Scott Coner has recorded songs with a who's who of country legends including Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, and Charlie Daniels. Visit the Scott Coner Music Blog for news and insights from this one-of-a-kind country artist.
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
Our
oldest daughter turns 21 years old this Tuesday. Her name is Emily Sae, and in
many ways, I believe she has been the bond that allowed my wife and I to stay
together. It was pretty tough back then when Cyndi and I got together. But,
when Emily came along, all bets were off. There wasn’t anything in the world I
wouldn’t do for my family, and you can bet my wife feels the same. I’ll never
forget the day when Cyndi told me I was going to be a dad. She and I were still
a long way from being on our feet financially, but we both knew God had his
hand on our little family. He still does.
Emily and family dog Brandy Scott Coner and daughter Emily
Cyndi
had this pretty green maternity top that I thought she looked gorgeous in. I
remember walking with her holding her hand. I didn’t know how to be a dad. I
didn’t know how to hold a baby. I didn’t know how to do anything. But Emily was
on her way. Her arrival was special. To me, it was like the arrival of a
princess. Cyndi and I took her back to our little house, and we were both
mesmerized by her beauty. I remember going to her crib in the mornings and her
little arms and legs would be moving with excitement. I would reach down, lift
her up, and hold her next to me and I could hear her tiny sounds of
satisfaction as I carried her to our bed and put her between Cyndi and me. She
would lie there all warm, just looking at both of us. When she smiled, my eyes
usually filled with tears. I had no idea I could love someone so much.
As
years went by, Emily continued to amaze me. She and I would turn the stereo on
sometimes, and we would slow dance in our living room. Her long blonde hair
made her look angelic. We would read books together. We watched television
together. We did as much as possible together. I used to love watching Cyndi
get Emily dressed. She always had her looking pretty sharp no matter where we
went. She would put her in front of the mirror and brush her golden hair. When
her mommy was finished working with her, she would bounce into the living room
with her ponytail flopping as she laughed.
Click above to watch video
I
miss those moments. I miss that laughter. But I don’t miss those feelings. That
love I had back then is only stronger today because it never left. My mind
still goes back to the times we have been able to share as a family. Our second
daughter Taylor came into the world about three years after Emily, and it has
been non-stop devotion around here. We are proud of our daughters beyond
measure. I truly believe that both of our girls are something pretty special.
But this week Emily turns 21 years old. She won’t hit the bars like a lot of
young people. She won’t tolerate that behavior in her world. She will continue
to pursue knowledge and develop into a woman of great integrity. Our lives are
much, much better because of Emily Sae. If I could, I’d tell you all kinds of
stories about her. The problem is, my eyes are full of water as I sit here
writing this. The feelings of love, joy, pride and a bit of sadness seem to be
getting the best of me. Happy Birthday, Emily. Thank you for allowing me to be
in your life. I’ll be right here for you until my last breath.
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
I met
Kenny about six months ago. Steve Dean, Carol Chase and I had just finished
co-writing a song together, and we felt good enough about the piece to get it
recorded. I had been working around Nashville in three different studios, but I
had been looking for a place that put more emphasis on vocals. The next thing I
knew I found myself in Kenny Royster’s studio and I immediately realized that
this guy had a special talent that I needed to add to my music.
Kenny
is originally from Portland, Oregon. He also attended college in Oregon as well
but soon afterward moved out to L.A. While he was out there, he began playing
lead guitar and singing lead vocals in a pretty solid rock band that worked
steady six days a week in California, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon. It was during
this season that he began to record his band with whatever equipment he could
get his hands on. He eventually built a home studio and continually upgraded
his gear as time and money allowed. He had a natural talent that allowed him to
work with an established producer that had worked in the band, “Sugar Loaf”
(Green Eyed Lady) earlier in the 70’s rock world. Kenny told me that he used
himself as a guinea pig as he developed his approach to recording. It was also
during this time that he won a songwriting contest in Sacramento and more
people began to hear about him. His small home studio was flourishing, but the
idea of moving to Nashville had started to make sense.
Kenny Royster
Upon arriving in Nashville, Kenny met a drummer
that was already hooked up with several capable studio players around town.
Kenny set his studio up in a modest area and started working primarily in doing
sessions for song demos. (A song demo is usually provided by the songwriter for
an artist or a publisher to consider) Kenny told me that he began setting the
studio up in blocks of time. He and his players would cut demos all day long
and then he would begin doing a follow up on the vocals and the mixes that
evening. They stayed busy because they were doing excellent work at very
affordable prices.
