In spite of the massive storm, the hotel was safe and dry and we all had a really good time! Special speaker and workshop presenter was Gary Nicholson, who has written more than 600 songs and has had 40 #1 hits! Gary took suggestions from the audience (to emphasize how fun co-writing can be) and “wrote” a song called “It’s a Cold Rainy Day in California” that actually was quite good!
Mr. Nicholson is an American singer-songwriter and record producer, known mainly for his work in country music and blues. He is a two-time Grammy winning producer and was inducted into the Texas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. Nicholson has more than 500 recordings and is best known for his work with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Ringo Starr, BB King, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joe Shaver. In 1983, Nicholson signed a publishing contract with Tree Publishing (now Sony/ATV Music Publishing). He achieved his first number 1 hit in 1984 with the song “That’s the Thing About Love”, recorded by Don Williams and “The Power of Love”, recorded by Charlie Pride. In 1986, he wrote six songs for T Graham Brown’s debut album and in 1987 the title and five others on his second release, Brilliant Conversationalist.
He penned a number 1 hit in 1993 with “One More Last Chance” recorded and co-written by Vince Gill. In 1995, Nicholson co-wrote six songs with John Prine for Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings. He co-wrote a song for Waylon Jennings “Working Without a Net” in 1996. He received ASCAP Awards in 1997 for the songs, “Giving Water to a Drowning Man”, by Lee Roy Parnell, and “A Thousand Times a Day”, by Patty Loveless. Nicholson also left Sony/ATV Music Publishing to start his own publishing company, Gary Nicholson Music ASCAP, during this time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Nicholson_(singer)
Some of the songwriters from Colorado attending the Durango Songwriters Expo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura, California Thursday, February 16th thru Saturday, February 18th were former COMBO Vice-President Andy Ard, Matt Buckstein, Adrienne Osborn and so many more.
Attendees had their songs critiqued by other hit songwriters, recording and record people, publishers, and music supervisors, as well as other professionals in the music business. They attended workshops and seminars to help them get a better understanding of the joy – and work – of writing a song – and hopefully one that sells a million! Ah, to be able to write a “one hit wonder” – or even a bunch of them!
This event is the real deal. If you didn’t sign up for this one, be sure to sign up for the Expo in September in Broomfield, Colorado at the Omni Interlocken Hotel. Worth every penny! You’ll get to meet so many people who are actually making their living in the music business – and maybe will even get ‘discovered’ – like Meghan Trainor did a few years back!