus and the dozens of household name artists Harold spotted and signed do not start or finish there. 

Shania Twain, Alabama, Reba MacIntyre, Toby Keith, KT Oslin and the list goes on and on ...Harold Shedd has the magic ears, eyes and touch. Finding, nurturing, recording and bringing so many world wide stars  to the world. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Final episode of this series is a beauty.

Jeff Silbar legendary songwriter gives in-depth story of writing one of the best known songs in the world and it is fascinating. He reveals how long the song took to gather the momentum to take off - how many people and who covered it first and then after quite some time the moment Bette Midler recorded it and the awards began to come in. 

Jeff still writing now, with Andrew and others gives great advice in staying power, the personal touch, the bug that is songwriting and some other great tales of how some of the biggest opportunities in the world landed thanks to his determination.

Beaches, the musical is launching now in New York  2026 on stage and Jeff will be there - this is a life long passion for songwriting and it is far from over. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

From the first song her wrote as a kid...to the song he wrote the day we recorded this podcast Jeff Silbar is the true definition of a 'living legend'. He has had hits for Kenny Rogers, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton and literally dozens of others. 

In the first half of this interview we hear how Jeff began in the business, the hard slog of being a songwriter, old Nashville, his first success a worldwide 7m seller for Kenny Rogers, how he came to write Wind Beneath My Wings and some of the laughs and tears along the way.  He gives great story and a nicer guy you couldn't meet.....enjoy. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Andrew and Alison talk about everything songwriting and performing. 

How does it feel to perform in front of 40k people? Andrew talks about his experience of live performance with some of the biggest artists in the world.

We play Alisons new single co-written with Andrew in LA released February 13th...Never Too Late...

What drives people to write songs?

Are you a songwriter or a performer - can you be both? 

Can AI ever really work for songwriters?

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Steven Lowy has represented rock n roll legends, artists, songwriters and producers for 40 yrs and he gives great story. Some of the names include Ronnie Wood, Third Eye Blind, John Cougar, The Beat, Jane’s Addiction, Mary Wilson: George Thorogood; Canned Heat, Pat Boone, The Grass Roots, Jacob Lutrell, Jennifer Hudson; Gospel (e.g. Mano Hanes) Jazz (e.g. Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Shadowfax); R&B: Louis Price, Mary Wilson; Hip Hop; American Songbook (Jules Styne); Folk; EDM, Swamp Pop, and Reggae, as well as many record and publishing companies who have put out and broken major artists (e.g. Shelter Records: Tom Petty, Dwight Twilly, Leon Russel, J.J Cale; RBC: Gucci Mane, Chief Keef; Dangerous Records: Bloods + Cripps; Criterion Music, Warner/Chappell and Wemar Music. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Andrew and Charles (Chip) have written dozens of songs together. Their friendship is long and close and so this is an exclusive conversation where you will learn a lot more about the star of Nashville, his background, where he started, how felt auditioning for the part of Deacon. We hear of his true loves; his family, pianos, Nashville, LA and Edinburgh and we play I Wont Cry For Christmas their beautiful Xmas song...and a lot more besides. Buckle up...it's a cracker!

Spoiler Alert.  If you are not up to speed with Nashville the series there are storylines discussions which may reveal plot lines you havent yet heard! 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Pay tribute to Brett James, a remarkable songwriter who tragically passed away last month. 

Nashville - a totally unique city - with unique lifestyle and stories. 

Writing a 'copyright' a song that keeps you fed and watered for the rest of time.

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

Chuck Cannon a natural raconteur tells us his thoughts on the art of the song.

He talks Shakespeare sonnets, hard and soft rhymes, lessons he learnt from some of the legends he has worked with.

The difference between a hit and a number 1.

Why writing a love song is NEVER out of fashion. 

The importance of being open to collaboration no matter who you are.

How to turn a good lyric into a great lyric.

How long does it take to write that worldwide hit?

How to capture that audience within a minute. 

If you are songwriter then every moment of this is a fascinating insight into this living legends career, thoughts and inspiration.

Enjoy.

Alison talks about Secret Coast Songwriters which was the spark that lit the fire for her. You can read about them here. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com

Text us here - we would love to hear from you

One of the most successful songwriters in the world. Chuck Cannon lives in Nashville and has written 1000s of songs, including massive hits and award winners like How Do You Like Me Now? and  ' I love the way you love me' a massive hit for John Michael Montgomery and worldwide smash for Boyzone.  his songs have ben covered by Tricia Yearwood,  Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and dozens more. In this episode Chuck tells us the moment he got the call asking if Boyzone could  record one of his songs,  he had no idea who they were and had to phone his friend Paul Carrack to talk it through. Very funny!

His honesty discussing his songwriting journey, his belief in luck and the streaming numbers is a real insight for any songwriter no matter what age or stage.

In Part 2 which is coming soon....Chuck picks up his guitar and tells us the 'magic tuning' the basis of so many HUGE song and talks about his background and thoughts on the 'rhyme'. Don't miss Part 2. 1st October 2025. 

Support the show

https://nashville.buzzsprout.com