How To Give Up Songwriting...Gracefully

One of the best things I ever did for my songwriting was to give it up. 

A little backstory: It was around 2005. My dear friend and Hall of Fame songwriter Kye Fleming and I had been working with songwriters through an online mentoring service we had created called SongJourney for a few years. Chris Ogelsby had helped us pitch our little business to American Idol. We were to be the folks who would work with contestants on their songwriting, including a new songwriting competition they were planning to add to the already huge show. Many meetings later Chris was able to get it in front of Simon Fuller for the final go ahead. Simon went ahead....and said 'no'. It was a crushing blow at the time.

I had ended my publishing deals with Universal - Steelworks music in the UK to focus on this new venture. Kye was less interested in writing as well, so we were faced with a huge "What now?" moment. 

Giving it up

Kye went on to some new ventures and I went into a funk. A very, very loooong funk.

One of those periods when writing didn't seem like a good idea. Everything had a 'been there, done that' feel, and the joy had gone out of it.

I promise I'm getting to the point here: I gave up. I felt like I didn't  have anything to say as a writer and nothing to add to the current music scene so I just stopped paying attention. You're a writer if you're reading this, so you know we tend to live in our heads much of the time. But this went on for quite a while.

Graceworks

One day my wife came to me with the suggestion I get out of my head and into my car and go volunteer. What a scary concept! Actually talk with strangers about things that have nothing to do with music but everything to do with life. I ended up at an amazing organization in Franklin, Tennessee called Graceworks. This led to a few years of working with people who came in the door in some pretty serious need. Everything from flood relief to just keeping the lights on one more month, and always: food. 

This was about as far away from American Idol as I was gonna get. Nobody I counseled cared about who I'd written songs for or hung with in the past. Real world, real concerns. Then a weird thing happened. I started writing. Just once in awhile, and slowly. Picking up a guitar when I felt moved. Sometimes by someone I had met on Wednesday morning at Graceworks, or maybe just feeling blessed to have something I loved. They were looking for hope and I guess I was, too.

Getting it back

Sure it's called the music business for a reason, but the business can make you crazy and can seem like the only thing that matters. Giving it up, giving it away, and letting it go for awhile until I learned what a blessing it is to be able to create...it made it that much better. It made it a deeper experience. I wrote songs for my daughters, my wife, someone I just met. I heard new stories, gained new perspectives, and just started writing from a new place. And..I got it back.

Flash forward to late 2013 and I'm happy to say  I've been coaching songwriters and artists successfully for almost 3 years and I love it! 

Mark Cawley of iDoCoach

-Mark

Nashville, Tennessee 

11/14/13

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

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Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick

up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Image: Google Images

About: 

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwiide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach.

Scared Straight Songwriting...Happy Halloween!

No better time than Halloween to write about the things that scare songwriters and artists the most. I have to back up a minute and say one of my favorite things about coaching is the one on one, digging deeper part. We always seem to get around to things that go bump in the night.

Ever wake up wondering if you’ll ever write another song? If you’re really any good? Will you ever get a cut? Will you ever get another cut (this usually comes the night after you get your first one), and do you have any business thinking you belong in this one?

Yeah? Me too.

Even when I’ve gotten past some of the things that used to put me in night-sweats, some new goblin comes along.

I’ve been doing it long enough to be able to look back and know most of the things that scared the crap outta me never came to pass. Maybe they even helped me push to get better. Kinda fun to be scared at least for a minute, gets your blood going. Sometimes for me it’s been going to see another writer and walking away sure that I’m trick-or-treating in the emperor's new clothes. “That guy's the real deal--and I’m naked!”  But that's another dream; it’s a lot less scary the next morning when you get on with writing something new. 

One of my favorite quotes ever came from John Hiatt. In an interview he was talking about the fear that in the past had haunted his songwriting. He finally told himself, “What's the worst that could happen…they put me in songwriter jail?"

Funny thing about songwriters and especially most artists I’ve worked with is that behind the “look at me” side can be some wicked fear. We can be crazy confident on the outside but really we want everyone to love our song, voice, or whatever our focus is. I know I’ve told myself many times that the song is its own reward--even if no one ever hears it, that's ok as long as it kills me and I can’t stop playing it. I lied. I want to write songs that move people…lots of people. Always have. Thats a thrill worth being scared for.

Mark

Nashville Tennessee

10/30/13

P.S. Just saw this blog by Seth Godin this morning, check it out!

