franklin, Tennessee
31 Years Old

writer profile >

BIOGRAPHY

Since Melissa has been songwriting professionally, she’s had cuts by several major recording artists including Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Phil Stacey, David Nail, John Paul White, Maia Sharp, and Jonathan Singleton among others. She is a recipient of the 2004 ASCAP Country Music Awards for writing the country single “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain” for Reba McEntire, one of the year’s most played songs as well as a number one video hit on CMT.

Melissa has penned two recent international hits. Doc Walker’s “I Am Ready” went top 10 in Canada in 2005. Bella’s “Tumbling Down” went top 10 in Australia in 2004. Melissa is a native of Bucks County Pennsylvania and currently writes for Dann Huff's publishing company, Crosstown Music Publishing. Melissa released her first independent solo album "Lonesome Lullaby" earlier this year which incorporates her acoustic/country/bluegrass/pop influences.

LEVEL

professional

GENRES

Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country, Bluegrass

PUBLISHING COMPANY

Crosstown Music Publishing /Roger's Dream Music, major publishing company

Contact

Publishing: Crosstown Music Publishing

P.R.O.

BMI

INSTRUMENTS

acoustic guitar / mandolin / piano / vocals

INFLUENCES

patty griffin/ shawn colvin/ the beatles/ patsy cline/ julie miller

DAY JOB

i am lucky enough to be a full time songwriter and artist.

I AM INTERESTED IN

in pitching songs to artist
in pitching songs to tv

I WRITE:

For a living

I Also Write:
by myself
with others
for myself
for others

I Prefer To Write:
lyrics
melody
music

experience >

SONG CUTS

carrie underwood "that's where it is"/ reba mcentire "i'm gonna take that mountain"/ leann rimes "won't be lonely long"/ phil stacey "you are mine"/ david nail "red light"/ maia sharp "the edge"/ jonathan singleton "probably just time"/ john paul white "come over, over my head, losing me"/ faith hill "why do i"/ cyndi thompson "the other side"/

SONG PLACEMENTS

carrie underwood "that's where it is" in the new renee zellweger/harry connick jr. movie "new in town".

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

ASCAP award for "i'm gonna take that mountain" reba mcentire.

OTHER SONG OR ALBUM CREDITS

vocals on capitol records release kids country volumes 1&2;.

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Legends: Bobby Braddock

In Nashville, most successful songwriters have a fairly short run. On hit, one year, two years, five years. Occasionally, we get one whose career approaches the length of a real career or, more often, one who has a few years success, then slips into oblivion, only to emerge again for another brief era of hit-making.

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Legends: Rickie Lee Jones

She speaks softly, not unlike the way she sings --soft, soulful passages, almost like secrets to the closest of friends --punctuated by bursts of exaltation. It's much like the span of emotion in her work, and in her new record, Balm in Gilead, which veers from the pure, naked heartbreak of "Bonfires" to the elation of "Old Enough," to the beautiful "Wild Girl," which celebrates the 21st birthday of her daughter, while simultaneously reflecting on the unchained fervor of her own wild days.

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Legends: Robert Earl Keen

As singer/songwriters go, Robert Earl Keen doesn't seem like the kind of artist who could honestly be accused of sloth. But despite a catalog choked with characters and conversations pulled from a colorful life, he makes that very claim on "Something That I Do," a track where he brags of his ability to not let work get in the way of an otherwise pleasant afternoon.

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Townes Van Zandt: Facets, Faults & Fractures

It's 10 o'clock at night on an abandoned Music Row. The year is 1985. In a third-floor office in an old house that serves as the offices for the Oak Ridge Boys' Silverline/Goldline Music Publishing, Steve Earle brings the chair he's leaning back in down hard, flipping his hair out of his eyes for emphasis.