Many of our readers listen to country music radio, it's undeniably one of the hottest genres of music today. Country music attracts listeners through songs with memorable lyrics that can often be related to. What many listeners may not realize is that often the artist singing the song is not the person who penned the lyrics.
Back in November we introduced you to one of those songwriters, Mr. Wynn Varble. Wynn is part of a 4 man Nashville Songwriter's Showcase coming to the Joshua Bates Centre in Athens, Ontario on April 10 & 11.
Max T. Barnes is the second of the four artists we will be featuring. Son of Max D. Barnes (cowriter of "Look At Us" by Vince Gill) and a hit songwriter himself Max, wrote his first hit song at the age of 19, Vern Gosdin's "Way Down Deep". He's been topping the charts ever since. Writing " Let Go of the Stone" by John Anderson " At the Sound of the Tone" by Dukes of Hazard's John Schneider and " Before You Kill Us All" by Randy Travis. He had 3 Weeks at #1 with " That's How Your Love Makes Me Feel" by Diamond Rio - and 3 Weeks at #1 with " Love, Me " by Colin Raye. Further credits include the complete score to "A Letter From Death Row" for HBO starring Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen. That's nine #1's and hits, and dozens of album cuts with album sales nearing 20 million.
"Love, Me", the career launching hit For Colin Raye also took Max T. to the CMA awards as a CMA "Song of the Year" Nominee. But Max T. did not win it that time around. Among other greats, he was up against his dad, legendary songwriter and Hall of Fame member, the late Max D. Barnes. His father took home the award that night with "Look At Us", a co-write with Vince Gill. "My poor mom didn't know who to root for." Max T. remembers. "I am proud to have been a part of the only father/son competition in CMA history." His father, Max D., had also won in 1989 with "Chiseled In Stone".
Max has been a staff writer and producer in Nashville for nearly thirty years. Working under contract for Sony, Warner Brothers, Polygram, MCA, Island Bound, Curb And Ray Stevens. Early on however he also played lead guitar. Touring with Bobby Bare, Shelly West, Joe Sun, Linda Davis and Tanya Tucker to name a few. He did tours with Reba, Garth Brooks, The Judds, Merle Haggard, George Jones and too many more to mention. Recently Max T. Began a new chapter in his career by taking his show on the road. "I have spent my life writing songs for other folks" laughs Barnes "Now I want to go sing them for the people without the middle man."
His songwriting credits range from Ralph Stanley to Montgomery Gentry. Poison to George Jones. Among his latest singles were two Joe Diffie hits, "A Night to Remember" and "Tougher Than Nails" as well as the title song and single from the Billboard #4 Comedy album, "We The People" by Ray Stevens.
You aren't going to want to miss the opportunity to catch Max "without the middle man" in Athens on April 10th or 11th. For more on Max be sure to checkout his website: www.maxtbarnes.com
For ticket information for either show visit: http://joshuabatescentre.com/tickets.html
Field Service Tech by day, Live Music Nut by night! Founder of Sound Check Entertainment! Love hockey Habs, Sens & anyone playing the Leafs!