On January 26, "Great American Song" (DiLuigi, Ogden, Stewart) will be impacting at Country Radio! What this basically means in fancy music industry speak is that radio stations will begin adding the song to rotation and reporting spins each week.

Will you please help? Contact your closest country station on this list and request "Great American Song."

"It's about US, so raise your hands up!"

Christmas came early this year! Acklen Park just announced that a song I co-wrote with Marcum Stewart (of Acklen Park) and Bill DiLuigi is going to be released as a single to Country Radio early in 2012.

Check out the promotional video here:

Garry Fedele (aka Cappo) has been hosting an annual benefit for the Nashville Humane Association for more than 20 years, and I had the pleasure of performing at this year's event (featuring Andrew Kugler on percussion) held at Douglas Corner on Dec. 3, 2011.

The room was packed and thanks to the generosity of Cappo, the patrons and performers an impressive list of goods were donated to the Humane Association- from pet food and treats to toys and collars.

As the proud owner of a rescue dog myself (see Jessi Lu here), it was a pleasure to perform and support this important cause. Christmas is about giving- and that includes remembering our furry friends!

1- Everett Guitar- Expensive yes, but totally worth it. When you play an Everett, you're ‘in’ the sound it creates! If my endorsement isn’t enough, ask Brad Paisley.
2- The Nashville Musician’s Survival Guide- An essential guide to navigating Nashville as a musician written by pro musician Eric Normand (available in print and digital).
3- Mix Stix- wooden mixing spoons that just happen to double as drumsticks! Keep on rockin’ even in the kitchen.
4- Pick Punch- with this nifty gadget, you can turn old plastic cards into guitar picks!
5- Piano Coasters- This is what I call ‘artsy’ and I like them.
6- Support local Indie Artists- support the local artists and songwriters you love by purchasing and giving their music to the musician on your list. Chances are they’ll love it too!
7- Monkey Manual for Songwriters- a fun read with some good insight into the basics of songwriting; written by songwriters for songwriters!
8- Guitar Pick Jewelry- I always feel a little more rocker with my earrings and bracelet on…and there are a lot of sites out there that sell them.
9- Jazz Lover Pet Clothing- Okay, so you’d have to have a musician and a pet lover for this gift, but some of these doggy t-shirts are pretty priceless! (Can you imagine fido sporting a shirt that says ‘I love free jazz’?)
10- Donate to a Music Charity- we all know music can help and heal- and there are countless organizations out there that need help! Just Google…

Everybody who comes to Nashville has one thing in common...we all have a dream of making it somewhere. But, as hall-of-fame songwriter Roger Murrah explained to me, "The dream only gets you so far, then the work begins." He was right...

After six years here, there are a few things that I've learned from Nashville. And because I'm a writer and my job is to be honest about what I see, I wanted to share a little about my experience with you...

1. This town is full of talent- on any given night in venues all over town you'll hear artists and writers who are amazingly gifted, and songs that really are hits that no one has ever heard (yet). Sometimes it's inspiring and sometimes it's depressing.
2. Expect a long haul- while there are real-life fairy tales about magical doors that open for some (i.e. a record deal in three months) most artists and writers work for years to be recognized for their craft. Friends of mine like Bill DiLuigi and Donna DeSopo come to mind.
3. There's a system in place- hit songwriter Tony Martin put it this way, "There's the group you rise with and the group you're invited to." This reality is played out in many ways and we could grab a coffee sometime to talk about it.
4. Rejection is part of the deal- again, this is something we could talk about over coffee.
5. You never know who you'll meet and what that might lead to- I met the legendary songwriter Thom Schuyler at the dog park. My dog Jessi Lu became friends with his dog Emmy Lou and Thom and I became friends through that. We even co-wrote one of my favorite songs off my new album "I Wasn't Done, Lovin' You Yet." My first cut (and country radio single) came because I met the drummer of Acklen Park at my day job in the hallway.
6. You have to know you have a gift- I've described music as a calling- something that God called me to do. It's a commitment I've made and God has confirmed my path again and again. I am blessed to have this perspective and assurance in the journey. Rhett Akins said it this way, "It's just a light you have."

There's a lot more I could share here, but for the moment I'll end with what has become my motto for this journey: "Get up early, stay late and chase your dreams."

What do you think about Nashville?