Podcast appearances and mentions of Mark D Sanders

Lee Ann Womack, Sons of the Desert, Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers, Mark Wright, and me.

Cole Swindell's latest single is arguably one of the biggest of his career. A spin off the '90s classic, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” by Jo Dee Messina, Cole originally planned to tackle it as a duet with co-writer and fellow Country artist, Thomas Rhett. While on the road with Rhett's Center Point Road tour in 2021, Cole and Thomas sought to write a duet they could perform together, but after finding their stride with, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” it turned out to be a fit for only one. “Me and Thomas Rhett talked about this on tour last year, about wanting to do a song together,” Cole told Audacy's Rob + Holly. “That was the original plan, was for me and Thomas Rhett to sing, whatever this song became, together.” He continued, “The angle we wrote it in the room, it just didn't make sense really for both of us and TR is such a great writer anyways, so I'm proud to have him be a part of it.” Other songwriters on the project included Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure, as well as the writers of the original, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” Tim Nichols and Mark Sanders. “The first step was to call the original writers, Tim Nichols and Mark D. Sanders,” he said of the songs initial start. “They wrote the original Jo Dee version and we didn't know what they were going to say.” He continued, “Turns out hey were honored we chose their song to kind of put a spin on and do our own way, so we wanted them to be involved there.” Another individual they wanted to be sure to involve was Jo Dee, which they ended up doing through the music video. “We wanted her involved as much as she wanted to be in any of it,” Cole said of Jo Dee. “My first time meeting her was literally on the set of the video shoot,” he laughed. “To meet somebody you've been a fan of your whole life, to meet them on the set of the video for a song you wrote — a spin of her original — it's mind-blowing. The whole thing, but I think it's just of those things that was meant to be.” We couldn't agree more as the song is sitting at the top of the charts and leading more and more people to explore 90s Country. “I think there are kids that are literally going back and falling in love with ‘90s Country music,” Cole said. “I feel like I owe that to Country music.” Hear more about the song and what Cole has been up to by listening to his conversation with Rob + Holly above.

Listen this episode as I sit down with country singer/songwriter, Sophie Sanders. We talk about her father's influence on her career (Mark D. Sanders, "I Hope you Dance") as well as her songwriting style and her latest singles. She also plays her song "California" live!Follow Sophie on Instagram @SophieSanderz and listen to her songs wherever you stream your music.

Welcome to the third Episode of Storytelling with Mila For Kids. This time I read, I hope you dance, a story by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers about music with super nice pictures by Buddy Jackson and Karinne Caulkins. As this book is about music, I hope you enjoy listening to it. You can also get this book and follow along on the Amazon link here. Please leave me a message if you like the story and don't forget to share with friends and family. Stay home and stay safe. Host: Mila Cardenas Producer: Francisco Cardenas (the dad) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mila-cardenas/message

Alice Randall, a Harvard-educated novelist, professor, and songwriter, is the only African-American woman to have written a #1 country hit. She joins us to talk about her career as a songwriter and so much more EPISODE DETAILS: PART ONE  The guys chat about why Paul has been M.I.A. and announce a new contest for a personalized signed copy of Lamont Dozier's new autobiography. PART TWO - 7:13 mark Scott gets together with Alice Randall in Nashville to find out why her dad was so driven to highlight women's contributions to music; how she concluded that country lyrics are the modern day equivalent of metaphysical poetry and 17th Century Puritan sermons; the encouragement she received from Hal David; why she spent hours studying lyrics in the basement of the Country Music Hall of Fame; the reason that Steve Earle cussed her out; why it's harder to be a woman in country music than to be black; and her theory that country music should be defined as three chords and four specific truths. ABOUT ALICE RANDALL Alice Randall is a Harvard-educated African-American novelist who lives in Nashville and writes country songs. Along with Matraca Berg, Alice co-wrote Trisha Yearwood’s chart-topping single “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” making her the first—and, so far, only—African-American woman to write a #1 country hit. Additionally, she co-wrote Mo Bandy’s Top 40 hit “Many Mansions,” as well as Judy Rodman’s “Girls Ride Horses, Too,” which was the first Top 10 written by either Alice or her co-writer, future Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mark D. Sanders. After forming an early songwriting partnership with Steve Earle, Alice went on to have her songs recorded by a long list of artists, including Holly Dunn, Marie Osmond, Glen Campbell, Jo-El Sonnier, Walter Hyatt, Pat Alger, Matraca Berg, Radney Foster, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Crystal Gayle, and Hank Thompson. Along with Mark O’Connor and Harry Stinson she wrote the groundbreaking “Ballad of Sally Anne.” Alice is a New York Times Bestselling novelist who has authored The Wind Done Gone, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, Rebel Yell, Ada's Rules, and the forthcoming Black Bottom Saints, which is partially inspired by her formative years in Detroit. In addition to her fiction writing, Alice teamed with her daughter, Caroline Randall Williams, to write Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family. She is currently a Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University where she teaches a number of courses, including Country Lyric in American Culture. She was featured in Ken Burns’ acclaimed Country Music documentary spotlighting the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans to the genre’s development. Not only does she write songs, but Randall thinks deeply about, and is deeply moved by, the literary value of song lyrics.   