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

http://idocoach.com/blog/  

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick

up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Image: Google Images

About: 

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwiide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach.

7 Songwriters You Need To Know

Lot's of rhyme here but not much reason to my list, just who I like today. Some are better known than others, some off the radar, terrific writers all. Just my 2 cents and a few links. Check these out and let me know some of your favorites.

1. Bill Withers "Ain’t No Sunshine", "Grandmas Hands", "Lean On Me" but still gets overlooked. He had a run of some amazing songs and so different. Never painting by the numbers stuff, just writing what he lived. Great documentary about him awhile back.
2. Matraca Berg   "Strawberry Wine", "Wrong Side Of Memphis", she’s never been a secret in Nashville. Check out her solo albums. One of those writers that didn’t become a country star but she helped make a few.
3. Max Martin  The man behind the pop curtain. He’s been making pop hits since the mid 90’s. Too many guilty pleasures to mention. Check out his discography
4.  Hoagy Carmichael Going waaaay back to the 30’s. Beautiful melodies, come on..”Stardust” and “Georgia On My MInd”? Gorgeous.
5. Dave Barnes Getting more and more well known especially since “God Gave Me You”. I have to confess I’m not always a fan of contemporary Christian music but he reminds me at times of some of my favorite pop melody writers like Glenn Tilbrook and Neil Finn.
6. Dawes ( Taylor Goldsmith). Really good songwriting in the mold of the Laurel Canyon era. Check out “A Little Bit Of Everything” sometime.
7.  Tristan Prettyman cool pop singer songwriter. Still play the “Hello” album for a smile. 

Mark

Nashville Tennessee

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

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About: 

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists in the US, UK, Australia and all around the world with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach.

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Image: Google Images

Songwriters On The Internet: More Relatin’, Less Hatin'

Songwriters and The Internet: More Relatin’, Less Hatin'

In a few years of blogging about songwriting and the business in general, I've really never felt compelled to have to take a stand. Until now.

That One Guy

The more social media songwriting groups I participate in, the more I'm seeing something I can't keep quiet about. Hating. Not hating on each other, not hating on me, but hating on the business. Not so much cautionary tale posts but more often a need to vent. Comes across to me like bitterness, and sour grapes.

Now, I have to say 99.9% of the people sharing on these sites are fantastic. I’m talking about that one guy. The one who feels he was “ahead of his time” or his songs are “better than any of the crap on the radio”.  Guys like this are easy to spot but harder to ignore. They have an agenda. I like Football coach Lou Holtz’s comment “The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it".

More Blows Than Bows

This is a hard business we've all chosen. It's based on phenomenally long odds. To think we can come up with something out of thin air and get someone to record and release it, people to love it and be financially rewarded...we have to be crazy confident and good! Beyond that: informed. 'Knowledge is power' is true with this path as much or more than any I can imagine. To take on this life you also need encouragement. You have to have people in your corner and wise consul wherever you can find it. You have to develop a thick skin to withstand way more blows than bows.

What you don't need is to hear from the haters of the world. The ones who didn't make it and want you to wallow in it with them. One side note. Before a career in songwriting I was in a band with one semi-hit record and some major label releases. Opening act status. It never failed that the bigger the main act ( Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Peter Frampton, The Allman Brosthers ) the more generous they were. The ones who were marginal at best always made it hell for us.

And In The End...

So here it is: if you haven't done it, please don't present yourself as an expert. Wrong direction is worse than none at all, and spreading bitterness is damaging beyond belief. If one person is discouraged by your comments from being creative and going after a dream, then shame on you. If you can't encourage I'm encouraging you to just be quiet. If you know the territory and can be a guide, then good on ya!

I can't tell you how many people I've met and worked with that have encouraged me and informed me. What to look for and what to look out for. They all had horror stories about the music business, but the point was always to inform me. They didn't want me to make the same mistakes so they pointed out the pitfalls while pushing me along.  Every one of them had knowledge and a passion. They passed both along...with love. 

P.S.

A few years back I wrote with Craig Wiseman, a guy whose last name fits him well. I read a quote from him last week which I can’t seem to find today, but the gist was that he comes across lots of writers on Music Row who grumble about the job. He can’t even begin to relate. Not because of his success, but more that creating is the greatest job in the world. He also mentioned that most of his favorite songs remain uncut. That's the Music Business, not the music. I can relate.

