The Write Key - Songwriting Weekend
Spotlight on the Featured Guests!

(Register to attend this event here.)

Rick Carnes - Rick is the current SGA Board President and a full-time songwriter for Peer Music. He is the Vice-President of the National Music Council and has served as an instructor and panelist at Universities throughout the country. His songs include number one hits for Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire, in addition to 36 Platinum and 3 Gold albums recorded by Alabama, Dean Martin, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner, Conway Twitty and others.

Randy Sharp - Randy is a current SGA Board member and full-time songwriter. He is an award winning songwriter of over forty charted songs (five number ones), as well as a member of BMI’s Million-Airs Club for songs played more than 1 million times. His songs have been recorded by the Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstadt, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker and more.

Learn more about Randy at http://www.randysharp.ws.

Casey Kelly - Casey is the current SGA Board Vice-President and a full-time songwriter. He marched on the steps of the Supreme Court with other SGA members on the day of the decision in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. vs. Grokster, Ltd. case. His songs include “Soon” recorded by Tanya Tucker, “Cowboy Rides Away” recorded by George Strait, “That Road Not Taken” recorded by Joe Diffie, “Somewhere Down The Line” recorded by T.G. Sheppard, and “Anyone Who Isn’t Me” recorded by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West.

Learn more about Casey at http://www.caseykelly.net/.

Janis Carnes - Janis entered the music business with a bang as a hit songwriter for such artists as Trisha Yearwood, Reba McYntire, Alabama, Steve Wariner, The Whites, and many more. Even though Janis' success has been primarily in country music, she has always had a deep connection with jazz and swing music. One of the key hits she wrote (with Rick Carnes and Chip Hardy) was ''Hangin' Around,'' a bluegrass-swing song recorded by The Whites and Dean Martin. The song helped bring mainstream awareness to the jazz-influenced style.

After forming a duo with husband and fellow songwriter Rick Carnes, Janis was signed as an artist to Elektra Asylum by the Jimmy Bowen (one of the most influential figures in the Nashville music scene). The duo followed Bowen to Warner Brothers and then to MCA Records, having success with self-penned singles like,''Poor Girl,'' and, ''Does He Ever Mention My Name.'' She is also a current SGA board member.

Learn more about Janis at http://www.janiscarnes.com/.

Barbara Cloyd - In 1983 Barbara made the move to Nashville, a town she had never been to before and where she didn't know anyone. Within a few days of arriving she knew she was home. Three years later she was hired to organize and run the Open Mic at the Bluebird Cafe, which was well on it's way to becoming the world-renowned songwriter's venue it is today. Her struggle to perfect her craft as a writer paid off in 1993 when she had the hit single "I Guess You Had to Be There" recorded by Lorrie Morgan.

Over years of performing at and hosting writers nights in Nashville, Barbara's energetic personality and genuine love for songwriters has endeared her to the community. She has served as a workshop moderator for the Nashville Songwriters Association and was the creator and host of the long-running Country Song Contest at Gibson Cafe which helped many writers make connections in the music industry. She has hosted popular writers nights at local venues such as Radio Cafe, The French Quarter and The Broken Spoke. Currently she books all the early shows at the Bluebird Cafe, writes a question/answer column for thestagehand.com, is a board member for the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival and a mentor for Just Plain Folks.

In 2001, in response to continual requests for help from developing writers, she founded a consultation service which she named "Ready for the Row." Through workshops, classes, recorded critiques and individual sessions she is helping new writers to develop their writing skills and navigate their way through the maze of the music business.

Learn more about Barbara at http://www.barbaracloyd.com/.

AJ and Cleve Clark - Brothers AJ Clark and Cleve Clark are two-thirds of the band Alvarado Road Show. Along with their nephew/drummer Brandon Trey, they have been performing together literally since they were kids. Lately, they have been in the middle of producing several projects which include Alvarado Road Show’s “Long Haul Cowboy” project, a solo project for songwriter Mentor Williams entitled, “Just Another Songwriter” and also a duet project for Mentor Williams & Lynn Anderson all set for release in 2008. AJ and Cleve have developed a reputation as songwriters through their collaborations with friends and writers including Steve Wariner, Frank Myers, Rick Carnes, Bart Allmand, Tom Douglas, Kim Williams and of course Mentor Williams. Watch for big things to happen this year for AJ and Cleve! To find out more about them and Alvarado Road Show log on @ www.AlvaradoRoadShow.com or www.MySpace.com/AlvaradoRoadShow.

- Plus special guests!

Chuck Whiting - Chuck Whiting is an award-winning public relations professional, writer, songwriter, educator and author. A former newspaper reporter, he founded Whiting Publicity & Promotions in 1993. His customers include musical performers, authors, visual artists, and art galleries. Also an educator, Chuck teaches media writing at Middle Tennessee State University.

Chuck is the author and co-songwriter of The Littlest Star, a book and CD featuring performances by Margo Smith, Denny Jiosa and Conni Ellisor.

He has received awards from the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators, the Public Relations Council of Alabama, Sigma Delta Chi, and the Songwriters Guild of America.

Lisa Aschmann - From Jazz to Bluegrass, Lisa Aschmann is an eclectic and prolific songwriter, singer and educator. She’s had cuts by such diverse artists as Diamond Rio, Collin Raye, Aiofe Clancy, Art Garfunkel, Aaron Neville, Grace Griffith, Don Jones and Alice Newman, Wayfaring Stranger, and Valerie Smith. With her co-writer, Joel Evens, she’s had over 30 TV and film placements in recent years, including Num3rs, Bones, West Wing, JAG, and Providence. She has recorded six CDs of her own and is the author of 1000 Songwriting Ideas, a book to help songwriters overcome writer’s block and turn imagination into a powerful songwriting machine.