I was introduced to country music songwriter, Steve Williams, through a friend, Myles Kelly, manager and keyboard player for Rockin' Chair, and band that covered the Laural Canyon — Eagles; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Poco and others. Myles contacted me recently after "discovering" Steve Williams playing with another songwriter, Will Nance, at a performance at Nashville's The Listening Room.
Myles told me that Williams would be performing at a sold out show with Nance in Festus on January 23rd, and suggested I interview him for A Concert Pitch. So I did.
I've never been a big fan of country music, but I respect it for it's popularity and producdtion quality. My musical preferance leans more towards the acoustic rock of my youth, and for the past 40 years, jazz. Nonetheless, I have a fascination as an amateur musician with how songs are written and how songwriters work with publishers and the artists. This interview was a great opportunity to satisfy my curiosity talking with someone who is making a good living writing songs, and claims two #1 songs (“Redneck Yacht Club” and “I Get To”) and to has songs on 3 gold records!
Steve grew up in St. Louis and cut his musical teeth playing in bars in the area. He soon left town, playing with several bands, and ended up in Nashville. He describes how he climbed the ladder that hub of musicians, venues, publishers, and promoters, and then shares deep insights into writing, collaborating, and getting compositions produced.