 Who has encouraged and informed you over the years?

Mark

Nashville, Tennessee

Heres one more related blog from my archives  

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

http://idocoach.com/blog/  

About: 

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists in the US, UK, Australia and all around the world with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach.

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick

up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Image: Google Images

How To Quit Being A Songwriter

How to quit being a songwriter?

Die.

If writing songs is what you live for, it's probably the only thing that will slow you down.

I'm always surprised by the songwriters I coach who start by asking if they should just quit. Reasons range from "I've never made a dime from my songs", to "it’s probably time to just grow up". I have a hard time with this.

Sure it's easy to say, "that guy’s a real songwriter because he's making his living getting songs cut."  That's only one measure of songwriting success! There's music and there's the music business. The business will measure your dream by chart position and royalty checks. Your heart will measure the music, your creativity, and well...heart! 

Ability is another yardstick. Most every writer I've ever known admits to having some serious doubts about this path at some time. One of the toughest ones is to compare yourself to, say, Lennon and McCartney. If that's the measure then we're all gonna feel like the kid who's too short to get on the Disney ride. The good news is that we can keep finding tools to help us improve.

Maybe we should just call ourselves songwriters when we take something that didn't  exist before and come out with a melody and a lyric, feel an amazing buzz from the experience, and feel the hope that comes with every new creation. Voila!

I think the old expression "if you can't not write, then you're a writer” stills holds pretty true.  If you write just to make a living or be a star you're worshipping the wrong American Idol and sooner or later you probably will quit. If you live to write, odds are you'll be a songwriter... until you die.

What keeps you going as a songwriter when you feel like packing it in?  

As a side note: While I was writing this someone emailed this story to me. You're never too old to write songs, amazing.

Mark

Nashville, Tennessee

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

http://idocoach.com/blog/  

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick

up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Image: Shutterstock

About: 

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B. His groundbreaking website Song Journey created with Hall of Fame writer Kye Fleming was the first to mentor writers from around the world one-on-one online. He is currently writing and publishing as well as helping writers and artists worldwide with a one-on-one co-active coaching service, iDoCoach.

Social Media For Songwriters Video: First Steps

This video blog deals with the value of creating a Facebook page. This is separate from a regular Facebook presence; this is all about connecting you and your music to tons of resources. It's free and it works. This is by no means news to songwriters and musicians but there is still a bit of resistance from some about it's value and thinking it's more dificult to get started than it really is.

 As with all social media you can expect to get out of it what you put in to it but with consistency and care you can open up a new world for your songwriting.

This topic never fails to start some heated discussion among writers and music folk, what’s your view?

Mark

Photo: Google Images

Hit songwriter Mark Cawley of iDoCoach.com discuses first steps in social media for songwriters

Hope you'll sign up to follow future blogs at 

http://idocoach.com/blog/ 

A couple links to the books mentioned in my video.

"Platform" by Michael Hyatt

"Tribes" by Seth Goden

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Co-writing a song: Video Blog

Mark Cawley of iDoCoach

In my series of video blogs for iDoCoach I'm talkin' co-writing. Easily one of the top 3 topics for songwriters I coach. I've written a blog on co-writing etiquette in the past but this time I decided to focus on the session itself and the spirit of just being open to the other writer to get the best outcome.

The "selfie" I can blame on too  much time in front of the computer...

Love to hear about some of your own co-writing experiences!

Mark

HIt Songwriter Mark Cawley of iDoCoach talks about the art of co-writing a song

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I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Spring. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Put Me In Coach ! IDoCoach Spring Offer !

Are you ready to play ?

Here's the perfect pitch . From now until April 17, 2016 sign up for the 4 session option at a savings of $100!
Email me at mailto:mark@idocoach.com to sign up . Space is limited . One offer per client and can be added to your existing schedule if you're currently signed up.

Want to explore deep into Nashville with Hall Of Fame songwriter Kye Fleming ? The offer is good for 4 sessions with her as well!
Batter up!

