OCALA, FL (352today.com) – There are names you recognize in country music like Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, and Luke Combs.  These men are singers and songwriters in their own rights, but they didn’t pen all of their own hits.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  There are songwriters who craft these songs from their own experiences, wearing their hearts on their sleeves as they take pen to paper.

Experience a very special evening with three Nashville songwriters who have written hits for artists ranging from Kenny, Blake and Luke to Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, and Zac Brown Band.

Our sister radio station, 93.7 K-Country invites you to their Songwriters Showcase at the Ocala Civic Theatre, Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.  Experience some of country music’s biggest hits as they were intended to be heard by the songwriters who wrote them.

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Adam James grew up on a farm in central Illinois listening to the radio on his dad’s tractor when he’d ride along with him during harvest season.  The first song he wrote for an established artist was “Roses and a Time Machine,” recorded by Dierks Bentley.

“It was a dream come true, and a very gratifying feeling that I wasn’t crazy for chasing something like this,” Adam tells us.

In Adam’s case, the artists he has written for (including Kenny Chesney) have kept the songs nearly identical to how they were recorded for his demo.

For Colton Venner, another songwriter featured in the Songwriter’s Showcase, the opposite is true.

“This has happened several times. It’s always fun to hear their spin on [my songs].  Sometimes it turns out better than I could have imagined – sometimes it takes more getting used to.  I do think you get used to it though,” he says.  “I think it’s important for the artist to be able to sing the song and make it believable. Sometimes that means they need to switch up a few things.”

Colton has penned songs for newer artists, including “Albuquerque” for Logan Mize.

“He texted me asking if he could record it and I freaked out,” Colton tells us.  “It was really cool to hear someone else’s interpretation of the song.”

Colton says he would love to see Chris Stapleton record one of his songs.

Brett Tyler has been the man behind songs for Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Toby Keith, and Luke Bryan – just to name a few.  He tells us that many songwriters develop something called “demo-itis.”

“It’s when we get attached to the way the song sounds when we record the demo,” Brett explains.  “I’m always happy when an artist records a song I wrote and it’s fun to hear how they interpret it.  Sometimes the artist and producer take the song to the next level, and they do it in a way I’ve never imagined!”

He gives an example of that “next-level” interpretation as “Attagirl,” a song he co-wrote for Lainey Wilson.

“We knew it was a great song the day we finished it, but when I first heard the recorded version I was blown away,” Brett admits.  “The demo we did was pretty straight forward and highlighted Lainey’s voice and the lyrics. Jay Joyce, who produced it, made it really groovy and had a lot of fun with it, and I think it turned out even cooler!”

Brett Tyler wrote his first No. 1 hit, “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” with
Jameson Rodgers, Alysa Vanderheym, and Hunter Phelps.

The first song Brett wrote that was recorded by a major label artist was “I Know a Guy,” recorded by Chris Young. “I wrote it with my friend, Benjy Davis, and it was both of our first ‘cuts.’ I was really excited when Chris recorded it because it was a special song to me, and I felt like he recorded a great version of it. It was very cool to hear someone that sings as great as Chris bring it to life.”

Brett’s a huge Eric Church fan and was thrilled that Eric is featured on a song he wrote for Morgan Wallen, but his dream is to have Eric record a song Brett wrote on one of his albums.  He would also love to write for Alan Jackson.

So, what can we expect at the Songwriter’s Showcase concert?

“Hopefully, people will enjoy hearing songs in their most raw state! I love playing songwriter rounds because I get to tell stories behind the songs as well as sing them the only way I really know how,” says Brett. “People will, hopefully, be able to listen past the voice of the songwriter and concentrate more on the song.”

“You can expect a couple good buddies getting onstage and letting people witness us just hanging out and laughing and being ourselves,” Adam tells us.  “It’ll be a blast!”

Colton says it’ll be a fun time.  “Adam and Brett are awesome, so I like to think I just somehow snuck in the group,” he laughs. “We will joke around some and play some fun ones, but we will also tug on some heart strings, hopefully! Gonna be too much fun!”

Don’t miss out on an intimate evening of country music with songs performed as the writers intended them to be heard.  Get your tickets HERE before they’re gone!