Originally published in DoSavannah
It’s a chance to get an insider’s view of the industry, all while enjoying some great country music — but if you don’t already have a ticket, you may be out of luck.
The Mars Theatre in Springfield will present “Hit Songwriters in the Round with Hannah Dasher” on Jan. 31. Dasher, a Springfield native, is a professional songwriter and performer, and the show has already sold out.
“In Nashville, it’s common to go to songwriter rounds,” she says. “Some songwriters travel on weekends to perform.
“The TV show ‘Nashville’ has gained a lot of popularity,” Dasher says. “As a result, the Bluebird Cafe has also gained a lot of popularity and has become one of Nashville’s biggest tourism draws.”
Featured prominently in “Nashville,” the series, the Bluebird Cafe hosts struggling and established singer/songwriters, who showcase their latest songs in an intimate, communal dinner-theater setting.
“I wanted to bring the Bluebird to Effingham County,” Dasher says. “I want folks to see where the music actually comes from, and to see what I’ve been doing up in Nashville.
“There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. And this is a really entertaining way to listen to the songs they grew up loving, and to new songs they may fall in love with.”
The show truly will be a behind-the-scenes look, as well as a concert.
“People who live eight hours away don’t get to see an actual songwriters show and where the music actually comes from,” Dasher says. “I’m going to bring the Bluebird Cafe to Effingham County for folks to see and hear what I’ve been doing up in Nashville.
“There’s so much goes on behind the scenes. They won’t see everything, but they can learn about where songs are coming from.
“It will be really entertaining on top of that,” Dasher says. “I’m bringing three of the best songwriters in Nashville.”
Roger Cook, James LeBlanc and Wynn Varble have all co-written songs with Dasher. They also have penned several country and rock and roll standards throughout their careers.
“One is actually in the Hall of Fame and the other two will be,” Dasher says.
Cook was born in Bristol, England, but has spent most of his professional songwriting career in Nashville. He has received many honors, including five Ivor Novello awards.
A member of the Society of Distinguished Songwriters, Cook is the only British songwriter ever to enter the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs have been recorded by Elton John, Ray Charles, John Prine, Johnny Cash and Don Williams.
Cook is in the Hall of Fame as a result of hits such as “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” and “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” which was used extensively by Coca-Cola in its advertising.
“I admire his long-standing career, his humility, and his sense of humor.” Dasher says. “We played a benefit together last fall and became instant buddies.
“He is the closest thing to British rock and roll that I’ll ever get to experience,” she says. “He has lived the dream and worked with everybody.”
Varble discovered country music through his father’s collection of classic country albums. He even traded his big brother’s Grand Funk Railroad album for a copy of Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” — and still has a scar to prove it.
After moving to Nashville, Varble’s first radio single was “Fit To Be Tied Down” by Sammy Kershaw. Since then, he has had dozens of hits, including No. 1 tunes that were nominated as Song Of The Year by either the CMA or ACM and sometimes both.
The list includes “Have You Forgotten,” sung by Darryl Worley; “Waiting On A Woman,” sung by Brad Paisley; and “I’m A Little More Country Than That,” recorded by Easton Corbin.
In 2009, Varble received the Nashville Songwriters Association’s Songwriter of the Year Award. He has three songs on the new Garth Brooks CD, “Man Against Machine,” including the hit single, “Mom.” Varble made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2011.
“Wynn Varble is also from Georgia,” Dasher says. “He is a comedian, and he’s also become a mentor of mine.
“He’s written for Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson, too many to name. He brings his best into the writing room every day.
“He’s one of the most talented folks I work with,” she says. “He’s a good friend, as well.”
LeBlanc started playing guitar at the age of 3, inspired by his father.
“My dad had guitars sitting everywhere around the house growing up,” he says. “I guess you could say I had no other choice but pick up the guitar and learn how to do what he was doing. I wanted to be just like him.”
