Growing Along the Way

By Scott Coner

Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer and Author

     I have spent more than my share of time complaining. I have found reasons to blame others for my own shortcomings. I have pointed towards anything or anyone but me far too many times when I alone, was the culprit. Somewhere along the way, thank God, I have been able to find clarity. I have been able to humble myself long enough to accept the fact that I may have been my biggest enemy. It would be easy to blame my shortcomings on my sinful nature, but that again would be taking the blame game of original sin all the way back to Eden and not truly accepting what is deservedly mine.

     I have always felt protected by God. I have always felt in my heart that He had some type of plan for me. I’m not trying to say that I am “special” in any way. I suppose I have just truly believed in His love and protection. I know with every cell in my body that God loves and protects us all. I believe He has plans for us if we are willing to allow ourselves to be molded into what is needed.

     So it seems as though my dream of playing music is finally beginning to qualify itself as something more than just a dream. I am engaged at every level these days preparing for this new role in my life. As I have said several times before, I have allowed myself to drift away from the original dream of actually touring and meeting people and assumed that I would always be a songwriter that works behind the scenes most of the time. The change in direction has caught me off guard, and I can only say that there is just no way I could be happier. I truly look forward to what is around the corner. I want to meet people that have supported me, and my music. There have been many times when I wondered how I could go one more step, and then almost magically some kind and thoughtful person would send me a private message. I remember a lady telling me that one of my songs had helped her through the loss of her spouse. That message meant more to me than I could ever put into words. It gave me the energy to keep pushing on and not give up.

     I know now that the good Lord was there beside me all along. He gently nudged me down the path that I needed to travel in order to grow both emotionally as well as spiritually. Through the years there have been so many false starts with my music career. The cold, hard fact is, He wouldn’t allow things to truly begin until I was ready. It has been hard to live with all of this time, but I am so glad things have happened the way they did. I feel good these days. I am probably healthier than I have ever been in my life. I find myself thanking the Lord for nearly everything. I have a perfect marriage, healthy children, a beautiful home, and my parents are healthy. I think God’s timing was just different than my own, and I am absolutely fine with the outcome.

     I tell you all of this very personal information because I am willing to use myself as an example. I have made nearly every mistake imaginable, and one would think that my future would be over. But that isn’t how things always go. If you feel or have ever felt that your options were in the past, I would ask you to re-consider. These days, the way I see it is, those of us that have weathered the storms may be better served to help others along the way. We have felt the hurt and disappointment that life often brings. If we all had a perfect record, how could we listen to and help others? How could I write a song? You and I have become journeymen in this career called life. We have felt the pain that is necessary in order to understand others. We have made catastrophic mistakes, so maybe it will be easier for us not to judge others.

     What’s that? Oh, you haven’t made catastrophic mistakes? That’s ok; that’s probably just me. I have always been slow in the developmental department. Just know that you have insight like no others, and you are truly valuable. Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t lose your faith. And always remember that no matter how much water is under the bridge, it’s never too late to change your position in life. Allow yourself to, “Be who you are rather than what you have allowed yourself to become.”  

We all need each other. Don’t ever forget that.    

All Lives Matter

By Scott Coner

Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer and Author

     Do you ever think about what “could” have been when you look back on your life? Do you privately find yourself drifting off into the mist as you think about someone or something in your past for some reason? Maybe a song comes on your car radio as you drive to work that touches a part of your heart that you had assumed had healed or at least settled down thousands of days ago. “Just for a moment, I was back in school. I felt that old familiar pain. I turned to make my way back home, and the snow turned into rain.” Do you remember that old Dan Fogelberg song from the early eighties? I know I’ve mentioned it before, but that lyric still speaks volumes to me.

     From the minute we arrive in this world, there is a giant hourglass somewhere in the great beyond. Each grain of sand represents a heartbeat in our lives, and we would be well served to acknowledge this fact. Every hope and dream we put on the shelf have a string attached to it that connects to our soul. Can you stop doing what you're doing long enough to remember your original plans? I know, the world keeps spinning pretty fast these days and sometimes it’s hard to get a memory in edgewise.

     

     The truth is, we all have so much to give. It’s the way the creator made us. If He made us in his image, how can we go wrong? Deep inside of you there is a place where your dreams and passions stay. They don’t just leave, and they are a part of you. In the last few months, I have made several attempts at this same theme several different ways, but the reason I keep coming at it is it’s important. It’s important to me, and it’s important “for” you. You never know who is watching, who is listening. There are those in your circle of friends and family that need your inspiration. If you can find a way to grab hold of your destiny, then there is a pretty good chance you will give them the strength to move forward.

