Photo courtesy of Johnny Mullis / Gary Matheny is a Cleveland, Tennessee, resident who was recently named U.S. Male Songwriter of the Year by the International Singer-Songwriter Association.Sometimes fulfilling a dream can take a little shove, a little persistence and/or a little help.
Gary Matheny's dream of being a songwriter has taken all three, and it paid off recently when he was named U.S. Male Songwriter of the Year by the International Singer-Songwriter Association.
Like a lot of people who were young when Elvis Presley and The Beatles were lighting the music world on fire in the late '50s and early '60s, Matheny, 69, caught the bug and was in his own bands performing for dances and socials for other young pre-teens and teenagers.
Then he grew up and got a job - in his case, as a salesman who traveled a lot. Based out of Macon, Georgia, Matheny fell in love with East Tennessee and the Cleveland area in particular. Later in life he dreamed of moving there some day. About eight years ago, he retired and eventually his wife tired of his "threats" to move to the area, and told him to put up and or be quiet.
"She kinda called my hand, I guess," he said in a telephone interview.
About five years ago he decided to pursue another passion and started writing and playing music, going so far as to even create his own publishing company, 31st Street Sounds Productions.
What he didn't have was an organization that could connect him with other aspiring musicians who play or do the things he couldn't.
Enter Tamanie Dove. As the daughter of Carole Dove, a longtime mover-and-shaker in the Nashville music scene, the younger Dove was looking for a way to help people like Matheny. Three years ago, she created the International Singer-Songwriters Association, an Atlanta-based organization with about 20,000 members worldwide to serve as a bridge between the superstars of the industry and aspiring artists like Matheny.
"I was that little girl playing with Barbie dolls backstage at the Grand Ol' Opry," Dove said by phone Monday.
A songwriter herself, Dove said she wanted to model the organization after other songwriter groups such as the Nashville Songwriters Association, but she wanted to make it free to the members.
"I had a dream about it. My mom was a big-shot on Music Row in Nashville, and I just wanted to help."
Also a real estate agent, she funds it primarily with her own money, but she has enlisted other music-industry people to share their talents and advice. The organization has also created a video channel on Roku that features videos created by its members, "and we have a record label, and of course, the awards show."
Matheny joined the group not long after it was formed. Earlier this month, he was named U.S. Male Songwriter of the Year. The awards ceremony was held Aug. 5 in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
Finalists are chosen based on fan voting and an active social media presence, and then the judges choose the winner. Matheny was up for Emerging Artist and Rising Star in addition to the Songwriter of the Year honor he took home.
"This was actually my second year being up for the (songwriter) award," Matheny said.
Dove said unlike some other industry awards, the winner is not allowed to compete in a category once they've won gold for two years.
"We want new people to win, but Gary will now be a judge," she said.
Matheny has recorded two albums, "Not Looking Back" and "Renaissance Man" since returning to his music. He recorded the first in Knoxville and the second in Nashville. He is the lyricist and singer on the records. He hires "pros to do the backtracking. My brother, Mickey, does the producing."
Matheny's most recent song is "Solo Dos Gatos," or "Only Two Cats," which is about "two old guys sitting on an island in the Caribbean thinking they are something, when they are not."
Matheny said the honor is meaningful to him, but he also appreciates what the songwriter group can do for independent artists like himself.
"If I want help with some lyrics, or I need a melody or whatever, I can reach out. I needed some guitar lead work and worked with a guy from Cartersville (Georgia). We worked via Zoom."
Dove said members come from all seven continents.
"I want to bridge the gap between the CMAs and the nobodies. The people that just haven't been heard of yet," she said. "We have a lot of talented people who just didn't make the cut, whatever that cut is, for some reason."
Matheny said his original hope when he started writing was that someone like country stars Travis Tritt or Kenny Chesney would record one of his songs, but he'd also love to get a recording deal with a label, but the main appeal is that he loves to write. He occasionally writes a column for the Cleveland Daily Banner in addition to his songwriting.
"It's a really good ride, right now," he said.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Follow him on Twitter @BarryJC.
Solo Dos Gatos
It's five o'clock somewhere I've heard it said Opened my eyes-rolled outta bed Slipped on some cutoff jeans-sandals and a tank top shirt Going to the Tiki Bar cause the bar stool's where I work v Hablando con la senorita-tight shorts and long tan legs She smiles and walks away - she likes to see me beg Pour another shot of tequila - slice a lime A Not gonna go nowhere cause I'm on island time Chorus Solo dos gatos - we're sitting in an island bar Doing shots of Tequila - putting tips in a mason jar Listening to a dude play guitar-singing Buffett, Merle and Cash Solo dos gatos - we're sucking limes and getting smashed Guitar solo Bridge (key change) Palm trees - cool breeze walking on the beach at night Shrimp boiling in the pot-island ladies - in the moonlight It's always five o'clock down on Santiago Bay Me and my buddy sit and drink Tequila-all day Chorus Solo dos gatos - we're sitting in an island bar Doing shots of Tequila-putting tips in a mason jar Listening to a dude play guitar-singing Buffett, Merle and Cash Solo dos gatos - we're sucking limes and getting smashed (pause) Bring me another shot of - Tequila (draw out) I'm gonna get smashed End