Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville

At the heart of the UMPG Country Catalog there are many classic copyrights. The new UMPG Legacy series pays tribute to the writers of these hits. In these exclusive interviews, UMPG hitmakers discuss the creative writing process from the initial demo stage, to collaborating with major artists, and includes commentary from the artists that recorded their songs.

Gary Burr

Gary Burr talks about his hit songs...

1. Love’s Been A Little Bit Hard On Me – recorded by Juice Newton
2. Make My Life With You – recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys
3. Watch Me – recorded by Lorrie Morgan
4. That’s My Job – recorded by Conway Twitty
5. In A Week Or Two – recorded by Diamond Rio
6. Out Of My Bones – recorded by Randy Travis
7. To Be Loved By You – recorded by Wynonna
8. I Try To Think About Elvis – recorded by Patty Loveless
9. What Mattered Most – recorded by Ty Herndon
10. Til You Love Me – recorded by Reba McEntire
11. One Night A Day – recorded by Garth Brooks

*Special thanks to Nashville’s own Gerry House at WSIX for conducting the Gary Burr interviews. www.wsix.com

UMPG Nashville is proud to present these exclusive interviews with UMPG artists. Special thanks to Dave Stone at WKML in Fayetteville, NC for conducting these interviews. www.wkml.com

Byron Hill (view spotlight)
As a songwriter, Byron has had a total of 428 recordings of his songs. His songs have earned more than forty-five RIAA gold and platinum albums, eight ASCAP awards, and five #1 singles.

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Rivers Rutherford (view spotlight)
Rivers Rutherford has penned recordings by Brooks and Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan, Andy Griggs, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw to name a few.

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Anthony Smith (view spotlight)
Anthony has been the writing talent behind several hits like George Strait’s “Run” and “Cowboys Like Us”, Trace Adkins’ “I’m Tryin” and “Chrome”. His other successes include cuts by Montgomery Gentry, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Lonestar.

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Troy Verges (view spotlight)
Over the last three years, Troy Verges became one of UMPG’s most heralded worldwide success stories. Not only was he named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and NSAI Songwriter of the Year in 2002, but he also scored numerous hits for artists around the globe.

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Stephanie Bentley (view spotlight)
Signed to UMPG since 1998, Stephanie Bentley has penned songs for Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Pam Tillis, Chalee Tenison, Ilse Delange, Alecia Elliott and Smartbomb.

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Danny Orton (view spotlight)
Danny Orton's songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Chicago, Wynonna and Emerson Drive to name a few...

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Jeremy Spillman (view spotlight)
Jeremy's songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Trace Adkins, John Michael Montgomery, Chris LeDoux, Trent Wilmon and Bobby Pinson to name a few.

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