About Mark Cawley

Mark Cawley is a hit U.S. songwriter and musician who coaches other writers and artists to reach their creative and professional goals. During his decades in the music business he has procured a long list of cuts with legendary artists ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Kathy Mattea, Russ Taff, Paul Carrack, Will Downing, Tom Scott, Billie Piper, Pop Idol winners and The Spice Girls. To date his songs have been on more than 16 million records. Mark’s resume includes hits on the Pop, Country, R&B, Jazz, and Rock charts and several publishing deals with the likes of Virgin, Windswept Pacific, and Steelworks/Universal. Mark calls on his decades of experience in the publishing world, as an artist on major labels, co-writer with everyone from Eliot Kennedy and Burt Bacharach to Simon Climie and Kye Fleming, composing, and recording to mentor clients around the globe with iDoCoach. He is also a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, a contributing author to  USA Songwriting, Songwriter Magazine,  , sponsor for the ASA, judge for Belmont University's Commercial Music program and West Coast Songwriter events , a popular blogger and, from time to time, conducts his own workshops.Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Mark has also lived in Boston, L.A., Indianapolis, London, and the last 20 years in Nashville, TN. 

5 Tips To Help Your Melody Stick

You already know that Country is usually more lyric-driven than Pop; and for the most part, gives a writer more opportunity to tell a story. But the listener has to be able to go away with the song in their head and that means your melody. It has to stick! The phrase “you can’t whistle a lyric” comes to mind. It's true in every style of music.

So...how can you come away with something fresh, interesting, and impossible to get out of someone's head? There are lots of points to focus on, but I’ll pick my top five. Maybe being able to have fun in the process like the young writer in the picture shoulda been number 1.

1) Rhythm

Nothing gets more boring than hearing the same melodic rhythm throughout the whole song. There are lots of things to try, from doubling up the amount of notes in the chorus to trying the opposite. Short notes in the verse, long notes in the chorus, half time in the bridge, stops, builds, anything to “mix it up”. 

2) Length Of Phrase

Similar to the rhythm fixes in that you want to mix it up. If every  melodic section has the same amount of lines and words per line, it’s gonna get old quick.  Try tapping out the words and make sure your sections are not all the same. 

3) Range

Another place your melody can bog down is the range, or lack of. One of the reasons we respond to some songs and singers is the emotion they put into the melody. If your melody is rooted in one area throughout, it’s hard to get it to take off. There are a million hits that feature the same chord changes from verse to chorus with the chorus being an octave up. Drama!

4) Your Comfort Zone

Learn to leave it.  For me it’s always been about trying different instruments, tunings, and most importantly listening to some music thats different than what I’m working on. If you write rock, listen to classical, jazz, country, opera...you’ll be surprised by how much will creep into your melodies. I’m not talking about sitting down and dissecting every style of music, just letting it seep in. I think you are your influences. The wider your influences, the more chance of blending all of yours into something unique.

5) Subconscious

Don’t sit down and say this melody fits here because of the chord change or this is just how I do it. Take some time to let that subconscious in. That’s where it can go from being “nice” to magical. It's also one of the ways your voice as a writer comes in. Simple idea is to record your melody at any stage and just let it loop. At home, in the car, running errands. Just give it time to be the best it can be.

Where do you find your melodies and what are you listening to now? 

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Follow iDoCoach on Facebook and be sure hit the "Like" button for me. Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/markcawleycoaching 

Top and bottom Images: Google Images

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Mark Cawley's songs have appeared on more than 15 million records. Over a career based in LA, London, and Nashville his songs have been recorded by an incredibly diverse range of artists. From Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Wynonna, Diana Ross and Chaka Kahn to The Spice Girls, Tom Scott, Kathy Mattea, Paul Carrack, Will Downing and Pop Idol winners in the UK. He has had #1 records in the UK and throughout Europe as well as cuts in Country, Jazz & R & B.

Throwback Thursday: Wy...The Voice Of An Angel

Mark Cawley and Wynonna Judd

Going back a bit for my second Throwback Thursday Blog: 1992. My introduction to Wynonna Judd was a phone call from the legendary Tony Brown. I of course knew who she was from the Judd's enormous success and had even gone to their farewell concert some time before. This was one of those dream calls for a songwriter. She had heard some of my songs and while in a meeting with Tony they tracked me down at home. Tony put Wynonna on the phone and she asked if I could send anything and everything I had ASAP. This was the start of a long and winding road; and like most things in music, didn’t go as smoothly as I planned.

She didn’t use anything of mine for her first solo record, Wynonna, but I did come down and meet her in Nashville thanks to my buddy John Cooper (who was mixing her concerts at the time). Her voice blew me away and still does.

