Scott Coner Reflects On His Unforgettable Recording Day with Tanya Tucker

            (Artist's Note: This week, I'd like to share my experiences singing with legendary country singer Tanya Tucker. As some of you may know, Tanya was my duet partner on the song, "Maybe She Lied", which hit number one in England. Working with her was a remarkable experience.)

            I wrote my song, "Maybe She Lied", on a Takamine acoustic guitar. I wanted it to have a traditional feel that included a Floyd Cramer-style piano. Mark Moseley, a producer friend of mine, had worked with Tanya Tucker in the past, and I asked if he could reach out to her for me. He was kind enough to send the song to her. A few weeks went by, and I was on West End in Nashville when I got the call that she would be doing the song with me. I remember all of my feelings going from joy to a very deep fear very quickly that day. I remember asking myself what kind of idiot thinks he can actually stand up next to Tanya Tucker and sing?

Country artist Scott Coner records in Nashville

 (Listen to the number one song "Maybe She Lied" at https://soundcloud.com/scott-coner/02-maybe-she-lied-feat-tanya or visit the music page at Scott Coner's website: www.ScottConer.com.)

 

            She met me at the studio though, and all of my fear went away. I remember that she was very prepared, very nice, and very good. Her voice sounded like an angel that afternoon, and I knew right away that she had made the song a very special one. I don't listen to my own music much, but when I hear this song, it truly makes me smile all over inside.

            Tanya and I talked mostly about things that were related to the song. One discussion involved pronunciation of the word, "memory". She told me that George Jones had told her to always pronounce that word exactly how it sounds naturally because it was an important word. (Since then, I have noticed that George did not stand by his own advice in reference to that word... LOL.)

            There is no way I can thank Tanya Tucker enough for helping me, but I will always think of her as the "Queen of Country Music".

Connect with country artist Scott Coner at his FB page: http://www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic.

 

 

Country Artist Scott Coner Releases New Video 'When The Angels Cry'

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 2015) – Hit country artist ScottConer has released a new song and accompanying video that reveal the often unspoken but devastating impact of domestic violence on married women.

            Scott says he was inspired to write his latest single, "When The Angels Cry", after his wife Cyndi recounted some heartbreaking incidents that happened to her mother more than 20 years ago. Scott recorded the song with top-tier session players in Nashville, and the couple teamed up to shoot a stirring video on their rural farm near Franklin, Ind. The artist hopes the song and video will be a meaningful tool for organizations that are helping abused women realize their own potential while encouraging men to overcome a lifestyle of abuse.

            To download "When The Angels Cry" song or video, visit the artist's website at www.ScottConer.com, his Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, or You Tube at https://youtu.be/SXUUgLl43TA .

            The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that one in five women have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Startling statistics show that on a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

            "I think I am passionate about the issue in part because of my own wife having to live in an abusive situation as a teenager," said Scott, who has recorded songs with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker and T. Graham Brown. "But there is more to it than that. I hate to see anyone lose her self-worth and identity because of someone else. We all deserve a voice, and we all deserve respect."

            Scott wrote the song late one afternoon while he wife was preparing dinner. It tells the story of a woman who is abused by her husband night after night. In the lyric, the woman pleads with her spouse to stop. "You've taken all that I am... There's nothing left of me but this broken wedding band... Please don't hit me again... Please don't take my life... Look into these eyes for God's sake... That's your wife."

            Stylistically, "When The Angel's Cry" was a departure for Scott, who loves to rock the house with high-energy country tunes. Given its dark topic and overall feel, he decided to keep the recording simple and bare. For the recording session, he was joined at Nashville's 515 Studio by Clint Black keyboardist Dane Bryant, Martina McBride guitarist Mike Waldren, and veteran engineer Logan Schlegel. A special console was loaned to Scott by Rob Royer, a member of the legendary 1970s pop band Bread. The resulting sound is organic, tender and heartfelt.