In 2001, due to the influence of The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Jimmy Page, LeBlanc moved to Muscle Shoals, Ala., where he landed his first publishing deal. He spent his time traveling back and forth to Nashville to write songs that were recorded by artists including Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Travis Tritt.
“I call James my soul brother,” Dasher says. “I heard him play a couple of years ago before I got my publishing deal.
“I heard him playing live and was so impressed with him. I thought, ‘One day I hope I get to write with this guy.’”
Dasher’s producer is Jeff Stevens, who has written numerous No. 1 country singles and is the sole producer for superstar Luke Bryan. Stevens immediately recognized her vocal prowess, upbeat personality and potential to become a hit songwriter and artist.
Dasher was presented the ASCAP Harold Adamson Award and was honored at the Lincoln Center in New York City. She is signed to BMG Chrysalis in Nashville and is actively recording material for her debut album and garnering interest from several labels. In 2013, Dasher played Patsy Cline in “A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline,” presented by the Savannah Theatre. In the production, she sang 20 of Cline’s biggest hits, including “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and “Sweet Dreams.”
Ironically, Dasher says her first cassette, “Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits,” taught her how to sing. “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline” was Dasher’s first job after graduating from the University of Georgia.
“It was a blast,” she says. “It was fun to play dress up and sing classic country music,
“It was a wonderful first job and wonderful exposure,” Dasher says. “I’m so thankful for my Savannah Theatre family.”
When the production ended, Dasher moved to Nashville to pursue a full-time music career.
“I had faith all along God wanted me there,” Dasher says. “He has plans, although the timing takes some adjustment.
“You can’t get everything you want when you want it, where you want it. But I’m having a ball.
“I’m still working with Jeff Stevens,” she says. “I’m writing songs, praying for a major cut, and they’re starting to pitch me to labels this year. We’re even considering pushing a single on Sirius Highway Finds – moving things forward.”
“I have a great team of people that really believe in me,” she says. “But I am the engine that’s driving the train, so I’ve got to put as much as I can to this.”
Country music has always been Dasher’s passion.
“I grew up singing,” she says. “My mother said I used to sing along with the radio.
“My parents exposed me to great music, to late ’80s and early ’90s country and Motown,” Dasher says. “Keith Whitley, the Pointer Singers, all kinds of music.”
Dasher knew early on she wanted to be a professional singer and musician.
“As soon as I could put a sentence together, I knew,” she says. “The one night a year I could stay up late as a child was for the CMA Awards in the first week in November.
“I was so blessed to grow up with great country music,” Dasher says. “It just consumed me.”
There is no such thing as a typical day for Dasher.
“One thing I love the most about my job is that no day is ever just exactly the same,” she says. “We usually go into the writing room at 10:30 a.m. and we may write at BMG or someone’s home studio.
“I try to bring my best into the room. The other writer I’ve been paired with has been hand-selected by my publisher.”
The two must above all else have good chemistry.
“It’s like a marriage,” Dasher says. “A lyric has to marry a melody and they have to complement each other.
“For me, it’s been intimidating a lot of the time. I have to bring my best ideas, which is tough when I’m co-writing so often.
“Sometimes, I just hear a great melody or lyric falling out of the sky,” she says. “That’s usually when the magic happens.”
“I have to bring my best ideas, which is tough when I’m writing,” she says. “A lot of times I just want to hear a great melody and I catch lyrics out of the sky. That’s usually when the magic happens.”
Returning to her hometown to play doesn’t bother Dasher at all.
“It’s the crowd that loves you most,” she says. “They’re also the most critical, sometimes.
“But it’s a big confidence boost and encouragement,” Dasher says. “The folks back home have been so loyal.”
Yes, the show has already sold out, but there’s hope.
“We just did yesterday late — our first one,” says Tommy Deadwyler, cultural affairs director for the city of Springfield. “But we may have some last-minute tickets available.”
Originally published on January 28, 2015.
For more information visit DoSavannah