Songwriter Bios
SPECIAL GUEST: RORY BOURKE
Rory came to Nashville in 1969 as head of sales and promotion for Mercury Records. He signed with Chappell Music as a songwriter in 1971.
His songs have been recorded by Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis, Charlie Rich, Jennifer Warnes, and many others. Rory was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989 and has been named ASCAP Writer of the Year three times. He is a four-time Grammy nominee and the recipient of two CMA triple play awards.
His songs include: “Shadows in the Moonlight” (Anne Murray), “Blessed Are the Believers” (Anne Murray), “I Know a Heartache When I See One” (Jo Dee Messina), “Most Beautiful Girl” (Charlie Rich), “You Look So Good in Love,” and so many more.
Check them out at rorybourke.com.
DEBRA GRINER | Debra, born and raised in New Jersey, began her musical journey as an actor after graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. In addition to performing Off-Broadway, she began appearing on the New York cabaret scene in popular night spots such as Don’t Tell Mama’s and Danny’s Skylight Room. Debra launched her first singer/songwriter album, Bound to Rise, at The Bitter End on Bleeker Street. She has appeared at the ROMP Bluegrass Festival in Owensboro, KY, with “American Flyer” and toured Holland with “Bianca Bob & Flystrip.”
Since moving to Nashville in late 2022, Debra has been interviewed on Equestrian Legacy Radio Network’s, Live: From Nashville and featured on the Hang On to Your Daydreams video podcast with Kim Wood.
She has been a guest on WMOT’s American Roots radio for their weekly showcase, Finally Friday. And most recently at East Tennessee’s own WDVX in Knoxville, performing live on The Blue Plate Special.
Some of Nashville’s most respected writers like Buddy Mondlock (The Kid), and mega-hit writer, Rory Bourke (The Most Beautiful Girl) have embraced Debra. Add to that Grammy-winners, Steve Leslie (Brand New Strings), who co-produced her latest project, as well as Don Henry and Jon Vezner (Where’ve You Been?) both of whom appear on A Place To Start.
Debra is forever grateful to Beth Drake, with whom she created Westminster Presbyterian’s weekly Songwriters Circle, where local writers can share their music and is thrilled that you can see some of them at live shows right here in the Café!
Albums: Bound to Rise (2011), On the Bluegrass Trail (2014), A Place To Start (2023) available on all major streaming platforms. For more about Debra, visit DebraGriner.com.
BRIAN CLAFLIN | Brian has a powerful, soulful voice and writes songs in a wide range of style. His co-writing credits include writing with Adam Duritz and the late Nanci Griffith on their duet "Going Back To Georgia.” His protest anthem “I’m Gonna Walk It With You,” co-written with Ellie Grace, went viral in fall of 2016 and has since been sung by music groups and participants at hundreds of rallies, in church choirs, community choruses, schools, and advocacy groups in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including on stage at the 2018 National Women's March in Washington D.C., and by Kathy Mattea on the NPR radio show “Mountain Stage.” He has performed from the Bitter End in NYC to Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, to the National Storytelling Festival. To find out more about Brian, visit brianclaflin.net.
Other links to Brian’s music: Clafin & Grace | With Dad, Willy | Facebook | YouTube
LANCE COWAN | In a recent review of his new album So Far, So Good, American Songwriter Magazine observed Lance Cowan “is a remarkably talented singer/songwriter who’s every bit as capable and credible as the artists he represents. He is a master of melody, and the proof lies in the inviting and infectious attitude and approach that pervade this album overall.”
Country Music People (UK) gave the album “5 Stars!,” adding “It stinks of quality. Cowan’s voice is pitch perfect and the songs are terrific.”
Michael Jaworek of famed The Birchmere called it “A brilliant, wonderful album,” and noted writer Steve Simels wrote in PowerPop that So Far, So Good is “My current nominee – however early – for Album of the Year. Not to mince words, but I’ve really really needed to hear something as honest, lovely, well-crafted and touching as SFSG for far too long.”
For the past 30 years, Lance has worked behind the scenes with some of the country’s finest songwriters, including Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Michael Martin Murphey, and many more. Along the way, he has quietly honed his own songwriting skills, learning from artists and influences such as Jackson Browne, Mark Heard and John Prine, to name a few.
His works have been performed and/or recorded by such respected artists as Joan Baez, Janis Ian, David Mallett, and several independent artists. In the studio he has been produced by legends like Allen Reynolds (Garth Brooks) and Jim Rooney (John Prine, Nanci Griffith); and has worked with musicians Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor), Sam Bush, Pat Flynn (New Grass Revival), Dave Pomeroy (Don Williams), Andrea Zonn (James Taylor), Keith Sewell (The Chicks), Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks), and others. Learn more at lancecowanmusic.com.
MARK DUNLAP | Mark began playing guitar and saxophone at the age of 12. He spent the majority of his youth playing guitar and singing in cover bands throughout the 80s and 90s. In 1995, he decided to move from his home state of Mississippi to Nashville where he gradated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Music Business. Mark has kept busy over the years teaching guitar and providing entertainment for local corporate events, festivals, and other music venues. You may have seen him perform at Nashville Predators halftime events with one of Nashville’s favorite 70s/80s cover band, 615-Rewind. A few years ago, Mark decided to put more effort into the craft of songwriting which would include learning under Songwriter/Performer/Educator Steve Leslie. These days, Mark is busier than ever playing guitar, singing, and writing music.