The Arts Center of Cannon County presents Summer Songwriter’s Night Featuring Bobby Taylor, Steve Leslie & John Wayne Wiggins Friday, May 25 at 7:30PM Join us for a special evening with three of the best songwriters in Music City who between them have numerous accolades and awards and close to 100 songs recorded by various acts. Billboard Top 10 songwriterBobby Taylor is joined by songwriters Steve Leslie and John Wayne Wiggins to showcase their original music. Information on the songwriters: Bobby Taylor is a Nashville Songwriter/Singer/Actor. He has had songs recorded by Montgomery Gentry “Hillbilly Shoes,” Ty Herndon “A Man Holdin’ On To A Woman Lettin’ Go,” Billy Ray Cyrus “Did I Forget To Pray,” Neal McCoy “Betcha Can’t Do That Again,” Rick Trevino “Mary’s Just A Plain Jane,” Shannon Lawson “Chase the Sun,” Doug Supernaw “Daddy Made The Dollars,” and many other Nashville based recording artists. He has performed on many stages as an actor including The Lamb’s Theater (New York City), The Grand Old Opry, The Cumberland County Playhouse, and the historic Ryman Auditorium.
Steve Leslie received his BM in Guitar/Jazz Studies from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. After teaching privately in Tallahassee, Florida for eight years, Steve moved to Nashville in 1992. He was signed to a staff songwriting position at EMI Music Publishing shortly thereafter, where he had songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, and Neal McCoy, to name a few. Steve received a Grammy certificate for the title cut to Ricky Skaggs’ 2004 Grammy- winning Best Bluegrass Album of the Year, “Brand New Strings”. Steve signed to Stage Three Music Publishing in 2005. Since 2007 he has maintained a career as an independent songwriter and music Publisher with recorded works by Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, and Darius Rucker, all written by Steve. As an educator, Steve was adjunct professor of Jazz History at Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, FL from 1991-1992, and is a popular instructor at songwriting works hops across the country. He also teaches online at www.steveleslie.com, www.songwork.com, and mentors students privately. In 2011 Steve joined the faculty of Belmont University, Nashville, TN as Adjunct Professor of Songwriting.Steve is currently in the production stages of a newly written musical, “Umbrella”- a romantic comedy with fourteen original songs.
JOHN WAYNE WIGGINS was destined for a future in country music. Born in Nashville, TN to Johnny & Judy Wiggins, father Johnny was known as the “Singing Bus Driver” for Ernest Tubb who would bring Johnny out to perform as part of his show. John’s career in country music began at the tender age of four, when Ernest Tubb brought him on stage to sing “Honky Tonk Man.” For the next several years, John along with his sister Audrey, performed in their father’s band and later became part of the house band at Maggie Valleys’s venue Stompin’ Ground. In the early 90’s, John & Audrey were signed to PolyGram/Mercury Records where they made two records and spawned five singles and received several award nominations. Later, John found work as a songwriter having cuts on Alan Jackson, John Michael Montgomery, Ricky Skaggs among others and most recently Reba McEntire with Don Henley, and having singles on Randy Houser, “Anything Goes,” Joe Nichols’ number one single, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and Blake Shelton’s number one single “Who Are You When I’m Not Lookin’.” Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and groups and may be purchased by calling the box office at 615-563-2787 Monday through Saturday from 10:00AM to 4:00PM or online at www.artscenterofcc.com.