Rene’
Grant Williams, the well -known vocal coach, began bringing her students to
Kenny’s studio. This gave her students a great experience, and it gave Kenny a
personal insight on better understanding the dynamics of helping singers
working in the studio. The band “Lonestar” and Trace Adkins were just a few of
the artists’ that showed up with Mrs. Williams. Upper tier songwriters began
bringing their material to Kenny as well. Songwriters like, Buddy Jewell, Paul
Overstreet, Dickey Lee, Craig Campbell, and Don Goodman started showing up with
potential hit songs. The accumulative hours have flown by. I believe it is safe
to say that Kenny Royster is a journeyman in his field of business. He has done
great work for many artists including myself. I have seen first hand what he
can accomplish, and it’s pretty fascinating to watch. Because of his attention
to details, I have actually gone into his studio and re-recorded two of my
songs. He understands the dynamics that I am pursuing. He listens to what I
have to say and then he offers outstanding advice.
At
the time of this blog, Kenny is working away in his studio. He also currently
has a number one song he co-wrote and recorded for a band called, “The Long and
Short of It” in Australia. Three months prior he also had the #4 song in
Australia with the same duo. He has been working in early development with an
upcoming Sony artist named, Luke Combs. It is safe to say that Kenny will be
around Nashville for a long time to come. I have worked with several different
producers as well as engineers all around Nashville, and I can confidently say
Kenny is light years ahead of them. Because he is a singer himself, he
understands vocals and how to best record them. He has played guitar in a band.
He has felt that special “live” sound we all chase while working in a studio.
He has taken the art of recording music to a much higher level, and I am truly
honored to call him a friend. He’s one those people behind the scenes that have
developed music into something that takes your breath away. That is very
cool.
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
This
week I wanted to do a follow-up on last week’s blog about Carol Chase. Last
week we discussed Carol’s time spent in LA, her transition into Nashville that
finally resulted in joining Lynyrd Skynyrd. Today, I’d like to get into
songwriting and her views on the subject. I think people don’t always consider
the source of a song. We want to believe that every song we hear on the radio
is absolutely based on real life events and this is not always the case.
Last
night I spoke with Carol on the telephone. She told me that from her
perspective, some songs are “made up emotions I haven’t necessarily even felt
before.” These are often songs that show themselves when working with
co-writers. There is a much different climate in the room when working in this
situation. It’s possible that songwriters don’t always get quite as personally
invested when co-writing. But that doesn’t mean the songs lack conviction or
application for the listener.
Carol Chase in the studio
A
great example of a song that Carol co-wrote a while back for Pam Tillis is, “Do
You Know Where Your Man Is Tonight?” She co-wrote the song with Russell Smith,
(Amazing Rhythm Aces/ Third Rate Romance), and Dave Gibson (Queen of Memphis
and It Don’t Come Easy). This song went on to be a top ten hit for Tillis and
obviously connected with many people. I personally believe that if you put two
or three very talented writers in a room for a few hours that a pretty great
song is going to show itself. Songwriters have a way of bouncing ideas off of
each other. While writing with Carol, I have noticed that as the theme of a
song begins to appear, she begins asking what the song means to me. She wants
to understand where I think the song is headed. We discuss some of the points
and immerse ourselves back into the material at hand.
Carol
says that she likes to start a song with a simple idea. “I like to follow the
song and see where it goes. I have written songs and eventually recorded
them. There have been some pretty
emotional moments for me during this process. I have actually had to step away
from the microphone a few times because the song speaks to me so powerfully.
It’s a bit odd, but I think as songwriters we are laying some of our most
personal feelings out there for everyone to see. Broken relationships, failure,
as well as moments of pure bliss often end up in the songs we write. In the
end, we have left all of our secrets written and recorded for the ages.”
Songwriters are like the rest of us. There have been artists that have
impacted them. Carol says that Don Henley, Anita Baker, and Marvin Gay are a
few of those artists that she identifies with. “I like artists that are
soulful,” Carol said. “During my career, I have written country music primarily
but, there have been certain songs that could have easily gone pop or even rock
with the right artist and producer.”
Scott Coner and Carol Chase in the recording of their cover song Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
I
have been fortunate in the fact that I have been able to write and record with
Carol. Many of the coolest and most important lines in our songs are because of
her. Her natural energy and drive works well with me. I don’t have a habit of
working with people that are too laid back. I enjoy staying focused and on
topic. Carol takes songwriting seriously just like me. I think this is one of
the reasons that I have truly enjoyed working with her. Yes, she is in Skynyrd.
But, there is an awful lot of depth to Carol. I recommend that you take the
time to check her songs out. She is one of those people that you won’t forget.
She is a woman with a legacy.
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
Carol Chase has had a pretty amazing career. She hasn’t had too many of the low points we so often read about. She has had success on the West Coast as well as Nashville. She has been the lead vocalist on countless commercials. She has rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty. She has penned a number one country song. She has worked with many of the Nashville legends including George Jones. And by the way, she sings in Lynyrd Skynyrd. I have talked with and worked alongside many artists that have had great success. But honestly, I don’t believe I know anyone as driven and as focused as Carol Chase. She understands the business of music itself. She understands the process of writing a song. And she knows what she wants to accomplish next.
