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. He 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 a recipient of two CMA triple play awards.
His Songs include:
Shadows in the Moonlight
Blessed Are the Believers
I Know a Heartache When I See One
Most Beautiful Girl
You Look So Good in Love
And so many more! Check them out on 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.
Albums: Bound to Rise (2011), On the Bluegrass Trail (2014), A Place To Start (2023) available on all major streaming platforms. DebraGriner.com
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 those artists and influences 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), among others.
Mark Dunlap
Mark began playing guitar and saxophone at the age of twelve and spent the majority of his youth playing guitar and singing in cover bands throughout the 80’s and 90’s. In 1995 he decided to move from his home state of Mississippi to Nashville, TN where he would graduate 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 music venues. You may have seen him perform at Nashville Predator halftime events with one of Nashville’s favorite 70’s/80’s 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.
Brian Claflin
Brian Claflin 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, 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 DC, 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.
With Ellie Grace: www.claflinandgrace.com
Duo project with Brian’s dad at his site: www.willyclaflin.com
"Brian Claflin - Musician" on Facebook.
"Brian Claflin Music" channel on YouTube
