Travis Widner says he had no idea he would be writing songs and singing in venues when he went to Auburn University as a freshman. Widner had never written music until he met Chris Williams and they formed the band “John and the Conners”. He has deep hometown ‘roots’ having been raised in Union Gap, AL with a higher than normal musical family. It has focused him and given him a unique perspective into songwriting themes and methods. Widner spends about 10-12 hours a week playing music unless he is especially “inspired” then he may even hit an Open Mic or schedule a venue with other writers.
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| Drew Richter |
Drew Richter was
raised in Alabama but, has also lived in Tampa, Miami, Amsterdam and London. He
currently spends much of his time between Florida, Alabama and Nashville TN. He is best known as a singer-songwriter. Formative
musical influences began in the early 1980's with the Gothic bands of Europe
such as Bauhaus, Joy Division and The Cure. He lived and worked from the United States to Europe performing and co-writing with well-know artists. In March 2015 Drew finished an 11 song recording
project at The Treehouse Music Group in Nashville with Grammy nominated
multi-instrumentalist Chris Faulk, and multi-Grammy winning Songwriter Jodi
Marr. Drew Richter’s
first full length solo CD titled “Snake Smile” is due for release 2015.
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| September Reed |
September Reed has serenaded many of Birmingham South Side's creatures of the night with her unique musical style and her sweet, raspy voice. She plays solo and with groups with her range of style running from sweet and sympathetic acoustic to bold and unapologetic A cappella. She has never been attracted to the fame, center of attention aspect of the music industry. Her love for music and songwriting has always been her main deal. September's lyrics are powerful and heart-wrenching ringing true with every note she sings.
Shoals Songwriters
Click Here to help the Shoals Songwriters meet their goal. Your donations are appreciated.
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| Will Stults |
Performing Songwriter Will Stults
has been featured at The Bluebird Cafe, The Songwriters Showcase, and many
other venues across The Southeast. His music has been called genuine,
insightful, heartfelt, and hilarious. His Wife is tired of listening, his
Mother says his best work is behind him and he has been turned down by some
very famous people so he is happy to once again be a part of the St. Judes
Benefit.
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| Lori Lovelace |
Lori
Lovelace is a songwriter from Florence, Alabama. Lori has been writing
and performing in songwriter rounds and shows in North Alabama and Tennessee
for the past ten years. She recorded her first solo songwriting project
in 2011. Lori has a Contemporary Christian project written and recorded with
her co-writer and church band mate. CD is set to be released in mid September.
In the past two years, she has co-written several songs being performed by
independent artists. Her focus is on writing songs to be recorded and produced
for pitching to major label artists in Nashville's commercial market.
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| John Crosslin |
John Crosslin, a writer from
Florence, Alabama has shared his songs throughout Alabama, and
Tennessee, playing coffee houses, bars, theaters, and a multitude of small
venues. Some of his songs have been recorded by local artists, and played on
local radio stations. His stories and songs are inspired by the struggles and
small victories of the everyday common man.
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| Charlton James |
Charlton James was raised in Spruce
Pine, Alabama. He now lives in Sheffield, Alabama where he serves as an
Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of North Alabama. In 2012, he
was the recipient of the Academic Affairs Outstanding Teaching Award at UNA. He
holds a BFA in acting from the University of Utah and a MFA in theatre
performance from the University of Alabama. As an actor his work has been
showcased at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., The Alabama
Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Stage, Capital Repertory in Albany, New York,
and the Salt Lake Shakespeare Company. His acting and teaching career have been
accompanied by a love for music and songwriting and he is looking forward to
sharing his unique style of songwriting at the 19th Annual
Songwriters for St. Jude event.
Click HERE to help the Nashville Power Chords reach their goal. Your donations are appreciated.
