A vocalist and award-winning songwriter who just released a new single at the end of October. Based in Nashville, he is the owner of Gray Sound Recording Services, and is a producer, senior mixing engineer, and the creator of the Before You Record Course™. His work has been recorded in many countries and by the legendary Merle Haggard, plus Randy Houser, and many others. In his early career he toured coast to coast for several years and has shared the stage with the likes of Lady A, Lee Brice, Big & Rich, and more. Listen too as he talks about achieving RIAA gold record status.
"The song will happen when it wants to. You're kind of at its mercy. You can write it if it's not ready, but it's not going to be right... some songs, you just have to wait on 'em to show up and to do that, that means that you've got to show up every day. That's the important thing because if you don't show up, they won't."
"If you have something that hits you in a way that excites you and makes you want to go write it, there's really no excuse anymore... we have recorders in our pockets now... now there's no excuse to not start working on it."
"I always recommend finding someone that you can collaborate with because... there's something about having someone on the other end that holds you accountable."
"To get a gold record was, I can die happy after getting that."
"That's kind of what has paid the bills for the last eleven years or so, is, writing songs for other people. While I am an artist and I do record my own songs, I think there are a ton of artists that can sing those songs and do them much greater justice than I ever could. But I love writing songs for a living."
"I don't need to make millions and millions of dollars. I don't need to be the next George Strait or Kenny Chesney or whatever. I just want to be around for a really long time. I want to be able to do this for a really long time."
"He called and he said, 'I know that this music thing is what you want to do and, man, you're really wearing yourself thin, but,' he said, 'not everybody gets this,' he said, 'but I get it. And it's something that people that don't have aspirations of that nature to be that one in ten million or whatever,' he said, 'I get that.' And he said, 'I think you have to go do it'."
"If there's ever been a time to be an independent artist, this is it."
"If your goal is to not be an artist, but you want to write songs that artists can relate to and record and release, then a publishing deal is such a wonderful thing to get into."
"If you want a direct line to a publisher, find people that are already signed, people that you really enjoy their work and that you think that you could offer something to their work. Reach out to them, connect with them, collaborate with them, and then start building relationships around that. And, eventually, if things are going well, you're going to have a chance to sit down with their publisher."
"It's just magic. It's absolutely magic. I love it so much and I would do it every single day. I'd produce a new record every day if I could."
"Little Black Heart"
"The Truth"