MTSU Songwriting Series kicks off with Paslay, Altman

Dylan Altman and Eric Paslay tearing it up at The Listening Room Café, Nashville.

MTSU alumnus Eric Paslay and GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Dylan Altman headlined a special MTSU songwriting benefit Sunday, Dec. 9, at Nashville’s Listening Room Café.

Opening for the duo were MTSU Recording Industry students Nick Carpenter, Collin Baxter and Kyle Crownover, Caitlin Spencer, Zack Russell and Terreze Seiber. The event was sponsored by Spirit Music and ASCAP. Proceeds were donated to the Department of Recording Industry’s commercial songwriting concentration.

Recording Industry Assistant Professor and veteran songwriter Odie Blackmon created the “MTSU Songwriting Series” as a way to introduce his students to the music industry while funding the college’s songwriting program. Blackmon is a GRAMMY-nominated songwriter for Lee Ann Womack’s “I May Hate Myself in the Morning,” which also won the 2005 Country Music Association Song of the Year. Blackmon was thrilled with the event turnout.

At the MTSU Songwriting Series were (left to right): Kyle Crownover, Caitlin Spencer, Terrez Seiber, Collin Baxter, Odie Blackmon, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman, Mass Comm Dean Ken Paulson, Nick Carpenter and Zach Russell (kneeling).

“We had a full house and raised $3,800 for the songwriting program,” Blackmon said. “Eric and Dylan played hit after hit and had some inspiring words for our students.”

Paslay, a 2005 music business graduate, has made regular appearances on country music airplay charts with this year’s self-titled debut release, which hit No. 4 on Billboard’s country albums listing and includes his top-10 single “Friday Night.”  His songs have been winners for other artists, too, including Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and Paslay’s GRAMMY-nominated “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” for the Eli Young Band. Both hit No. 1 on the charts.

Altman, who was nominated for a 2014 GRAMMY for co-writing Jason Aldean’s No. 1 “Take a Little Ride,” has also written for and with Paslay, as well as for Will Hoge and Tim McGraw. Altman’s songs also have been featured on the ABC drama “Nashville.”

To learn more about Department of Recording Industry, please click here.