Iconic Songwriters Sit Down with Matt
Today, Matt welcomes 3 guests in two interviews. Garry Burr and Georgia Middleman are incredibly accomplished songwriters and have composed hits for Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, and more stars. And Jeannie Seely is a Grammy-winning Opry legend who joins us to chat about a new album, on which she interprets songs she wrote that were hits for other artists.
Matt had the chance to sit down with Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman backstage at their Nashville to New York songwriters showcase. They were open and honest with me about what it takes to be a writer in Nashville, and how you ‘break in’ when getting to town.
Through their many years as successful composers on their own, this married couple decided to showcase the best writers in Country Music to the New York set by turning Manhattan’s the Cutting Room into a café akin to the Bluebird. 3-4 times a year, country’s creative forces come to the Big Apple and share music, stories, and more. On this particular night, Pop icon Kenny Rogers, and hit maker Jeffrey Steele happened to be on the roster. The latter also joins in for a story.
Jeannie Seely is a member of a generation that pioneered a path for women in country music, and we are proud to welcome this Grammy Winner and Grand Ole Opry member to the program.
Her biggest hit, “Don’t Touch Me”, written by her then-husband, would prove to be one of the most important songs of its genre and its day. Told from the point of few of a forlorn lover, the song spoke of sexual desire in a way that-while it might seem tame today-was quite explicit in 1966.
In addition to her own hit recording career, Seely is a prolific songwriter, and her work has been made famous by a variety of other voices. Now, for the first time, Seely is putting her voice to those hits with her album Written in Song.
She approached this album, she says, with the intent to put her spin on these classics, as if she had first recorded them herself. An accompanying DVD of live performances of these songs is also available on her website.
To find out more about the next Nashville to New York, click here. For Jeannie Seely’s new album and DVD, please click here to visit her website.
Stay tuned to TalkForTwo.com, @TalkForTwo on Facebook and Instagram, for more from this week of shows, and all of our upcoming episodes!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS