“It all starts with a song” and no one embodies that mantra more than acclaimed singer and songwriter Jerry Salley. Drawing from over four decades of weaving melody with meaning largely in co-writing scenarios, Salley reveals his creative depth with The Songwriter, having crafted each song solely by his own hand.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the album, Salley shares, “Writing by yourself can be a lonely place. When I moved to Nashville in 1982, it was an unspoken rule that you needed the talent to write a strong song by yourself before you were allowed the opportunity to get in a room and write with an established ‘hit’ songwriter.” He continues, “But, once you had proven yourself, it was obvious that Music City was basically a ‘co-writing’ town. That’s how I learned from so many incredible mentors: Jim McBride, Jim Rushing, A.L. ‘Doodle’ Owens, Carl Jackson, and more great songwriters.”
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Throughout his career, Salley has established himself as a successfully prolific songwriter, with nearly 600 songs recorded and selling in excess of 18 million records worldwide. From country to bluegrass to gospel, Salley’s music has transcended genres, earning him recognition and acclaim from audiences and industry peers alike. Billboard Magazine hailed Salley as “one of Music Row’s greatest veteran tunesmiths,” and his accolades speak volumes. Named SESAC’s Country Songwriter of the Year and adorned with numerous songwriting awards, including IBMA’s Songwriter of the Year (2018, 2019), his compositions have been embraced by a plethora of renowned artists including Elton John, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, Brad Paisley, Del McCoury, The Steel Drivers, Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, and many others. Salley continues, “Now all these years later, while most of the songs I’ve had recorded have been co-writes, I’ve found myself the last few years wanting to write more songs alone – for no other reason than to prove to myself I could still do it!” So with solitude and silence as his companions, Salley found a spark of inspiration and penned all 12 tracks on his new album. The Songwriter is already a proven success with the first two singles becoming hits for bluegrass radio: “What Kind of Fool (Do You Think You’re Foolin’)” and “Colorado Winter.” In addition to these standout tracks, the album features a treasure trove of songs with narratives that span the spectrum of human emotion. From the opening, heel-pounding “Blue, Blue Rain,” the tongue-in-cheek and somewhat autobiographical “Old Songwriters Like Me,” to the poignant closer “When I Sing My Last Song,” the listener is carried on a journey through life’s highs and lows, guided by Salley’s compelling storytelling and soulful melodies. “Recently, someone asked me, ‘How long did it take you to write these songs for your new project?'” reflects Salley. “While the idea of doing this record came to me a little over five years ago when I started writing the new songs, I thought about it and the experience I needed to accomplish this, then responded, ‘My entire life.'” In celebration of the release of The Songwriter, Salley will be the in-studio guest on Real Roots Radio May 9th at 2pm ET. He’ll then travel to his hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio, for an album release event at The Postmark, where family, friends and fans will have the opportunity to enjoy an intimate concert that will include stories behind the songs that make up this deeply personal collection. The Songwriter will be available to radio and on streaming services May 10th. For more information, visit JerrySalley.com. Track List |
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About Jerry Salley |