best of the best
SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
SONGWRITER SHOWCASE ARCHIVES
SONGWRITER STAGE VIDEOS
This annual honor is given to the songwriter we believe has shown us an outstanding quality in their approach to songwriting. It does not reflect negatively on any of the artists from our Showcases at all. Our Best of the Best is simply a recognition of lyrical strength and the perseverance necessary toward becoming a great songwriter.
(NOTE: Depending on your Internet speed it may take a minute to download.)
These are full songs, not just clips. So grab a glass of sweet tea, put your feet up, and listen to some good music. Selecting each song titles will open a new window.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2012 "BEST OF THE BEST" - HARLAN PEASE
VIDEO SAMPLES:
"Instant Genius"played at Bost Harley Davidson by Harlan Pease
Harlan Pease entertaining at Bost Harley Davidson Nov 5th 2011
Harlan Pease playing the Fontanel for the NashvilleEar.com Songwriter Stage Aug 11th 2011
Harlan Pease playing the Fontanel July 20th 2011
Joel Shewmake & Harlan Pease playing Bost Harley Davidson July 2nd 2011
Harlan Pease singing a love song at the Fontanel June 2nd 2011
Harlan Pease singing "When The Strip Turned Blue" at the Fontanel
Harlan Pease singing" Caffinated Blues" at the Fontanel
Harlan Pease singing a song for his Dad at the Fontanel for the NashvilleEar.com Songwriter Stage
Harlan Pease playing live onstage for the NashvilleEar.com Songwriter Stage
Harlan Pease playing onstage for the NashvilleEar.com Songwriter Stage March 6th 2011
Harlan Pease playing at the Fontanel for the NashvilleEar.com songwriter stage
Harlan Pease playing for the NashvilleEar.com songwriter stage March 2nd 2011
Harlan Pease playing live onstage at the Fontanel for the NashvilleEar.com songwriter stage March 2nd 2011
Harlan Pease & Jeremy Dean singing a song they wrote together "When the Strip Turned Blue" at the Fontanel
Harlan Pease’s musical journey began rather inauspiciously – a one-month long frustrating attempt to play the guitar in sixth grade. That guitar spent the next four years under the bed, case gathering dust. But in his sophomore of high school, he rediscovered the guitar in an attempt to find something with meaning. In the next three years, he followed a well-worn path: a teenage boy’s obsession with the guitar.
The guitar took a backseat again for a few years of college, but the pull of the strings came again, and he finally started taking the guitar seriously, taking some lessons with local legend Gary Rand. This led to the first serious band, the first paying gigs, and a lifelong addiction to playing music.
Almost. After a decade of playing one-night stands and teaching guitar, Harlan quit music. But a friend’s band in need of a bass player intercepted the path away from music. Having never played bass guitar, he approached the gig with some trepidation, but he had faith in music. That was a faith that was well-founded.
Quite conveniently, the paths of music and being an English major intercepted, and he started writing songs. That original search for some meaning in life resurfaced, and the outlet became marrying words to music.
After a few years of writing songs on Cape Cod and visiting Nashville a few times a year, Harlan relocated to Nashville, where he has lived for two years. He currently teaches English at the local community college, and spends his evenings, afternoons, and weekends writing and playing music.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2011 BEST OF THE BEST - JEREMY DEAN
SONG SAMPLES:
YOU'VE STILL GOT IT (writer: Jeremy Dean)
SHE DON'T KNOW JACK (writer: Jeremy Dean)
DON'T LET GO OF ME NOW (writers: Jeremy Dean & Lyndon Lafevers)
THIS SIDE OF REGRET (writers: Jeremy Dean & Mike Raybon)
DON'T YOU 'I LOVE YOU' ME (writer: Jeremy Dean, performer: Christina Carlyle)
SOMETHING 'BOUT THAT (writer: Jeremy Dean)
EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART (writer: Jeremy Dean)
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY (writers: Jeremy Dean & Lyndon Lafevers)
LOVE IS NEVER FAR AWAY (writers: Jeremy Dean & Christina Carlyle)
THE OLD ROCK OF AGES (writer: Jeremy Dean)
THE TABLE GRACE PREPARED (writer: Jeremy Dean)
As recorded by Barbara Fairchild on her project "Forever Friend"
OUR SIDE OF TOWN (writer: Jeremy Dean)
DON'T LEAVE IT AT THAT (writer: Jeremy Dean)
OVER TILL NEW YEAR'S EVE (writer: Jeremy Dean)
EVERY DAY OUR LOVE IS NEW (writers: Jeremy Dean & Joe Huffman)
NOT JUST ANOTHER MAN [CHELSEA'S SONG] (writer: Jeremy Dean)
FRIENDS ARE (writer: Jeremy Dean)
more...
Jeremy Dean was born and raised in Oklahoma. He has been singing his whole life and songwriting as soon as he could play his first three guitar chords. His first commercially recorded original song was a song he penned in High School, titled "The Table Grace Prepared," a Gospel cut included on the "Forever Friend" project by Grammy-nominated, award-winning, entertainer, Barbara Fairchild.