      I believe what I’m describing is the process required to begin building a legacy. I’m not talking about what gentle words will be used at your funeral or obituary. I’m talking about turning your life on full volume and engaging in what it is that you love. Defensively, your first thought will be to say, “My legacy is my children. My family has been everything to me, and I’ve given them my whole heart.” I don’t doubt that one bit, but I’m not really talking about your kids, although they are incredibly important with far-reaching effects on the world themselves. I’m talking about you. I believe we all have so much to give. Your personal approach to something can have earthshaking effects on someone, and that someone may be a person that you love very much.

     As a kid, I watched my very young parents start with absolutely nothing. They worked together and agreed upon certain things they would just have to live without in order to accomplish their shared dream. My dad’s brother was involved as well as his wife, and I am certain their household did without a few things in the early years. As my family put their dreams to the task, a company was born that collectively allowed thousands of families to have great paying jobs, nice homes, college opportunities, and dreams of their own. This company grew in leaps and bounds and became much, much bigger than my parent’s original dream. These days, the water has settled, and my dad is retired. He spends his days with my mom, and they can sit back and know that their legacy became a reality that touched thousands of lives in a very positive way.

     I suppose because of being given a first-row seat in witnessing a dream come full circle, and I am a believer in hard work, commitment, and passion. I watched what happens when you don’t give up even when the storms come. I don’t think for a minute that something laid upon your heart is impossible. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are more than capable of making that dream become a reality.

     I am not in any way saying for you to ditch all that you have at this moment and go chasing rainbows. What I am trying to recommend is that you put together a plan with God and your loved one’s and pursue what you truly are instead of what you may have allowed yourself to become. Don’t worry so much about your pre-existing busy schedule. There are always answers. Just make a plan, be willing to adjust as needed, and go for it. It doesn’t matter what it is. You may have originally wanted to be a clothing designer or a teacher, or nurse. You may have wanted to be a contractor or fence builder. It truly doesn’t matter. If it is on your heart and in your soul, then it is important. I’m telling you that every day matters. I’m sure you can agree with me when I say that life is short and very fragile. You are going to make a difference not only in your life but in other lives as well. I don’t believe we were put here on this earth to simply punch a timecard or get a weekly check for some mundane job. We were put here to Glorify God and live every day like it was our very last. I’m sure you have heard the slogan, “Make America Great Again”? Well, this is where we start. This is how we can change our world. This is how we begin to build a legacy that will be lasting. 

Grab a hold of it and don’t ever let go.

    

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Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at his music page. 

Talking about the Passion

By Scott Coner

Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer and Author

     People that write songs on a regular basis are a different breed of individuals. They blend in pretty well with the rest of the world because they spend quite a bit of time observing others and taking note of other peoples’ opinions and feelings on different subjects. I think the real difference that sets song people apart from others is their ability to get inside a feeling or emotion. I have been in the midst of a day thousands of times when I hear a song that just touches me in a special way with its energy or depth.

      Recently, you may have noticed me complaining about not “fitting in” where I live. I don’t mean to sound unhappy or uncaring about the people that surround me. It’s just most of my thoughts are entirely about my family or music, or something within that realm. I don’t go to car races or ball games. Instead, I find myself wishing I could sit down with other songwriters and listen to their newest material or discuss the matter itself. When I’m in Nashville, I feel like a fish back in the water. So much of what I am is a central part of the city itself. I love to look at the equipment in some of the stores that carry the finer Gibson and Martin guitars. I like to meet with friends that write and record. I like to be surrounded by what I have a passion for. In truth, this is no different than someone that loves to shop going at various malls, or a comic fan going to comic-con. We all have our passions I suppose.

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(Scott Coner at his family farm with Annabelle, Rocky, and Casey)

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     Lately, after being involved in the industry for years, certain doors have opened for me that allow the opportunity to do what I love for a living. Isn’t it odd when what you pray and hope for comes to pass? A man can’t help but be at least a little bit surprised. Yesterday, I got up early and got my workout in the gym out of the way and spent the rest of the day and evening in the confines of my studio. I don’t have windows or clocks in there on purpose. I have a bad habit of wanting to be outside if the sun is shining so it’s best to treat me like a mushroom and leave me in the dark. I am currently preparing two 45 minute sets that I will begin playing this fall as opportunities allow. Doing an acoustic set seemed challenging enough, but I wanted to put together songs that allow the listener to “feel certain feelings” and be “challenged”. The concept and title of the tour itself will be called, “Building Your Legacy.” The purpose is to engage the room itself into considering what we all bring to the table while we are here, and what we ultimately leave behind. This all goes back to being in my mid-thirties and feeling like my life didn’t have much of a direction or reason. Even though I was happy to have a young family and all that comes with it, there was another part of me that was miserable. I physically needed to be involved in music. It is what I am and without it, I don’t feel like a whole person.