            "So often in my writing process, I record new music pretty quickly," Scott added. "'Angels' was a song that lived with me for years. I recognize that this song isn't a 'feel-good' piece, but I felt I had to record it. I don't know how it will be received. But if the song and video help one person, it will be worth doing a thousand times over."

            Cyndi, who runs the family's Cynnamae Media Productions, brought the black and white video to life with realistic scenes of a Southern woman battered by an intoxicated, uncaring husband. In the end, the victim finally decides to run away. But when she opens a closet door to get her suitcase, a Bible falls out onto the floor. Listeners/viewers can hear Scott singing the chorus. "When the angels cry... You can almost taste the tears... Flowing like a river... It's been dammed up for years...."

            "To me, the Bible signifies hope and resolve in knowing there is a better life out there for her," continued Scott, who noted that the video features performances by a local couple and Scott and Cyndi's youngest daughter, Taylor. "One of the things I wanted to point out is that abuse happens in all parts of society."

            Scott Coner has recorded songs with a who's who of country legends including Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, and Charlie Daniels. Scott's single "Maybe She Lied", a duet with Tucker on Reedy's Dream Records, hit number one on the United Kingdom's Hot Disk Top 40. Other songs, including "Sanibel" (a duet with Brown) and "Reedy's Dream" (with vocal and instrumental contributions from Daniels) have been heard on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Also an emerging author, Scott recently penned the book "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant and Me" with Gene Odom, a survivor of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash.

            To learn more about Scott Coner or to download his songs and videos, visit www.ScottConer.com.

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Scott Coner: I Will Forever Be Grateful to Charlie Daniels

By Scott Coner

Singer/Songwriter/Author

     (Artist's Note: I've been fortunate to work with a host of acclaimed musicians during my music career. One of the highlights of my musical and personal life was the time I spent with Grand Ole Opry star Charlie Daniels. I hope you enjoy the following story.)

Country artist Scott Coner

     I recorded my song "Reedy's Dream" with Charlie Daniels. It's a song about my grandfather. Charlie played mandolin and fiddle, and sang backing vocals on the piece. I will forever be grateful to that man for giving his time and talent to me. I suppose it was this song that allowed me to see that maybe I could do pretty well as a songwriter and singer.

     As far as Charlie Daniels is concerned, I just remember how truly kind he was to me. The night we finished up recording, I drove him through the countryside to his bus. It was waiting to pick him up at an elementary school somewhere near Mt. Juliet, Tenn. It was foggy that night, and I remember thinking how awful it would be to have an accident in my vehicle and hurt a national treasure. 

     As we pulled into the parking lot, I told him one day that I would like to warm up for him. He told me to keep on with what I was doing, and he'd be warming up for me. That very weekend, I think, he was at the Superbowl playing with other country performers as the halftime act.

     I also remember sitting at the sound board with him while he was tuning his fiddle. I told him that I had seen him while I was in high school at Market Square Arena, and the place had been sold out. He looked at me and grinned and played the hook from "Devil Went Down To Georgia".

      Charlie and I had talked throughout the session about his past friendship with Toy Caldwell and Ronnie Van Zant. I was very familiar with Charlie's work with Toy, and I think that was pleasing to him. I had grown up on Southern Rock and Country music, and I told him some of the funny stories from my childhood and teen years as we had listened to his music so intently. "Took off runnin' like a motorcycle" was a line from the CDB song, "Trudy", that had become slang for, "trying to get away" in our weird little circle of friends.

     I also remember him telling me how he had regretted certain lines in the song, "Long Haired Country Boy", but I am not sure he would want me to share that information in-depth. But, Charlie had/has a solid relationship with Christ, and I know he would never want to steer anyone away from their relationship with God.  

     You can view/listen to my "Ready's Dream" video at https://youtu.be/iCrBWICNyYM . I hope you enjoy it. Your comments are much appreciated! Visit my website at www.ScottConer.com to hear my songs, watch other videos, or learn more about me.