The Grammy-winning songwriter behind “There’s Your Trouble” (Dixie Chicks),  “I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack), and “That’d Be Alright” (Alan Jackson) talks about her heartbreaking personal losses, her professional triumphs, and how they’ve all worked together to make her the person and songwriter she is today.   EPISODE DETAILS: PART ONE Scott and Paul chat about great songs they never want to hear again. PART TWO - 12:21 mark Find out how you can enter to win a free CD! PART THREE - 14:27 mark Tia drops in at Songcraft World Headquarters to discuss how wandering into the kitchen of the Bluebird Cafe at age 15 changed her life; why she knew she wanted to sit in a circle with songwriters swapping jokes and telling stories before she knew she wanted to write actual songs; how a desperate classmate's plea for her notes led to her first hit single; the two things that must come together for a writer to be truly successful; what "cruel" thing Mark D. Sanders said to her that turned out to be right; why her biggest hit is also a big weight on her shoulders; what tricks she uses to stay engaged in the songwriting process; why she wishes she was a man; and how her husband's untimely death has shaped her as a person and a songwriter. Though best known as the co-writer of Lee Ann Womack’s classic “I Hope You Dance,” Tia Sillers has written successful singles in various genres, establishing herself as one of Nashville’s great songwriters. After scoring with Top 10 singles by George Ducas and Pam Tillis, she hit the top of the country charts with the Dixie Chicks’ recording of “There’s Your Trouble.” Additional charting country singles followed by artists such as Suzy Bogguss, Pinmonkey, Tammy Cochran, Trisha Yearwood, and Alan Jackson, who scored a huge hit with “That’d Be Alright.” In addition to her country success, Tia has landed several songs on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock chart, including Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” which spent a total of six weeks in the number one slot. She also found success in Christian music when she and Hall of Fame songwriter Bill Anderson won the Dove award for Country Song of the Year after the Oak Ridge Boys recorded their song “Jonah, Job, and Moses.” Other artists who’ve covered Tia’s songs include Martina McBride, Randy Travis, Trace Adkins, Diamond Rio, John Waite, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Patti Page, Jennifer Lopez, and Gladys Knight. She has won Song of the Year honors from the Grammys, the CMA, the ACM, NSAI, and BMI. Tia has additionally taken home awards from the Canadian Country Music Association and the Billboard Music Awards.  

Mark D. Sanders is a songwriter with more than 200 songs cut by recordings artists, 50 have been singles and 14 number one songs. Some of his songs are instantly recognizable. His most famous song "I Hope You Dance" was recorded by Lee Ann Womack and other noteworthy songs "Victim of the Game" by Garth Brooks, "Money in the Bank"by John Anderson and "Blue Clear Sky" by George Strait and many others. In 2009, Mark D. Sanders was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Don't touch that dial, Mark D. Sanders is next...only on The Paul Leslie Hour. Support The Paul Leslie Hour by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-paul-leslie-hour

IN THIS EPISODE: PART ONE Scott and Paul catch up on the latest Songcraft news and chat about some of their favorite songs about Nashville. PART TWO - 16:06 mark  Wanna learn how to be like Mark D. Sanders? You can start with Patreon. The guys tell you where to check it out. PART THREE - 18:13 mark Scott heads over to Mark's house in Nashville to get the inside scoop on how music helped him survive a troubled home life growing up; why he had trouble co-writing with people who had more success than he had; the co-writer who taught him he could have fun and write a song at the same time; his battles with severe depression; the demo singer he credits with boosting his career; the famous song that inspired the chord progression of "I Hope You Dance;" and the ethical reason he decided to walk away from commercial country music culture after decades of success. ABOUT MARK D. SANDERS Southern California native Mark D. Sanders moved to Nashville just before turning 30 and began building a career as a professional songwriter that eventually spawned 25 Top 10 hits, including more than a dozen #1 singles. His list of chart-topping hits includes “Mirror Mirror” by Diamond Rio, “Money in the Bank” by John Anderson, “Daddy’s Money” by Ricochet, “It Matters to Me” by Faith Hill, “No News” by Lonestar, “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina, “Blue Clear Sky” by George Strait, “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” by Trace Adkins, and “That’d Be Alright” by Alan Jackson. Other artists who’ve recorded Mark’s songs include Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Tracey Lawrence, Trisha Yearwood, and Guy Clark.   Sanders was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association in 1995 and 1996, and ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 1997. Lee Ann Womack’s recording of “I Hope You Dance” earned him Song of the Year honors from NSAI, ASCAP, the ACM and the CMA, as well as a Grammy for Best Country Song and a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year across all categories. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.

Today on The Troubadour I visit with Hays, KS native and K-State alum, turned Nashville transplant, Blake Chaffin.  Soon after graduating college Blake made the journey to Music City USA and started piecing together what has today become not only a admirable career as a songwriter, but also a successful career as an entrepreneur with a business he built from the ground up.  As a songwriter, Blake gutted it out in Nashville while honing his craft leading him to eventually secure a multi year publishing.  He has went on to write with established and well known songwriters like Mark D. Sanders and Robert Earl Keen, as well as successful artists like Brantley Gilbert, Dustin Lynch and Logan Mize.  Blake can easily be described as a prolific songwriter, penning over 120 new songs in 2017 alone. In this interview Blake exhibits just how important developing relationships with other people in the industry is and can be.  Blake’s work ethic and approach to the craft of songwriting is something to be respected and should serve as an example for aspiring writers looking to succeed in a sea of competition. www.thetroubadourpodcast.com www.facebook.com/thetroubadourpodcast www.instagram.com/thetroubadourpodcast/ twitter: @thetroubadourP1

One of Nashville's great songwriters, Mark D Sanders along with Michael Gray from the Country Music Hall of Fame, recorded May 24, 2012 at WSM Radio in Nashville.   Mark was being honored at the Hall of Fame's "Poets & Prophets" series.