     As I prepare, I will continue writing songs and recording. I will be working with a songwriter this coming July that has had eight number one hits and many top forty songs. Our videos are doing well. People seem to enjoy the music. And I actually enjoy the messages that people are kind enough to send. It brings everything full circle for me. I have made it a point to enjoy the ride as I go in whatever direction God allows. I do my very best, but I try not to worry too much because He has always been fully in control even when I acted like an ungrateful idiot.

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​(Bill Cody of WSM Radio, T. Graham Brown and Scott Coner)

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     These days what I enjoy most is the purpose that everything seems to have. Looking back, I can see that all of my writing wasn’t in vein. It was comparable to working out in a gym or running in the evening. It was just part of the practice required in order to work in a world where some of the best players on the planet congregate. This being said I am painfully aware of my own shortcomings and I in no way compare myself to these very talented people. But God has placed me here for a reason, and I will step up every chance I get. None of us know what lies around the corner in this life. But, I feel blessed beyond words to be doing what I do. And being able to occasionally be around “song people” is like a healing salve that soothes my sore muscles. My hope is that someday someone will remember my songs. I hope that they will listen to my words. And more than anything, I hope some will find inspiration in the fact that a guy from Nowhere, Indiana wouldn’t give up, so why should they? Corn grows big around here, but I promise dreams grow bigger. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that “Jack and Diane” were sittin’ outside the “Tastee Freeze” suckin’ on a chilly dog.   

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Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at his music page. 

Shot Clocks and Destiny

By Scott Coner

Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer and Author

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      Have you ever found yourself hoping for something so long that you don’t know how to react when the chance finally comes? Consider that particular relationship you have spent countless nights wishing and praying for. What about the time they gave you the basketball with three seconds on the shot clock and the game depended on you? I’m sure you have your own story. And if you don’t, you’d probably better get busy living because these are the moments that define you.

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     Years ago, twenty- two years ago to be exact, the snow was falling on a gray Saturday afternoon. My wife hadn’t consented to marry me just yet, and I had to do some pretty quick talking before my opportunity passed. You might say the three- second clock had been turned on and somebody accidentally gave me the ball. I pulled in to an empty Napa car parts store parking lot in Brown County, Indiana and poured my soul empty. I had to cover quite a bit of ground pretty fast because she would be headed back to Nashville, Tennessee the next morning. The thing was, I knew we could have a good life together, but she probably wasn’t all that convinced. And it is probably important to point out that most of the breathing male species would be willing to do about anything to have a chance at her. I remember explaining in detail every aspect of my feelings. I also remember seeing the clouds of doubt in her eyes. But, this was my chance. It was my opportunity to shoot the ball in the midst of some pretty heavy defense. Long story short, somehow, the ball went through the hoop and as I write this blog, our daughters are in the kitchen laughing with their mother as she cuts up a watermelon. Times are very good these days.

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​​(Scott Coner and his wife Cyndi)

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     More recently, I have been given the chance to finally begin playing music for a career rather than just a hobby. This is the answer to all of my dreams. But, for me to actually go on the road, I need to buckle down and put a show together. You see, for so long now, I have simply been a writer. I come up with songs, and I record them. I have become entrenched in the process of constantly moving ahead as a writer, but the truth is, I don’t remember how to play the songs I wrote well because I have always been in the process of writing instead of practicing. To top that off, I need to learn quite a bit of other material to go along with my own plethora of life stories. Honestly, rather than writing this blog, I should be out in my studio working on songs, but here I sit pecking away.

    

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     I am certain your version of unforeseen opportunity is just as terrifying as mine. Sometimes I think we are all just a bunch of clueless humans wishing and praying but somehow not expecting anything to come from it. You know, if we believe in God, and we believe in His promises, why do we not expect at least some version of answered prayer? I consider myself blessed beyond belief to have what I have. I am happy and complete in every possible way. This whole music thing is too good to get my head around sometimes, but I will truly try my best. I don’t want to let this get by me; that’s for sure. 

​     I hope all of your own wishes and prayers have come your way. If they haven’t, I hope you know that they are in the pipeline coming right at you. We are so fortunate to live here in this country. One of the truly outstanding qualities of our part of the world is that we have room for hope. We can dream. We can accomplish. And when we pray, we can expect results. Don’t ever allow yourself to lose sight of who you truly are and what you offer. Your life is important. Your thoughts are important. And your time here on this earth deserves to be well spent. Don’t ever step back and allow your dreams to diminish. The shot clock will be ticking soon, and you will find yourself holding the ball.

                         Lean back like Larry Bird and take that shot! ​

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Keep in touch!

Visit my website

Check out my Facebook

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Booking Inquiries

Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at his music page.