Songspeak - Conversations on the Art and Craft of Songwriting - Deanna Bryant and Marla Cannon-Goodman.
Tennessee MTSU Recording Industry professor Hal Newman, and occasional guest hosts, interview ASCAP songwriters.
Topics include the process of writing songs, how one becomes a songwriter, tips for being a successful songwriter in the music industry. Songwriters also perform a few of their songs. The programs are recorded in front of MTSU students enrolled in Recording Industry courses. A question and answer session follows each discussion.
Deanna Bryant grew up on the outskirts of Childress, Texas. She spent much of her time as a child performing, but after high school Deanna chose university life over the honkytonks, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Following her college graduation, Deanna worked as a corporate accountant and later as a financial planner for professional athletes. Songwriting, however, was never far from her mind or heart. After her first visit to Nashville, Deanna fell in love with the town’s eclectic songwriting community before making it her home in 1994. Since becoming a member of Nashville’s most artistic community, she has had cuts with artists including Terri Clark, Deana Carter, and Randy Travis. Reba McEntire took her song "Forever Love" to the top of the charts and Clay Davidson’s recording of her song "Unconditional" was nominated for the Country Music Association Song of the Year in 2001.
Many people know Marla Cannon-Goodman as the songwriter of “The Fool” and “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo,” both of which were number ones for this gifted young lyrcist. However, not many know that she’s had an inside view of the music business. Marla was born in Melrose Park, Illinois and moved to Kingston Springs, Tennessee six years later. Her father, Buddy Cannon, started off as a member of Mel Tillis’ band, which soon lead to full time songwriting, A&R for Mercury/Polygram and producing hit songs. “At Harpeth High School I was drum majorette and a concert clarinetist,” she recalls, “but when I went off to Austin Peay up in Clarksville about all I did was party so Daddy made me come home. I spent three years at Tennessee State University before I grew up enough to see a future in Licensed Practical Nursing. I graduated from General Hospital School of Nursing then spent four years as a Licensed Practical Nurse.” It wasn't until a 1996 co-write with her dad, leading to a Sammy Kershaw cut, that the fever started. Since then, Marla's career has continued to accelerate with cuts ranging from Eddie Arnold to Kenny Chesney. She enjoyed 2 weeks at #1 with Rodney Atkins' "Cleaning My Gun."