In this episode of Human Code, Abigail Posner sits down with Songwriting Hall of Famer, Kent Blazy, as they discuss the culture of songwriting, music, and the effect of technology on this craft and Kent's illustrious career.
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Kent Blazy (born in
Lexington, Kentucky) is a renown
country music songwriter. His credits include several singles for
Garth Brooks (including Brooks' first number one hit, "
If Tomorrow Never Comes"), as well as singles by
Gary Morris,
Diamond Rio,
Patty Loveless and
Chris Young. Blazy has a total of seven No. 1 hits to his credit.
Kent Blazy was raised in
Lexington, Kentucky. At an early age, he played
rhythm guitar and sang in various local bands, citing
The Byrds,
Rodney Crowell and
Joe Ely as influences. He later played for Canadian singer
Ian Tyson.
[1] Later on, Blazy met former
Exile member
Mark Gray, who suggested that Blazy move to
Nashville, Tennessee. Eventually, he signed to a publishing contract, but the publishing company closed; despite the loss of contract,
Gary Morris sent Blazy's "Headed for a Heartache" into top 5 on the country charts.
By the late 1980s, Blazy met with a then-unknown
Garth Brooks, who gave him the idea for a song entitled "
If Tomorrow Never Comes." He and Brooks co-wrote the song, which went on to become Brooks' first number one hit. Brooks continued to record Blazy's material throughout the 1990s, including the singles "
Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," "
It's Midnight Cinderella", "
She's Gonna Make It," "
Somewhere Other Than the Night" and the
George Jones duet "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)".
He also co-wrote "
That's What I Get for Lovin' You" by
Diamond Rio and "
Can't Get Enough" by
Patty Loveless in the late 1990s.Blazy, along with songwriters
Pat Alger, Tony Arata and Kim Williams, recorded an album entitled
A Songwriters' Tribute to Garth Brooks, which included their renditions of songs that they had written for Brooks. This album was released in 2001 via VFR Records.
[5][6] Other songs that Blazy has co-written include "
You Can Let Go" by
Crystal Shawanda and "
Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" by
Chris Young from 2008 and 2009 respectively, as well as
American Idol season 8 finalist
Danny Gokey's debut single "
My Best Days Are Ahead of Me."