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| Jim Parker |
Within
a year after getting his first guitar donated by his sister’s boyfriend, Jimmy
Gilmer of Sugar Shack fame, Jim was
playing in a band and later became a founding member of The Illusions that landed a record deal with Dot Records. In 1966
he and his buddies decided to leave their hometown of Amarillo, Texas, and head
to Los Angeles. During that time, The
Illusions became “The Kitchen Cinq”
recording with Lee Hazelwood’s LHI label for three years. Fifty years later, on
August 28, 2015, Ace
Records of the UK and its affiliate US label Light in the Attic Records released
“The Kitchen Cinq, When The
Rainbow Disappears”, as an anthology box set complete with a booklet of
photos and history of the band.His move to Nashville in 1975 began another phase
of Jim’s career. He met a young John Anderson and began writing successful chart
songs. Jim branched out and through the years has co-written with many #1, Hall
of Fame and Grammy winning songwriters.
Jim is
the creator and host of the popular series
Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series ® at the Von Braun Center Playhouse in
Huntsville, AL where he showcases the incredible talent of his hit songwriter
friends from Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Canada and
surrounding areas. The dinner-theater atmosphere has created a highly
anticipated monthly event where people listen to great songs and hear the
stories behind the songs from the people who wrote them.
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| Billy and Marija Droze |
Billy spent a year or so playing with his dad’s band in Texas,
but he decided it was time to move to Nashville, where he currently resides.
Continuing to play anywhere he could, Billy steadily expanded his ever-growing
fan base. It was dramatically increased by several tours singing lead for
Grammy-winning Shenandoah (using the name Billy Ryan). He was signed by
RCA/Sony BMG as an artist shortly after arriving in Nashville but that did not
develop into what he had hoped for. As a staff writer with publishing deals,
Billy had several good cuts including: “You Never Know,” Darryl Worly,
Shenandoah, “That’s Why I Run,” Billy Yates (#1 in Europe), “Sunday Clothes,” Randy
Kohrs, ”Big Pain,” Marty Raybon, “Bottle Was a Bible,” Junior Sisk.
Billy needed a change of scenery after a family tragedy, so he
booked a thirteen-city, nine-country tour of Eastern Europe to promote his
third independent album, “Ready For The Ride.” It was well-received by fans and reviewers and
earned him three #1 singles on the European Hot Disc charts. This tour also led
him to Lithuania where he found his soul mate. When he returned to the U.S. it
was with his new wife, Marija, whose lovely voice blends perfectly with his and
their son Nickie. Billy has appeared in Country Weekly numerous times, as well
as other magazines and Web sites in the US and Europe. Billy has had 2
major-network country music videos.
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| Andrew Pope |
Andrew Pope, born in Geraldine, Alabama is an American country
music singer and songwriter. Pope was signed to MillTown Records in 2012 and
released his debut album “Here We Go Again” in November 2012. It peaked at
number 63 on the iTunes Country Album charts for 2012. The album features 12
songs, 9 of which were written by Pope himself. It also features guest
appearances from Confederate Railroad and Jeff Cook from country super group
Alabama.
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| Bridgette Tatum |
In 2009, Bridgette Tatum, native of Florence, South Carolina,
co-wrote the most played song on Country radio stations across the United
States. “She’s Country,” recorded and
released by Platinum-selling country superstar Jason Aldean, held the No. 1
position on the chart for two consecutive weeks. In 2010, Bridgette’s song,
“Loud” was selected as the Official Theme Song for the ACC Football
Conference’s 2010 Season. This
fast-paced anthem, captured in a raucous music video, resulted in exposure for
Bridgette in over 27 million households. In 2011, she toured with Heidi
Newfield as part of the nationwide She's Country Tour presented by Pendleton
Whisky. In partnership with the Lano Company, Bridgette released a unique
light-up lip gloss, helping to develop her signature color, “Hillbilly
Rockstar.”
**All donations go directly to St. Jude. No expenses are paid by Singers/Songwriters for St. Jude
Remember, donate on line HERE. Donate at the show. Mail donations for St. Jude to:
10871 County Line Rd #B, Madison, AL 35758
(256) 325-3779
