“The story of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant is the story of towering artistic achievement wrapped in a love story so deep and so complete that the two are their own country song. Bobbie and Bill Malone are precisely the right match to tell this tale of love and genius.”—Ken Burns, Director, Country Music You might not know the names of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, but you know their music. Arriving in Nashville in 1950, the songwriting duo became the first full-time independent songwriters in that musical city. In the course of their long careers, they created classic hits that pushed the boundaries of country music into the realms of pop and rock. Songs like “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Love Hurts,” and “Rocky Top” inspired young musicians everywhere. Here, for the first time, is a complete biography of Nashville’s power songwriting couple. In Nashville’s Songwriting Sweethearts, authors Bobbie Malone and Bill C. Malone recount how Boudleaux and Felice, married in 1945, began their partnership as itinerant musicians living in a trailer home and writing their first songs together. In Nashville the couple had to deal with racism, classism, and in Felice’s case, sexism. Yet through hard work and business acumen—and a dose of good luck—they overcame these obstacles and rose to national prominence. By the late 1990s, the Bryants had written as many as 6,000 songs and had sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. They were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972, and in 1991 they became members of the Country Music Hall of Fame—a rare occurrence for songwriters who were not also performers. In 1982 their composition “Rocky Top” was adopted as one of the official state songs of Tennessee. The Bryants were lucky enough to arrive in the right place at the right time. Their emergence in the early fifties coincided with the rise of Nashville as Music City, USA. And their prolific collaboration with the Everly Brothers, beginning in 1957, sparked a fusion between country and pop music that endures to this day.

You've heard them on the radio, listened to them on repeat for days, and sang along at the top of your lungs—but have you ever wondered about the real stories behind all your favorite country songs? Nashville Songwriter gives readers the first completely authorized collection of the true stories that inspired hits by the biggest multi-platinum country superstars of the last half century—recounted by the songwriters themselves. Award-winning music biographer Jake Brown gives readers an unprecedented, intimate glimpse inside the world of country music songwriting. Featuring exclusive commentary from country superstars and chapter-length interviews with today's biggest hit-writers on Music Row, this book chronicles the stories behind smash hits such as: Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind" Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," "Southern Voice," and "Real Good Man" George Jones's "Tennessee Whiskey" Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" and "Cowboy Casanova" Brooks & Dunn's "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" Lady Antebellum's "We Owned the Night" and "Just a Kiss" Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires," "We Danced," and "I'm Still a Guy" Luke Bryan's "Play It Again," "Crash My Party," and "That's My Kind of Night" The Oak Ridge Boys's "American Made" George Strait's "Ocean Front Property" and "The Best Day," Rascal Flatts's "Fast Cars and Freedom," and "Take Me There" Kenny Chesney's "Living in Fast Forward" and "When the Sun Goes Down" Ricochet's "Daddy's Money" Montgomery Gentry's "If You Ever Stop Loving Me" The Crickets's "I Fought the Law" Tom T. Hall's "A Week in a County Jail" and "That Song Is Driving Me Crazy" Trace Adkins's "You're Gonna Miss This" David Lee Murphy's "Dust on the Bottle" Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor" and "Fly Over States" And many more top country hits over the past 40 years!

"HIT HAPPENS will not only guide you step by step on what it takes to be a successful songwriter, it will put a smile on your face while you're learning." -Anita Cox, Singer/Songwriter/Project Concept & Development Specialist, CEO Big South Productions, BobbyCyrusEntertainment.com. "-A must read for all songwriters," says Regina Boy Carter, President of Tri-Star Entertainment and Management Group. Hit Happens is a question and answer guide to songwriting by award winning songwriter Corey Lee Barker. He combines laugh-out-loud humorous answers to the creative and business questions he receives the most, and then follows up the humor with the kind of nitty-gritty, rubber-meets-the-road information and insight usually only gained through years of practical experience. "If you are (or think you want to be) a Songwriter, do yourself a favor: read it, mark in it, highlight it, keep it handy, and use it as a reference manual! I highly recommend this book and its Author!" --Kenny Angel, Executive Director of Tennessee Songwriter Association International Some of the FAQ addressed include: What is the best way to begin a song? Is the range of my melody of any importance? What is modulation and is it really important? How important is the song's title? Do the same rules apply for writing pop hits as for country? How can I sell my song and how much should I ask for it? Do I really need to sign up at BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC? And if I do...which is better? What is a staff deal? When do I need to copyright my songs? How much can I make by writing a parody of a famous song? How do I figure out what percentage of the song is mine if I wrote most of it and someone else helped out slightly? When can I tell everyone about my cut? My song is ready to come to life. Who should I choose to demo it? Should I play my songs at writer's nights? How do I get my song in a TV show or movie? What does it mean if I get a song "on hold"? What is a single song contract? What is a work tape and how is it different form a demo? ....and many more.

"A handbook for compassion... a Must-Read Music Book.” —Rolling Stone Country "Generous and big-hearted, Gauthier has stories to tell and worthwhile advice to share." —Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True "Gauthier has an uncanny ability to combine songwriting craft with a seeker’s vulnerability and a sage’s wisdom.” —Amy Ray, Indigo Girls From the Grammy nominated folk singer and songwriter, an inspiring exploration of creativity and the redemptive power of song Mary Gauthier was twelve years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. Music offered her a window to a world where others felt the way she did. Songs became lifelines to her, and she longed to write her own, one day. Then, for a decade, while struggling with addiction, Gauthier put her dream away and her call to songwriting faded. It wasn’t until she got sober and went to an open mic with a friend did she realize that she not only still wanted to write songs, she needed to. Today, Gauthier is a decorated musical artist, with numerous awards and recognition for her songwriting, including a Grammy nomination. In Saved by a Song, Mary Gauthier pulls the curtain back on the artistry of songwriting. Part memoir, part philosophy of art, part nuts and bolts of songwriting, her book celebrates the redemptive power of song to inspire and bring seemingly different kinds of people together.

Simple techniques for creating catchy lyrics and memorable melodies! Nearly everyone can hum the melody or remember the words to a hit song. Clever word play, catchy melodies, and thoughtful imagery can create an impression that lasts long after a song has ended. The Everything Songwriting Book provides amateurs and seasoned professionals alike all they need to create, perform, and sell hit songs. Learn how to develop an idea, formulate a rhyme scheme, incorporate unique phrasing, and follow through to the final note. Professional songwriter and consultant C.J. Watson packs this book with clever tips and tricks for overcoming writer's block, creating a "hook," and recording and selling a song to a recording company or performer. This user-friendly guide also shows how to: Tap into the common elements of hit songs Incorporate instruments into songwriting Understand music theory Spot songwriting trends and write for a specific market Produce a song Know essential copyright law and other legal basics Get compositions into the right hands Complete with expert advice and practical pointers, The Everything Songwriting Book is sure to guide and inspire burgeoning songwriters at any level.

In Writing Worship: How to Craft Heartfelt Songs for the Church, the Christian songwriter will explore the depths of the heart, immersing in relationship with God before learning practical worship songwriting skills. Award-winning songwriter Krissy Nordhoff helps lyricists and musicians sharpen their skills in starting songs, adding dimension, removing distractions, maintaining momentum, and co-writing. Songwriters and worship leaders are challenged to trust the Lord with their gifts as they put their new skills into practice. They also have access to: Links to video with examples A songwriter personality assessment Podcast episodes for every songwriter personality Access to special downloads, including a leader’s guide for group learning and an audiobook with extra content from Krissy