Having traveled several years with a Gospel/Country band throughout the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandle, Jeremy's singing talent was discovered professionally by Eddy Bolton (of the legendary Gospel family, The Speers) who invited him to join a group in Nashville in 1997. Jeremy spent a couple more years on the road before leaving the road to concentrate on writing and the chance to become involved in audio production, under the hand of Grammy-nominated, Dove award-winning engineer/producer, Joe Huffman, whose list of credits would be too numerous to mention. As an apprentice of Mr. Huffman, Jeremy has learned several valuable tools of the trade in creating his musical art, as well as the opportunity to work and produce other singers and songwriters along the way.
Jeremy Dean considers himself a lover of songwriting with a willing voice. He enjoys listening to upcoming singers and enjoying the work of other songwriters. He collaborates as a songwriter and offers recording services for singers and songwriters both. He also enjoys playing the local laid-back venues for songwriter nights.
"Unlike the forty to sixty thousand people in this town looking to break into the music business at any given time," Dean says, "I love writing lyrics, and I would still do it even if I knew I didn't stand a chance in this town. It's a part of me. I'm not a great musician, but that's the fun part...finding people to build the character of a song around quality lyrics...or finding any number of team players who can breathe life into a song. We all play a part." Dean says, "The life of the singer is still the song."
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2010 BEST OF THE BEST - LARRY EVANS
SONG SAMPLES:
DEL RIO
Budwieser Talent Winner, also nominated in three categories (Song of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Producer) by the BCCountry Music Association.
THIS OLD GUITAR
DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
WISHFUL DRINKIN'
WHEN YOU GOIN' DOWN TO NASHVILLE
DRINKING WHISKEY IN THE RAIN
DO YOU STILL DREAM OF SANTA
SO MANY SAD SONGS
BEAUREGARD JACKSON
PULLING IT BACK TOGETHER
HOW WAS I TO KNOW
A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN
WHEN DADDY COMES HOME
NO BETTER TIME
DOING THE RIGHT THING
ALRIGHT ALREADY
...more
Larry Evans has been performing since he was nine years old and writing his own songs since the age of twelve. He played in several bands during his high school years and went “out on the road” right after graduating grade twelve. In the late 1980’s Larry began entering talent contests usually performing original material, and always ending up in one of the top three spots. In 1990 he won the “Best Original Song” category and a third place finish for his performance at the Bud Talent Search Canadian finals. That year also saw him accept the Institute of Communication Arts award for best Country/Folk/Contemporary songwriter for his song “When I Think About You” which was chosen from over 500 entries. In June of 1991, Larry won the BCCMA Ray McAuley Horizon Award for best new artist and was nominated in Best Male Vocalist, Best Song and Duo/Group of the Year categories.
After a few more years working the club circuit in western Canada and trying to secure a recording contract during one of many stays in Nashville, Larry decided to “retire” from the club scene and concentrate on his songwriting. With several co-writes with some notable Nashville writers and several song-holds under his belt Larry is still intent on working the system to pitch songs from his large catalog and hoping for “that one big one”In the mean time Larry writes and performs mostly as a solo act in coffee houses, pubs and restaurants whenever and wherever possible. He has a repertoire of material that appeals to everyone of any age and a delivery that is tried and true to his own unique style.
**Contact: Larry Evans, (604)941-5669 or by email: delrio4957@yahoo.ca
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2009 BEST OF THE BEST - MITCH EMMONS
SONG SAMPLES:
ON A FEEL GOOD ROLL
THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS
I MISS YOU
'TWEET' ME RIGHT
LOOKING THROUGH THE PAIN
EVERY SINGLE NIGHT
THE BABE ON THE TANNING BED SIGN
FISHIN' (CATCHING PEACE OF MIND)
HE PLANTED LOVE
KEEP IT SIMPLE
CAVE MAN
GONNA CUT THE BIG ONE SOME DAY
Emmons/Stephens
VIDEO SAMPLES:
THREE SONGS: A FEEL GOOD ROLL/FISHIN' (CATCHING PEACE OF MIND)/I MISS YOU
Mitch was the first guest at the debut of the NashvilleEar.com Songwriter Stage at Bost Harley-Davidson, October 2, 2010.
'TWEET' ME RIGHT
I have no ambitions as a recording artist. I write songs. My aspirations are to associate with an established Nashville-connected publisher/writers group and to develop my craft for true artists and performers.
I saw a slogan once that read, "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making plans of your own." That pretty much is my story. Some years ago I wore out shoe leather and racked up a lot of highway miles trying to launch a songwriting career. From Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to Nashville, Tennessee, I knocked on doors, wrote letters, made phone calls, mailed demo tapes, and played my catalog anywhere and for anyone who would listen. I got close to getting a leg up but the path turned ...fast forward.
Yep, life's happening, but I truly got lucky. I'm blessed with a wonderful family and a rewarding career. I've been able to keep the music alive having fun with a great bunch of local musicians who actually are like family. More importantly, the kids are grown, educated, and well on their way.
We did it! -- AND -- thanks to a family and friends who won't let me quit, I still write songs. Just maybe, that early plan still has some potential...meanwhile, I'll have fun writing and showcasing my songs.