Writers
Jon Philibert
Jon Philibert is one of the all-time leading British country music songwriters. In a long career Jon has had songs recorded by such Billboard-charting artists as Bobby Bare, Jimmy Payne, Judy Lindsey and Carmol Taylor.
Jon also wrote "I've Been Rained On Too" which became a top ten record for Tom Jones in 1984. This subsequently remained on the Billboard country charts for a massive 22 weeks, Tom Jones' longest-ever country charting record.
Recently UK country superstar Charlie Landsborough revived the song on his Nashville-recorded album "Still Can't Say Goodbye" and it is now one of Landsborough's most-requested songs. Jon's much recorded "Honky Tonk, Two Steppin', Beer Drinkin' Saturday Night" has become something of a line dance classic. Latterly Jon's song "I Hadn't Counted On You" has been an enormous hit in Ireland for Mick Flavin.
Sue Bennett
Sue Bennett is one of the UK's fastest rising songwriting talents. Her passion for country (even when it wasnšt cool!) started early as her parents brought her up on a diet of Dolly, Kenny, Tammy, Don Williams and Johnny Cash!
Sue penned the classic 'Given Time' - recorded by the award winning British Country star, Sue James - which made number one on the European Independent Country Chart. She also has cuts on the long-anticipated second Sue James album and lately she has contributed four tracks to the new Nashville-recorded album by Blue Orchid, 'Slow Down for a While'
Her material written with Jon Philibert has recently been signed by a leading Nashville music publisher and great things are expected. Sue's songs with Graham Snow are also currently receiving a lot of interest from the Nashville majors, while US Stardust artist, Foxx, has just recorded "Like I Care" for her new album
Graham Snow
Born in Twickenham, but raised in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) Graham Snow started playing guitar at age 13 ... at just 16, he formed his own group 'Cloud 5' which became the most popular band in Lusaka during the mid sixties.
Moving back to the UK, he became influenced by heavy rock bands such as Yes, Queen and Emerson Lake and Palmer. It was at this point his songwriting skills began to flourish and Graham formed a pub rock band playing covers and originals.
Linking up with Graham Adcock from Loughborough in the mid 80s, he wrote numerous pop/rock songs and went on to write and produce the musical "Into The Years" in 1991 which became a sell-out hit. 1993 found Graham together with Emma McLean-Cook as pop duo "It Takes Two".
Lately he has been involved in country music forming the country duo "Tennessee" with Michelle Bryan. He has written extensively with Sue Bennett and also Jon Philibert and his "Like I Care" recorded by US singer Foxx has become one of the hottest singles on the American Soundclick country chart and is in heavy rotation on many European country charts.
Graham is now a frequent visitor to Nashville playing successful gigs at the Bluebird in October 2001, and subsequently at the Hall of Fame lounge and Broken Spoke. Via Chris Keaton, his song plugger, Graham's songs are currently achieving much interest from the Nashville majors.
Lorna Flowers
Lorna Flowers started her musical career in rock and pop, and scored an early success as a songwriter by winning the Hastings Songwriter Contest. However, a trip to the United States in 1991 exposed her to country music for the first time - and she was hooked!
Lorna subsequently began to visit Nashville on a regular basis - two or three times a year - and has written with such writers as Bob Welch, Roger Cook, Jon Peppard, Dwight Liles, Joie Scott and Jane Bach..
In 1997 Lorna wrote eleven of the twelve tracks on Sue James album "Five Stars and the Moon" winning national and international plaudits. She has also had two number one hits on the European Independent Independent Country Charts with "Cold Hard Fax" and "Given Time".
As a writer/performer Lorna has appeared several times at the legendary Bluebird Cafe writers night in Nashville as well as performing at the Douglas Corner, Exit Inn, Boardwalk and Broken Spoke.
Recently, Lorna produced the debut album in Nashville for UK country duo Blue Orchid - penning seven of the album's twelve tracks - again garnering rave reviews. She also has several songs currently at the recording stage.
Artists
Tim Raybon is the brother of Shenandoah's lead singer Marty Raybon. Tim has recorded with Marty as the Raybon Brothers whose 1997 country hit "Butterfly Kisses" is now considered a classic. Kelly Nolf is currently starring in a SRO Wynonna Judd tribute in Nashville. Like Mica Roberts, she works regularly on some of Nashville's top sessions as do Dave Brooks, Lance Miller and Mike Sutterfield.
Not only is Dave Brooks one of Nashville's A-List singers and a demo singer for country star Clint Black, but he is also a leading vocal coach, assisting hundreds of aspiring hopefuls. Lance Miller has opened shows for such stars as Tracy Lawrence, Sawyer Brown, and Lee Greenwood and is one of Nashvillešs most requested demo singers, while Mike Sutterfield, a relative newcomer to Nashville from Oklahoma, has quickly established himself as a highly competent and extremely skilful studio vocalist.