Flash forward to 1995-96. She had cut a song I had written with Kye Fleming and Mary Ann Kennedy called “Can’t Stop My Heart” for her 3rd album, Revelations. We were all huge fans and the song was perfect for her. And this is where most songwriters have one of those “war stories”. They were having trouble getting the feel of the original demo and called with a couple of questions (it was a drum loop). I figured it’s Nashville...they’ll nail it eventually. “Can’t Stop My Heart” just about did. They dropped it!

I was stunned. I had just moved to Nashville with my wife and two young daughters and was really counting on this cut to kick things into a new gear. Crushed wasn’t even close. I thought the stars had aligned with this one. I had written it with two of my best friends, an artist I loved was recording it. This seemed like a perfect single on an album everyone wanted on. As I said, every songwriter has the ones that got away and I’d had my share (including a song I wrote for one of my heroes, Roy Orbison, who cut it for his Mystery Girl album but passed away before doing a vocal). Still, this one was different somehow.

Here’s where it got pretty interesting. A few weeks passed and I get a call from John Cooper, still working for Wynonna and now my neighbor In Kingston Springs, Tennessee. “Too bad about ‘Can’t Stop My Heart’”, he said, “but the other one is still on the record.” The other one?!

Turns out she had cut a song I’d written with LuLu and her brother Billy Lawrie in England. It wasn’t remotely Country, I didn’t even know she’d heard it, and no one told us they were even thinking about cutting it. “My Angel Is Here” made it on to Revelations. The album entered the charts in ’96 at #2 and stayed there a long time (stuck behind Shania Twain) on the Pop and Country charts. It went platinum—the song even came out as the third single (but didn’t fare too well). I didn’t really mind, because I felt like I'd been thrown a lifeline. One of the highlights was going to the taping for the TV special and having her stop the taping to say hi to my wife, daughters, and myself. Check out the video from the special below.

Million sales award for Revelations

I’ve met her a few times since, including having her come to the house and co-write years ago. I’ve even had a few more misses with songs being recorded but not making the album at the 11th hour. Doesn’t matter; this is still one of my favorite “war stories”, complete with a happy ending. I’ll always be grateful to her for recording that song.

One last side note. I mentioned “My Angel Is Here” didn’t do that well as a single…but the amazing thing to me was the B-side, “Change The World”. Eric Clapton later also cut it and it won a Grammy for song of the year—the girl can pick ‘em!

Mark

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship

Wynonna performs Mark Cawleys song "My Angel Is Here" from her TV special

Guest Blog: Songwriter Sam Mizell And The Band Perry

This new guest blog is from my friend Sam Mizell. A little bit of background first: Sam has earned two Dove awards, seven number one singles, and numerous ASCAP and BMI awards. His radio single, The Motions was 14 weeks at #1 AC radio for Matthew West (who co-wrote the song) and received a Grammy Award nomination. Fantastic singer, keyboard player, husband, father, and a seriously talented writer. I love what he's doing now with The Mizells Band. I was always thankful for the Montecristos on his return trip from England! Check out the video for Dandelion.

From Sam: 

Sam  Mizell

The right thing to do...

I've been a songwriter all my life...and professionally for about 15 years. When I first started someone gave me this advice: ALWAYS bring your A game. That's my secret besides being  irresistibly handsome:-) ( sarcasm) I showed up and gave my A- game no matter who else was in the room.

You see, I remember about 10 years ago there was this girl named Kim. She was trying to get a Christian deal at Word Records. I was in the cattle call of writers to write a "hit" song for this new artist. I gave my absolute best to an unknown, indie, later rejected, unsigned artist. 

Forward 10 years. I get this phone call that Kim was gonna cut that song on her sophomore record with The Band Perry.Yep. Kimberly Perry of the Band Perry. Did I have to pinch myself? Yes. Did I dance and scream? Yes! Did I praise God? Yes! In 2004 I gave my best.

In 2013 a little unknown (later to be world famous) group cut that song! You can buy it on the Pioneer Target Edition (hint, hint).

Never, and I mean NEVER let anything (politics, money, ego, whatever) keep you from showing up and giving 100%. That little unknown artist may just be the next Kimberly Perry!

Currently I'm touring with my wife playing all over the place. Check out our website, themizellsband.com. 

Sam Mizell

Thompson Station

Tennessee

Dedicating all my blogs this year to the memory of John Braheny. I still ask every songwriter or artist I coach to pick up his book before we start talking. 

There is also a college scholarship in John's name, through the California Copyright Conference (John was a past president)...here's the link:

http://www.theccc.org/scholarship