Recently, I have talked about the concept of knowing what it is that defines us. We must qualify just what it is that we hope to accomplish. After beginning our journey, we may need to change course a bit. It is during these times that far too many of us lose all direction and simply give up. This is part of what makes Carol special. She realized early that she needed to change paths. She had graduated from the University of North Dakota, gotten married, and given birth to a perfect baby girl but adjustments needed to happen. The following is part of Carol’s story in Carol’s words:
Photo of Carol Chase downtown Nashville Tennessee
“When my husband, myself, and our year old baby moved to Reno, we did so because my friend from my home town was living there with a former bass player I'd worked with while in college. I'd wanted to go straight to L.A. but really didn't know anyone there. I loved living in Reno, and while I was out there, I entered a talent contest and won the chance to sing with an established singer from the area who played up in Lake Tahoe.
I sang back-up with him and did several solos within the show like, 'Since I Fell For You,' "The Games People Play,' to mention a few. I met a successful producer at the Sahara Tahoe, a casino that's not there anymore, and he said I should move to L.A. to pursue my career. About a year later, I did just that, packing my 2.5-year-old into my red, Super Beetle car, and headed to L.A.
I heard of a keyboard player that did a lot of gigs and went to a club to get up and sing a few songs with him. That turned into playing lots of weddings with the band, and the keyboardist told me that he was playing for an audition for a Disneyland gig at the Tomorrow Land stage, where they needed a girl to front a four piece band that would play all the current hits. I did the audition and got the gig over 50 other girls. I sang, 'My Way,' and 'Proud Mary,' if you can imagine! I moved down to Orange County and did 6, 30-minute shows, starting at 11 in the morning. That was a great gig for me, cause the musical director of Disneyland had me sing background on single shows with Olivia Newton John, Blood, Sweat, & Tears, Rickey Nelson...(am I dating myself)? ☺
Photo of Carol Chase downtown Nashville Tennessee
Anyway, I knew I had to get up to L.A. to really get in the game, so I finally got enough nerve to move and landed a gig on the weekends in a small supper club on Ventura Blvd. with a trio. I met tons of stunt men. Eastwood, D. Hoffman, Burt Reynolds and more that I now forget. I was kinda’ poor, but eventually met a commercial writer and producer who came into the club on Ventura and he hired me to sing some national commercials...McDonald's, Murantz, Hallmark, some car companies that I've forgotten...
I'd bring my daughter to the studio with me at night, cause I had no one in my family who lived in California or anywhere nearby. My daughter thought it was a pizza parlor and always asked, 'where's the pizza, Mama?' Cute..
I was home at nights with my daughter when I wasn't working and had a little Wurlitzer that I would write on. I was living in a small, cheap, apartment right of Van Nuys Blvd..(not a great place to say the least) and it was there that I wrote the song 'We Belong Together'. Susie Allanson and I were friends, and I played her the song one day. Her producer was her husband. He loved the song and recorded it on her. She had a #2 in Billboard and #1 in Cashbox.
From there, I was still singing in the club on Ventura. A guy starting the record label, Casablanca West, came in and started using me on Demos. He offered me a record deal after about six months on the new label they were starting. There was already Casablanca (Kiss, Donna Summer), and this was their country section. I sang a song that he wrote, which was used in 'Every Which Way But Loose' I also worked on the background vocals for the “Grease” soundtrack. My career was going well, but I had reservations about the L.A. school system. I finally decided to move to Nashville.
After arriving in Tennessee, I found work pretty quickly. I did backing vocals for classic artists such as Tanya Tucker, Lee Greenwood, Ronnie Millsap, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Moe Bandy, and George Jones. I was staying busy working in the studio, but no one would consider me as an artist because I wasn’t
25 anymore.
Scott Coner and Carol Chase cover of Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale
I had been singing an awful lot and ended up with vocal problems that required four different surgeries. The four vocal operations were spread over about 15 years. (Two vocal hemorrhages where they cauterize the blood vessel on the vocal chords. One node removal operation, and a final 'big' operation here in Nashville to fix all the other problems caused by the first three operations.)
When I got the Skynyrd gig, I was getting hired all the time for back-up sessions and for demo sessions. (I'd sing the song for the songwriter.) I also had a publishing deal. I'd always wanted to be a solo artist; my record deal had fallen apart about 1.5 years after I got it. But that was now about 12 years in the past. So, when I got a call from Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, I just went for it. I had a vibrant life in the music biz here in Nashville, and things weren't slowing down at all. I just wanted to be on stage and see what that 'rush' would be like. This was an opportunity to try that out with an established, famous group. What an opportunity and learning experience, that was for me! I auditioned with the band down in Ft. Meyers, Florida and basically the rest is history...”
Album photo of Scott Coner & Carol Chase's cover Whiter Shade of Pale
Next week, I think I’ll stay on topic with Carol. (If you have questions you would like to ask her, just let me know.) As I have said many times, music has allowed me to meet and work with some amazing people. I am the father of two daughters. I don’t know for sure what career paths they will be taking, but I hope they are focused and driven like Carol Chase.
